ICA Staff

ICA’s Staff is made up of a diverse group of professionals.  Our consultants have extensive experience in community economic development and business creation and have earned advanced degrees in related fields.

• Newell Lessell, President of ICA.
  With a background in domestic and international economic development, Mr. Lessell has over 15 years of for-profit and not-for-profit management experience. While at ICA he has founded several social purpose ventures, developed the business plans for each of ICA’s first three staffing companies, and helped raise over 3 million dollars of capital for social purpose ventures.  He is the founding director of the national Alternative Staffing Alliance, which ICA manages. Prior to joining ICA, he worked as a management consultant in Central Europe.  Mr. Lessell has also designed and taught courses on entrepreneurship and financial analysis. He has a MBA from the Yale School of Management and a B.A. from Amherst College. nlessell@ica-group.org

• James D. Megson, Senior Consultant.
  Mr. Megson has over twenty years experience in consulting to a wide range of clients from small community based enterprises to Fortune 500 companies. At ICA, Mr. Megson has primarily worked with employee buyouts of businesses that otherwise would have closed, and with the conversion of medium-sized closely-held companies to employee ownership through the use of ESOPs. He holds a Master Degree from Cornell University and has experience in business and economic development in North America, Africa, Europe and Central America. jmegson@ica-group.org

• Janet Van Liere, Business Consultant.
  Ms. Van Liere’s focus at ICA is feasibility analysis and business planning relating to our Community Jobs work. She also coordinates member services  for the Alternative Staffing Alliance.  Ms. Van Liere holds a Master’s degree in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University and has worked with small business owners and local groups in the US and Africa on venture development. jvanliere@ica-group.org

• David Hammer, Business Consultant.
  Mr. Hammer has over ten year’s worth of experience conducting research and analysis in the not-for-profit sector. His focus at ICA includes feasibility analysis; business planning; data analysis and modeling; and strategic planning. Prior to joining ICA in 2009, Mr. Hammer worked as a research analyst for numerous labor unions including SEIU, UNITE HERE and the United Steelworkers of America. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Massachusetts. dhammer@ica-group.org