OUR TEAM
OUR TEAM
LARK MCDONALD
Founder and CEO
Lark is responsible for the firm’s strategic positioning, which includes oversight of new service offerings and partnerships. In this role, he ensures the alignment of priorities for MCS’s Operations, Marketing, Business Operations, and Product Development groups.
Before founding MCS in 1996, Lark worked as a lead instructional designer and program manager in the U.S. defense industry, building pilot and crew training for branches of the military. Lark’s technical background in training systems development and management has been instrumental in building the MCS leadership and command curriculum.
Lark is a former flight instructor with expertise in Aviation Management and Human Factors Psychology.
MARK SMITH
Founder and Vice President
Mark’s expertise centers on efforts to help clients align values, doctrine, and policy to achieve synergy in high-risk environments. Author of several publications, Mark works with MCS clients in their efforts to build and foster a strong operational culture. He serves as MCS’s lead consultant and oversees the consultation group.
Recent work includes the MCS’s effort to implement new Strategic Risk Assessment and Strategic Operations processes within wildland fire incident management. Quantifiable measurements show that IMTs using these processes have increased efficiency and effectiveness in tactical and strategic decision-making on large fires.
SCHELLY OLSON
Market Development
Part of MCS since 2018, Schelly builds and fosters client and partner relationships, ensuring that customers are engaged and well informed throughout the sales process. Her ability to coordinate and collaborate with people and agencies at all levels of government is the key to success in MCS’s partnerships.
During her fire service career as an Assistant Chief in northwest Colorado, Schelly became an avid student of leadership and now serves as a cadre member for MCS leadership and command programs. An active member of IMTs, Schelly serves as a public information officer during wildland fire incidents.
NANCY WALSH
Operations Manager
Nancy joined MCS in 2019 and is responsible for planning, coordination, and implementation of some 100+ training and consulting events annually, both in the U.S. and overseas. These responsibilities include consultant resourcing and support, and the oversight and coordination with the MCS-certified training providers.
Prior to her service at MCS, Nancy served as a general manager in business operations. She has education in media production.
NANCY ANDERSON
Product Development Lead
Since 2001, Nancy has guided the design, development, and implementation of courses in the MCS leadership and command curriculum. She oversees development processes and configuration management methodology to ensure consistency and coherence.
In recent international deliveries, she has developed processes to customize content per client requirements, streamline collaboration with subject matter experts, and develop new online delivery mechanisms for course materials.
LAURA WALSH
Business Operations Director
Approaching her work with a strategic mindset and a knack for problem-solving, Laura directs all domestic MCS financial operations. She manages day-to-day accounting responsibilities and administers compliance and regulation requirements. Laura advises MCS leadership on financial forecasting to leverage strategic advantage.
Laura executes a multi-step provisioning process to ensure that all course deliveries have the correct materials and all logistic requirements have been clearly communicated to on-site coordinators. She maintains open lines of communications with clients to ensure seamless integration in course delivery.
WAYNE ICHIYASU
Senior Consultant
As International Training Delivery Lead, Wayne coordinates people and processes to field qualified cadres worldwide. He also is an instructor, drawing on two decades of service in structural fire departments to provide the voice of experience. Wayne supports course development with a wealth of information and insight as a Subject Matter Expert with expertise in the Incident Command System.
He provides cadre oversight during course delivery, ensuring alignment to course goals. Wayne coordinates support for international courses to include integrating with clients’ learning management systems to document registration and course completion certification.
DON WHITTEMORE
Senior Consultant
In 30 years of service in fire departments and on incident management teams, Don has provided leadership as Fire Chief, Incident Commander, and Emergency Services Coordinator. Throughout his career, Don honed the application of intent-based planning processes to improve decision-making and risk management in incident response.
Don partners with organizations to advance mission-driven culture, critical thinking, and strategic planning. He co-developed the Crisis Appreciation and Strategic Planning Guidebook – the doctrine and processes that guide Emergency Management Australia. Don provides skillful guidance for clients building doctrine for preparedness and emergency response.
CRAIG FAIR
Senior Consultant
With more than 25 years of federal law enforcement and domestic intelligence experience, Craig has a proven record of building and leading investigative and intelligence teams and programs as well as running counterterrorism operations.
As a senior consultant with MCS, Craig leverages his background to strengthen clients’ leadership capabilities, conduct threat assessments, shape and refine strategic plans, and integrate critical thinking into crisis management. He leads intent-based planning workshops and teaches courses in the MCS leadership curriculum both domestically and internationally.
AIMEE BIRTSCH
Senior Editor
A versatile editor and writer, Aimee’s journey began in journalism, working for prominent print and web publications. With an eye for detail and accuracy, she edited stories and content while handling breaking news in a fast-paced newsroom.
At MCS, Aimee leverages her editorial expertise to serve as a pivotal member of the course development team, collaborating to generate high-quality products. She analyzes course design to ensure alignment with learning goals and tailors course content for emerging markets. In addition, Aimee oversees web content development, adding depth and clarity to online platforms.
