Facilitation
My Promise
When I facilitate, people stop performing and start being genuine, curious humans.
You've been in places where nothing real gets said or done. Where the “discussion” is two people dominating and the rest wanting to check their phones or check out entirely.
Yeah. That doesn't fly with me.
I create environments where a stranger tells you something true about themselves, something meaningful, almost right away. Where a group that's been stuck for too long builds momentum towards what's most important because someone finally said or did the thing that was holding everybody back.
I don't facilitate with a spreadsheet full of frameworks. I do it with 20+ years of practice and a deep trust in what's already in the room. If I have a secret sauce, it's my uncommon urge to go wherever the experience needs to go – conversationally, emotionally, and energetically – including the places everyone else avoids.
The result? We amplify what's already strong and untangle the natural messiness of being human together. We'll get your gathering goals met and have folks leave feeling like the hard work was worth it.
Who You're Working With
I'm a big dude, usually barefoot, and almost certainly wearing a grey t-shirt. People sometimes trip over my appearance, but their loss becomes your gain when we realize what matters most is the positive change and great vibes when I'm around.
I'm also your guy if you need someone who can make even a cynic feel like they belong and have something to contribute.
I've facilitated since my corporate project management days and every context since. From neighborhood associations gatherings to stale dinner parties to Death Cafés where we spoke openly about dying and left feeling more alive … there's rarely an experience I can't or won't improve.
These days, I'm not interested in boardrooms or corporate retreats. I work with community groups, nonprofits, government agencies, neighborhood associations, and anyone else doing real work with real people on a real budget.
What It's Like to Be with Me
People who have seen me in action can say it better than I can.
“Your being real gives everyone around you permission to be real. And your trust in us makes us trust you and each other.”
“Where to start?! You've been the absolute heartbeat of our community for more than 10 years. The fact that we survived and thrived is a direct testament to your spreadsheeting, processes, and endless care for each of us.“
“Joel has a way of cultivating a space where you immediately feel seen and valued. And he knows how to maintain momentum to avoid a boring “I've seen this one before” sameness of gatherings. Better yet, his thoughtful event design helped everyone find doable next steps so that progress can continue later.”
You help me remember my humanity, and you make me feel like I belong – that I'm not just drifting off at the edges of space, forgotten because I hide in plain sight. You don't let me hide and I'm grateful.“
“Joel combined preparation, practice, and warmth to create an experience that felt special, but also simple enough to prompt the question: why aren't we gathering like this in all contexts?“
What I Facilitate
I can facilitate almost any group experience you've participated in or have heard of (and many you don't know exist). But here's where I'm generally at my best.
This is my signature experience.
An Offers and Needs Market is a lively, guided exchange where groups swap skills, stuff, and support – anything from tech help to a new mindset to the food on your plate.
Whether it’s free, bartered, or paid, it’s all about better knowing that what you offer matters and what you need is valued.
I've run these for neighborhood groups, professional organizations, and communities of all sizes. They work every time, and the effects compound long after the event is over.
“Joel's facilitation easily elevated and activated the hidden assets within our community, and showed me what's possible in the process.”
If you're doing good locally or trying to tap into the good that already exists within your group, we have ourselves a sweet spot. Everything I do is rooted in the knowledge that communities almost always already have what they need. Their issues are mostly a resource awareness and distribution puzzle to solve.
I've co-founded and run many community initiatives in Minnesota. For example, block-level neighboring projects, city-wide events, and multi-day participant-driven gatherings. I know how to help groups start, grow, and sustain themselves.
“Thank you for leading such a great neighborhood association gathering. You did an excellent job bringing everyone together and creating an engaging, welcoming atmosphere. It's clear how much thought and effort you put into designing everything, and it really showed for all of us.”
I don’t really do meetings: I'm all about gatherings. Because bringing people together is necessary, but templated designs aren't sufficient for you or me.
Some gatherings are milestone celebrations, opening or closing ceremonies, or just a Tuesday night where someone said “I don't want this to feel like just another thing.”
One of my favorites? How I drew up and facilitated my parents' 80th birthday celebration (they can't and won't shut up about it). I bring that same intentionality to any gathering where the moment deserves more than the default or boring pattern.
I bring depth and sensitivity to any topic people avoid or is straight-up taboo: money, sexuality, religion, politics, failure, loneliness, or the future. A favorite is the Death Café where I help people have curious conversations about death and dying.
I'm about the stuff that actually matters instead of small talk. We won't dance around the depths of the human experience; we'll intentionally plunge into the murkiness and come out with new clarity, appreciation, and joy.
I've been told time and again that I have a natural talent for taking on off-limits or just plain strange experiences. So let's explore something your group needs to talk about and just … can't … do … it.
I can do just about anything online that I do offline.
I've been a member of many online spaces in desperate need of a good gathering and helped run The Puttyverse, a seasoned online community, for over a decade.
I know how to create genuine connection through a screen; something more than just a Zoom call with breakout rooms. I'm talking deliberately designed virtual experiences where people feel something real and become more than before.
Ready to Gather, Together?
More about How I Roll
I trust who and what's already in the room unless we have a reason not to – a place where I also shine. As an obsessive question collector, I'll draw on the right ones to create the conditions for your group to find its own path forward.
I'll work with goals and outcomes that are important to you. I just have one non-negotiable thing: that we design and actually run an experience to give us the best chance to feel belonging and generate long-lasting trust.
It'll probably be bumpy and yes, we might get knocked on our ass in the process. But destructive impulses will be named so power dynamics or bad faith arguments are laid bare. The most useful moments usually live on the other side of discomfort or what's been buried for too long.
I also use my presence with purpose. I've learned to use my (sort of literal and definitely figurative) giant energy in service of the group – to do the cliché and still crucial “holding space” thing, to stay neutral when needed, and to grab a bull by the horns when necessary.
Training and Depth
I believe that intuition and experience matter more than certifications in facilitation – and I keep investing in all of them. Here's how I keep my mind and skills sharp:
I won't squeeze you and your people through a pre-determined process or facilitation technique. I have a depth and breadth to draw from, and you'll feel that almost immediately.
Where I Work
I'm based in Edina, Minnesota and I'll drive most anywhere in the Upper Midwest for the right fit. It's video conferencing for everything else unless you can pay my minimum fee of at least $5,000 plus travel expenses to get me on a plane.
I'm upfront about flying and its disruption to my family life because being a good papa and spouse are mighty dang important.
Pricing
Every engagement is different, so I price each one individually depending on variables like how much prep work is required, known challenges with certain participants, or whether we've already worked together.
My heart tends to sing for community groups with shoestring budgets, but I've “been there, done that, will do it again” for larger organizations.
Let's Explore
Let's whip up a friendly chat if you have a good feeling about what we might do together. Tell me what you need, plus your constraints, and we'll figure out what might make sense.
There will be no pitch decks or discovery call funnels. Just you and me having a conversation about possibilities.