The Deep Work of National Connectivity While many consultants offer a "top-down" approach, SPARC’s work with the Extension Foundation demonstrates our ability to navigate and strengthen a massive, decentralized national network. Our engagement went beyond surface-level advising to address the foundational "depth" of how leaders connect across state lines and institutional boundaries. We focused on the long-term health of the system, ensuring that the infrastructure of leadership was as resilient as the mission itself.

Strengthening leadership and collaboration within a complex, nationwide ecosystem of land-grant university professionals.

A multi-layered strategy involving systemic organizational assessment and the implementation of long-term leadership pathways.

A more cohesive, resilient network capable of rapid innovation and sustainable knowledge-sharing. This partnership serves as our flagship example of "Deep Work" where we stay in the trenches until the organizational roots are strong.

Building Programs for High-Level Professionals with a DEI Lens SPARC specializes in designing and implementing internal development programs for executive-tier professionals where excellence and equity are inseparable. By comparing our work with Tufts University and Catholic Relief Services, a clear pattern emerges: the ability to build sophisticated, high-stakes programs that weave significant diversity elements into the fabric of leadership. We treat DEI as a core competency for the modern global leader.

For both a premier research university and a global humanitarian leader, SPARC built custom-tailored internal "academies" designed for high-level professional cohorts.

We moved from curriculum design to full-scale delivery, managing the complex dynamics of executive-tier leadership and institutional change.

Leaders emerged with a refined ability to lead across differences, resulting in more inclusive internal cultures and more effective external mission delivery. This case illustrates SPARC's capacity to design for the highest levels of professional rigor.

From Initial Service to Strategic Partner At SPARC, we believe the best partnerships start with a single "yes" and grow into total organizational transformation. This case study looks at the lifecycle of our work with the University of Vermont (UVM) and Vermont Adult Learning (VAL). Whether starting with a new leader's strengths assessment or a strategic plan, our value is proven through the expansion of services as we become a trusted advisor embedded in the organization’s long-term success.

What began as New Leader Integration and Clifton Strengths work evolved into a full-suite partnership including high-stakes conflict resolution, executive coaching, and strategic strengths work for the University Cabinet.

Initial strategic planning grew into a comprehensive organizational overhaul, including org-wide Clifton Strengths work, Leadership Circle Profile (LCP) 360 assessments, 1:1 Executive Director coaching, Board development, and Leadership Team alignment.

Both institutions demonstrate the "SPARC Lifecycle" our commitment to evolving our services as the client’s needs and complexity grow.