Our Team
At Make It Plain our values and people are what set us apart. Our team is passionate about making a measurable impact in all that we do and our culture and approach enable us to deliver enduring results that are true to each client’s specific situation. We’re here to make a difference, and strive do right by our clients, our team and our community.
Tommie Lewis
President and CEO
Tommie Lewis is the Founder, President, and CEO of Make It Plain Consulting, where he is recognized for his ability to align people, processes, and organizational culture to achieve meaningful and measurable results. Under his leadership, the firm has built a reputation for delivering practical solutions through service excellence, transformative experiences, and a culture grounded in accountability, integrity, and lasting impact. A trusted business consultant, inclusion strategist, executive coach, and facilitator, Tommie brings more than three decades of domestic and international experience partnering with corporate, academic, government, civic, and nonprofit organizations. His work focuses on helping individuals and organizations unlock their inherent strengths, navigate change, strengthen workplace culture, and build high-performing teams.
Beyond his professional work, Tommie is deeply committed to community leadership and service. He currently serves as Chairperson of The Chatfield Edge and as a board trustee for BestPoint Education & Behavioral Health and UPIC Solutions. His previous board leadership includes service with Camp Joy, 4C for Children, the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC), and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Tommie holds degrees and professional certifications in Africana Studies from Tennessee State University, Egyptology and Deep Thought from the University of Chicago, International & Cross-Cultural Management from the University of Houston, Emotional Intelligence and Diversity from the EID Institute at UCLA, Coaching Across Cultures™ Executive Coaching from the Advanced International Executive Coaching Seminar in Rome, Italy, VIA Character Strengths, and Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). He is a member of Leadership Cincinnati.
Nicole Keith, M.S.
Chief Operating Officer
Nicole brings more than 25 years of experience in finance, banking, executive administration, education, and project management. She specializes in translating strategy into execution by bridging the gap between senior leadership’s long-term vision and day-to-day operations. Nicole oversees daily administrative and operational functions, designs scalable systems and workflows to support sustainable growth, and provides financial oversight through performance monitoring and budget management. She is also an experienced team leader who strengthens organizational culture. Nicole is a certified Emotional Intelligence and Diversity trainer through the University of California, Los Angeles, and holds a BA in Social Science Studies and an MS in Justice Studies from Southern New Hampshire University.
Brittany Mention, Ed.D.
Senior Consultant, Business & Workforce Engagement
Dr. Brittany Mention is an Associate Professor of Education, consultant, and facilitator, with more than 13 years of experience in education and community engagement. Known as a connector and bridge-builder, she is passionate about bringing people together, strengthening workforce pipelines, and preparing future educators through impactful teaching, mentorship, and the meaningful integration of theory and practice. Driven by a commitment to change the narrative and serve as a catalyst for innovation in education, Dr. Mention brings a people-centered approach to every aspect of her work. Dr. Mention holds degrees from University of Cincinnati, Xavier University, and University of Findlay.
Penny Monday, MBM, M.Ed.
Senior Consultant, Business & Workforce Engagement
Penny Monday is a results-driven professional recognized for her compassionate leadership style and commitment to empowering individuals and communities. She brings extensive project management experience across diverse industries, including healthcare, public utilities, pharmaceuticals, and construction. Throughout her career, she has held impactful roles in Community Relations and Human Resources, demonstrating expertise in stakeholder engagement, innovative problem-solving, and relationship management. Her ability to foster collaboration and drive meaningful outcomes has been a hallmark of her success. Penny holds a Master of Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Master of Education in Counseling and Human Development from Lindsey Wilson College, specializing in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She also earned certifications in Emotional Intelligence and Diversity from UCLA and Social Services from Indiana Wesleyan University, respectively.
Kelly Hayden, M.A., LPC
Senior Consultant, Health Wellness, Coaching and Culture
Kelly is an expert in strategizing, developing, and implementing initiatives throughout organizations for lasting and sustainable change. She is focused on empowering others through self-awareness, knowledge, actionable items that lead to creating systemically equitable organizations. Kelly is skilled in coaching, training, and working with individuals and groups. Kelly’s expertise includes social and emotional learning, human development and behavior, diversity and cultural competency training, anti-bias training, leadership development, employee engagement, team building, and empathic listening. Kelly is married with three children and enjoys running, reading, and traveling.
Jeff Schlaeger, M.Ed., Ed. S.
Senior Consultant, Leadership & Coaching
Jeff is a practicing school psychologist, personal coach, and cultural diversity professional. This 30-year veteran behavioral scientist has direct experience in facilitating inclusive conversations, conflict mediations, interventions, training, and stakeholder engagement meetings. Jeff is experienced in the evaluation process for special education, as well as solution-focused problem-solving and counseling. He is the crisis team leader for the largest high school in Ohio. Jeff holds a BA is Psychology, an M. Ed. in Human Resource Development, an M. Ed. in Guidance and Counseling and an Ed. S. in School Psychology.
Chahnna Johnson (CJ), M.S.
Senior Consultant, Human Resources
CJ is an accomplished assessment and data analyst specializing in organizational development, strategic planning, and workforce training. With a BA in Business Administration in Marketing & Human Resources from The Ohio State University and an M.S. in Sociology from The University of Cincinnati, she serves as an Adjunct Professor of Sociology, focusing on Race and Socioeconomics. With over 10 years of corporate experience, Chahnna is a Director of Human Resources, adept in conflict resolution, program evaluation, continuous quality improvement, and strategic decision-making. Her expertise extends to climate assessments, survey analysis, and training staff on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Ms. Johnson is recognized for her qualitative and quantitative research skills, making her a valuable asset in observing and analyzing social behavior across different corporate levels.
Ernie Hayes, SPHR
Senior Consultant, Human Resources
Ernie is a seasoned human resources leader with a distinguished career leading enterprise-wide HR strategy, organizational transformation, and cultural evolution. With more than two decades of progressive HR leadership experience, he is a strategic leader in the areas of employee relations, organizational development, leadership coaching, equity, and inclusion management, and talent management functions including experience with employee retention programs, total rewards, talent and performance management programs, and labor unions. He is recognized for his ability to align people strategy with business strategy, elevate leadership capability, and build high-performing, inclusive cultures. Ernie holds a Bachelors of Arts in Organizational Communications from Xavier University, a certification designation of SPHR from the Human Resources Certification Institute, and designated certification of SHRM-SCP from Society of Human Resources Management.
Jeanne Brauns, MBA, SPHR
Senior Consultant, Human Resources
Jeanne is human resource professional and culture specialist with more than 30 years of experience. She has served as a Human Resource Director as well as Director of Diversity & Inclusion with responsibility for Human Resources & Diversity Strategy, Supplier Diversity, Employee Resource Groups and Community Affairs. Jeanne holds a Master of Business Administration from the Indiana University- South Bend, Indiana and a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She is a recipient of the Woman of Excellence - 2022 from The West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance. Jeanne serves on various community and foundation boards in the Northern Cincinnati area.
Anita Bothwell
Senior Consultant, Human Resources
Anita offers extensive experience with claim procedures, collection techniques and customer query resolution in several industries such as medical billing, estate/home foreclosure, foster care and social services. Anita's expertise includes the development and implementation of policy and training which focus on metrics which make a great impact on liquidity of the company. In addition to the work she does as an account specialist, she also has experience with cultural competency and diversity training, team building and conflict resolution. She is most passionate about promoting empowerment and encouraging sustainable ideas through critical thinking and innovation and highly prioritizes financial sustainability and producing favorable returns on investment and maximizing long-term organizational strength.
James Mary, M.S.
Senior Consultant, Leadership & Coaching
James offers 35 years of experience facilitating community dialogues, diversity forums, and staff retreats for various industries. James provides expertise in employee development, cross-cultural communications, conflict resolution and emotional intelligence. He is a trainer with niches in Crucial Conversations and Leadership Development. James holds degrees in Psychology from the University of Georgia and a Master’s in HR Development from Xavier University. James is an energetic and engaging teacher/coach who guides leaders and teams through complex business issues, with straightforward practical solutions, while maintaining a focus on people. And woven through all these topics is the JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) work that he has been a part of for the past 15 years.
Kathy Grant, M.Ed.
Senior Consultant, Leadership & Coaching
Kathy is a skilled interviewer, career services professional coach, and organizational strategies expert. More than three decades of experience in higher education, legal and public/retail industry sectors and association management. She is a strategic and innovative professional, effective in career and professional development coaching. Kathy has held positions in leadership, career service and recruiting including Program Manager Professional Development and Community Engagement at Mount St. Joseph University, Coop Coordinator and Adjunct Instructor at Cincinnati State, Strengths Finder Coach, and career coach.
Ihsan Walker, J.D.
Senior Consultant, Legal
Ihsan is an attorney whose work is grounded in rigorous advocacy, thoughtful analysis, and collaborative problem-solving. His practice includes business, civil, tort, and employment litigation, among other areas. Before entering the legal profession, he served in community-focused roles with the City of Cincinnati, where he built a reputation for clear communication, effective case management, and client-centered service. Ihsan earned his law degree from the University of Dayton School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and major in Spanish Literature, Language, and Culture from Xavier University. He is licensed to practice in Ohio, Kentucky, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, and U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio.
Maronica Williams, AIRS, DDI
Senior Consultant, Workforce Development
Maronica brings over 20 years of Human Resources experience with major corporations, specializing in Talent Acquisition and Diversity Recruitment. She has a proven track record in large-scale employee relations, strategic workforce planning, project management, behavioral interviewing, employee selection, and process improvement. Her expertise spans program development, stakeholder engagement, conflict resolution, university relationship management, event planning, and diversity sourcing strategies. Maronica is a proud graduate of Kentucky State University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business with a concentration in Marketing. She is also a graduate of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program. She holds certifications as an AIRS Diversity Sourcing & Recruiting Professional and a Certified DDI Targeted Selection Facilitator and is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Nichole Sims, B.B.A
Senior Consultant, Workforce Development
Nichole Sims is a workforce development and recruiting consultant with 25+ years of experience supporting organizations in improving hiring practices, developing leaders, and strengthening workforce effectiveness. Her expertise spans full-cycle recruitment, talent strategy, leadership development, and workforce training, with a strong focus on creating compliant, practical, and scalable people processes. Nichole specializes in group training and facilitation, delivering leadership development, career development, conflict management, and change-focused workshops that are highly interactive and grounded in real workplace scenarios. Her facilitation approach is informed by eight years of collegiate-level instruction, equipping her to lead engaging, results-oriented sessions that help teams build skills, improve communication, and apply learning immediately.
Margie Anderson
Certified Business Partner
Margie is President of Anderson Business & Consulting Resources, LLC located in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is MBE, WBE, DBE and WOSB certified with experience in empowering public and private organizations to enhance workforce excellence, leadership development, and develop future-focused talent solutions that drive engagement, performance, and sustainable growth in today’s rapidly evolving digital, social, and global workforce. Margie also works collaboratively with partners to expand global reach, foster innovation, pool resources, and integrate solutions.
