About

At Rooted In Process we are professional facilitator and collaboration specialist creating workshops and processes to help groups communicate, critically think, collectively act, and build community. Emphasis of facilitation with academic institutions, government organizations, non-government organizations, small non-profits, and coalitions in the natural resources, environmental, and social sector arenas. Dedicated to helping groups collaborate through participatory decision-making processes such as the Institute of Cultural Affairs' Technology of Participation framework and Sam Kaner's Community at Work processes.

As owner of Rooted in Process, Jess has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, spent 20 years working in government, and 2016 was afforded the opportunity to attend the University of Florida’s Natural Resources Leadership Institute where she fell in love with facilitation and participatory decision-making processes. Her affiliations include the Southeast Association of Facilitators and the International Association of Facilitators. She loves holding space for change makers and for the unknown to emerge.

Our Mission

Rooted in Process works to design, facilitate, and train in-person, online, and hybrid meetings, retreats, and workshops using participatory processes to assist groups, leaders, and individuals to critically think and collectively act.

Our Vision

At Rooted in Process, we envision the impact of facilitation as,

Nonprofits implementing strategy, growing, and connecting.
Public engagement processes that are equitable, participatory, and engaging.
Effective natural resource management by government and academic organization.
Group members feeling valued and heard.
Organizational growth.
Constructive conflict.

Our Values

Encouragement: Encouraging inclusive participation of all members of a group.
Teamwork and Collaboration: Creating strong teamwork and collaboration to get tasks accomplished in the most effective and efficient way.
Creativity: Evoking individual and group creativity.
Sense of Ownership: Creating a sense of action and ownership with members of a group.
Growth and Learning: Engaging groups in resolving, reflecting, and learning.
Diversity and Inclusion: Holding space for diversity, equity, inclusivity, accessibility, and belonging.

Testimonials

We have worked with many amazing people

“I never knew strategic planning could be so fun until Jessica showed us! It can be challenging to plan projects three or four years out while trying to gain consensus in a large group. Jessica led our Florida State Agricultural Response Team (SART) of 25 plus partner agencies, government and non-governmental, to explore a vision and process that always focused on our SART mission. She helped us navigate through big-picture ideas as welll as the challenges we need to work through together to achieve our goals. Jessica facilitated our workshops with fun pictures, icebreakers, interactive tools, and fun breakout sessions; it was really refreshing. Through Jessica’s facilitation and workshops, she helped Florida SART create a concise strategic plan that we can achieve and modify easily for the next three years. Jessica took us all by surprise how fun this could be. I received a lot of positive feedback from our SART partners, too, about her facilitation style; no one ever felt bias or pressure. The workshops helped our SART partners connect and build relationships…that’s what this is all about.”

Leianna Tucker

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Animal Industry, Emergency Program Manager

“Jess co-facilitated a strategic planning retreat for my organization. She led the development of an action plan, which was the culminating part of the 2-day retreat. She demonstrated a keen ability to keep the group focused while also ensuring that everyone’s concerns were heard and taken into consideration. When the group got bogged down, she asked probing questions, listened, and helped us to find synergy and points of agreement. Jess’ demeanor was always calm, professional, focused, and supportive as we worked through a difficult and extremely important process.”

Jessica Ireland, Extension Program Manager

University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, & Geomatics Sciences

“I found this to be the best organizational experience I’ve been involved in (and there have been many). Categorizing and prioritizing the mission, goals and actions of the group, throughout the process, enabled a real structure and focus for launch. Real volunteers stepped up to provide committee structure to move the process forward. Thanks Jessica!”

Cathy Harrelson, President

St. Petersburg Sustainablity Council

“Facilitating with Ms. Stempien is a pleasure! She helps the group get to where they need to be. Jess’ calm demeanor and thoughtful way of communicating lighten the work and make it more enjoyable.”

Carol Lippincott, Ph.d.

Facilitation Professionals LLC

“I’ve had the honor to work with Jess as co-facilitator on several projects. While her strengths lay in executing and getting the work done through strong process facilitation methods, it’s her positive and gentle nature that help foster harmony and collaboration among the group. She authentically shows up for each group she works with honoring individual and group creativity to build common ground and create actionable steps to move the group forward. I welcome future opportunities to work with Jess and recommend her approach and style to any group.”

Tara Tvedt

Square Peg Coach