Meet Dawn McAvoy - MA, PMP
Executive Coach • Advisor • Trainer • Facilitator • Consultant
Dawn McAvoy is a seasoned executive coach and organization development consultant with 30 years of experience and over a decade of experience leading transformative projects for federal agencies, nonprofits, and private organizations.
As the CEO and Principal of McAvoy Consulting LLC, Dawn is a transformational consultant and executive coach who helps mission-driven organizations and leaders navigate complexity, build capacity, and lead with purpose. Known for her ability to bring calm to chaos, Dawn blends strategic insight with operational excellence and a deeply human approach to leadership development, fostering trust and transparency within teams.
Core Strengths & Differentiators
Organizational Effectiveness
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Designed metric-driven dashboards and scorecards showcasing client impact and organizational performance.
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Analyzed program costs and coaching outcomes for two multi-million-dollar federal contracts; implemented delivery improvements that enhanced ROI and user experience.
“She turned our coaching program into a smooth-running machine.”
Leadership Development
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Delivered FranklinCovey leadership training at FCC and served as a top-choice executive coach across consulting engagements.
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Managed coaching operations for over 2,000 government executives, continuously evaluating quality via feedback and cohort analysis.
“She cultivates emerging leaders and builds cultures of growth.”
Project & Program Management
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Oversaw logistics and coaching delivery for 20+ leadership cohorts annually and two federal contracts totaling over $10M. Oversaw 30 executive coaches.
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Led recruiting projects from process design to candidate selection, improving hiring consistency and transparency.
“She managed complex, multi-million-dollar coaching programs with grace and precision.”
Strategic Thinking
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Translated qualitative feedback and raw cost data into actionable program redesign recommendations adopted by program leadership.
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Provided risk mitigation, coaching, and systems design to support organizations impacted by societal challenges, including federal layoffs.
“She challenges the status quo and closes performance gaps.”
Coaching & Mentorship
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Over 1,000 hours coaching a variety of clients (early career, mid-career, & C-Suite).
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Receives an average score of 8-10/10 on coach evaluations.
“She’s a true coach—authentic, compassionate, and empowering.”
Emotional Intelligence
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Recognized with awards for Inclusive Excellence, Customer Support, and Innovation—demonstrating values-driven service and stakeholder trust.
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Coached executives through transitions and team challenges with empathy, curiosity, and listening as core tools.
“She listens with intent, leads with heart, and builds trust.”
Professional Highlights
McAvoy Consulting LLC, CEO/Principal (2014-Present)
Provide management consulting, facilitation, and executive coaching services, focusing on organization and leadership development.
Brighter Strategies Consulting, Consultant/Executive Coach (2022-Present)
Member of an award-winning consulting firm. Work focues on leadership development, talent acquisition, and project management.
American University – School of Public Affairs, Coaching Administrator (2017-2022)
Managed the coaching process for thousands of government executives and led large-scale leadership development projects.
Dynamic Pro Inc, Human Capital Manager/Consultant & Team Lead (2014)
Led a team of consultants in workforce analysis and human capital planning.
Smoky Mountain Pottery (1988-2004)
Performed operations (A/R, A/P, payroll, hiring, marketing, customer service, proposal development) and sales (retail and wholesale) roles in the family business.
Education & Training
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MA, Organizational Leadership: Chapman University
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BA, English - Technical Communication: University of Tennessee
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Graduate Certificate, Organization Development: Chapman University
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Certificate - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace: University of South Florida
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Certificates: FranklinCovey
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7 Habits of Highly Effective People
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The Speed of Trust
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5 Choices to Extraordinary Productivity
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Project Management Essentials for the Unofficial Project Manager
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The 6 Critical Practices for Leading Teams
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Multi-day Training, Art of Facilitation: Georgetown Institute for Transformational Leadership
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Multi-day Training, The Effective Facilitator: Leadership Strategies
“Dawn helped me through a complex situation
that I didn’t think was possible.
She provided perspective to help me
navigate the external factors
while lighting a path to my own success.”
Certifications
