Our Team
AJ Lauer, Ed.D.
Owner
Dr. AJ Lauer (she/her) is the owner and primary facilitator at Thriving Ibis Leadership Solutions.
She is a leadership and diversity educator specializing in the development of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professionals. She has two decades of experience working in higher education and nonprofit research where she has held diverse professional roles, including running a residence hall, leading an educational exhibit design project, and coaching and training C-suite staff.
She is passionate about improving the work lives of STEM staff and contributes to these efforts at national and international levels. Dr. Lauer is listed in the pilot database of IDEA practitioners for the Astrophysics Division of the Science Mission Directorate for NASA, is a co-author on various publications about improving diversity in STEM including the 500 Women Scientists Guide to Creating Inclusive Scientific Conferences, and served as Inclusivity Chair for the 2021 International Supercomputing Conference (SC21).
AJ holds a Doctorate in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University, Masters in Higher Education Administration from Florida International University, and Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Outside of the working world, you can find AJ playing with her two young children and husband, working in her garden, or reading a novel.
Konnie Phillips
Executive Assistant
she/her
A Colorado native, Konnie is passionate about advancing DEI, promoting women’s equality, and fostering continuous growth. With three decades of experience in business administration, she brings a wealth of expertise to Thriving Ibis. Since joining in 2024, Konnie has contributed to the team by overseeing book outreach, managing LinkedIn content, and supporting various administrative functions.
Our Collaborators
When we need additional facilitators or coaches, we are happy to frequently work with these excellent folks:
Wendy Chi, PhD
she/her
Wendy has over two decades of experience in education evaluation, specializing in the evaluation of projects in STEM institutions with a DEI focus. As a former high school teacher in underserved schools, she has a passion for equity issues and an understanding of the importance of DEI initiatives. Dr. Chi holds a Ph.D. in Educational Foundations, Policy, and Practice from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she focused on diversity and equity issues in schools.
Shantel Martinez, PhD
she/her
Shantel is a proud first-generation woman of color who is an experienced DEI leader with a demonstrated history of community-centered and inclusive strategic planning to address systemic inequities. Utilizing emotional intelligence, innovative research, and collaboration, she has a knack for building bridges across unlikely accomplices in order to meet changing demands, while being proactive with tackling DEI issues.
Jenn Mazzotta
she/her
With over two decades of dedicated expertise in creating and facilitating training programs, Jenn Mazzotta stands as a seasoned professional in the realm of education and professional development. A passionate advocate for continuous learning, Jenn has honed a unique skill set that blends creativity, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of adult learning principles. Ms. Mazzotta's training portfolio spans a wide array of subjects, ranging from leadership and communication skills to technical and industry-specific knowledge.
Katy Putsavage, PhD
she/her
Katy is an equity and inclusion leader and anthropologist who helps organizations build cultures grounded in transparency, trust, and belonging. She designs collaborative, data-informed strategies that align equity goals, strengthen leadership, and center the experiences of those most impacted by organizational decisions, especially within climate and science spaces.