Meet the team
We are a global network of business strategists, consultants and leaders who work alongside your team to create defining moments for your organization.
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Jenny Whitener
CEO, STRATEGY, FORESIGHT, AND INNOVATION LEADER
Founder and CEO of Bridge Innovate, Jenny Whitener partners with senior executives globally to drive leadership, innovation, and transformative change through co-design and strategic foresight.
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Rachel Gammon
PRINCIPAL, NONPROFIT CONSULTING
Rachel brings over 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience, recognized as United Way of Greater Chattanooga’s 2024 Nonprofit Executive of the Year, with a passion for empowering organizations to strengthen communities and drive sustainable growth.
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Glenda Hicks
CONSULTANT, LEADERSHIP & STRATEGY
With 20+ years of experience, Glenda brings visionary strategy and practical coaching, empowering leaders to turn big ideas into actionable goals and build agile, high-impact organizations.
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Nate Plating
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION MANAGER
Nate drives financial excellence and operational improvements, ensuring sustainable growth through expertise in forecasting, budgeting, and technology implementation across Bridge Innovate and Western Electric.
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Luke Plating
SENIOR CONSULTANT
Luke combines expertise in design thinking, innovation sprints, customer journey mapping, and technology-driven solutions to help organizations achieve growth and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
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Jeff Cardell
CONSULTANT, OPERATIONAL TURNAROUND
Jeff brings over 25 years of expertise in operational turnaround, leveraging his mastery in Lean Six Sigma and strategic solutions to deliver multimillion-dollar cost savings, drive portfolio improvements, and implement lasting change across diverse organizational levels.
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Adam Wolcott
CONSULTANT, BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Adam Wolcott is an entrepreneur, educator, and consultant specializing in strategy, innovation, and transformative business operations.
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Mark Erickson
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS SPECIAL PROJECTS
Mark Erickson is a strategic communicator passionate about simplifying the complex and crafting impactful messaging to connect Bridge Innovate’s work with those who need it most.
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Kristin Leydig Bryant
CONSULTANT, TRANSFORMATION & CHANGE
Kristin specializes in organizational transformation, change management, and leadership development, with expertise spanning strategy execution, executive alignment, and innovation.
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Marvin Dejean
CONSULTANT, LEADERSHIP, DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, AND ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN
An experienced consultant and speaker, Marvin specializes in guiding organizations through leadership, digital transformation, and organizational design to thrive in a rapidly evolving global marketplace.
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Tamara Gatchell
CONSULTANT, INNOVATION & CHANGE
A seasoned consultant with expertise in design thinking, agile transformation, and innovation, Tamara guides clients through change by blending creative problem-solving with strategic insights.
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Martha McGinnis
GRAPHIC RECORDER & FACILITATOR
Martha McGinnis is a skilled Graphic Recorder and Facilitator who blends a deep understanding of business strategy with visual storytelling to help organizations unlock higher-order thinking and action.
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Clay Richardson
CONSULTANT, DIGITAL INNOVATION & DESIGN
Clay Richardson is a digital innovation expert and design thinking master facilitator, with over 20 years of experience helping organizations unleash creativity and drive disruptive technology solutions.
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Martha Rader, Ph.D
CONSULTANT, LEADERSHIP, CULTURE & TRANSFORMATION
Dr. Martha Rader is an organizational leadership expert and consultant specializing in cultivating mission-driven cultures, coaching executives and teams, and fostering growth.
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Kevin Ung
CONSULTANT, STRATEGY & DESIGN
Kevin Ung is an experienced educator and consultant specializing in leadership development, strategic planning, and agile operations, with a passion for guiding students and industry leaders toward meaningful growth and innovation.
Advisors
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Nate Bennett, Ph.D
Dr. Nate Bennett is a seasoned expert in leadership development and organizational management, with over 20 years of experience designing impactful programs for global companies and a research focus on leadership transitions and top management team effectiveness.
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Adam Billing
Adam Billing is an expert in innovation and design, specializing in facilitating transformative events and strategies for organizations like Amazon, eBay, and Microsoft, while also lecturing on design thinking at top institutions such as Cambridge University.
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Gary Bradt Ph.D
Dr. Gary Bradt is an experienced executive coach specializing in helping leaders define goals, navigate challenges, and achieve results through practical, straightforward strategies honed over 25 years of working with senior executives across industries.
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Mark Mendenhall Ph.D.
Dr. Mark Mendenhall is a renowned expert in international human resource management and global leadership development, with extensive experience consulting for global organizations like IBM, NASA, and Boeing.
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Atul Nerkar, Ph.D
Dr. Atul Nerkar is a strategy and innovation expert whose research explores the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and corporate strategy, with a particular focus on patent portfolios and technological evolution across industries.
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Jim Smith Ph.D
Dr. Jim Smith is a leadership coach and author specializing in helping leaders refine their unique leadership styles, with over 20 years of experience coaching executives worldwide and training with the Center for Creative Leadership.
Executives in Residence
Designed to provide a forum for seasoned leaders to be inspired and grow as well as contribute to the development of future leaders.
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Carlene A. S. Blanding
Colonel Carlene Blanding is a human resources and healthcare executive with a distinguished career in leadership, strategic planning, and human resource management, including her tenure as Commander of Eisenhower Army Medical Center during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Vicki Gordon
Vicki Gordon is a retired Senior Vice President and Chief Auditor at Unum, with a 42-year career spanning leadership roles in finance, strategy, business transformation, and risk management, as well as a co-founder of Unum’s Women’s Professional Network to promote gender equity and opportunity.
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Robert Hughes
Colonel Robert "Bob" Hughes (Retired) is a seasoned leader with nearly 30 years of Army service, specializing in organizational change and leadership development, now focused on executive coaching to help leaders navigate transitions, refine their leadership styles, and overcome challenges.
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John Plating, Ph.D.
Dr. John Plating is a retired Air Force Colonel and seasoned leader with expertise in academic administration, operational strategy, and international logistics.
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John Stroud
John Stroud is a retired Chief Commercial Officer with extensive expertise in strategic planning, marketing, and innovation, known for driving brand growth and profitability in the consumer healthcare and confections industries.
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Thomas A. H. White
Tom White, former Senior Vice President of Investor Relations at Unum Group, led shareholder communications and corporate philanthropy for over 40 years and continues to serve on numerous nonprofit boards.
Let’s Work Together
What sets the Bridge Innovate team apart? A depth of business consulting expertise, paired with a deep knowledge of design thinking, leadership, and organizational change. We’ve spent years working with executive leaders, observing many people both succeed — and fail — in the business world.
Our experience has inspired us to share the valuable lessons we’ve learned and guide others through their own innovation journey for growth and good.