Susan Mogensen (President)
Susan Mogensen
Susan’s passion lies in helping people to work more effectively together in pursuit of productivity, profit, and progress. Combining her strong public service background with skills, training and experience in group facilitation and board governance, Susan inspires clients with the new possibilities that emerge when rational design is applied to the meeting or board governance context. Any type of organization led by a governing body — including non-profit or charitable/501c-3 organizations, public or governmental bodies, and for-profit corporations — can benefit from her background and expertise in bringing clarity and purpose to roles, responsibilities, lines of accountability and policy development. Her client list includes membership associations, school boards, faith-based organizations, credit unions, city/municipal bodies, foundations, cultural, health, and environmental organizations, educational institutions, and other corporations.
Susan holds a B.A. (Honors) in Political Science from Carleton University, and was personally trained by John and Miriam Carver at the Policy Governance® Academy (SM) in 2002. Susan served as CEO of the International Policy Governance® Association from 2004-2009, has had articles published in the governance journal, Board Leadership, and other publications, and has been a speaker and facilitator at governance conferences throughout Canada and the United States over the past 20 years.
Robin Ludlow (Senior Associate)
Rob Ludlow
A veteran communications professional, journalist and editor with more than 40 years of experience, Rob values clear communication, accuracy and meeting deadlines.
He has served as a corporate communications strategist for Canada’s capital city, and has been an editor, national journalist and graphics editor with a national news service in Canada, a reporter and editor with daily and weekly newspapers and editor of a national monthly magazine.
Rob has also served on or worked with not-for-profit boards and brings the breadth and depth of experience that comes from decades in writing, editing, media relations, communications strategy, research analysis, management, and design and production of print publications.
He’s the co-winner of a National Newspaper Award for environment reporting and has also written extensively on politics, social issues, science, technology, health, transportation, aviation and electronics.
Rob holds a degree in Journalism and Philosophy from the University of Western Ontario, has held a private pilot’s licence since 1976, and been a ham radio operator since 1969. In his spare time he enjoys reading, music and gardening.
Ramsey
Ramsey (the “Brown Dog”)
The inspiration behind our company name, Ramsey was, well, a brown dog adopted from the Ottawa Humane Society and was named after the west-end Ottawa street where he was found. His friendship, loyalty, attentiveness, intuition, agility, and desire to understand, are all qualities and values that guide us at Brown Dog Consulting.
Testimonials
“Susan did a wonderful job and her knowledge is evident and complete.”
“Susan is a fantastic facilitator. She makes Policy Governance fun and led us through to a successful path forward.”
“[Susan] really makes the concept of governance accessible and understandable.”
“Excellent presentation. Very interactive.”
“Susan does a great job balancing deep thinking with practical implications/topics in her workshop.”
“I really like learning about the Carver Policy Governance model. It’s a revelation.”
“Very valuable experience. Very personable facilitator.”
“Susan energizes what could be a dry topic.”
“It was an excellent presentation. Keep on doing what you’re doing!”
“A helpful and energizing presentation to inform us of P.G. principles.”
“Susan is a very skillful facilitator. She guided us through the Policy Governance approach, ensuring we understood the framework and could work with and within in.”
“Accessible information grounded in Policy Governance, delivered in a way where there is an easily travelled distance between the group and the facilitator.”
“This was an enlightening learning opportunity.”
“Susan Mogensen explained Policy Governance clearly and simply and with very great enthusiasm!”
“Keep doing the great work! It’s difficult to liven up a ‘dry’ topic, but you did! Thanks!!”
“Incredibly life-changing!”
“If your organization is ready to take its performance … to a whole new level with a solid “theory-based integrated framework” for accountability, transparency, and “maximum direction with maximum protection” then Susan and Brown Dog Consulting is for you and your board. Her contributions have empowered us to make a more meaningful difference in the lives of our community members for a value worth the resources invested.”
“We had a great first meeting under the Carver model and made it through all of our agenda items WITH 2 hours to spare!! … Thanks again for guiding us through this process. Only good things to come moving forward!”
