Orchestrating Solutions

"I love the sense of ownership -- it's extremely motivating," says Erica Hoffman ('95) on running her company, The Symphony Group, established in May 2000. As a change management consultant, Hoffman gained experience working for several consulting companies before taking the leap into private ownership. "It's a different mindset, being the one in charge," she says.

"Relationships among a business' team members are a powerful influence to success," adds Hoffman, who consults with team leaders seeking to improve communication skills. Group communication breakdown and personality conflicts are common issues among team members, according to Hoffman, who performs assessments and leads focus groups to determine a team's problems.

"I'm more the facilitator," says Hoffman. "I want my clients to take an active role in solving their own problems. There is great satisfaction in helping people see they have choices in the decisions and actions they take."

Yet Hoffman often encounters skeptics. "I tell them to go through the conflict or experience and then be a critic. "Many initial skeptics end up our biggest supporters," she says.

Hoffman mainly recruits clients with referrals from past clients. "It's a relationship-oriented business," she explains. "We make sure to schedule follow-up contacts with our clients. If we don't do a good job, then whoever has hired us is going to look bad." The short-list of Symphony Group's current clients includes Arthur Andersen LLP, Aramark and the Marriott Corp.

While earning a double major in teaching and cultural anthropology, Hoffman spent many hours as co-founder of JMU Outriggers. The group's mission is to help student organizations uncover obstacles to group success. "I learned as much about leadership and people in these experiences as I did in the academic setting."

Hoffman says that she "wants to maintain The Symphony Group as a company that fills a niche and does it well. I'm more of a driver. I always wanted to run my own company. I just didn't know it would happen this soon."

-- Ashley Day ('02)