
John McCann
President
John is a consultant, teacher, and facilitator. As founder and president of Partners in Performance, he focuses on organizational health, innovation, adaptive strategy, and leader development. John has helped design and lead programs for various organizations, including the Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Boys and Girls Club, Michigan Arts and Culture Council and Juilliard Extension. His current and recent projects include Miami City Ballet, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Cleveland Institute of Music, Syracuse Stage, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
In addition to a master’s degree in administration, John holds certificates in Executive Leadership from Said Business School at Oxford University, Higher Education Teaching and Learning from the Derek Bok Center at Harvard University, and Systems Dynamics for Business from MIT.
He serves on the board of the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice, the Emily Krzyzewski Center, and Pocosin Arts/School of Fine Craft.

Jessica Lindsey
Director of Partner Relations
Jessica has a diverse professional background spanning administration, education, and the arts. She brings extensive experience in project management and program coordination, managing initiatives that enrich organizational culture and strengthen institutional governance. She leads key client-side efforts, including cultural assessments for organizations such as the Wharton Center for Performing Arts at MSU, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. She also plays a pivotal coordinating role in leadership development programs like the Rising Leaders Program, Michigan Library Association–Think Space, and Essentials of Orchestra Management, ensuring seamless execution through well-structured agendas and presentation materials, and communications management. In addition to project administration Jessica serves as the firm’s business manager and website developer.
Jessica holds a BA in French from Hollins College and has participated in leadership and professional development programs.
Outside of her professional work, Jessica remains active in the arts as both a dancer and a supporter of local nonprofit arts and literary organizations.
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