As CEO of the Winters Group, she designed and conducted qualitative research with personal interviewing and focus group techniques, developed custom change models and directed the work of 20-30 consultants. She has managed large-scale client consultancies with Eastman Kodak, Xerox Corporation, Constellation Energy, Hewitt Associates, Nationwide Insurance, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), Bausch & Lomb, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Xcel Energy, and Honda Manufacturing.

Mary-Frances was previously a Human Resource Manager and Senior Market Analyst for the Eastman Kodak Company, where she held various roles in her 11 years with the company. She developed and administered Kodak’s Affirmative Action Program, led a department of 200 and worked with senior executives in strategic planning initiatives.

Recently, she served as The Future Work Institute’s Project Manager and one of the lead facilitators for training all the North American executives of BP (British Petroleum) in understanding unconscious bias.

Mary-Frances is also a writer and author of the following books and articles:

BOOKS AND REPORTS

• “CEOs Who Get It: Diversity Leadership from the Heart and Soul”, Diversity Best Practices, 2006
• “Inclusion Starts With I: Eight Steps to Inclusion: The Personal Journey.” Virginia: Renaissance Publishers Inc., 2003.
• “Only Wet Babies Like Change: Workplace Wisdom for Baby Boomers.” Virginia: Renaissance Publishers Inc., January 2002.
• “Building Business Bridges to the 21st Century: Seven New Millennium Mindshifts for Black Business Owners.” Black Business Association, 1998.
• “Reflections on Endowment Building in the African-American Community.” Cultures of Caring, June 1999.
• “Unleashing Your True Potential in the Workplace: A Journal for Self-Discovery and Unprecedented Performance.” The Winters Group, 1999.
• “Donors of Color: A Promising New Frontier for Community Foundations.” The Council on Foundations, 1993.

ARTICLES

• “Finding Your Authentic Self: Beware of the Four C’s.” Global Black Woman, June 2003.
• “Response to Change.” Executive Excellence Magazine, June 2003.
• “The Six F’s: Resistance to Change.” Profiles in Diversity Journal, May/June 2003.
• “Workplace Wisdom for Baby Boomers: Mastering the Paradoxes of Change.” Mosaics, May 2003.
• “What is the Future of Corporate Diversity?” Profiles in Diversity Journal, March/April 2003.
• “Terror, war rattle global work world.” USA Today, March 28, 2003.
• “Test scores alone are no true indicator of success.” Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, February 5, 2003.
• “Affirmative action changes lives.” USA Today, January 10, 2003
• “Blacks build new business ladders.” USA Today, November 8, 2002.
• “Tell the truth: That is one standard in business that is non-negotiable.” Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, November 4, 2002.
• “Baby Boomers are Stuck.” EMA Reporter, November 2002.
• “Doing what’s right keeps firms thriving.” USA Today, September 20, 2002.
• “The Diversity Tipping Point.” Profiles in Diversity Journal, July/August 2002.
• “Sustaining Inclusion.” Executive Excellence Magazine, March 2002.
• “Let’s Stop Training and Start Educating.” Profiles in Diversity Journal, March 2002.
• “Majority’ shifts, Problems Remain.” USA Today, August 10, 2001.
• “Recruiting and Retaining the Best and the Brightest in an Environment of Workplace Chaos.” EMA Reporter, August 2001
• “Minorities are the majority.” USA Today, July 17, 2001.
• “Boomers vulnerable to on-the-job rage.” USA Today, January 12, 2001.
• “Turn IT barrier into a bridge.” USA Today, August 25, 2000.
• “Diversity “Is”” …Inclusiveness Must Be Achieved,” International Public Management Association, July 1997.
• “Identifying and Supporting Potential Leaders,”” HRFocus, 1997.

Finally, she has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors:

AWARDS AND HONORS

• Mother of the Year, March of Dimes
• Hutchinson Medal, University of Rochester (Highest Alumni honor)
• Small Business Person of the Year, U.S. Small Business Administration, Rochester N.Y
• Honorary Doctorate Degree, Roberts Wesleyan College
• Research Award, Phi Delta Kappa Education Fraternity
• Rochester Torch bearer, Olympic Torch Relay, 1996 Summer Olympics
• Rochester Institute of Technology’s College of Continuing Education’s Distinguished Minett Professor
• Urban League’s Outstanding Community Leader Award
• Women of Enterprise Award, Avon Products Inc. and U.S. Small Business Administration
• Athena Award, Women’s Council of the Greater Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce
• Marquis “Who’s Who in American Women”
• Minority Business Person of the Year, Rochester Minority Enterprise Development Committee
• “Diversity Pioneer,” Profiles in Diversity Journal
• Top 25 Women Owned Businesses in the State of Maryland, Diversity Business.com

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

• Bachelor of Arts, Psychology and English, University of Rochester
• Masters in Business Administration, William E. Simon Graduate School of Business, University of Rochester
• Honorary Doctorate, Roberts Wesleyan College