Everstand: An Organizational Development Case Study
When Everstand, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting children and families, began exploring ways to better align leadership development with organizational strategy, they didn’t expect to look beyond their Baltimore roots to find the right partner. But after seeing their close peer organization, UMFS—referred to by Everstand’s President & CEO Laurie Anne Spagnola as their “little big sister”—engage The Spark Mill for similar support, the path forward became clear. Laurie Anne was drawn to The Spark Mill’s ability to offer both depth and flexibility, especially in how strategic planning and coaching could be combined into one integrated approach. With Chris Bennett leading the engagement, Everstand experienced a seamless process that remained grounded in their mission and values, bringing consistency and connection across the leadership team.
One of the most meaningful shifts in the organization came through the introduction of Conscious Leadership, a model that naturally complemented Everstand’s trauma-informed approach to care. It offered a new way for leaders to show up with presence, communicate with intention, and navigate challenges with clarity and compassion. What began as a leadership tool quickly evolved into a core part of the organization’s culture. Through retreats and team trainings, Conscious Leadership became embedded and supported language and structure for a more emotionally intelligent and aligned leadership style in a field where relationship-centered work is essential.
Strategic planning also evolved significantly. With no formal plan in place for a decade, Everstand began adopting structured goal-setting models and integrated project management tools. The Spark Mill helped define measurable goals and synchronize leadership efforts around them, tracking progress using tools like Asana and applying models such as the Stacey Matrix to guide the team’s thinking. And, the progress has been tangible: teams are now hitting targets and striving for continuous improvement, with a shared language and rhythm that supports their cross-functional collaboration. Most notably, the continuity of having one consultant work with all layers of the organization ensured calibration across initiatives and empowered internal voices.
More than just a plan on paper, a renewed culture at Everstand began to take shape. Leadership meetings were incorporating reflective practices. Teams adopted shared language. Conversations became more intentional. This synthesis of coaching and planning helped break down barriers and embed these leadership practices into everyday operations. With the Enneagram and Conscious Leadership as ongoing touchpoints, staff across the organization were applying what they were learning, deepening engagement and new leadership behaviors throughout the agency.
Everstand’s collaboration with The Spark Mill served as a catalyst for realignment, helping the organization reconnect to its purpose while equipping its leaders with practical tools for growth. Rather than a top-down initiative, this work has become woven into how people lead, communicate, and make decisions in ways that are confident, connected, and grounded in purpose. This meshing of coaching, strategic planning, and leadership development provided a sustainable foundation for the future. Much like UMFS, the impact goes beyond Everstand’s internal operations; it extends to every child and family they serve.
In The Spark Mill, Everstand found not just a consultant, but a committed partner in transformation. Their journey is just one example of how intentional, values-driven consulting can lead to long-lasting change in both people and systems.
