Meet Our Consultants

DR. JAMES R. SAMUEL

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Co-Founder and President

James R. Samuel is the founder and President of The Insight Consultants. Working with leaders of such Fortune 500 companies as Wells Fargo, Bank of America, The St. Paul / Travelers Insurance Companies, Williams Companies, etc. and global clients such as Prysmian, Draka, Delhaize, etc. (he has helped managers and other employees effectively address issues related to diversity, employee relations, employee retention, organizational change and cultural competency. Insight Consultants are highly respected for their ability to foster environments wherein all employees contribute their fullest potential in order to achieve personal and corporate objectives.

Dr. Samuel is a highly valued lecturer, presenter, keynote speaker, and consultant. He has contributed to the study of diversity, equity and inclusion through his writings, teachings and published contributions. He has been cited in such renown publications as the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Charlotte Observer, Washington Minorities in Business Insiders, National Public Radio “Marketplace” and The United States Department of Justice “Weed and Seed” for his successful and innovative approach to leadership and race relations. He is the author of the book, The Roots of Racism (Vantage Press, Ny, 2001).

He received a Bachelors of Arts degree from Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC; a Masters degree from Duke University in Durham, NC; and a Doctorate from Drew University in Madison, NJ. He also received a doctorate (honoris causa) from his alma mater, Livingstone College, for his professional and intellectual contributions to the development of racial relations within colleges, communities and corporations.

Dr. Samuel has served as the Administrative and Academic Dean of a graduate institution and has taught at several colleges and universities in the United States, Caribbean and Africa. In addition to his academic expertise, his years of corporate experience in the field of banking provides a diverse and well-balanced approach to his highly effective analytical and presentation style.

He served as a consultant to two U.S. Presidents, and one U.S. Senator on race relations. He was invited to participate in a United States House of Representatives committee on workforce diversity in corporate America. He served as a member of the NC Human Relations Board; NC Governor’s Conference on Racial Reconciliation; Chairman of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Civil Service Board; NC Department of Human Resources Committee; Charlotte Community Relations Council; and as one of the organizers and Chairman of the Charlotte Race Relations Council. He has received numerous local, state and national awards for his work and leadership in the area of community service, race relations and leadership development.

Dr. Samuel is recognized locally, nationally and internationally for his powerful motivational and facilitation abilities. His powerfully persuasive platform skills place him in great demand as a consultant, facilitator, presenter, and keynote speaker.

JAN BARTON

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Co-Founder and Senior Consultant

20+ years of Leadership and Learning & Organizational Development experience, successfully developing and implementing HR solutions to include:

Organizational/People Needs Assessment
Performance Management
Management Development
Employee Development
Knowledge Management
Communication Strategy and Planning
Instructional Systems Design and Implementation
Competency Profiling Assessment and Analysis

PRYSMIAN EXPERIENCE: Jan served as lead design and development consultant and co-facilitator for Prysmian workshops which were presented during the Draka merger:

She worked as Senior Consultant with a joint Prysmian and Interscope team and led in the design, development and delivery of programs which were taught over a two year period with the goal of developing effective change strategies during the integration process between Prysmian (Italy) and Draka Cables (Holland). The programs she developed were designed to support organizational change, increase cross-cultural understanding and improve corporate communication awareness, knowledge and skills. After each series of workshops, Jan developed a Consultant’s Report which was submitted to the Prysmian North American CEO and his Executive Leadership Team.

Jan is an excellent platform presenter who holds several professional facilitator certifications. She received extremely high evaluation reviews from Prysmian executives and workshop participants for her content knowledge, effective presentation style and dynamic small and large group facilitation skills. Jan’s notable presentation presence and abilities are complimented by her in-depth knowledge of intercultural communication modalities and organizational development strategies. She is highly valued for her unique ability to assist clients in understanding the challenges of undertaking the strategic steps needed to lead their organizations from identifying conceptual problems, to initiating concrete solutions, and to improving overall organizational effectiveness.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Sr. Consultant | The Insight Consultants, Inc.
Chief Financial Officer | Livingstone College
Staff Accountant (CPA) | McGregor & Co., LLP

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS:

Certified Public Accountant, State of South Carolina, July 1992 (License Retired 2015)
BA in Accounting with Related Fields in Organizational Management and Psychology, Converse College, Spartanburg, SC – Graduated Cum Laude and Outstanding Business Student
Certified Facilitator of “Appreciation at Work”
Certified Trainer in “Crucial Conversations”
Certified Trainer in “Crucial Accountability”
MBTI Trainer

About Sam: About