Black River Performance Management
We believe work should FUEL the human spirit, not drain it!
We founded this organization upon the idea of improving work conditions and experiences so work becomes a point of joy and fulfillment.
Our researched-based approach to optimizing the performance of your team and business is essential to navigating the challenges of CHANGE and GROWTH.
We focus on, and honor, the history that gives an organization its identity. We build out systems that leverage the talent, target the gaps, and build capacity to prepare for growth.
Meet Our Team
Dr. Rob Lion
Professor, Researcher, Consultant, Speaker, and Co-Founder of Black River Performance Management. With over 20 years of significant hands on experience in leadership, management, and organization development, Rob focuses on sustainable and strategic performance improvement practices for individuals and organizations.
Angie Lion
Co-founder of Black River Performance Management & Host of the Leader U Podcast. Certified in various personality assessments, Angie brings significant learning and development experiences to organizations by addressing clients’ needs and providing sustainable and impactful development solutions for organizations and individuals.
Our Client Engagement Process
Where science meets practice, and where genuine relationships drive real results
1. Initial Consultation
Complimentary conversation that goes beyond the surface
Every partnership begins with getting to know the real you: not just your business card, but who you are as a person and what makes your organization tick. We show up early, roll up our sleeves, and dig into what’s really going on.
During our complimentary consultation, we explore what’s keeping you up at night and what gets you excited about the possibilities ahead. We’re genuinely curious about your team dynamics, your organizational culture, and the unique challenges that brought you to this conversation. This isn’t a sales pitch; it’s two (or more) people having an authentic conversation about what matters most to you and your people.
Our promise: We’re in this to make a real difference, not just collect a paycheck. If we’re not the right fit for what you need, we’ll tell you straight up and help connect you with someone who is. That’s just how we roll: with integrity, honesty, and a genuine desire to see you succeed.
2. Customized Plan Development
Rolling up our sleeves to understand what's really happening
Once we get a feel for what you’re dealing with, we dive deeper to understand your world from the ground up. Depending on what makes sense for your situation, we might spend time in your workspace, join your team meetings, or sit down for coffee with your people to really understand the landscape.
Our discovery process includes:
- Strategic assessments using proven tools
- Real conversations with real people in your organization
- Observation sessions where we see how things actually work (not just how they're supposed to work)
- Focus groups that feel more like fireside chats
- Cultural deep-dives that uncover what's beneath the surfac
We combine our academic expertise with good old-fashioned relationship building to craft solutions that actually fit your reality. No cookie-cutter approaches here; we’re building something as unique as your team.
3. Implementation: Where the Magic Happens
Engaging, fun, and transformational experiences
Here’s where we really get to work and have some fun doing it. Whether we’re facilitating your strategic planning session, running a team-building retreat in the great outdoors, or delivering a keynote that has people laughing and learning simultaneously, we bring our whole selves to the experience.
We work with you to create solutions that align with your goals and your people.
What makes us different: We don’t just show up, deliver content, and leave. We arrive early to connect with your people, we stay late to continue conversations over coffee (or something stronger), and we bring an energy that’s both professional and genuinely human. Our clients consistently tell us we feel like trusted friends who happen to be really good at what we do.
4. Ongoing Support & Real Relationships
Because transformation doesn't happen in a single event
The best part of our work often happens after the formal session ends. Based on what you need and want, we can stay connected through regular check-ins and celebrate your wins alongside you. This isn’t just professional courtesy; we genuinely care about your success and want to support your journey in whatever way serves you best.
What ongoing partnership could look like based on your needs:
- Check-ins that feel like conversations with friends who want to see you win
- Impact measurement using both data and "How are things really going?" conversations
- Access to our expertise, resources, and network when you need it
- Strategic support that adapts as your needs evolve
- Celebration of milestones (because wins deserve recognition!)
Some organizations need just a few touchpoints to keep momentum going. Others want us as ongoing strategic partners who become part of their extended team. Either way, we’re in it for the long haul because real relationships and lasting change don’t happen overnight.
The bottom line: We’re passionate about helping you optimize your organization through optimizing your people. We bring both the science and the heart to this work because we believe that’s what creates real, sustainable change. Plus, we think work should be challenging, meaningful, AND enjoyable.
Many of our clients have become lifelong friends, and that’s not by accident. It’s what happens when you show up authentically, care deeply about people’s success, and build relationships that go far beyond any single project or contract.