About Michele
I've led organizations through growth and change. Now I help leaders navigate what's next.
I didn't set out to become an executive leader. I grew into it by taking on challenges, solving problems, and earning the trust of people who believed I could help move their organizations forward.
Early in my career, I started in an administrative support role at Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA). As I took on more responsibility, I found myself stepping into leadership at a time when the organization needed stability and a new direction. What began as an unexpected opportunity became a career built around helping organizations grow, adapt, and succeed.
I'm Michele Ware, a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and strategic advisor with more than 25 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations, professional associations, boards, and executive teams.
Along the way, I've learned that having a good idea is rarely the hard part. Making it happen is where the real work begins.
That's the work I love.
My experience shapes how I approach the work.
After leading PIHRA, I served for nearly two decades as President of Building Owners and Managers Association Greater Los Angeles, where I led organizational transformation, strengthened financial sustainability, expanded advocacy and industry influence, and guided major governance reforms.
I’ve sat in the executive’s chair. I know what it’s like to work with boards that have big expectations and limited resources, and to manage competing priorities, organizational politics, and the constant pressure to deliver. But what I’m most proud of isn’t just what we accomplished. It’s the people who grew into leaders, the teams that became stronger, and the changes that lasted.
My leadership extends beyond my professional work. I serve as a City of Long Beach Planning Commissioner and on the boards of Associations West, Building Skills Partnership, and The People Concern, and I’m a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Both my personal and professional lives reflect my commitment to service, community, and creating opportunities for others.
Why I created Forward Focus
Throughout my years as an executive, I worked with consultants who brought great ideas and impressive strategic plans. But too often, the engagement ended when the final report was delivered.
And then what?
I was left to figure out how to turn those recommendations into action while managing a team, working with a board, and keeping the organization running.
That’s why I created Forward Focus. I wanted to be the strategic partner I wished I’d had: someone who works alongside you to make the plan happen, understands the realities of leadership, and stays focused on results.
That philosophy is the foundation of my Forward FOCUS Method, which helps organizations move from strategic direction to sustainable results.
Because the real value isn’t in the plan. It’s in what your organization accomplishes because of it.
Let’s move forward together.