RFN Academy Communities

Janyce Fadden is Director of Strategic Engagement at the University of North Alabama College of Business. Her role includes implementing an innovation pipeline strategy called Shoals Shift Project and other business engagement projects. Currently using Strategic Doing, a flexible agile methodology, the Shoals Shift Project seeks to build a digital economy by enhancing the region’s competitiveness. This award-winning project recognized by the Appalachian Regional Commission with a significant grant to accelerate the results. The project has been recognized as outstanding by the University Economic Development Association, the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and the Deshpande Symposium Awards.   

In addition, by introducing Rapid Improvement with Lean Tools, Fadden has been a key contributor with the College of Business Graduate recruitment team whose work has resulted in doubling the MBA enrollment thus becoming Alabama’s largest program. This work has led to engagements on a variety of university processes. 

 In her previous role as President at the Rockford Area Economic Development Council she created and implemented innovative approaches to strategic planning for economic development. Fadden facilitated a collaborative approach to regional economic development work.  In eight years, the results of this collaborative work resulted in the retention or creation of 18,700 jobs, $1,300M of capital investment and occupation of 13M square feet of development.
 

Fadden also served in various capacities as President, Vice President, and General Manager for major multinational corporations including Honeywell, General Signal, Applied Power, Pacific Scientific, and Danaher.  She is experienced in lean management and leadership which resulted in many achievements over her corporate career. 

 Fadden earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and Management from Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, and her Master of Business Administration degree from Northern Illinois University. She is a co-author of the award winning book, “Strategic Doing: Ten Skills for Agile Leadership” and serves as a certified fellow of the Strategic Doing Institute, a breakthrough process for doing more together. Fadden has facilitated many workshops and 

keynote talks about strategy development and implementation.