Get to know our consultants
In our last edition of “Who’s behind Idealist Consulting?”, we introduced you to the staff who works in the house at Idealist Consulting. In this next edition, we're going to keep bringing you the real humans behind our company. This time we’re going to introduce you to some of our consultants.
While our consultants may work remotely, they are just as big a part of our company. Their drive for knowledge and wisdom on all things Salesforce, nonprofits, and project management make our projects great and our clients happy.
What’s below is the interviews I conducted with 6 consultants (in alphabetical order). I hope you enjoy getting to know us as much as I did.
The Consultants
April Harris
What languages do you know/speak?
English and hablo un poco de español. (Muy poco)
What are some of your favorite hobbies?
Travelling plus I love to read and write, for my own consumption. Maybe someday I'll write the next great American novel.
What is your secret talent?
Taping drywall, and I can crochet you a scarf. I don't knit or do windows.
How did you get started with Salesforce?
I fell into it sideways as a volunteer for an Idealist NPSP client and had the good fortune that Rob stumbled over me in that role and encouraged me to continue.
What is (are) your favorite thing about Idealist Consulting?
The mission, the people. Everyone is very kind. I love being able to participate in facilitating so many different kinds of good work. It's a way to have a positive impact in a world that often feels like it's falling apart.
What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on so far? Why?
Idaho Conservation League and Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon - the people know what they want, and are super nice and appreciative.
What Salesforce Certifications and Trailhead Badges do you have?
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Administrator
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Sales Cloud Consultant
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I haven't been diligent about Trailhead yet. It's on the list
Grant Copenhaver
What languages do you know/speak?
English, Oshindonga (language spoken in Namibia and parts of Angola)
What are some of your favorite hobbies?
Backcountry skiing, backpacking, archery
What is your secret talent?
Speaking to elk
How did you get started with Salesforce?
My first exposure to Salesforce was as a grant-writing volunteer for an organization working in East Africa - I had previously never heard of Salesforce! I was tasked with adding grant-related information to the database, but quickly saw that it needed to be optimized, so I started tinkering with it. The rest is history.
What is your favorite thing about Idealist Consulting?
There are too many favorite things about Idealist Consulting to dial in on just one. The culture of the organization is very much in line with who I strive to be - socially conscious, progressive, responsible, and innovative. The staff is great too.
I like working for Idealist Consulting, primarily for the type of clients that it attracts and that I get to work with on a daily basis. Additionally, IC respects our other passions (outside of geeking out in SF) and is supportive of a great work-life balance.
What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on so far? Why?
My favorite project so far has been with Child Care Aware of Washington. Besides being a great client to work with, the implementation was very challenging and required a lot of thinking outside of the box and problem solving unique use cases. Plus, I got to work with Franklin! (an IC consultant)
What Salesforce Certifications and Trailhead Badges do you have?
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Administrator
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Platform App Builder
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Advanced Administrator
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Too many badges to keep track of!
Jenny Council
What languages do you know/speak?
English and French
What are some of your favorite hobbies?
Mushroom picking, political ranting
What is your secret talent?
Cuban sacred drums and songs
How did you get started with Salesforce?
When helping small nonprofits develop their technology infrastructure, hardware and software, NPSP was just emerging in its initial form. It was a frustrating product for fundraisers back then!
What is your favorite thing about Idealist Consulting? Why do you like working for IC?
Intelligent, engaged and lively consultant and staff team. As an organization IC never sits on its laurels but strives for continuous improvement, looking for every opportunity to raise the bar.
What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on so far? Why?
Mobility International USA for going full throttle into adoption, and looking at continuous improvements to their build that will make the database more effective for users.
What Salesforce Certifications and Trailhead Badges do you have?
40 trailhead badges
Deb Finken
What languages do you know/speak?
English and some Spanish
What are some of your favorite hobbies?
Running
What is your secret talent?
I am the household handy-woman. I can tackle almost any issue I come across at home.
How did you get started with Salesforce?
I have worked in CRM for almost 15 years, and when I saw Salesforce and how flexible it is, I was super excited to learning all about it and to see how I could leverage it to help organizations I cared about.
What Salesforce Certifications and Trailhead Badges do you have?
Salesforce Developer
Why do you like working for Idealist Consulting?
I love the people and the shared set of core values.
What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on so far? Why?
The Mission Continues - I liked how Salesforce and the Idealist team enabled TMC's programs to grow by giving them tools to allow volunteers to take ownership of the local "platoons".
Kristen Speth
What languages do you know/speak?
English and some French and even smaller amount of Spanish (but I keep trying to learn more as my kids are both fluent in Spanish)
What are some of your favorite hobbies?
Skiing (hence why I live in Colorado), traveling, going for walks (especially around the lake near my house, eating out (especially great when I can walk and eat out in my neighborhood) and working out (since I love to also eat!)
What is your secret talent?
Not sure if it is a talent, but I love to plan trips for myself and groups, so I am often the group travel planner with my friends and family.
How did you get started with Salesforce?
I actually spent years fighting the pull of Salesforce (after spending over 12 years working with Siebel), but one day I found a post on LinkedIn from Idealist Consulting looking for a part time project manager to work mostly with non-profits. Sounded like a great fit and I finally decided to give Salesforce a try. Glad I did!
Why do you like working for Idealist Consulting?
I love our mission as a company and the clients and consultants I get to work with. I am always fascinated by the work that our client organizations do and the impact they are making. I also enjoy the flexibility this job allows me to volunteer with my kid's schools and other organizations in Denver.
What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on so far? Why?
I have loved working with Adidas BOKS as their fill-in Salesforce Administrator. I have been able to learn a lot more about Salesforce, use my technical skills as an administrator and work with a really fantastic group of people who work for a company that has a great mission. They help schools offer before, during and after school programs to keep kids fit and active.
What Salesforce Certifications and Trailhead Badges do you have?
Salesforce Admin Certification
Tanner Wells
What languages do you know/speak?
English, Spanish and Portuguese
What are some of your favorite hobbies?
Surfing, Kiteboarding, Traveling, Photography, Communities and Cooking
What is your secret talent?
I can touch my pinky and index finger over my other fingers
How did you get started with Salesforce?
I was finishing up graduate school (Almost 10 years ago) in Argentina when Rob reached out to me as Idealist Consulting was growing and in need of additional consultants. We had previously worked together in Costa Rica where I did web design, graphic design, system admin., etc.
What Salesforce Certifications and Trailhead Badges do you have?
Just the administrator but planning on getting more certs so I look as cool as the other consultants ;)
What is your favorite thing about Idealist Consulting?
The people. This includes staff and clients. I can't imagine working with any more caring, considerate and all around good people who are concerned about the good of people.
What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on so far? Why?
Probably iATS Brickwork as it's allowed me to really expand my developer skills over the years, the excitement of knowing over 1000 nonprofits use the app and the business/personal relationship that's been built for 7+ years.
Are you a Salesforce or Marketing Automation consultant looking to for a workplace that values human connection? Maybe we’d be a good fit!
