About Us

We build healthy organizations where people are aligned and empowered.
Learn About Our Approach

Our Story

Organizational transformation requires bold moves, collaboration, and putting people in the center of every organization.

After years of managing cross-functional teams in the manufacturing world, Don Harkey began to question what causes some teams to be more successful than others. This observation was the start of a new idea: putting people at the center of organizations. He took a leap and decided to take what he had learned and apply it to other businesses. In 2012, People Centric Consulting Group was formed. Here, People Centric’s motto is Team. Client. Community. Our people are important to us and at the forefront of our business. We want our culture to allow employees to use their strengths, be transparent and open in communication, and be developed and challenged. This culture allows our team to do the same with you. Our team is your team. And together, the work we can do will transform communities.

Watch

Our Approach

Our approach jumps into your business with both feet and engages all levels of your organization to get buy-in and create alignment so you can accomplish your goals. We are not here to work in your business and tell you how to run it – we are your partner and outside insight. Through our combined expertise, we work with your organization to create a high performing culture that has a clear direction and effective team capable of solving problems and driving your company forward.

Our People

When you work with People Centric, you won’t get stuffy. You won’t get flowery. You’ll just get us. And we believe in a transformational business culture that impacts your bottom line.

Don Harkey

CEO and Founder
DonHarkey@PeopleCentric.com

My name is Don and I’m a dad, husband, recovering engineer, and CEO of People Centric Consulting Group. How does an engineer move on to create a consulting company about people?

The short answer is that in my career as a corporate engineer for ADM and 3M, I saw some teams that were incredibly successful and others that weren’t. I saw pockets of healthy and unhealthy cultures all within the same company created with the same pool of people. I became very interested in what creates a healthy culture and discovered that it’s all about implementing systems and processes that put people at the center of the organization, hence the name People Centric. I liked being an engineer, but I love what I do now.

My first responsibility as CEO is to my team; and we have a great team. I also spend time evangelizing the idea that organizations that create empowerment and alignment end up being much more successful by speaking at conferences and associations across the country. I love it when business owners and organizational leaders learn how they can discover and unleash the talent right under their own nose. I also love to see employees start to realize their own potential.

If you’d like to learn more about what it means to become People Centric, I’d love to chat with you and learn more about you and your business. I’m proud of the results we’ve achieved working with our clients.

Go Huskers!

Diana Royalty

COO and Co-Founder
DianaRoyalty@PeopleCentric.com

I’m Diana Royalty. And yes, that is my real name. I am the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder here at People Centric.

I am a self-professed nerd: I love Harry Potter, Star Wars, Marvel, books, and board games. After a few meetings with me, you will notice my affinity for wearing all black. It is partly an homage to Darth Vader and mostly because it is easy. Steve Jobs did it, so can I.

I started my career as a preschool teacher and they taught me that you can have a solid plan and someone will end up barfing all over that plan. When I moved to high school students, I saw how much they craved attention and acceptance while also craving independence and the ability to figure things out on their own. And now that I work with businesses and adults, I turn to these lessons every day.

I originally joined the People Centric team because I thought that my strategic organizational skills could help them build the company. Admittedly, I was skeptical about their philosophy on people and culture. But I have since discovered that we really are on to something. I love our systematic approach to creating high performance cultures and companies in which employees are aligned an empowered. Our work has had a profound impact on me as I get to watch people create change, grow, and develop others. I think our approach has ripple effects, not only through the companies in which we are working, but also within the communities and families of those employees. It’s awesome and I love it.

Bethany Taff

Engagement Manager
BethanyTaff@PeopleCentric.com

Hi, I’m Bethany Taff, Engagement Specialist at People Centric Consulting Group. I’m a Missouri native, amateur gardener, and meal-planner extraordinaire. I also hold the title of “mommy” and “Mrs.” to my sweet family. I’m pretty proud of them.

My background is in the content marketing world, as well as higher education. You can also find me freelancing as a decorator and volunteering in my local community. I have built my career on my ability to build positive and effective relationships. My greatest achievements are the opportunities I’ve had to champion others to reach their full potential. I love coaching people and helping them to pursue their dreams. Where others see impossibility, I see potential. You never know until you try.

I’m naturally a peacemaker, advice-giver, and motivator. At my core, I believe everything happens for a reason and with a greater purpose. All people have value, and this mindset drives how I navigate the world. Whether professionally, personally, and in my community I seek to ultimately build others up. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you!

Stephanie Anderson

Engagement Specialist
StephanieAnderson@PeopleCentric.com

Hi, I’m Stephanie Anderson, and I’m an Engagement Specialist here at People Centric. I love helping organizations grow and become the best version of themselves by creating and executing strategies that achieve their goals, engage their teams, and positively impact their communities.

I’ve had a passion for business strategy and building relationships long before my professional days. I launched my first business venture in kindergarten selling my dad’s secret stash of Reese’s peanut butter cups to his store customers. I come from a family of entrepreneurs and savvy business people, so my dad really wasn’t too shocked to find all of his snacks missing.

In my professional career, I’ve worked with organizations of all sizes from small start-ups to Fortune 100 companies in staff, leadership, and consultant roles. I spent nearly a decade of my career in the nonprofit sector, working to create sustainable solutions to real-world problems, including launching over 200 female entrepreneurs into business in Ethiopia. I hold a Bachelor of Arts from Evangel University as well as a certificate in Women’s Entrepreneurship from Cornell University.

I’m a Springfield, Missouri native and passionate about making our community the best it can be. I serve in a variety of nonprofit board and civic volunteer roles in the community in addition to being a local small business owner and social entrepreneur.

Philip Herzog

Philip Herzog

Engagement Specialist
PhilipHerzog@PeopleCentric.com

I’m Philip Herzog, Engagement Specialist, Colorado native, and people-person. One of the best parts of my job is meeting different organizations with passionate, driven, successful teams that want to continue building a healthy team economy.

How much you enjoy your job impacts the soundtrack of your work-life and homelife. Just ask my wife and favorite opera singer, Claire. She performs in orchestra concerts, senior homes, college classrooms, and our lil’ backyard. We both love our work, and feel blessed to serve others.

My own story contains epic teams and missions, from becoming a manager at a local health food store when I still had braces to working in development and advocacy for nonprofits that serve entire communities in collaboration with others. Each role has shaped how I view work, and I’ve learned that good relationships take investment. I am the first to admit I’ve made mistakes along the way, and I’m constantly learning to succeed AND fail well.

That’s why “Engagement Specializing,” building alignment and empowerment, is deep work. It impacts the “Who,” “Why” and “How” when things go right, AND when things go wrong. Being “People Centric” is deeply enjoyable, powerfully contagious, and ultra-empowering. It’s a soundtrack that will get stuck in your head and lead to great impact.

Our Clients

We’re our client’s biggest fans. We get a front row seat to their hard work and well-earned success. Here are just a few of the superstars we’ve worked with.

“If you know that you have a great product and great people, but you’re trying to put the finishing touches on how to turn that into fast success, I would highly recommend working with People Centric.”

LOGAN AGUIRRE, President & Associate Publisher at 417 Magazine

Watch Full Story