Listen to the people doing the work
They often know where things break down. I start with their experience, then examine responsibilities, information, and tools to understand what needs to change.
About Shawn
A career in public service and helping people do good work.
I lead people and build the conditions that help them do good work. My experience in classrooms, union leadership, elected office, and federal consulting shapes how I approach organizational decisions—and their consequences for employees and the public.
Today, I'm Director of Learning & Organization Development at Bixal. I lead federal engagements and a team that includes managers, hold P&L responsibility, and coach leaders. Fairness, public trust, and responsible use of resources guide my work.
Request my resumeHow I work
Understand the problem. Work with people. Follow through.
Give people ownership and support
I set clear expectations and give people room to exercise judgment. I offer candid feedback, support their growth, and address difficult issues directly and respectfully.
Build for the day after
The work should not depend on me being in the room. A good system keeps helping people after the meeting, the contract, or the term ends.
Experience
The work that shaped my approach.
Federal consulting and team leadership
At Bixal, I have directed a federal portfolio totaling $12.5M+ in contract value and helped bring five practices together around shared services and ways of working.
Association and nonprofit work
At the Association for Talent Development, I led professional learning projects and cross-functional teams across online, virtual, and in-person programs. My independent consulting work included nonprofit learning programs and volunteer onboarding.
Elected service in Bethlehem
From 2015 to 2019, I served on City Council. I chaired the Community and Economic Development Committee and served on the Finance and Parks & Public Property Committees. I authored FAIR, the city's recurring public review of economic development incentives. That work depended on evidence, negotiation, and support from colleagues and the administration.
Education, labor, and constituent service
I began in Pennsylvania state government, helping residents navigate public services. I later taught social studies, developed learning programs for fellow educators, and represented employees through union leadership.
M.A., Political Science
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Core subject focus: public policy, governance, and public-sector leadership.
Research within that focus: public-sector digital modernization and digital service delivery. Thesis of the Year, Political Science Department.
B.A., Education and Spanish · Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths Coach
Prosci Certified Change Practitioner · AI adoption focus
Where I want to contribute.
I'm interested in leadership roles where I can develop people and improve how organizations work over time—within an institution or across a network serving a shared mission.