Principal Consultant
MARCUS A. WILLIAMS
Mr. Marcus A. Williams is the Principal Consultant and Owner of MW Consulting, LLC (MWC). He leads and manages MWC, outlining and guiding the organizational mission, strategic and operational plans, services and client work. Mr. Williams has amassed 15 years of professional communications experience as a consultant, strategist, executive manager, reporter and spokesman. Prior to MWC, he served as the founding Director of the Office of Communications for both the D.C. Department of Health and D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development, where he was responsible for establishing the mission and vision of the division, developing organizational structure, developing and implementing comprehensive strategic communications strategies, and managing operating budgets of $2.5 million.
The communications expert has worked for employers such as; President Barack Obama Administration (first term), Booz Allen Hamilton, U.S. House of Representatives, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia), WTAJ-TV (CBS Affiliate), The Weather Channel, DC28-TV (now known as District 99), the Government of the District of Columbia and a host of local, regional and national print publications.
A Washington, DC native, Mr. Williams holds a Master’s degree in Corporate Communications from Georgetown University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism from The Pennsylvania State University and professional certifications in Strategic Communications Management from Ithaca College, Digital Excellence from Dartmouth College, and Leadership and Management from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Williams recently served as a Commissioner, Treasurer and Chair of the Marketing Committee for the Washington DC Commission on Fashion Arts and Events, and successfully completed entrepreneurial programs, Project 500 and Wacif’s Ascend Accelerator Program.
Meet the MWC Team
Creating
HELEN EFREM
Creative Director
Ms. Helen Efrem serves as one of the Creative Directors for MW Consulting, LLC. She creates design solutions that have a high visual impact, illustrates concepts by designing rough layouts of art and copy regarding arrangement, size, type size and style, and related aesthetic concepts of products and activities for clients, such as websites, advertisements, books, magazines, posters, product packaging, exhibitions and displays, corporate communications and corporate identity.
Ms. Efrem contributes over 10 years of professional experience in planning, designing, and executing design projects from start to finish. The creative director has worked in industries from media to architectural and engineers for employers such as: Marriott Hotels, Mars Chocolate, Sister 2 Sister Magazine and technology company CEB. She excels in clean and modern design aesthetic and her boasts accomplished skill-sets in creative strategies, integrated global media planning and execution, creative content and experiential marketing, all of which drive brand awareness, increase engagement and build loyalty with the clients she serves.
A Seattle, Washington native, Ms. Efrem holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Media and Graphic Design from American University and is mentored and works closely with Corcoran Alum on a daily basis, which allows her to learn and experience new design techniques.
ANDRES DE LA ROCHE
Senior Graphic Designer
Mr. Andres de la Roche serves as one of the Creative Directors for MW Consulting, LLC. In this capacity he creates design solutions that have a high visual impact, illustrates concepts by designing rough layouts of art and copy regarding arrangement, size, type size and style, and related aesthetic concepts of products and activities for clients, such as websites, advertising, books, magazines, posters, product packaging, exhibitions and displays, corporate communications and corporate identity. He has over 15 years of graphic design and creative strategy development, creating unique and memorable brand experiences for clients, transforming well-crafted visual storytelling into effective design. Mr. de la Roche understands that strong decision-making abilities, analytical and problem-solving skills, motivated by a commitment to continuous improvement, consistently put us in a position to contribute innovative design solutions. His team-oriented approach, in combination with a focus on goals, attention to detail, and self-motivation, allows him to attain the results required to compete in today’s communication design industry.
LEAH BEILHART
Photographer and Videographer
Ms. Leah Beilhart serves as a senior level photographer and videographer for MW Consulting, LLC. Ms. Beilhart coordinates with clients, under the leadership of the firm’s Creative Director and Principal Consultant, to bring their vision to life. This entails using a blend of technical skills with an artistic eye to capture pictures of people, places, landscapes, food, and other subjects. Ms. Beilhart has made an impact as a women’s community leader in Washington, DC through her photography series, Behold.Her, which aims to challenge small groups of women to convene, share stories on challenging topics, and be interviewed and photographed to share their opinions with other women needing the courage to speak up.
Ms. Beilhart has done documentary work for Ashoka Africa, a global organization that identifies and invests in leading social entrepreneurs – individuals with innovative and practical ideas for solving social problems. She has also been inducted as a Starting Bloc Fellow. She has led shoots for brands such as Urban Outfitters, Alaskan Airlines, Zipcar, Michelob Ultra, Ultimate Ears, and Fossil. Her work is significantly impacted by her desire to promote the importance of storytelling work and emphasize human connection through imagery.
The Panama native attended University of Tampa and Full Sail University where she obtained her Bachelor in Art Therapy and Master’s in New Media Journalism.
MADIA BROWN
Audio-Visual Specialist
Ms. Madia Brown serves as the go-to consultant for MW Consulting’s audio-visual, videography, animation and other visual communications needs. She conceives and designs visual concepts that best convey messages to their intended audiences. Ms. Brown has more than 15 years of experience in design and visual communications. Starting her career as a visual journalist for The Washington Post, she later became art director and production manager for the newspaper’s local business publication, Capital Business, where she led the publication’s rebranding efforts. Her interest in storytelling and marketing led her to get her MBA from St. Mary’s – Twickenham in the United Kingdom.
Kea Dupree-Alfred
Photographer
Kea Dupree-Alfred serves as event photographer for MW Consulting, LLC. In this role she captures amazing photos from our clients’ events from pre-event to post-event. Her photos bring the events to life and ensures the clients are able to see their transformation of the space, candid shots of the attendees and all the details in between. Kea is a native Washingtonian with a life-long passion for photography. After studying under her father as a child, Kea attended Florida A & M University, where she holds a B.S. in Photography and Graphic Design. Kea’s clients are diverse, having worked with Nike, HBO, Essence, The Newseum, Pepsico, local government agencies and other small business. As a photographer, Kea excels at helping businesses create a visual narrative of their unique value propositions. She has been offering quality photography services in the DC area and the world for over 15 years.
Communicating
ALICE GENTRY-LINGERFELT
Writer, Copyeditor, Proofreader and Project Manager
Ms. Alice Gentry-Lingerfelt supports MW Consulting, LLC and our clients with copywriting, proofreading and editing. In this role, she is the “proofreader’s proofreader” and helps advance the communications of the many organizations, campaigns and initiatives of our clients. Her passion for reading, exceptional command of the nuances of the English language, and meticulous attention to detail is an invaluable asset to our clients.
Ms. Lingerfelt has edited nearly 170 book manuscripts as well as hundreds of other business materials, including business proposals, brochures, non-profit documents, medical courses, articles, and print ads. Additionally, she has served as a ghost-writer on social media for several high-profile organizations.
As a professional project manager, she brings more than 20 years of business savvy to the team.
SHAE HARRIS
Policy Analyst and Organizational Strategist
Ms. Shae Harris is the policy analyst and organizational strategist for MW Consulting, LLC. In this role she leads the development and implementation of organizational strategy for clients and cultivates business relations for MWC. Ms. Harris brings a wealth of experience in managing organizational strategy and executive management for public sector and non-profit entities, which include: the DC Office of Returning Citizen Affairs, College Summit and Sasha Bruce Youthwork. This strategist has also developed initiatives and comprehensive plans for independent projects such as the Free Minds Book Club and Writing Workshop.
This Columbus, Ohio native holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration at American University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from North Carolina A&T State University, and professional certification in Nonprofit Executive Management from Georgetown University.
RACHEL WYNN
Social Media Manager
Ms. Rachel Wynn serves as the Social Media Manager for MW Consulting, LLC, and in this role develops and executes social media and online marketing plans designed to promote and progress the mission, online campaigns, and key initiatives of clients. Ms. Wynn has served on the Communications Committee for the Capital Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CAGLCC) and has worked on projects with local organizations such as Casa Ruby and MyQueerReview. In addition, she volunteered for a New York based company called OutDoc which provides an avenue for those in the LGBTQ community to review and leave notes on their experience with healthcare professionals across the country.
Ms. Wynn is a tenacious, poised, and creative professional with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business, Media, and Communications from Gettysburg College. She brings experience in the digital communications field with a focus on building the online presence of solopreneurs, small businesses and nonprofit organizations.
LUCRETIA JOHNSON
Legal and Political Consultant
Ms. Lucretia Johnson provides risk management assessment, evaluation, education and legal consultation services to MW Consulting, LLC in relation to its internal operations and client portfolio. She combines the knack of providing clients with valuable insights into the political environment with sound advice relating to public affairs and governmental policy. Consolidating key political information into reports for clients on developments, offering advice and guidance, she also undertakes opinion polls and other research activities in order to gauge public opinion about political and administrative developments.
Jesse Garchik
Program Manager
Jesse Garchik serves as Program Manager for MW Consulting, LLC where she handles pre-event, day-of and post event coordination and logistics. Her experience and input ensure that our clients’ events run efficiently and that their program is in align with their theme and goals. She previously worked on the Josh Anderson Foundation’s 5th Annual Joshua Ball gala and the SEED Foundation gala.
Mrs. Garchik also served as the Director of Development for the Greater Washington Region office of the American Heart Association, cultivating new relationships and stewarding donors. She executed several events each year, including an annual black-tie gala at the five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel. She helped raise millions of dollars to build a world free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke and never backed down from a challenge. Before transitioning to the nonprofit sector, she worked as a Senior Account Executive with Ogilvy Public Relations. She was an onsite contractor at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), an institute of the NIH. She started her career in the insurance industry as an independent broker for The Meltzer Group in Bethesda, MD where she managed employee benefits, advocated on behalf of her clients, and participated on the company’s internal communications and marketing committees.
Ms. Garchik graduated in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Maryland, College Park. She is devoted to philanthropic causes including: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, American Heart Association and Autism Speaks, to name a few.
Asha Rivers
Communications Strategist
Asha Rivers supports MW Consulting, LLC as Communications Strategist. Using her vast knowledge from serving previously as a Government and Public Relations Executive, she provides insight on strategy and outreach planning, as well as diversity and inclusion, crisis management, lobbying and negotiations.
Ms. Rivers made her first strides in healthcare as a Performance Improvement Manager and Resident Coordinator for Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center-Special Care Unit. She also has a background in the entertainment industry and has worked for ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and media relations agency Double Xxposure, where she began to hone her strong public relations building. She went on to join Macy’s Inc. where she progressed through various roles in management, human resources, and communications; her success later prompted the company to appoint her Vice President of Gov’t and Public Affairs. Much of her work centered around developing policies and procedures to streamline operational functions, as well as advising store executives on internal and external matters. Some of the recognition she has received for her performance include a Congressional Award, Triumph Award and accreditation for her exemplary philanthropic efforts from the United Way.
Ms. Rivers holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Hunter College in NYC, furthered her education in General Studies at Columbia University, and has been trained in business continuity and crisis management at MIT. A Brooklyn native, she now resides in Washington D.C.
Connecting
SAMEER SHARMA
Senior Information Technology Strategist
Mr. Sameer Sharma serves as the senior Information Technology (IT) consultant, supporting MW Consulting, LLC, in leading the development and execution of system-wide IT Strategic plans to support client business and IT priorities, which include improving the performance of their communication networks and mission-critical systems. Mr. Sharma provides best-in-class technology consulting and product management services. He holds 25 years of IT experience, providing technology, software development and business process management consulting services to large organizations as well as innovative start-ups. His efforts have been in support of application development, systems integration, database development & maintenance, and networking.
CRYSTAL EDMONDS
Event and Stakeholder Engagement Manager
Ms. Crystal Edmonds oversees all event and strategic social media planning and execution for MW Consulting, LLC. Ms. Edmonds brings over seven years’ experience in designing, producing and managing events for private and corporate clients. Ms. Edmonds leverages her creative mind to develop comprehensive interactive social media campaigns to support our clients’ efforts to reach their target audiences. The well-versed social media expert has activated these skill-sets to cultivate and rejuvenate the social footprints of clients in the beauty, tech and fashion industries in tier one urban centers. A Harlem, NY native, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from The Pennsylvania State University.
DIONNE SHAHEED
Administrative and Business Coordinator
Mrs. Dionne Shaheed serves as the Administrative and Business Coordinator for MW Consulting, LLC (MWC). In this capacity she is the liaison between the firm’s consultants, senior leadership, and external parties, including vendors, and the firm’s varied client base. Mrs. Shaheed handles clerical and administrative duties, analyzes and improves office processes and policies, and ensures that the office operates smoothly. As the business coordinator, she identifies, develops, and secures new business opportunities by generating leads, maintaining relationships with partners and business development managers. She also coordinates promotional event and activities. Mrs. Shaheed has over a decade of experience supporting the administrative and operational processes of companies in various industries, to include financial, retail and consulting. Prior to joining the MWC, she was a Rational Software Engineer at the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) and a Loan Review Specialist at DriveTime. A Washington, DC native, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from Claflin University.
MELVIN MOORING
Website and Information Technology Manager
Mr. Melvin Mooring II serves as the Website and Information Technology Manager for MW Consulting, LLC (MWC). In this role he leads the development, implementation and maintenance of the infrastructure, hardware, and software utilized for the organization’s website. This includes managing consulting teams to monitor web traffic, performance and capacity to identify, prevent and resolve website and Information Technology issues. He also coordinates with offshore programmers and developers to implement and test content management systems (CMS), and expertly oversees the production of entire projects to ensure quality and efficiency. Additional experience includes positions such as; Training Specialist, Business Analyst/Application Specialist, Page Designer and CCI SuperUser. This Washington, DC suburb native (Montgomery County, MD) holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Howard University.