Providing Consultation Services to Small to Medium-Sized Companies
Why Sharper Focus Consulting, LLC
President and CEO Dr. Jackie Sharp
A proud native of Starkville, MS, Jackie Sharp moved to Chicago in
1982 after completing her Bachelors of Social Work and Masters of
Education from Mississippi State University.
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In 2003, Dr. Sharp received her Masters of Social Work (MSW)
from Governors State University with a focus in Children & Families.
In 2014, she received her certification to work with Veterans and
their Families from the Dominican University School of Social Work.
She started her career in social services at Bobby E. Wright Mental Health Center as a Mental Health Specialist III in 1982.
Dr. Sharp is the Chief Executive Officer of Lakeside Community Committee, a non-profit social service agency whose mission is to
enhance the quality of life for children and families by inspiring
hope, empowerment and growth within all whom they serve.
Services are provided to abused and neglected children, their
families, pregnant and parenting teen moms and their babies,
traditional foster parents and relative caregivers.
Dr. Sharp is an Adjunct Professor at South Suburban College in South Holland, Illinois where she teaches a variety of human services administration classes. Jackie is also a Peer Reviewer for the Council of Accreditation for Children and Family Services (COA). This organization ensures that private and non-profit organizations maintain high standards in the social service fields.
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My clients describe me as: Dedicated to ensuring that “Best Practices” Services are utilized , Intentional, Clear, Direct, Insightful, and a Superb Listener, Curious, Committed, Caring, and someone who asks excellent questions.
I’m best known for: Masterfully synthesizing principles and frameworks for organizational change, and applying and teaching them.
I have always been: A teacher ... from the time I was in high school I’ve been able to take something that was complex and mysterious and make it understandable. I am a voracious learner, and am passionate about sharing what I’ve learned to make a difference.
I am fascinated by: Not for Profit Organizations and how they operate.
What inspires me: Working with leaders who are trying to achieve something new or challenging and are committed to results for both their organization and its people.
Why we are the best: We enables an organization to be far more valuable than the sum of its parts. We have the experience and the expertise in many areas of organizational change, including Board Development; Team Development; COA Accreditation; Executive Coaching; Change Management.
Nonprofit Experience
Jackie has consulted with nonprofit organizations since 1995. Her work has focused on Strategic Planning, Staff and Board Development, Capacity Building, and Community Engagement. She has worked with organizations across a broad range of sectors including: child welfare, social services, healthcare and mental health. She has also worked with national and local membership associations. In addition to consulting, she has been a volunteer leader, including board chair, committee chair, and general volunteer.
Community Volunteer Activities
Dr. Jackie Sharp's community and volunteer activities include leadership in both professional and business organizations. She is a member of the Chicago Chapter of Black Administrators in Child Welfare; Chicago Chapter of Black Social Workers; National Association of Social Workers and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Screening for Child Abuse and Neglect Committee (SCAN);
She is a past Board member of The Illinois Youth on Collaboration and The Illinois Child Care Association and past Board President of The Chicago Chapter Of Black Administrators in Child Welfare. Former past member of
Bristol’s Who’s Who Organization; National Association of Professional Women (NAPW); The Greater Starkville Development Partnership/Chamber of Commerce; Bed and Breakfast Association of Mississippi (BBAM) and the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII).
Dr. Sharp cheerfully volunteers as Co-Volunteer Coordinator for the National Women Veteran United organization in Chicago, Illinois. Ms. Sharp also lends her support financially to the Father Sons Ministry of Columbus, MS and the Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi.
Special Recognition
Dr. Jackie Sharp has been awarded and praised for her services to children and families from the University of Illinois Extension – Urban Leadership Center for continued support to the “Readers Are Leaders” Program; the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services Adoption Advisory Council for serving as an expert member from December 2004 to June 2010 on adoption and permanency planning for children; the Black Executive
Shepherds Award from ABJ Community Services for Committed Service to the Community; the Michelle Obama Humanitarian Empowerment Award from Creativity United; the “Making A Difference Award” from St. Mark A.M.E. Zion Church for hard work and dedication to Metropolitan Chicago Area and Outstanding outreach to
children, youth and the caregivers of children and she is the recipient of the Women of Excellence Award given by the Chicago Defender newspaper. Ms. Sharp received an Honorary Doctorate Degree In Humanities from United Graduate College and Seminary International in October 2018.
Build thriving communities by helping nonprofits succeed through a powerful mix of solutions for maximum effectiveness.
Our Mission
Provide insight through effective building tools, needed to strengthen organizations that
make a difference on important causes throughout Cook County, Illinois, and the Midwest.