Senior Advisors

Renee Cardwell Hughes

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Judge Renee Cardwell Hughes (Ret.) is a highly experienced senior executive, attorney, retired judge, Independent Board member, and Qualified Financial Expert. She has a demonstrated history of leading large organizations with complex management structures and marketplace challenges. Judge Cardwell Hughes is particularly skilled in Strategic Leadership, Nonprofit Organizations, Coaching, Government Relations, Fund Development, Conflict Resolution, effective P&L Management, Board Development, Public Relations, and Crisis Management. She has deep experience with Media Relations across all formats. She is a strong business development professional, with a J.D. from Georgetown University Law School.

Judge Hughes completed an engagement as President and CEO of Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc. (Philadelphia OIC), a workforce development non-profit that impacts the lives of more than 1,500 individuals annually in 2021. Previously, Judge Hughes was the CEO of The Hughes Group, whose mission was to help management teams refine, internalize and execute their corporate mission. Her clients included Independence Blue Cross, and Aqua America. Her other leadership roles include CEO of the fourth largest market in the $3 billion American Red Cross system.

Judge Hughes’s legal background includes more than fifteen years as a Trial Judge handling both civil and criminal cases. She received her legal degree from Georgetown University Law Center, after completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia.

She has received numerous awards for her leadership, courage, and community involvement. In 2022 Judge received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Thomas Jefferson University. She was inducted into the International Women in Homeland Security and Emergency Management 2013 Hall of Fame. She was recognized by the Philadelphia Business Journal as a Minority Business Leader. In 2014 Philadelphia Style Magazine named her one of the City’s Power Women, and in 2016 Renée was recognized by the Philadelphia Business Journal as a Woman of Distinction. Renée was selected as the Pearl S. Buck International 2018 Woman of Influence. In 2020 Renée was selected as an African American Leader of Influence by the Philadelphia Tribune and in 2021, Philadelphia Business Journal recognized her as one of the Philadelphia POWER 100.

Geoffrey M. Roche

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Geoffrey M. Roche, MPA, is an accomplished leader with steadfast commitment and passion for healthcare innovation, future-focused strategy, transformation, cultural change, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and workforce impact. His professional career includes over nine years in hospital administration as a strategic advisor to the President and CEO and department director of various departments, including Business Development and Planning, Government Affairs, Community Health, and Public Relations, for Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono.

At Lebanon Valley College and Harrisburg University of Science and Technology Geoffrey held senior leadership roles focused on strategic partnerships, organizational strategy, and business development. As Senior Vice President, Business & Workforce Development at Dignity Health Global Education, he led a diverse team focused on developing institutional relationships with leading health systems while simultaneously championing national conversations and initiatives to develop innovative diversity, equity, and inclusion solutions for the healthcare workforce. He currently serves as the Senior Vice President, National Health Care Practice & Workforce Partnerships for Core Education.

He is an Adjunct Instructor of Health Administration in the MBA/MHA Program at Moravian University and Corporate Faculty member in the Population Health program at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, serves on the United Way of Lebanon County and United Way of Pennsylvania Board of Directors, IU 13 Board of Directors, Leadership Council for Moravian College, Patient Safety Committee for WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital, and as an elected School Director of Annville-Cleona School District.

Roche earned his Master of Science degree in Management and Leadership: Public Administration at East Stroudsburg University and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Moravian University. He also holds a Mini-MBA in Healthcare from the University of Arizona, Eller College of Management, a Certificate in Innovation in Healthcare Management from Arizona State University, Thunderbird School of Global Management, the Certificate in Healthcare Leadership from Duke Corporate Education, and the Certificate in Heroic Leadership from Santa Clara University.

Yvette A. Núñez

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Yvette A. Núñez is a senior advisor to Econsult Solutions and Vice President of Communications and Marketing at UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization. Through a unique combination of research, advocacy, programs, and a national network of nearly 300 community-based Affiliate organizations across the country, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos in the United States.

Ms. Núñez is responsible for leading the strategy and implementation of integrated marketing communications initiatives for institutional and issue-specific campaigns. She manages the day-to-day operations of the marketing and communications department, a 20+ person team that is responsible for institutional communications, programmatic communications, policy communications, media relations, social media and digital communications, brand management, advertising, content creation, and event/conference strategy and planning.

Prior to joining UnidosUS, Ms. Núñez served as Vice President of Civic Affairs at the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, where she managed its social impact strategies, including inclusive growth, DEI and nonprofit programs. She was the first Latina on its Executive Team in more than 200 years. She also served as Chief Communications Officer for Congreso de Latinos Unidos, a multiservice nonprofit organization which serves the City’s poorest zip code. In that role, Ms. Núñez led the agency’s communications, civic engagement, corporate relations, events, fundraising and volunteer management initiatives.

Ms. Núñez is an Executive Committee member of the Temple University Alumni Association and is the inaugural chair of its DEI Committee, is a member of the Community College of Philadelphia Foundation Board, and serves on the PIDC NMTC Community Capital Advisory Group.

She previously served as an Appointee to the PA State Advisory Committee to the US Civil Rights Commission, is the first person of color to preside over the Philadelphia Public Relations Association, and is a former member of the PHLDiversity Board of Directors. She has received a number of awards including: City & State PA Above & Beyond Award Honoring Women of Public and Civic Mind; Hispanic Bar Association Community Service Award, Hispanic Media’s Crystal Award; and the Delaware Valley’s Most Influential Latino Leaders Award.

Ms. Núñez has a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government, and is an honor graduate of Temple University, where she earned a degree in journalism. She is a freelance writer and has been published in The Huffington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Tribune.

Dawn Holden Woods

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Dawn Holden Woods is and Senior Advisor to Econsult Solutions and the President of Generative Consulting Partners, a management consulting firm designed to help social sector partners design authentic, people-centered solutions to help individuals and organizations reach their full potential.

Dawn is committed to co-creating effective operational and leadership development programs for individuals and teams and serves as a trusted advisor for private foundations, social impact organizations, and governmental agencies looking to support nonprofit partners. She helps organizations through concrete technical assistance ranging from, executive coaching, nonprofit board development, establishing strategies to comply with contract regulatory requirements, to systematizing accounting and fundraising best practices to enable leaders to build stronger relationships with key constituents and funders to grow and sustain their organizations.

Prior to founding Generative Consulting Partners, Dawn served as the Chief Social Services Officer of Public Health Management Corporation where she was responsible for managing a $100M portfolio including a team of 1,000 employees and the Chief Executive Officer of Turning Points for Children. She has a track record for leading transformational growth—her leadership and vision radically changed Turning Points for Children from a small enterprise valued at $10M to a complex organization with five business lines totaling over $60M.

Dawn’s disciplined approach to this work stems from over 20 years of experience in nonprofit and for-profit sectors. She has served as both a CEO and CFO roles, gaining a high level of expertise in strategy, execution, and fundraising. Dawn brings a unique blend of business practicality and a “people first” approach to her work. Each business solution Dawn provides is tailored specifically to the exclusive environment and business goals of her clients.

Dawn currently sits on a diverse range of boards including The Committee of Seventy, Center for Health Care Strategies, Evident Change, and the National Nurse-Led Care Consortium.

Dawn received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Lincoln University and her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Pennsylvania.  She has been the recipient of many awards including 40 under 40 and Minority Business leader in 2020.

J. Patrick Killian

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Patrick Killian is a Senior Advisor at Econsult Solutions. Mr. Killian has devoted 50 years to public and government service on the local, state and federal levels. A graduate of Scranton Preparatory School and the University of Scranton with a degree in Political Science, Killian pursued his Masters degree in American History, prior to being called to active duty with the United States Navy where he served with Fighter Squadron 84 deployed on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Upon release from active duty, he was appointed Director of Personnel for Lackawanna County government . In this capacity, he supervised all hiring and promotions for the County Commissioners, managed the countywide payroll, negotiated all contracts with employee bargaining units, and administered the federal Comprehensive employment Training act.

After two year as Director, he assumed the position of county Public Information Officer for the Commissioners authoring all county press releases and serving as spokesman for both print and electronic media outlets.  Mr. Killian also produced a weekly public service radio show “Courthouse comments” which was carried on 7 area radio stations. Upon leaving the county in 1976 to join the first campaign of the late U.S. Senator John Heinz, as Press Secretary, Killian began a 14-year tenure as Executive Assistant and chief political advisor to Senator Heinz. In this capacity, he supervised the Senator’s state offices and oversaw constituent services in addition to serving as the Senator’s liaison with both the General Assembly and the Governor’s office. He also served as principal contact with both statewide and national labor organizations on behalf of the Senator. He is proud of the fact that when he managed the Senator’s final campaign, it resulted in the largest margin of victory in Pennsylvania’s history.

In 1991, he assumed the post of Director of Commerce for Delaware County, PA where he served for 29 years until his retirement in 2021. In this position, his responsibilities included the overall direction of all business attraction, retention, and development efforts, as well as concurrently serving as the Executive Director of the following county entities: Economic Development Oversight Board, Redevelopment Authority, Industrial Development Authority, Area Loan Organization, CRIZ Authority, and both ED and Secretary Treasurer of the Industrial Development Corporation.

During his tenure, he participated in, directed, and negotiated over $2.5 billion in projects in the county including: The redevelopment of Baldwin Towers in Eddystone (which was named the best private partnership in the country by the Council on Urban Economic Development), the construction of Hog Island Road in Tinicum to ensure access of the UPS airport facility, the construction Harrah’s Casino and Subaru stadium in Chester, the redevelopment of the Monroe refinery in Trainer, the siting of the SAP North and South American headquarters in Newtown Square and the repurposing of the Marcus Hook refinery to a gas export facility. He has received numerous honors over the years, including being named a Veteran of Influence in the business community by the Philadelphia Business Journal, Developer of the year from the Pennsylvania Econoimic Developmnet Association, Project of the year by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, as well as a resolutions of recognition for service by the U.S. Senate, PA General Assembly and Delaware County Council. Listed in Who’s Who in America, he has served as President of the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association and 10 year Board Chairman of The Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union, a $1 billion Delaware County financial institution. He sits of the pastoral Council of Annunciation church in Havertown.

An avid, but poor golfer, Mr. Killian enjoys reading history and has an extensive collection of political buttons from every presidential campaign since 1844 with an emphasis on Theodore Roosevelt. Mr. Killian and his wife reside in Havertown and are the parents of three daughters: Molly, Mara, and Hannah, and have two grandsons, Jackson and Charlie.

 

 

Sylvie Gallier Howard

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Sylvie Gallier Howard is a Senior Advisor at Econsult Solutions and Founder & CEO of Equitable Cities Consulting, a practice focused on expanding the field and impact of inclusive, equitable economic development. Sylvie Gallier Howard has extensive experience leading organizations and diverse teams in the non-profit, private, and public sectors. In her most recent tenure as Acting Commerce Director and as a cabinet member of Philadelphia’s City government, she spearheaded economic development planning and implementation processes for the City in areas of inclusive growth, workforce development, equitable entrepreneurship and recovery. Just weeks after the COVID-19 shut-downs and the successive civil unrest, she oversaw the creation of two distinct emergency grant programs to support small, Black and brown businesses. Other notable accomplishments include serving as co-lead for the city’s bid for Amazon’s HQ2, spearheading the development of a public-private partnership to develop the region’s global identity and overseeing the City’s first comprehensive incentive analysis. She also initiated the launch of Kiva City Philadelphia, a zero-interest micro-business loan program, and was part of a small team that led the City’s successful effort to become the first World Heritage City in the U.S.

Prior to joining government, Sylvie spent her career in the non-profit sector and running her own small business. For six years, Sylvie was the Principal and Founder of Clementine Consulting, providing guidance to non-profits and social enterprises working in areas such as education, social justice, economic development and immigration. Sylvie has also served as the Executive Director of two community-based non-profits in Philadelphia: The Northwest Fund and The Empowerment Group. At the Empowerment Group, Sylvie started Philadelphia’s first bilingual Spanish-English entrepreneurship training program.

Sylvie serves on the board of directors of the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia and Independence Charter School. She has a B.A. in International relations from Barnard College of Columbia University and an M.A. in Sociology from Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO) in Ecuador – a graduate school started by the United Nations Development Program to promote development in Latin America. Sylvie is fluent in Spanish and French.

Since starting Equitable Cities Consulting in January 2021, Sylvie has worked on projects related to digital equity and tech workforce development, global best practices for embedding workforce development into innovation districts in New South Wales, building workforce development pipelines between schools and employers for the US Navy supply chain, and building a course for the Federal Reserve Bank targeting small cities cohorts to develop equitable small business recovery strategies embedded in racial equity. Sylvie is currently supporting the equitable economic development of focused urban revitalization projects in Trenton and Baltimore and is co-authoring a global toolkit for Mayors to achieve a just and equitable transition as they enact climate change actions.