About Us
How did we get here?

“Metamorphic Consulting emerged from the merger of Solid Ground and Connected Realities, combining decades of experience in building resilient organizations.”
Purpose Statement

Metamorphic Consulting helps organizations thrive under pressure by guiding them through high-stress and high-opportunity situations with collaborative planning and resilience-building. As a product of the merger between Solid Ground Consulting and Connected Realities, we bring decades of experience and build a solid foundation to help people navigate complexity, uncertainty, and transformation.
Meet The Rock Band
(because metamorphic rock is formed through high heat and pressure… get it? 😉)

Joy Lujan (She/Her)
Principal / Senior Planner
Learn More About Joy
Joy Lujan is a strategist, facilitator, and planner with a passion for helping organizations navigate complexity, build resilience, and align for impact. With over 25 years of experience—including 18 years with the National Park Service—Joy specializes in participatory planning, stakeholder engagement, and organizational leadership and culture.
As a co-founder of Metamorphic Consulting, Joy brings a deep understanding of how teams, organizations, and networks transform under pressure. She believes that high-stakes moments can be opportunities for growth and clarity when approached with the right process and mindset. Her facilitation style is thoughtful, engaging, and rooted in the belief that the best solutions come from inclusive, well-structured conversations.
Joy’s work spans nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and collaborative networks, supporting them in clarifying their direction, strengthening partnerships, and adapting to change. She also writes about organizational dynamics, leadership, and resilience—exploring how teams and organizations can thrive under pressure.
Based in Colorado, Joy is committed to fostering meaningful dialogue and effective collaboration in every space she works

Marc Smiley (He/Him)
Senior Organizational Strategist and Principal
Learn More About Marc
The big room. The tough nut. The difficult conversation. The most vexing problem.
This is what gets Marc up in the morning – usually very early – and drives him through the day: working with leaders of community organizations to make a difference. The bigger the challenge, the better.
For more than 30 years, Marc has served as a guide, a resource, and a partner with hundreds of organizations committed to healthy communities, vital nature, and equitable systems. As a founder of Solid Ground, Marc has cobbled a team designed to empower and embolden leaders
to make their communities better places for everyone.
Marc has often been there at the start of things. He was an initial staff member for the Land Trust Alliance, River Network, and the Yakima Greenway Foundation. Other employment stints include United Way and Oregon Wild (then known as the Oregon Natural Resource Council).
And in 1999, Marc guided the rollout and start-up of what is now Oregon’s fourth largest nonprofit organization, the Energy Trust of Oregon.
As a volunteer, Marc has likewise been there in the beginning of things small (like the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy) and big (like the Land Trust Accreditation Commission). He also has held leadership roles at REACH Community Development and Columbia Land Trust.
Through a consulting career traveling actually (and now virtually) across the entire U.S., Marc has worked extensively with groups focused on conservation, climate and sustainability, historic
preservation, affordable housing, and health and human services. He has published books on board governance, strategic planning, and fundraising, as well as dozens of articles in journals
and periodicals. His workshops are spirited, memorable, and brimming with relevant tools and information. Challenging facilitation is his forte.
College includes a degree from the University of Oregon in Eugene with education spanning the communications arts – from journalism to classical rhetoric. Eugene is also where he found his professional stride and fell in love.
Marc is a native Oregonian whose efforts to migrate elsewhere can’t overcome a homing instinct. Marc’s head is full of music that spans an eclectic mix, and he can find the perfect lyric from an obscure song from the last century if the circumstances warrant it. Sadly, it seldom does. Family is important, and raising two boys with his wife Amy may be his most important role. Sam and Tucker are now men, and a new generation of community service continues what Marc and Amy have been doing throughout their own lives.

Christine Rontal (She/They)
Senior Planner
Learn More About Christine
Christine has supported a variety of organizations focused on a wide range of issues including land use, conservation, health and human services, affordable housing, and social justice for 25 years nationally and internationally. Educated at Columbia University in Social Enterprise Administration, she excels in facilitation and consensus building, strategic and action planning, board development and governance, resource development, staffing, communications, and executive leadership. In addition to her 10 years as a consultant, Christine has served nonprofits as an executive director, staff member, board member, and volunteer. When free, she spends time with her family traveling and exploring different cultures and natural places, seeing live music, skiing, biking, gardening, and cooking.

Tim Howe (He/Him)
Engagement Specialist
Learn More About Tim
Tim Howe brings fifteen years of expertise to the intersection of nonprofit communication and education consultation, with a specialized focus on sustainability education. His distinct background empowers clients to construct systems that resonate internally and externally, emphasizing the importance of joy and play within organizational structures. Tim’s commitment to infusing purposeful connections between organizations and their core missions is unwavering. He advocates for capacity building anchored in a clear and energized “why,” aligning seamlessly with his belief that an organization’s purpose should be a driving force for positive change. Proudly working for an organization where client missions align with his own, Tim creates a powerful synergy that propels meaningful results.
Outside his professional sphere, Tim seeks inspiration in nature and the arts. Whether exploring the scenic trails of the Columbia River Gorge or immersing himself in the vibrant music scene near Portland, he finds creative rejuvenation. Tim’s pursuit of the perfect bowl of ramen encapsulates his philosophy of savoring life’s simple pleasures, reflecting his dedication to both professional excellence and a fulfilling personal life.

Stacey Konner (She/Her)
Executive Search Strategist
Learn More About Stacey
Stacey has more than 20 years’ experience working for purpose-driven companies and nonprofit organizations and a decade leading nonprofit executive searches and sourcing. With more than 300 successful searches completed, she has experience with all aspects of executive search services. She is certified as a Certified Diversity and Inclusion Recruiter (CDR), Certified Diversity Sourcing Professional (CDSP), and Certified People Sourcing Professional (CPSP). Stacey proactively discovers, pursues, and attracts hard-to-find diverse and underrepresented talent, resulting in dramatically enhanced diversity talent acquisition. She is a member of the Network of Nonprofit Search Consultants, an association of experienced search consultants who meet the highest quality standards in the profession. Stacey received her BS degree in Forestry from the University of California at Berkeley and studied Computer Systems Analysis at Miami University. Stacey lives in Washington on the Canadian border and enjoys hiking and kayaking there.

Dori Rosenblum (She/Her)
Business Manager
Learn More About Dori
Meet Dori Rosenblum, the organizational maestro at Metamorphic Consulting. With an exceptional eye for detail and a dedication to tracking and following up on every aspect, Dori is the backbone of our business, bringing invaluable institutional memory to the table.
While Dori takes her role seriously, she infuses the workplace with humor and a love for fun, inspired by the fantastic team she works alongside. Dori values Metamorphic’s mission and enjoys working in an environment that appreciates and respects her contributions. In her free time, Dori stays fit through daily exercise and finds joy in annual rafting trips, global travel, hiking, the Oregon coast, and treasured monthly lunch dates with a lifelong best friend of over 55 years.
Balancing professional dedication and a zest for life’s adventures, Dori is an indispensable asset to our team, offering a unique mix of expertise and vibrant energy. Whether it’s about business or a good laugh, feel free to connect with at dori@consultmetamorphic.com

Kaethe Graves (She/Her)
Executive Assistant
Learn More About Kaethe
With over 20 years of experience as an Executive Assistant in the non-profit sector, Kaethe is a dedicated professional known for exceptional organizational skills, executive support, and a commitment to mission-driven work. Her expertise in administrative
management, planning, and stakeholder coordination has been instrumental in supporting leadership teams and driving operational efficiency.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Kaethe values family above all else, finding joy in spending time with her three grown children and five grandchildren. A lover of adventure and the outdoors, she embraces every opportunity to explore nature, travel,
and discover new experiences. Gardening, cooking, and trying new recipes is one of the many ways she connects with her family and others. Her ability to balance a thriving career with a deep appreciation for family and adventure speaks to their strong sense
of dedication, adaptability, and enthusiasm for life.
Passionate about making a difference, Kaethe continues to bring her skills, heart, and experience, ensuring organizations thrive while staying true to their mission.

Jamie Rasmussen (She/Her)
Organizational Strategist
Learn More About Jamie
Jamie (she/her) is a communications strategist, planner, facilitator, engagement specialist, and community organizer. With over 12 years of experience in marketing, advertising, and communications for brands and organizations nationwide, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a dynamic presence to her work. Jamie’s contagious energy keeps you engaged and excited about the world of communications and inclusive messaging. Her diverse experiences in the communications world allow her to tap into the natural human elements of connection, making your words powerful and meaningful.
Jamie’s extensive experience contributes to a successful and well-rounded strategic planning framework that enables productive workshops and partner meetings. Her ability to integrate comprehensive strategic planning with her facilitation skills ensures that each session is not only well-structured but also highly engaging. By fostering an inclusive environment and encouraging active participation, Jamie ensures that all voices are heard, leading to collaborative and innovative solutions. Her strategic insights and dedication to community-centric approaches enable her to design and implement plans that drive meaningful and sustainable outcomes for her partners and clients.
Equity Statement.

We acknowledge that people have faced discrimination and exclusion for centuries because of their identities, and this has created an unfair society. MC envisions a just world where everyone can advocate for their needs, make meaningful changes in their lives and communities, and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity. We believe that ongoing efforts to ensure equity and inclusion are necessary for everyone to be able to live more authentically and fully. As an organization, we believe that having diverse perspectives makes our work richer and stronger. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone is treated equitably. We also pledge to keep learning and improving as individuals and as a firm, so our actions consistently reflect our values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.