Welcome to Smith and Welch LLC
Analyzing your concerns to create valuable solutions.
What we strive for
About Our Founder
At the heart of Smith & Welch LLC is a belief grounded in experience: every successful project begins with one critical step—strategic intake.
Our founder’s journey began with a simple yet powerful observation: what you choose to include at the start of a project can determine its outcome. This insight, gained across diverse enterprises and departments, became the cornerstone of a career defined by results.
But the path to success wasn’t easy. Before entering the corporate world, our founder overcame a personal history of abuse—choosing not to be defined by hardship, but to rise from it. With no formal background in engineering, she taught herself the principles of process design and improvement, carving a path as a self-made process engineer. Her resilience, self-education, and determination not only built a better life but inspired a career rooted in transformation and excellence.
Her journey broke barriers. She became the first African American and first woman to lead Global AI & Machine Learning at her company—an achievement that redefined what leadership could look like. Later, she was promoted to oversee Global Corporate Risk, expanding her impact on enterprise-wide operations and strategy.
One standout moment came while serving as a Senior Analyst. Faced with a major project backlog, she implemented a streamlined strategy that reduced it by an astonishing 113% in just 30 days. The impact was so immediate, some joked it was the work of an automated system. That breakthrough didn’t just solve a problem—it opened the door to larger contracts, greater influence, and a path straight to the C-Suite, where leadership and innovation continue to thrive.
Today, she is recognized as one of fewer than 100 professionals globally to hold all of the following certifications:
- PMP®
- Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT®)
- SAFe® Practice Consultant (SPC)
- SAFe® Release Train Engineer (RTE)
- SAFe® Advanced Scrum Master
- SAFe® Scrum Master
- Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM) – Scrum Alliance
- Certified Product Owner® (CPO) – Scrum Alliance
- Certified Agile Leader 1® (CAL-1) – Scrum Alliance
- Certified Agile Leader 2® (CAL-2) – Scrum Alliance
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt® CSSC
- AgilityHealth® Facilitator
- ICAgile Certified Enterprise Coach
This rare combination of credentials reflects a deep, cross-functional mastery of Agile leadership, governance, and enterprise strategy.
Her personal and professional impact has also been recognized by the NAACP with a Community Service Award, honoring her dedication to uplifting others and creating accessible pathways into Agile and tech careers. Having risen from adult poverty to become a global Agile expert, her life stands as a testament to what’s possible through courage, service, and continuous learning.
From this foundation emerged Lean Intake Analysis—a proprietary method designed to uncover the essential elements of both a project and a customer’s journey. This approach aligns project outcomes with real-world client experience, ensuring that every solution delivers measurable success.
At Smith & Welch, we don’t just teach frameworks—we lead with lived success.
Consulting Offers
Strategic Intake Analysis Consulting:
- Current intake workflow diagnostics
- Lean Intake Analysis implementation
- Strategic project alignment workshops
- Portfolio optimization roadmaps
Agile Transformation & Coaching
- Agile readiness assessments
- Scrum, Kanban, SAFe® framework guidance
- Agile leadership coaching
- Team agile coaching and retrospectives
Lean Intake Analysis © Certification Program
- Official Smith & Welch Certification Workshops
- Customizable corporate training programs
- Instructor-led virtual certification track
- Practical application through real-world case studies
Compass Software
LIA Compass™ is Smith & Welch LLC’s intake governance software designed to help teams clarify work before execution begins. Built from the Lean Intake Analysis™ model, Compass helps organizations capture requests, clarify intent, assess readiness, align stakeholders, recommend the right governance path, record decisions, and track value realization. Instead of allowing unclear requests to move directly into delivery, LIA Compass™ creates a structured front door for demand so PMOs, transformation teams, Agile leaders, project managers, analysts, and operations teams can make better decisions earlier. The platform is currently in pilot-stage development, with the prototype available for review and pilot interest open for organizations seeking stronger intake clarity, stakeholder alignment, and delivery readiness.
Empowering Progress Through Strategic Management
At Smith & Welch, we streamline strategy and operations to boost ROI through expert portfolio, program, and project management—while empowering communities through agile training and career-focused education.
Our Values
Smith & Welch Core Values
Strategic Excellence
We believe in thoughtful, data-driven planning that delivers real, measurable impact.
Operational Integrity
We are committed to excellence at every level—portfolio, program, and project—ensuring alignment, efficiency, and accountability.
Empowerment Through Education
We champion non-traditional learners by offering accessible training that builds lasting, marketable skills.
Agility and Innovation
We embrace agile principles to stay flexible, forward-thinking, and responsive in a dynamic world.
Community Engagement
We are dedicated to giving back through outreach and educational initiatives that uplift and inspire.
Collaboration & Partnership
We work with clients and communities to build trust, share knowledge, and create sustainable success.
Community-Driven Impact
At Smith & Welch, we help organizations drive better results through strategic planning and operational excellence. We specialize in portfolio, program, and project management that aligns priorities and boosts ROI. What makes us different is our commitment to education—we empower non-traditional learners with agile training and career development in administrative technology, creating real community impact alongside business success.
What We Do
Professional Solutions That Deliver Measurable Outcomes
Portfolio Management
Program Management
Enterprise Client