The Napa Group returns as Regis University’s strategic planning consultant. They bring extensive experience in higher education, business and nonprofit sectors. They have consulted with a number of Jesuit Catholic universities, including Creighton University, Fairfield University, Georgetown University, Loyola University Maryland, Loyola Marymount University, Marquette University, Santa Clara University and St. Joseph’s University.
RJ Valentino is president of the NAPA Group. RJ brings more than 30 years of experience as a senior executive and business advisor to university and foundation presidents, corporate CEOs, boards and senior leadership. Prior to co-founding the NAPA Group in 1985, RJ held management and leadership positions in financial services, corporate training, and human resources in Fortune 500 companies. He is certified in mediation, is professionally credentialed in organizational learning from the Sloan School of Business at MIT, and is a member of the International Facilitators Association.
Kathy Jones is a principal of the NAPA Group. She has more than 20 years of experience managing complex organizations with a focus on development of high performance agility in higher education. At Georgetown University, she served as senior vice president and secretary, facilitating the work of the Board of Directors. As vice president of alumni and university relations at Georgetown University, she was the chief architect of the university’s $1 billion Third Century Campaign. Previously she was vice chancellor of university relations at University of California, Irvine.
Janis Johnson is a senior partner of the NAPA Group. For nearly 20 years she has worked as a senior executive and consultant in higher education and nonprofit marketing and communications for presidents, their administrators and other leadership and advancement offices. As assistant vice president for constituent communications in Georgetown University’s Office of Alumni and University Relations, she directed communications for the $1 billion Third Century Campaign. As assistant vice president for communications and public affairs at Loyola Marymount University, she oversaw a multi-year institutionwide rebranding initiative.
Patricia O’Brien, Ph.D., is a NAPA group consultant. A university faculty member and administrator for 34 years, she is the former professor and executive dean of the College of Letters and Sciences, UCLA; dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at University of California, Riverside; and acting vice chancellor for research, chair of the history department and acting associate dean of undergraduate studies at UC Riverside.