Ada Jo Mann- Director

Ada Jo Mann has 35+ years of experience collaborating with clients on strength-based approaches to strategic planning; organization assessment and design; whole system change; program development and evaluation; inter-organizational partnerships; team building, and training.   She has directed or participated in assignments in over 50 African, Asian, Caribbean, Central and South American and European countries. Using practical, strength-based and participatory management approaches she has advised and trained over 1000 leaders.  Through her work both in the US and abroad, Ada Jo has increased the managerial capacities of a broad range of institutions including government agencies, bilateral and multilateral development organizations, non-profits, boards and community groups.

She is a pioneer in the field of Appreciative Inquiry in the non-profit and international development arena and Founder and former Managing Co-Owner of Appreciative Inquiry Consulting, LLC.  For seven years she was Director of a multi-million dollar grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to improve the organizational capacity of non-governmental organizations in all regions of the world.  She co-created and was the first Director of the Small Project Assistance Program, a 30 year partnership between USAID and the Peace Corps.

Current and past clients include: Academy for Educational Development, Rio Tinto, FHI 360, ADRA, Arlington County, Virginia HR Department, CARE, Chemonics, John Snow International, Lutheran World Relief, Neighborhood Centers, Inc., Pact Inc., Save the Children, Social Impact, US Agency for International Development, US Geological Survey, US Peace Corps, US Forest Service and World Vision. Ada Jo is based in Washington, DC.