About Us - Background

Background and History of Frew & Associates

Upon leaving a tenured faculty position at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, Dr. Barry Frew formed Frew & Associates, an independent consulting firm. He conducts education and development interventions for organizations and executives that are aimed at expanding the boundaries of individuals and organizations. Dr. Frew continues to focus on events to stretch the thinking of people within organizations that help align, that focus on talent management, that focus on transformation and change, and that provide high performing and high potential leaders an expanded set of management, leadership, and execution tools.

In 1997, Professor Frew founded the Center for Executive Education at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. The Center provided boundary expanding programs for the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense Flag officers and Senior Service civilians. Programs delivered by this Center rapidly built a large following and reputation within and external to the Navy. His programs have been credited for changing the culture of Navy leadership, changing the dialogue within the Navy, and expanding the awareness and perception regarding leader’s vision of future possibilities and outcomes. His entrepreneurial spirit and his non-standard approach to executive education has been the focus of articles, magazines and news periodicals including Fast Company, New York Lawyer, Chips, and Naval Proceedings.

Dr. Frew's dissertation topic explored the necessary characteristics for an event that leads peak performers to change their perception or behavior and led him to a deeper understanding of adult and organizational learning, human motivation, organizational behavior, and communication. He is a tenured faculty member at the Naval Postgraduate School and an adjunct faculty member at the Federal Executive Institute as well as a Principal at the Council for Excellence in Government. Barry has a non-traditional approach to executive education and possesses a passion for making today’s leaders excellent leaders.

Ms. Jeanne Frew’s experience is broad from highly technical to senior leadership and professional development. The emphasis throughout has been leadership and change management. The audience has been both public and private sector with the largest time spent working with and for the federal government. She is experienced with government processes and systems, and she has helped government organizations successfully use these systems rather than be stymied by them. She has focused on professional and leadership development and has used formal and informal education, coaching and mentorship, and leadership by example.

Ms. Frew led a military organization as the senior civilian (Technical Director). She provided leadership, change management, strategic thinking, policy development, long-range planning in all aspects of the business, human capital management, and fiscal oversight. In this position, she implemented strategic direction and demonstrated world-class leadership in a rapidly changing unpredictable environment. In her role as a facilitator, she knew how to challenge individuals, as well as groups, and knew how to get them motivated to work together, stay focused and get results. Ms. Frew has been successful in getting organizations to achieve organizational alignment and transformational leadership.

Her fervor for organizational development led her to design ‘Expanding Boundaries’, a five-day program she teaches to address the cultural needs of an organization during times of radical and continuing change. By educating a cross-section of its members, from the ground-up to the senior executives, she has proven herself by cultivating learning and the sharing of ideas at all levels in organizations. Ms. Frew’s program has provided participants a better understanding of themselves, each other, and the organization. The successes are seen when organizations end up with an understanding of the challenges they face along with developing a clear vision for the future.

Ms. Frew's expertise spans a culmination of transformational organizational development, communications, management, systems engineering and software development. While her passion and experience embrace leading organizational change.

Ms. Lane Fabby has a broad range of experience in providing professional development services to individuals, teams, and organizations.  Ms. Fabby earned a Master of Science degree in Global Leadership from the University of San Diego’s School of Business Administration, coupled with specialties in leadership development, project management, and business operations.  Due to completing her degree from across the country, she gained a unique understanding of the benefits as well as the challenges of distance learning as a tool for in-depth study and research.  Additionally, she holds a certification in Project Management, Appreciative Inquiry, Strengths Advocacy and is a Temperament Certified Professional.

Ms. Fabby specializes in the areas of executive and leadership development, training & facilitation, program management, team development, performance management, communication skill development, and business development.  Additionally, she provides daily business management support in the areas of project management, contract management, financial management, and executive coaching initiatives. 

In 2000, Ms. Fabby began working for the Center for Executive Education at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California.  During her tenure with NPS, she coordinated, planned, and executed Executive Education courses and events for Flag officers, Generals, and Senior Executive Service members in order to improve business processes within the U.S. Department of the Navy. Additionally, Ms. Fabby implemented organizational development training, obtained world-renowned guest speakers, and developed public and private sector partnerships.

In 2003, Ms. Fabby resigned her position at NPS to join Frew & Associates and had the opportunity to work internationally for three years.  Ms. Fabby currently manages projects, contracts, business development, and administrative services.  Additionally, she generates new business avenues, manages existing clientele, and oversees budgeting and invoicing.  Her work includes conducting educational research, developing and delivering customized content, facilitating sessions, and generating proposals for prospective clients.  Furthermore, she coordinates logistics operations in addition to providing leadership and direction to program activities. 

Ms. Fabby is a published writer and former adjunct faculty member at the College of Southern Maryland.  She currently resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband, Rick, and their three children.

Ms. Michelle J. Belcher has a broad range of experience spanning multiple disciplines including medical, financial, educational, and military/federal government. Michelle, originally from Washington D.C. & Annapolis, MD, graduated from the University of Maryland College Park in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Behavioral and Social Sciences. She completed her MBA at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) in June 2009. She currently mentors graduate and undergraduate students at UMUC. 

Michelle joined Frew & Associates (F&A) in 2005 and serves as the Director of Communications & Marketing. Michelle’s areas of work at F&A have included planning, content development, and operations of major learning events and conferences. She provides website design, content development, and operation. She is certified and designs, conducts, analyzes, and produces statistical results and develops presentations for an assortment of personal and organizational assessments. Michelle also performs market research, conducts communications planning, and is responsible for business development and generating proposals.  

Previously, Michelle worked at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Executive Education, Monterey, California, as the Assistant to the Director where she took part in the development and execution of numerous 2-week learning events for Admirals, Generals and SES members. Cumulatively, she has 9 years focused experience in the executive education and professional development realm. She also worked for the Navy at Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center as an Executive Assistant to the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Technical Director, Chief Scientist and Chief Information Officer. During that experience, she helped plan, coordinate, and execute a mind-expanding learning event series, which was offered multiple times during her tenure. She also assisted in conducting an organizational trust network study. Prior to that, she was a Personal Banking Officer and Investment Representative for USBancorp. She held Series 6 and 63 licensure and sold mutual funds, annuities and life insurance. Michelle was also a Supervisor at the Northwest Prostate Institute in Seattle, Washington, where she led a team of front office staff in a prestigious cancer clinic.  

Michelle also finds the time to share her passion for running. She develops training plans and has trained and motivated individuals to run marathons and half marathons. At present, Michelle has raced more than a dozen half marathons (PR 1:42:54) and has completed 3 marathons (current PR 3:51:22) and is currently training for her 4th & 5th ones in November 2011 and April 2012. She is hoping to one day qualify for Boston. 

Her vast array of experience is partly contributed from marrying a Navy man. All of the new experiences and adventures have taught her firsthand how one must be flexible throughout the winds of change. Her husband Robert C. Belcher, hails from Idaho Falls, Idaho, and retired from the Navy in 2005. Her family (which includes an athletic 8 year old son, delightful and independent 5 year old daughter and vivacious 3 year old son) currently lives in Birmingham, AL.  

Though Michelle juggles many hats (mother, wife, employee, athlete, life-long learner), she enjoys the challenge and strives to exceed expectations in every aspect of her life!