Who We Are

Partners

Michael A. Wright, M.A.
Managing Partner

Michael draws upon an extensive background in management, including experience leading organizations through rapid growth and fundamental change. His consulting specialties include:

• Managing change
• Strategic planning, implementation, and performance measurement
• Organization redesign
• Executive and management coaching

Working closely with clients in a collaborative effort, Michael develops an understanding of the organization’s situation and culture. Yet he also provides a fresh, independent perspective. This helps organizations clarify their strategy to fit their changing environment and their internal needs. He also taps into the organization’s greatest strengths to help leadership, management, and staff work together to break through barriers and achieve unprecedented results.

Michael has also been asked to bring some of the best ideas from the private sector to California State Government, where he has worked with more than 25 agencies and departments.

Michael holds a Master’s Degree in Organization Development and is a member of the Bay Area Organization Development Network, the Society for the Management of Organization Design, and other professional organizations.

Some comments from his clients: "Michael’s insight led us to new realizations." "He got our group to work together more effectively, and his sense of humor kept us going through the difficult parts."

Steve Ekstrom, M.A.
Senior Partner

Since 1991 Steve Ekstrom has consulted with a variety of public sector organizations in California, Washington, Oregon, and Japan.
He has assisted numerous organizations with:

• Strategic planning and implementation
  
• Developing effective change management strategies
  
• Developing effective communication systems
  
• Problem solving and conflict resolution
  
• Coaching leaders in organizational improvement strategies
  
• Team building within and across functional units
  
• Meeting facilitation

Organizations Steve has worked with include: CA Department of Mental Health; CA Department of Rehabilitation; CalEPA; State Water Resources Control Board; CA Integrated Waste Management Board; Contra Costa County Health Services Department; County of Marin; Chancellor's Office-California Community Colleges; Office of Public School Construction; Division of the State Architect; numerous county mental health departments throughout northern and southern California.

In addition to his consulting experience Steve was the CEO of a nonprofit organization in Sacramento, CA, for 11 years. Following an extensive strategic planning process he led that organization through a major re-design effort in the late 1980's that resulted in improved performance, increased customer satisfaction, and national recognition.

When consulting in organizations, Steve creates an atmosphere of trust and respect that leads to improved communication and increased organizational effectiveness.

Steve received his M.A. in Organizational Transformation from Antioch University. In his thesis he examined personal and organizational transformational processes and the development of the capacity to induce transformation. He is married and has two daughters.

Allen Paul Goldstein
Senior Partner

Allen is a partner with The Results Group. He specializes in:

• Public agency assessments and program reviews.
• Strategic and project planning.
• Project management, including design and construction oversight.
• Executive coaching.
• Organization development and team building.

Allen brings a unique combination of public and private sector experience to his consulting work.  Allen’s public sector experience includes over 25 years of service with the State of California, including executive-level positions in the administrations of three Governors. He served as the Director of the Department of Personnel Administration, as Deputy Secretary in the Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency, and most recently as an Assistant Executive Officer for the California Public Employees Retirement System.  His work included the following:

• Responsibility for managing several unique construction projects, including the design, construction and operation of California’s Pavilions at the 1986 World’s Fair in Vancouver, British Columbia and the 1988 World’s Fair in Brisbane, Australia, establishing the State of California’s London trade office, as well as coordinating State government support for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
• As the Director of the States Department of Personnel Administration Allen negotiated labor agreements for 19 collective bargaining units and authored several reports which led to important changes in the States personnel management practices.
• Led a revamping of the CalPERS Health Benefits program bringing a longer-term strategic focus to its policy deliberations. Allen also provided the leadership for the CalPERS enterprise-wide strategic and business planning processes.

In the private sector, Allen also served as the Executive Director of the Structural Engineers Association of California, and as Vice President for Project Development for Rathe Productions, a New York City based exhibit and design company.  Allen’s projects included:

• The 1990 World’s Fair in Osaka Japan.
• The 1992 World’s Fair in Seville, Spain.

Prior to joining The Results Group, Allen was the principal in his own management-consulting firm whose clients included government agencies, not for profit organizations and private corporations.

His clients included: World Gold Council, California State Teachers Retirement System, California State Resources Agency, California Pubic Employees Retirement System, Lend Lease Real Estate, Sutter Hospitals, The California Mountain Lion Foundation, and MMA Financial, California Department of Conservation, California Association Health Facilities, The Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, The County of San Mateo and The California Department of Corporations.

Associates