Spotlight

At CI International, our journey to becoming the industry standard for guiding leaders and organizations to greatness is built on our team of experienced consultants and experts who understand our clients and provide custom solutions that lead to lasting results.

In our CI Spotlight Series, we’re shining a light on our team members making a difference for the corporations, cabinet-level government agencies, public health institutions, and non-profits we serve.

Margaret Walthall Headshot

Dr. Margaret A. Walthall

Always Game for a New Challenge

Margaret Walthall has no intention of slowing down.

A lifelong Marylander, Margaret enjoys keeping a full schedule. When she’s not busy adding her expertise to the robust consulting services at CI International, she’s spending time by the ocean, enjoying the outdoors, or cheering on Washington sports teams. She’s also actively involved in the day-to-day lives of her two grandchildren and spends time volunteering with organizations in her area.”My husband is retired, but even when I have two weeks off from work, I keep thinking ‘I’ve got to do something’ which tells me I’m not ready to retire,” she said.

Margaret’s active lifestyle shows up in her professional life too, serving as an adjunct human resource management professor with the University of Maryland Global Campus. Her natural desire to take on new challenges is part of what makes Margaret such an important member of the CI International team.

Fancy Mills Headshot

Fancy Mills

Raised in Public Service

Fancy Mills grew up with a deep understanding of what it means to serve.

Her mother was a thirty-year veteran schoolteacher and as the daughter of an Air Force Commander and pilot, granddaughter of an Army pilot, sister of an Air Force reservist, and wife of a Naval soldier, Fancy’s family has shown the willingness to set themselves aside and serve their country.
“My entire life, I’ve been surrounded by people who take service really seriously, which has also impacted my choice of career,” Fancy said.

Military life, Fancy said, also contributed to her having a close-knit family and played a major role in the level of confidence she brings to her career.

“My early life helped me build a lot of confidence. We moved quite frequently, so I had to go to new schools and make new friends quickly. This led directly into my career because my entire career I’ve had to walk into rooms and establish credibility quickly.”

Heath Harding Headshot

Heath Harding

“Running fast and holding hands…”

Heath Harding has spent his entire professional career shaping, developing, and guiding leaders to reach their full potential and impact. While today you can usually find him outside hiking in the mountains around his Colorado home or walking his dog, his passion for developing and teaching leadership skills has its roots in his rural Midwest upbringing.

“I grew up in a rural community in Kansas where people helped each other with a cup of sugar, sharing farm implements, and fixing a fence,” he said. “Community services has been a part of my life since the beginning.”

Beginning at his alma mater, Kansas State University, Heath spent the first several years of his professional life working in academia at multiple universities as a lecturer and leadership program director.

It was during his time in Manhattan, Kansas that his leadership philosophy first took shape. Working as an assistant director of the school’s leadership program, Heath heard the program director describe their rapid growth by saying, “We were running fast and holding hands.”

“That has become a mantra since then. It’s not if you stumble but when you stumble, you don’t face plant in the dirt because someone is on either side of you carrying you in that moment,” Heath said.

Shelly Heath Watson Headshot

Shelly Heath-Watson

A Lifetime of Service

“That’s just what you do. You serve others. It’s not even something I took on knowingly. It’s the water I swam in. (Service) is a family value.”

For Shelly Heath-Watson, service isn’t just something you do. Early on, Shelly saw the powerful impact of serving others from the example set by her parents within their extended family and their tight-knit community in Catskill, New York. Shelly remembers singing Christmas carols at local nursing homes and a nearby prison, as well as contributing to her church and helping family members in need. It was all done with the core belief that “we are called to serve,” a belief that Shelly carries into her professional life.

Alex Carlin Headshot

Alex Carlin

A true team player

Alex Carlin learned the value of being part of a team at an early age.
The fourth of five brothers, Alex understood the importance of relationships and how to put the values of the team ahead of your own.

“Having people in your life who you don’t want to let down, has been my motivating factor,” Alex said of his tight knit family. “Having that group around, and understanding the sacrifices made for me, is why I always want to be sure I’m pulling my weight and doing the right thing. That same mindset applies to my ‘work family’ too.”

A life-long sports lover and high school quarterback, Alex carries the lessons he learned from his experience playing team sports to his professional life. While his sports playing days are now with his weekend hockey league, these experiences have allowed Alex to have a deeper understanding of the way relationships can influence and empower an organization.

“My end goal remains wanting to create truly valuable relationships with the people that are around me in my inner circle and those I engage with,” he said. “That takes a lot of work, and there’s a lot attached to actually practicing it.”