Growing up in the suburbs of Detroit, I was deeply moved by the decline of its urban center and the subsequent racial polarization. Consequently, 13 years after moving to Cincinnati to practice law at a big firm, practicing family law mediation, teaching lawyers collaborative negotiation, and raising money for United Way through estate plans, I found my calling and began helping governments and non-profits engage their communities in conversations that reconciled relationships to have civil conversations about tough issues. For example:
  • Lakota Local Schools: Facilitated Community Conversations to engage residents in the district’s strategic decision-making.
  • City of Covington Visioning Process: Designed and led a one-year partnership among the city administration, chamber of commerce, and citizen groups to plan the city’s strategic direction.
  • Butler County Opioid Abuse Prevention Coalition: Facilitated a county-wide process to align agencies to identify service gaps and strengthen collaboration among prevention programs. 
Over the past 10 years, as life has taught me the value of radical vulnerability in creating compassion and free-flowing conversations, I've extended my practice to helping teams -- whether toxically dysfunctional or merely civil yet suboptimal -- heal their relational problems so they can get more done.

TESTIMONIALS

Grace Schoessow, Director of Early Childhood Mental Health, Greene County Educational Service Center:
The staff retreat facilitated by Jeffrey was a transformative experience for our team. With gentle guidance, we discovered our team has the tools and capacity to navigate uncertainty.  Together, we worked through the Playbook for Liminality that’s full of tools that helped us build resilience, strengthen connections, and inspired us to see uncertainty as opportunities for growth. The combination of mindfulness practices, vulnerability exercises, and future-oriented activities created an environment of trust and empowerment. We continue to draw upon the experiences, using them to deepen our collaboration and adaptability in our work. This retreat didn’t just address our challenges, it gave us a sustainable way to thrive through change together.
TJ White, Executive Director, Center for Local Government, Hamilton County, Ohio: 
“Jeffrey's approach allows you to tackle any sticky issue with the public by ensuring that everyone's voice is heard and that all ideas are treated equally on their merits – which fosters civil dialog and public trust. I highly recommend him to anyone wanting to engage their public better.”
Kim Carli, Chief Performance Officer, Keck Medicine, Univ. of Southern California:
“Covering everything from agenda design to room logistics and facilitation skills, Stec equips leaders with essential tools for turning rote meetings into transformational conversations. He offers relatable strategies extending beyond civic forums to any group striving for success through collaboration. In addition to essential technique, Stec helps leaders step into the heart of successful community building: empathy, humility, and connection with our community, purpose, and ourselves.”
Coby C. Williams, Social Impact and Engagement Strategist, New Reach Community Consulting:
“Community engagement thrives on genuine human interaction that transcends rote and mechanical processes. Jeff's book provides practical guidance on cultivating deeper connection and understanding in communities, leading to meaningful change that reflects their true needs and aspirations. Jeff compellingly advocates for an approach that values authenticity, respect, and deep listening, and his book is an invaluable resource for public participation practitioners, whether they’re new to the field or have years of experience, as well as for anyone involved in community decision-making processes.”
Jennifer Temple, Executive Vice President, Communications, Hewlett Packard Enterprise:
"Never before has effective and inclusive dialogue been more critical. And yet it has never been more possible. Jeffrey Stec's book gives us both insight and actionable advice about how to unleash our curiosity, check our biases at the door, and engage in thoughtful and productive conversation. Debate is healthy and important. Learning to do it with empathy, compassion, and a true willingness to grow and evolve is essential to progress. Thanks, Jeff, for helping us explore how to do that."