The Vandaveer Group began in 1993 out of my passionate conviction that there had to be a better way for consultants to serve clients. In fact, it was at the urging of a client that I took the plunge at all. The client was the CEO of a health care system, struggling to merge two hospitals with very different cultures, and our work together formed the basis of a powerfully effective partnership.

What he and his Chairman of the Board of Directors needed was the required expertise with hands-on, attentive, and personalized service - and a plan of action suited to their particular and very specialized situation. What had not been helpful before were the premium-priced but ready-made templated solutions offered by the large and less personal consulting firms.

Having worked on both sides of the client/consultant table, I understood the challenges and opportunities this client faced. Together we forged ahead--and succeeded by doing things differently.

This successful experience has formed the foundation of The Vandaveer Group's practice as it stands today, bound by these simple tenets:

• Every organization is different - Although basic principles of human behavior and organizational culture apply, one size does not fit all when you're dealing with complex change.
• True partnering is essential - Combining our knowledge bases and expertise produces the strongest outcomes.
• Experience must be matched with needs - Never under-deliver on the skill level and values a client's challenges demand.
• Building in-house capability is critical for sustained change - Working together to help you grow takes us all to the next levels of effectiveness.

At The Vandaveer Group, we believe our greatest strength is helping our clients capitalize on their own.

Vicki V. Vandaveer, Ph.D.