About

Idea Infusion Consulting, LLC, is a Denver-based firm that has practiced the art of infusing high quality,

high caliber ideas into collaborative projects across Colorado and nationally since 1999.

We specialize in developing leaders and leadership practices, effectively navigating change management,

facilitating groups (small to large), and enhancing team/organizational effectiveness across the nonprofit, education, government, public health, and private sectors.

Idea Infusion Consulting (IIC) consistently fulfills on its commitment to deliver high energy, high value services across a broad array of project areas, with each project tailored to maximize the desired outcomes for the client and stakeholders. IIC regularly meets and/or exceeds deliverables within cost-effective parameters (often coming in under budget), and maintains concise and comprehensive data tracking and reporting.

To maximize outcomes, as well as minimize additional costs to clients, staffing decisions are made on a project-by-project basis in order to best serve the client and project needs. IIC purposely runs a tight operation and has demonstrated success working with partners and subcontractors as needed to expand and meet staffing needs.

IIC does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious/spiritual practice, age, physical or mental abilities, or socioeconomic status.

Founder and Principal Consultant

Leslie Burkholder

Photo credit Jeff Schnebly

Leslie has worked successfully as a consultant across the education, nonprofit, public health, government, and private sectors for the past twenty years following a transition from starting her career as a secondary classroom teacher. Since launching Idea Infusion Consulting in 1999, she has proven successful at building relationships and sustaining collaborative partnerships—including with a variety of stakeholders—across the state of Colorado

as well as nationally.

Her expertise includes: navigating individual and organizational growth and change; supporting the development of leaders and expansion of leadership practices; individual coaching (including in emotional intelligence); providing group facilitation (including professional development and training) and team building; and enhancing team/organizational effectiveness through systems thinking, among others. Additionally, she has served as a member and/or chairperson on multiple volunteer boards for nonprofit organizations such as an independent

PreK-through-12th-grade school, as well as for multiple AIDS service and HIV-related education organizations.

Born and raised in Colorado, Leslie has lived and worked in communities throughout the state. She received a Master of Nonprofit Management degree (graduate honors) from Regis University (with a master’s thesis on

effective program evaluation), and a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Colorado State University.

Certifications

Leslie holds the following certifications:

Coach in the emotional intelligence quotient inventory (EQ-i 2.0) through Multi-Health Systems, Inc (MHS)
Practitioner in Prosci Change Management through Prosci, Inc
Trainer/facilitator through Langevin Learning Services

Public Speaking & Conference Session Facilitation

Highlights of Leslie's numerous experiences with public speaking, such as facilitating conference sessions for regional and national conferences, as well as providing coaching for others in various settings include:

Bridges High School graduation keynote speaker
Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE)
- Summer Conference 2016
- Winter Leadership Conference 2017
- Winter Leadership Conference 2019
Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) National Conference
Rocky Mountain Conference on HIV/AIDS
The Colorado Education Initiative (CEI) Showcase Conference

Highlights of Community Volunteer Roles

The following highlights some of Leslie's volunteer roles and community engagement:

Board of Trustees Member

Foothills Academy (an independent PreK-through-12th-grade school)

Advisory Board Chair and Member

The Women's Lighthouse Project

Board of Directors President and Member

The AIDS Coalition for Education (ACE)

Volunteer Training Facilitator

The Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN) Colorado