Who We Are
We are consultants who help you solve your business challenges and accelerate your growth. We’re ambitious strategists and collaborative problem-solvers — leading with curiosity and critical thinking to steer you to even greater success.
At Standing Partnership, our values are more than just words — they’re the foundation of who we are and how we work.
We are driven by ambition, grounded in collaboration, fueled by curiosity and committed to ownership. These core values guide how we work with clients, support one another and grow together. Our commitment to these values doesn’t just shape our culture — it’swhat makes us a trusted partner.
As of November 2023, Standing Partnership became an operating group of Dix & Eaton, a strategic communications and marketing firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. The combination of our two organizations enables us to bring an expanded range and depth of experience, capabilities, service offerings and insights to our clients. An overview of Dix & Eaton’s complementary capabilities is available here.
We also have access to global partners in 49 countries as part of the Worldcom network, which allows us to extend our expertise and deliver on-the-ground support in markets critical to your success.
Our
Core Values
Driven by ambition, collaboration, curiosity and ownership, we make your goals our own.
Ambition
We set and achieve bold goals and deliver results that bolster growth.
Collaboration
We value diverse perspectives and do our best work as a team.
Curiosity
We ask “Why?,” we challenge the status quo, we innovate and strive for continuous improvement.
Ownership
We have an inclusive ownership mindset, where each of us is empowered to think critically and make decisions in the best interest of the enterprise.
Our
Leadership
Chas D. Withers
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
As Chairman and CEO, Chas has the everyday responsibility for ensuring that Dix & Eaton delivers on its promise of results-driven focus, insight and best-of-breed culture.
Melissa Lackey
Enterprise President
Melissa works closely with senior executives to help grow their businesses. She is a skilled facilitator and consultant whose expertise lies in setting strategy and bringing cross-functional teams together to drive results.
Julie Steininger
Chief People Officer
Besides being a firm leader, Julie has helped many clients make the connection between a positive reputation and stakeholder trust. She encourages her clients to listen to and understand the expectations of those impacted by their decisions and actions.
Jim Brown
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
A part of Dix & Eaton since 2001, Jim is the firm’s CFO and COO and currently has oversight responsibility for all financial and several administrative functions, including accounting, billing, financial management and IT.
Ashlyn Brewer
Operating Group President
Ashlyn is Group President at Standing Partnership, where she leads with a focus on growth, partnership and performance. She’s a trusted advisor on growth priorities, including channel performance, vertical market strategy and sales enablement.
Mihaela Grad
Senior Vice President
Mihaela leads Standing Partnership's Risk & Resilience practice that works with clients to influence regulatory outcomes, build public acceptance for new technologies and manage their reputations.
Nick Sargent
Vice President
Nick leads Standing Partnership’s Growth Strategy practice that helps clients engage with their most important stakeholders, coaching them on how to share stories and leverage influencers to achieve their organizational goals in the digital world.
Andrea Shea
Vice President
Andrea helps B2B Tech businesses better communicate to customers and employees to drive growth and shared value.
Michael Chandler
Senior Advisor
Michael is a senior advisor who works with clients on business transformation, operational strategy and market expansion.
Our
Collective Impact
Giving back is part of our DNA. Our combined Social Impact Report shows how we turn purpose and values into impact – for our clients, our team and our communities.
Join Our Team
Bold work needs bold people.