Team- draft - MacDonald Boyd & Associates

The team at MacDonald Boyd & Associates shares an enthusiasm for civic life, entrepreneurship, connecting people, and exploring ideas. We seek challenging opportunities in which we can learn, grow, and create a better world while having a great time doing it. We love our clients and enjoy our work immensely.

Steve Boyd

In over 30 years of consulting, Steve has enjoyed working with hundreds of public and private sector organizations around the globe. He jumps on every opportunity to work with leaders who are managing and leading change, transition, and growth. He is especially gifted at engaging a group to face their current challenges so they can move forward in a common, balanced, and compelling direction.

A proud Seattle native, Steve was the founder and President of the Washington Leadership Institute and the Governors’ School for Citizen Leadership (1985-94). He was a Fellow at Harvard’s Center for International Affairs (1982-84) studying public participation in American foreign policy, leadership development theory and social change. Steve holds a masters in educational psychology from the University of Washington and certification on Organization Systems Renewal. He enjoys playing and listening to music, traveling, hiking, cooking, reading, and hanging out with family and friends.

Sheryl Harmer

Sheryl brings over thirty years of experience in public service, coaching and mentoring organization leaders, educators, families, and children with a focus on the development of social and emotional competencies. She has consulted with numerous non-profit, governmental, and school-based systems in the development of strong team processes, organization effectiveness, and culture change.

Her 20+ year career as a professional educator has been recognized through numerous awards including the 1998 National Distinguished Principal of the Year for Washington State. Sheryl received her BA degree from Idaho State University, Master’s in Education from the University of Southern California, principal certification from Pacific Lutheran University, and an Ed.D. and Superintendent certification in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Washington. She enjoys music, writing, visual arts, theater, gardening, and interior decorating.

Toni Harmer

Toni’s passion is people – helping them develop capacities and sharpen their skills. Toni spent 11 years in the construction industry working for a local General Contractor with 5 offices in three states. During her time there, she developed and ran an Employee Training and Ongoing Education program for over 500 employees on the West Coast. Areas of emphasis included: Behavior Styles, Conflict Resolution, Time Management, Presentation Skills, and Training the Trainers. Toni also worked as a project administrator – developing efficient work systems, establishing effective work relationships, and coordinating integrated work efforts. She enjoys both writing and delivering training programs to people of varying backgrounds and education.

Toni has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Texas Christian University. An important part of Toni’s life includes participating in volunteer activities for the Seattle community. She is a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children involved in family court cases. She enjoys paper crafting, reading, yoga, photography, and baking.

Cory Custer

Cory’s focus is on executive coaching with individuals and teams – shaping key practices for enhanced performance and sustained results. Drawing on his experience as a wealth management executive and competitive endurance athlete, his work is helping leaders build “next-level” capacities in themselves and in their people. After nearly 15 years in the financial services sector, Cory established a coaching and consulting practice centered on leadership development.

His emphasis is on improving leaders’ communication skills and collaboration practices to achieve organizational effectiveness. Whether in business or sports, Cory has learned that the hardest work is the “soft stuff” and that the individuals and organizations that get it right are the ones that make it their priority.

Cory holds an MBA in Global Asset and Wealth Management, a Bachelors degree in Physics, and is currently pursuing a Masters of Arts in Organizational Leadership, Organizational Systems Renewal, at Bainbridge Graduate Institute. A large part of his life has been devoted to athletic training and competitive racing – first running and cross-country skiing and, more recently, road cycling.