Who We Are
McAlpine Consulting for Growth, LLC was started in September 2001 by Laura McAlpine to provide expertise and services to nonprofit organizations and individuals, with a primary focus on communities addressing complex social issues. Since that time, we have served over 35 nonprofit organizations in a variety of ways.
Please visit the About Our Services page for information on the work we do.
Laura McAlpine, LCSW, Principal
laura@lmcalpine.com
Laura McAlpine is the Principal of McAlpine Consulting for Growth, LLC and has more than 25 years of management and leadership expertise in non-profit health and social service organizations. Her skills, gained in positions as executive director, manager, and board member, include strategic planning, program development, staff supervision, grant writing, organizational development and public relations. She has worked in a variety of settings, including social service, academic, community, collective, and public/private partnerships. Laura is also a skilled policy advocate with a special focus on health access, maternal and child health, adolescent health, reproductive rights and anti-gay violence.
Laura is a licensed clinical social worker and has a Master’s degree in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago. She is Board President of the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, as well as a community advisory board member of the Amundsen and Lakeview High School Health Centers. In August 2005, Laura was appointed as a Member of the Governor’s Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes.
Mairita Smiltars, Consultant
mairita@lmcalpine.com
Since joining McAlpine Consulting in January 2007, Mairita has worked with dozens of clients on a variety of projects as a coordinator, planner, analyst, and problem-solver. Mairita provides firm-wide client services, including organizational development & strategic planning, data analysis and report writing, meeting facilitation, job searches, and general project management. As a skilled and detail-oriented coordinator, she also leads the conference planning department for the firm. Along with her client responsibilities, Mairita oversees and manages many of the firm’s internal and human resource operations.
Mairita received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, and her master’s degree from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration (SSA). Her civic involvement includes co-chairing the HealthConnect One Associate Board, and participation on the host committee of Crossroads Fund’s annual “Mini Golf” event.
Mac Grambauer, Project Associate
mac@lmcalpine.com
Mac provides project assistance on meeting & conference coordination and strategic planning. She was instrumental in supporting Laura McAlpine and Mary F. Morten’s Executive Retreats, providing marketing assistance, curriculum development, and logistics coordination. Since joining McAlpine Consulting in January 2008, Mac has taken a lead role in policy advocacy campaign work, helping to plan and participate in advocacy days and legislative meetings on Capitol Hill, running web-based advocacy initiatives, and conducting advocacy trainings. In addition to her client-based work, Mac leads McAlpine Consulting’s marketing, social media, and web-based communications strategies, and serves on the Junior Board of Rock For Kids, a former MCFG Strategic Planning client.
Mac is also a member of and Bike Shop Ambassador for Chicago’s Active Transportation Alliance. Prior to joining McAlpine Consulting for Growth, Mac worked as a Day Camp Director for the Leaning Tower YMCA, an affiliate of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. She received her BA in Media Studies from Northern Illinois University in 2006.