A US-Based Consultancy, Leading Innovative & Collaborative Systems Change​
Who We are

Strategic Support to Drive Systemic Impact

ConnectUS is committed to fostering systemic change in communities worldwide. We specialize in guiding communities toward collective impact and system-level change, recognizing how shared goals connect us all in addressing today’s interconnected challenges.

Our team of experienced experts offers tailored guidance and support to navigate the complexities of community systems, facilitating meaningful and sustainable change. Join us in our mission to create a better future for all. Get engaged by filling out the form below.

A passionate speaker at the Accountability Partners Council presents to an engaged audience of diverse community partner action participants. Attendees seated at round tables actively listen and applaud during this collaborative convening focused on driving meaningful community change.
Mark Woltman
Vice President of Strategy & Learning | Managing Director at ConnectUS
Lauren Conrad
Senior Consultant at ConnectUS

A Backbone Team, At Your Service

We facilitate difficult conversations, convene small and large groups, write strategic messaging, provide project management, and visualize data. All of our work is completed or overseen by experienced staff.

A Natural Extension of Your Team

Our team has years of experience working with cross-sector leaders. We act quickly and strategically to support the collective’s mission, vision, or north star.

a man and woman sitting at a table with a laptop

Our Network Goes Deep

Our team is supported by cross-sector groups led by content experts in Data and Capacity, Policy and Advocacy, and Community Engagement. These collaborative partnerships connect us directly to the pulse of community needs.

We will ensure that qualitative and quantitative storytelling is embedded within the work, that the work is informed by policies that impact the scale of an initiative, and that lived experience is embedded in all parts of the planning from beginning to end.

Our Experience Sets Us Apart

We have served as facilitators and conveners in challenging spaces, including early childhood, housing, and arts & culture. We can provide more specific examples upon request.

Local, National & International Partners

ConnectUs is the consultancy arm of KConnect, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that has held this designation since 2013. Our regional impact is clear, but our success extends nationally and internationally.

Recent Projects

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Let's Connect for Meaningful Change

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401 Hall Street SW, Suite 385
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

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Mark Woltman
Vice President

Mark takes complex data and makes it accessible and understandable to a wide-range of audiences. As a systems thinker and analyst, he has a talent for identifying issues and moving groups to practical solutions. He believes that quality data helps illuminate a community’s successes and opportunities and is the foundation needed to solve complex social problems.

Mark finds inspiration in helping communities, governments and organizations become more responsive to their constituencies through outcome-based problem solving.

Mark has a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Michigan State University and a Master of Social Work with a concentration in social policy from the University of Michigan. He joined KConnect in 2014 following over 10 years in policy, advocacy and social service in New York City.

Lauren Conrad
Senior Consultant at ConnectUS

As a collective impact facilitator and consultant, Lauren works to hold the big picture while identifying actionable, strategic steps to move complex work forward. She brings over 15 years of experience designing and leading initiatives that improve outcomes for families and communities through collaborative leadership, policy advocacy, and mental health-focused program design. Lauren is driven by a commitment to making systems and policies work for everyone.

Before joining KConnect, Lauren supported community-based initiatives as an independent project manager and consultant, with projects ranging from ethnographic research with families in rural Wyoming to leading the collaborative development of a comprehensive training program with the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness. Earlier in her career, Lauren directed statewide workforce programs at Climb Wyoming – recognized by the Aspen Institute for its 2GEN model – and led community development work in Costa Rica and Ecuador focused on women’s empowerment and early education. She currently serves as Board Chair of Steepletown Neighborhood Services and holds a Master of Social Work from Grand Valley State University, where she received the Faculty Recognition Award for Macro Practice.

Lauren resides in Grand Rapids, where she stays busy keeping up with her two little kids.