CHANGEEVENTS - Key Persons
Shem Cohen, founder and CEO of Change Events, Inc., is an Organization Development Consultant with renowned expertise successfully engaging stakeholders in collaborative planning, developing leaders and leading organizational change. Mr. Cohen has spent the past twenty years helping people to align, improve and position their organizations for success through a unique blend of best-practice strategic planning and change management, systems-thinking, expert large-and small-group facilitation, experiential training design/delivery and leadership coaching skills. Combined with his previous ten years' experience designing and leading powerful experiences for individuals and groups, the results of his work deliver notable (and often historic) successes for clients. These include successful:
• organization-wide, collaborative planning and change initiatives
• multi-stakeholder engagement initiatives, building alliances across networks and organizations
• executive group planning
• merger/acquisition integration
• new business launches
• leadership transitions & leadership development initiatives
• solutions to critical business and human-system concerns
• conflict resolution
• organizational capability building and positive cultural evolution
Shem's work has been written about in three industry-leading, globally published books on best-practice whole-system planning. Most recently, Shem was honored to have his work included in the 25th Anniversary Edition of ‘Productive Workplaces' by Marvin Weisbord, voted by the Organization Development Network as one of the most influential books in the field over the past 40 years.
Mr. Cohen has led Organization Development initiatives for many corporations and many mid-market and small businesses, not-for-profit organizations and government agencies. Shem has served as both advisor and coach for senior corporate leaders, ambassadors, government and non-profit leaders on human systems, capability building, alignment, conflict resolution, and leadership.
Early in his career, Shem worked with at-risk youth where he honed his crisis intervention, conflict resolution, diplomacy and counseling skills. He was a New York State licensed wilderness guide and led hundreds of participants through outdoor adventure programs, facilitating powerful learning experiences to help people learn deeply about themselves and their groups, and grow beyond their own self-imposed limitations. After several years of corporate team building work, Shem leveraged his group-work and OD skills to new levels through earning his Master's Degree in Organization Development and cutting his teeth on Wall Street leading restructurings, strategic planning and change initiatives.
Shem is also a classically trained guitarist, having earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music/Classic Guitar Performance Concentration and taught music as adjunct faculty for Towson State University's music preparatory department. Shem still continues to play concerts and compose when time permits.
Education, Certifications
• Master's Degree in Organization Development from the American University and NTL Institute for Applied Behavioral Science
• B.S., General Studies, Music Concentration, Towson State University