About Marilyn

Marilyn draws on a diverse background of professional and life experiences. Following graduation from the University of Michigan, she spent the first decade of her career with the American Red Cross where she found her niche as a trainer, a passion for organizational problem-solving, and a lifelong commitment to nonprofit causes.

Opportunities for advancement led Marilyn to corporate America where she worked for a decade at SmithKline Corporation, a Fortune 500 international healthcare company.  She managed the organization development effort for its Medical Diagnostics Division, specializing in  human systems design during acquisitions and divestitures.  She received an M.A. in Human Resource Development in 1981 through University Associates and went on to lead its national workshops for corporate human resource professionals.

Marilyn has played a leadership role in a variety of organizations over her long career.  She was general partner of a successful wine importing company, a large golf and tennis resort, and a multi-ranch orange growing business.  She has consulted in companies undergoing transitions, led board retreats for nonprofits, and participated in numerous civic organizations.

As a parent, Marilyn developed an interest in education reform and became an advocate for building family-school-community partnerships.  In 1996, she co-founded the nonprofit National ParentNet Association and ParentNet, a research-based program designed to create effective parent-school learning communities.  Involving hundreds of schools nationwide, the organization’s website at ParentInvolvementMatters.Org has become a leading resource for educators and parents. Marilyn’s article, “Boundary Dynamics: Implications for Building Parent-School Partnerships,” was published in the peer-reviewed School Community Journal in 2009.  She recently delivered a keynote speech on parent engagement at the 2010 National Head Start Association Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas.

Marilyn has always balanced her professional work with service to community. Among her favorite volunteer accomplishments was as Community Outreach Chair for KARA, a San Francisco Bay Area non-profit that provides grief education and counseling to adults and children. Marilyn founded KARA’s Light a Candle Interfaith Service of Remembrance, a gathering that remembers the lives of loved ones with beautiful song and symbolism. It has been attended by more than 500 people annually since it began in 1990. She also enjoyed program development for seniors as a member of the Board of Directors of the Senior Coordinating Council of Palo Alto. Marilyn is a Contributing Photographer to The Foundation for Photo/Art in Hospitals, a nonprofit that places photos of nature in hospitals to give comfort and hope to patients and families. Recently, she has designed and led board retreats for local nonprofit organizations, including Islandwood, the Health, Housing and Human Services Council, and Grace Episcopal Church in Bainbridge Island, WA.

Marilyn completed an M.A. in Human and Organizational Systems in 2009 at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, CA, and graduated with a Ph.D. in Human Development in July 2010. Her dissertation, "Civic Learning at the Edge: Transformative Stories of Highly Engaged Youth," is available by request.

Marilyn lives in Bainbridge Island, WA, with her husband, Jay, an architect. They participate in community organizations, enjoy keeping up with current events, and love to travel. Together, Marilyn and Jay have a blended family of 6 grown children and 4 grandchildren.

View Publications, Articles, and Papers

Marilyn's resume is available to prospective clients upon request. Please contact her.

 

What Other's Say. . .

"Marilyn is a strong leader who is extremely easy to work with. She is exceptionally clear in all her communications; she is unusually engaging in both her writing and speech. She is a visionary ...and can help others understand that vision and want to come onboard. She's willing to do the hard work that it takes to accomplish any task....she's infused with warm energy and a generosity of spirit."

Barbara Edmondson, Freelance Writer & Board Member, National ParentNet Association

"Marilyn is a very talented and creative facilitator, a quick study and very knowledgable about organizational development....Her ability to quickly grasp the key elements of our work and the issues we face was particularly helpful....Our board fully enjoyed working with Marilyn...her facilitation drew high marks from all involved."

Jan Lambert, Executive Director
Health, Housing and Human Services Council

"I've work with Marilyn as a customer, colleague, and coworker. In all capacities, I've found her to be an excellent practitioner. Her business skills and perspective are broad, her perceptions of people accurate and her concern for quality and ethics supreme. Every time I work with her, I gain knowledge and success!

Nita Millstein, President
Millstein & Associates