Team Perspectives
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Read Dr. Barbara K. Gannon’s Full Profile…
Dr. Barbara K. Gannon, Principal
Dr. Barbara Gannon is a leadership consultant and clinical psychologist with experience as a transit operations and general manager. This unique background unites leadership and psychological theory with a practical solution-based approach. Dr. Gannon is highly regarded for her expertise in facilitation, consultation and building engaged teams. As a trusted advisor and consultant, Barbara facilitates difficult conversations and helps leaders calibrate their strengths with the rigorous demands of the work.
In the midst of the 2020 pandemic, Dr. Gannon shifted in-person facilitation and coaching to a virtual model, and she has found that her skills honed as a psychologist enable trusting connections to be built long-distance through web-based consultation. She continues to offer virtual facilitation of strategic sessions and Leadership Study Groups, CEO conversations, individual assessments, and program evaluations. Barbara is encouraged by the popularity of her coaching practice as leaders grapple with challenges of daily living from health, economic and social issues.
As Principal at GannonConsult, Dr. Gannon is interested in transportation’s role in the quality of life of individuals and communities. Barbara continues to support transportation leaders as they work to build and maintain vital transportation networks in their communities. Dr. Gannon was awarded the International Partnering Institute’s Diamond Award for facilitation of partnering sessions for the construction of light rail and commuter rail projects for the Utah Transit Authority—an acknowledgement of her expert facilitation of teams delivering complex capital projects.
Throughout her career, Dr. Gannon has built the leadership capacity and encouraged the personal growth of over 2,500 transportation sector leaders in professional development courses that she designed and directed. In 2020, the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) awarded Dr. Gannon the North Star Award for her contributions to the advancement of tolling professionals. For her role as an advocate and expert in the transportation workforce, Dr. Gannon was awarded the 2014 Women Who Move the Nation designee from the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO).
Dr. Barbara Gannon is a graduate of the University of Kansas and was granted a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from William James College in Newton, MA. Dr. Gannon served as a Clinical Instructor in Psychology at the Harvard Medical School and a staff psychologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Barbara Gannon lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts with her husband, Robert Sullivan.
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Read Mr. Robert H. Prince, Jr.’s Full Profile…
Mr. Robert H. Prince, Jr., Practitioner/Consultant
Robert Prince lends his time and expertise to the GannonConsult projects that allow him to continue to give back to the industry. He is well known for his quiet manner of teaching – the telling of stories that illustrate the questions and lessons learned. He listens carefully to what is said/and not said, and offers advice when asked. Bob has been a thoughtful advisor and mentor throughout his career.
Robert Prince is President of Foot Prince, LLC, where he provides consultation services that span the industry, including transit operations, state of good repair, human resources and labor relations.
Robert Prince was Vice President at AECOM, serving as Transit Business Development Director. He was involved with national transit issues and focused on state of good repair/capital needs assessments, security analyses, BRT development, and new-system operations start-up. Previous to AECOM, he served as the General Manager at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in Boston, culminating a 25-year career that began as a bus operator and progressed through over 20 jobs in the authority. As General Manager, Prince oversaw the management of over 6,500 employees, and transported over a million commuters each day. His book, Everyman: Foot Prince in the Snow tells the lessons of leading in the transit sector.
Until 2015, he served as Chairman of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), where he directed many successful programs and initatives during his 17+ years with the organization. Prince has received many awards among them "The Governor’s Pride and Performance Award,” "The Greater Boston Black Achievers Award,” "The Consumer Affairs Annual Bell Ringer Awards for Excellence for Public Information through the Snow Guide,” the "Heroes Among Us Award presented by the Boston Celtics,” and WTS’s Rosa Parks award for diversity.
He is married to Dr. Judith Prince and they have two children and two grandchildren. They reside in Jacksonville, Florida.
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Read Kate Young’s Full Profile…
Kate Young, Practitioner/Consultant
Kate Young is a facilitator and instructor for GannonConsult. Kate's role as a facilitator enables her to join quiet conversations and listen for connections to be made between your story and the course work. Ever encouraging, Kate brings a passion for community building through connection and meaning to every project. As an instructor, you will enjoy her down to earth and personal touch.
Kate has a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts and is currently pursuing a course of study at the Kansas Leadership Center.
She and her husband are active in many charitable and civic groups, including in their rural community. Her work on establishing the Sedgwick Meeting House, a community coffee shop in Sedgwick, Kansas, is the response to a need for a gathering place for the multiple generations in this rural town. Kate believes that building communities begins at home where she and her husband, Damon, thoughtfully raise their five children. Kate can’t wait to hear your story.
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Read Melissa Paradis’s Full Profile…
Melissa Paradis, Practitioner/Consultant
Melissa provides creative guidance to the GannonConsult team, steering the marketing and customer engagement plans. She works with the team to communicate the GannonConsult brand and messaging to the industry through the website, marketing designs and social media outreach.
Prior to her current position she worked as an Account Manager at Eben Design in Seattle, WA. Ms. Paradis began her career in transportation as the Program Coordinator for the Eno Center for Transportation Leadership where she supported Eno’s professional development programs.
Melissa is a member of the American Marketing Association and she received a Nonprofit Marketing Research Scholarship from the American Marketing Association Foundation. Ms. Paradis graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing.