Instructor Name: Michelle Coussens
Michelle Coussens works in the research department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago* where she develops department plans, executes associated budgets, and is responsible for management reporting and operational efficiency and effectiveness improvements, as well as compliance controls. Prior to working at the Fed, she spent several years working in the insurance arena. She has worked in various managerial and technical roles throughout her 21-year career and has particular expertise and demonstrated success in business planning and market analysis, as well as in project management and business development. Coussens holds a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from Northwestern University and a Masters in Business Administration from DePaul University, with a concentration in Marketing. She currently serves on the advisory board of Provena Pine View Care Center (a nonprofit healthcare organization) and holds several professional insurance designations. Her interest in non-profits originally began through her engagement in applied research focused on community development, most specifically related to financial literacy initiatives. In 2004, she published an article titled “Beyond Financial Education: Changing Financial Behavior” in the Federal Reserve publication Profitwise News & Views, and in 2006, published an article for the same publication titled “Toward Financial Literacy: Program Leaders Comment on Evaluation and Impact”. The full paper version of this article was published in the American Council on Consumer Interests’ 2006 Annual. She has also received additional recognition by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), having been selected to participate in its 2005 summit. In early 2005, outside of her Federal Reserve employment, she was asked to develop and teach a business planning course for NeighborWorks America, a Congressionally-funded organization providing funding and technical assistance to community development entities nationwide. Since that time, the quickly increasing demand for her teaching and consulting services has led to her development of a portfolio of business planning service offerings and establishment of Plan B Consulting. Current services span teaching how and why to prepare a business plan, to assisting in plan development, to business plan review. In addition, she conducts market analysis for various organizations and serves as an adjunct instructor at DePaul University and at Southern New Hampshire University. She publishes a monthly newsletter, Planning Possibilities, which currently has more than 1,500 subscribers. Coussens lives in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois where she and her husband spend their "free" time planning how to navigate and survive life with three very busy teenagers. *Coussens’ consulting work is independent of this position.
Michelle Coussens teaches the following course(s):

ML125 Developing a Winning Business Plan