Consulting skills for evaluators

 NEW TIME: 9:15am – 12:30pm

Interested in starting or enhancing your own evaluation independent consulting practice? Or do you work with evaluation consultants and wonder what kinds of tips and tools they use? This interactive workshop will focus on the essential design and start-up skills needed to develop an independent consulting practice. Based off Matt Feldmann and Laura Keene’s well received 2017 American Evaluation Association’s pre-conference workshop, this session will cover management consulting and small business strategies, and will provide valuable samples, worksheets, and insider tips.

During the workshop you will:

1. Determine if consulting is an appropriate career choice
2. Define your competitive edge & learn some marketing secrets
3. Examine business plan essentials and networking strategies
4. Explore the basics to set up shop and manage day-to-day pressures
5. Find out how to set fees and track time

Bio
Dr. Matt Feldmann is the principal researcher and owner of Goshen Education Consulting Inc, in Edwardsville, Illinois…the furthest southern suburb of Chicago. He started the company in 2009 due to the untapped need to provide data interpretation and evaluation services to the educational communities in Southwestern Illinois. Goshen Education Consulting is a reflection of his background, interests, skills and opportunities that include deep data analysis, clear and concise reporting, and a focus on program development. Since its founding, Dr. Feldmann and Goshen Education Consulting have led 24 U.S. Department of Education Math and Science Partnership evaluation projects and has been involved with the Illinois Math & Science state-wide evaluation team for Math and Science Partnerships. Beyond the U.S. Department of Education projects, he also has led multiple education evaluation projects with the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, United Way, Monsanto, Astellas, Swarovski and the Illinois Biotechnology Institute EDUCATE Center. Dr. Feldmann is a frequent speaker on how to conduct rigorous evaluations and a frequent presenter with his clients concerning the management and outcomes of their projects. Professionally he was the chair of the American Evaluation Association’s (AEA) Independent Consulting Topical Interest Group and is the current president of the AEA local affiliate, the Evaluation Association of St. Louis.