Capabilities: Partners & Highlights
Trusted Partner
Our mission - to empower people to navigate change, grow with purpose, and build resilience - is the same, while the approach is custom to the client, circumstances and capacity.
Scroll down to check out our partners and highlights of client engagements.
Review our capability statements for private sector, higher education, nonprofits and individuals & federal government.
Check out some testimonials through site and more here.
We've worked with clients from global businesses, entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses, community foundations, regional & national nonprofits, college & university, federal & regional government and coaching individuals, teams and groups on leadership, team & organizational dynamics, executive development, change management, career transition, etc.
Sharon Coplai
“What I enjoyed most during our interactions was feeling like you really heard me!
You understood what I needed to ask of my (team) before I even had it articulated in my own thoughts.
Then you gently, but firmly, held me accountable to letting others take responsibility to free me to do what I really need to be doing for the organization.”
Executive Director of Renewing Homes of Greater Augusta
Jennifer Whitmore
“George brings energy and clarity to every session. Students consistently describe him as inspiring, engaging, and an excellent facilitator.
His ability to lead meaningful group discussions and listen attentively creates a dynamic learning environment.
Participants especially appreciate his thoughtful handouts and clear, practical teaching style.“
Nora Sutton
"Working with George has taught me so much about facilitating meetings and conversations where people feel heard and valued, and have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully.”
James Madison University’s Office Economic & Community Development
Jesus Lopez
“My takeaways (from the group coaching are)
- The importance of networking
- Putting yourself in others' shoes.
- Learn to take advice from others because their input can be very valuable. ”
Leigh Evans
"I appreciated the honesty/vulnerability of the individuals in the group.
Having people engage openly fostered my feeling that these issues are 'normal,' and that I am capable of handling them."
Board chair & Director Research to Impact at James Madison University
Dan Layman
“I found in you someone who I can trust with things that I would normally have taken on myself.”
Patience Miller
“Thank you so much for leading such an insightful session! It was a valuable training experience, and I truly appreciated your time and expertise” from LinkedIn
HR & Training at Dynamic Aviation
Coaching Client
"Working with George was wonderful.
He is helpful, empathetic, practical, and inspiring.
He gave me lots of welcome encouragement..."
Coaching Client
"I am so appreciative of your support and guidance through this entire process.
It has made a world of difference in feeling prepared for this big leap!”
Team Development Participant
"George is an excellent presenter and does a great job of engaging the audience.
Thank you for helping our group to be more vulnerable - this is where we need to do more work. ”
Team Development Participant
"This guy is amazing!
I love how he approaches training and conversation."
At the x-roads of change, how you proceed matters
Why Clients Choose X-Roads Advisory
- Human‑Centered, Systems‑Aware Insight: Every intervention is rooted in positive psychology and behavioral science, ensuring solutions that honor people while optimizing whole‑system performance.
- Cross‑Sector Mastery: From global companies to fast‑moving startups to government agencies to higher education and nonprofit organizations, George steers leaders and teams through restructurings, culture shifts, and strategic pivots with proven success.
- Deep, Credible Expertise: M.Sc., Applied Behavioral Science at Johns Hopkins University; Executive Coaching Diploma & Certificates at Emory University; credentialed IFC coach; certified in Hogan, DISC, IF Collaborative Discussions, career‑transition, entrepreneurial coaching, etc; currently pursuing advanced team‑coaching accreditations (AATC & ACTC).
Client & Partner Highlights
CLIENTS
- Association of Fundraising Professionals of the Shenandoah Valley
- Augusta Health
- Augusta Medical Group
- Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC)
- Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
- Brain Injury Connections of the Shenandoah Valley
- City of Harrisonburg Economic Development
- City of Waynesboro Economic Development
- Colonnade Club at the University of Virginia
- Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge
- Community Health Network of Western North Carolina (CHNWNC)
- D.C. Bar
- D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center
- Dynamic Aviation
- GiveSolar
- Habitat for Humanity Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro
- Habitat for Humanity Virginia
- James Madison University's (JMU) College of Arts & Letters (CAL)
- JMU's Institute for Constructive Advocacy and Dialogue (ICAD)
- JMU’s Office of Economic and Community Development (OECD)
- JMU’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE)
- JMU's University Economic Development Council (UEDC)
- NIH's National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- NIH’s National Eye Institute (NEI)
- NIH's National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
- Public Relations Council of the Shenandoah Valley
- Project Grows
- Renewing Homes of Greater Augusta
- ShenanArts Theater
- Shenandoah Valley Airport
- Shenandoah Valley Partnership
- Startup Champions Network
- StartUp Experience
- Staunton Music Festival
- Wayne Theatre
- Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra
- USO (United Service Organizations)
- Valley Children’s Advocacy Center
- Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS)
- Vector Industries
- Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
- Wintergreen Adaptive Sports
- YMCA of Staunton Augusta
- YMCA of Waynesboro
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
Big Tent Consulting, Center for Nonprofit Excellence, Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge, Schuler Solutions, Shenandoah Community Capital Fund
AFFILIATE PARTNERS
Explore the full list Tools & Resources for leadership, team, professional and workforce development, including assessments, apps, books and more
HIGHLIGHTS OF CLIENT ENGAGEMENTS
Coaching
Leader, Team & Transition coaching with 500+ hours of experience
- Leadership Coaching
- Attorneys at D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center on leadership development and navigating change (1:1)
- Board chair of regional arts organization on change management, organizational development & leadership
- Board Chair & Executive Director of nonprofit focused on workforce development for people with disabilities about opportunity development, board development and future planning (team coaching)
- Board Chair & Executive Director of national nonprofit on organizational strategy, opportunity development and shared governance (team coaching)
- Board Chair & Executive Director of regional nonprofit on opportunity development, shared listening and risk taking (team coaching)
- Board of Directors of regional arts organization on interpersonal relationships, awareness & change management (team coaching)
- CEO & Executive Leader of two organizations exploring a deeper partnership for a national campaign around team dynamics, clarity of vision & expectations (1:1 & team coaching)
- CEO of quasi-government institution on change management, organizational development & leadership
- CEO of regional healthcare organization on startup, building infrastructure, board engagement & leadership
- Emerging leader and first time people manager at NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) on career & leadership development
- Executive in academia on organizational change, team development, managing up, own leadership and career transition to nonprofit sector
- Executive Directors (CEOs) of nonprofit organizations on change management, organizational development & professional development (1:1, team & group coaching)
- Executive C-suite leader at international nonprofit on professional development, leadership and transition to new organization
- Executive C-suite leader at regional nonprofit on professional development using DISC, awareness and transition to new organization
- Executive Director (CEO) of regional arts organization on change management & leadership development
- Executive Director (CEO) of regional nonprofit navigating transition to a national campaign with parnter to clarify roles, expectations and team building
- Executive leader at global media company about leadership presence, navigating change, managing up and career development
- Executive leader at regional nonprofit on professional development using DISC, awareness and leadership development for transition to C-suite leader
- Executive leader at trade association on professional development, awareness using PrinciplesYou, and leadership
- Staff of regional nonprofit navigating transition to a national campaign with parnter to clarify roles, expectations and team building (team coaching)
- Scientists 1:1 at NIH’s Division of Pre-Clinical Innovation within the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) on career navigation & leadership development
- Entrepreneurs & Small Business
- Group coaching series with cohort of entrepreneurs, startup & small business leaders on business lifecycle, peer support, best practices and collaborative problem solving in the "hot seat" with lightning rounds as part of City of Harrisonburg Economic Development Black & Brown Owned Business Growth Program (B³)
- Small business leaders, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders at individual and organizational levels
- Small business owner on professional development, identifying opportunities, accountability and actions
- Career transition coaching
- Coaching 100+ individuals (1:1) and groups (group coaching) to navigate transitions & explore what’s next using a GROW model from variety of industries, including academia/ higher edu, arts, banking & finance, entertainment & media, government, healthcare, pharma, nonprofit/ NGO, small business, tech, trade associations, etc.
Consulting
Thoughtful, strategic, bespoke & hands-on approach to
- Advised a quasi-government institution on change management, organizational development & leadership as it prepares for strategic planning and succession planning
- Consulted, advised and engaged Board members and Executive Director about strategic planning and organizational development at Wintergreen Adaptive Sports
- Created & developed succession planning & board development program with Renewing Homes of Greater Augusta
- Created & established guides, tools, templates and best practices for organizational and executive communications at NIH’s National Eye Institute (NEI) as project lead and subject matter expert across data collection, assessment, analysis, recommendations, development of deliverables, adoption & training
- Developed a coaching program for civility at NIH’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) as subject matter expert across data collection, assessment, analysis, recommendations, development of deliverables, adoption & training
- Develop, lead & project manage Next Generation Governance Initiative, a 2 year cohort of leaders from 12 nonprofits + next generation community volunteers in partnership with Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge
Facilitation
Designed, developed & facilitated team building, dynamics, collaboration, communications & discussions
- Blue Ridge Area Food Bank for ongoing leadership development program with 26 leaders across multiple sessions of training, discussions and coaching to raise awareness about own leadership style based around DISC, how to adapt styles for better communication and relationships grounded in shared values, coaching as a manager, embedding a culture of inclusion, leading high performing teams, and navigating change with sessions titled: Awareness of Self & Others, Managing & Coaching for Results & Performance; Leadership & Growth: Reflecting, Reconnecting & Recommitting; Leadership in Action: Teams, Trust & Transitions
- Blue Ridge Community College for strategic direction retreat with all employees - faculty, staff & leadership - (200+ people) serving as Producer, Designer, Developer, Facilitator & Host for five year strategic planning
- Brain Injury Center of Shenandoah Valley for team building with Executive Director and staff
- Colonnade Club at the University of Virginia for strategic planning focused on values development and alignment, strategic and generative board meetings and building momentum for ongoing development with Board of Governors and Executive Director
- Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge's Next Generation Governance Initiative for 9 sessions over 2 years with cohort of Nonprofit leaders & next generation community volunteers
- Habitat for Humanity Virginia for team building and project planning to expand local solar initiative to a national campaign with GiveSolar as a partner using DISC, team building, expectations, clarifying roles, RACI & next steps
- Project Grows for team retreat with board, staff and JMU students studying nonprofit management about board governance, board curiosity, and building trust, communication and learning
- Renewing Homes of Greater Augusta for succession planning & board development with Board & Executive Director
- Reframe Your Recruitment Workshop for Gen Z & Gen Alpha Session for area employers sponsored by JMU’s Office of Economic and Community Development
- ShenanArts Theater series of sessions focused on strategic planning, team building, including revision of mission, vision and values and foundation for operational plans with Board & Executive Committee
- Shenandoah Valley Collaborative Economic Summit 2024 breakout groups with James Madison University’s (JMU) Institute for Constructive Advocacy and Dialogue on behalf of JMU’s Office of Economic and Community Development
- Shenandoah Valley Collaborative Housing Study Session with community leaders to take action on study developed by Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) and sponsored by JMU’s Office of Economic and Community Development
- Shenandoah Valley Nonprofit Forum Fundraising Insights & Collaborative Problem-Solving Session with a talented panel of experts to share context, and engage with other nonprofit leaders in smaller community circles to offer ideas to an issue raised by a leader in the hot seat with lightening rounds facilitated by area professionals sponsored by JMU’s Office of Economic and Community Development
- Startup Champions Network 2024 conference's Roses & Thorns session with Shenandoah Community Capital Fund
- StartUp Experience breakout groups with high school students with Shenandoah Community Capital Fund
- Startup Champions Network 2024 conference's community building dinner event with local nonprofit leaders & entrepreneurs
- USO for strategic discussions at heaquarters with USO's Global Entertainment team about what's next for the global strategy, team development and collaborations.
- University Economic Development Council (UEDC) at JMU for mission revision, value proposition, identify early wins, operationalize growth & improvement plan, and optimize meetings of UEDC
- Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS) for stronger team cohesion, deepen connections & trust, understand what makes for leading high performing teams, and begin to clarify expectations about values
- Wayne Theatre for strategic planning and team building focused on board engagement and alignment for next steps
- Wayne Theatre for team building, Board's role in governance & how the Board might use the strategic plan to make decisions, set priorities, support the staff, and champion & embrace the plan
- Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra for strategic planning and action focused on advancing planning and action
Training & Presentations
Develop, design, draft and facilitate learning. Check out Tools & Resources for Training, Workshops, Seminars, Speeches & more!
- Behind the Spotlight: Navigating Talent Relations in Global Entertainment with members of the Public Relations Council of the Shenandoah Valley
- Building Better Boards: Overview & Group Coaching workshop for nonprofit leaders hosted by Staunton Innovation Hub
- Building Better Boards: Recruiting to Give and Get workshop for nonprofit leaders sponsored by the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge
- Building Better Boards: Roles & Responsibilities at Blue Ridge Community College
- Building Better Boards: Meetings & Planning for Purpose workshop for nonprofit leaders hosted by Staunton Innovation Hub and at Blue Ridge Community College
- Building Better Boards: Onboarding Your Board at Blue Ridge Community College
- Building Better Boards: Retaining & Engaging Leaders at Blue Ridge Community College
- Building Workplace Resilience at Augusta Health
- Building Management Muscles Series at Blue Ridge Community College
- Change Management: Leading through Change at Blue Ridge Community College
- Coaching as a Manager at Augusta Health
- Coaching Leaders for Human Resources at Dynamic Aviation
- Coaching Your Team as a Leader at Blue Ridge Community College
- Culture: Strategic Priority & Your Role as a Leader at Blue Ridge Community College and Shenandoah Valley SHRM
- Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Why EQ Matters to Manage at Blue Ridge Community College
- Essential Leadership Series at Blue Ridge Community College
- Foundations of EQ I Why EQ Matters to Manage at Augusta Health
- Foundations of Project Management & Team Communications course for corporate clients (Merck & Co.) and public through James Madison University
- Meetings: Making Better Use of Meetings at Blue Ridge Community College
- Mindfulness: An Introduction to Attention and the Now at Blue Ridge Community College
- Networking for Connections: Degrees of Kevin Bacon workshop for employees at Augusta Health, Blue Ridge Community College, and Association of Fundraising Professionals Shenandoah Valley Chapter
- Resilience: An Introduction to Better Understand Yourself and Your Life Experiences at Blue Ridge Community College
- Team Building I High Performing Teams at Augusta Health, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Dynamic Aviation, Habitat for Humanity Virginia