You always start with the focal point. Once that’s set, the other pieces can fall into place.
Growing up my mom owned her own floral business. She worked out of our basement and I have fond memories sitting at the table watching her create masterpieces from nothing. She always used to tell me that you start with one large flower- the focal point. Once you identify that, all the other pieces can fill in around it.
Focal Point Strategic Partners approaches work in a similar way. First, we work to identify the organization’s biggest pain points, then we partner with leadership and staff to create a roadmap with the details for how we accomplish it, all while aligning closely with the organization’s overall mission and vision.
Each agency is different. Each organization has unique needs. While we employ tried and true practices to accomplish shared goals, Focal Point understands the importance of meeting with leaders and staff at all levels to identify pain points and create shared solutions. As a social worker, I worked to quickly conduct needs assessments, interviews, and focus groups in order to present an action plan that meet an organization’s needs.
Focal Point prioritizes strategic problem-solving, person-centered solutions, and transparent processes.
About Me
Jessica Smith, LGSW
With over a decade of experience in state government, Jessica understands the importance of creating systems that grow an agency’s operational capacity and accomplish their vision and goals. An expert in designing, implementing, and evaluating vital programming, Jessica has experience providing services that work for both residents and government entities.
From health and human services to public works, Jessica loves partnering with community members and employees at all levels of an organization to create and implement solutions for large-scale programmatic and operational gaps. Jessica has led keystone mayoral initiatives such as the implementation of the Short-term Family Housing Program, low-barrier shelter redesign, design of the Families First Initiative, Future of Aging human-centered design initiative, and construction of the District’s first state of the art zero waste facility. She also managed the Human Services Branch of the District’s COVID-19 response, quickly standing up a program to connect thousands of vulnerable residents in quarantine with food and other essential items, as well as the nation’s first Virtual Family Assistance Program (VFAC) that connected family members who lost loved ones to COVD-19 with counseling and other critical supports.
Founder, CEO
As a social worker, Jessica takes a collaborative approach to project management and program design, including internal and external stakeholders to ensure processes work for the people who need to use them. Jessica knows what it’s like to have limited resources and creates solutions that fit within an organizations budget and staffing. She is always creating ways to make processes more efficient and effective; whether it be for a public benefits program, core city services, or the best way to load the dishwasher - she can always find a way to improve a process. With some creative problem solving and engagement with the right people, Jessica believes that no task is too big, no puzzle too complex.
Jessica has experience working with organizations that need to build additional capacity to quickly assess a program, implement operational changes, or address a crisis. Jessica is passionate about working with leaders and staff to jump in at those moments and then work to help build internal capacity that will lead to long term changes and success.
Counsel & Advisors
Laura Newland, JD
Executive Management Consultant
Kathryn Snyder
Executive Coach and Leadership Consultant
Timothy Spriggs
Director Emeritus; Colonel, US Army
John Tropman
Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan