Rod Mebane is a seasoned professional who specializes in corporate learning strategy with emphasis on executive and leadership development. He has been pursuing consulting interests since April 2006, when he stepped down as the Chief Learning Officer (CLO) at BDO Seidman, LLP – the nation’s sixth largest accounting firm.
 
In his seven years with BDO, Rod designed & implemented a comprehensive learning framework to advance the firm’s strategic business objectives, implemented competency-based performance systems, infused professional development throughout the curriculum, and created the BDO Leadership Institute. This last stands as a “best-in-class” program within the industry – serving the succession interests of the firm by developing high-performers into exceptional leaders.
 
Before taking on the CLO responsibilities at BDO, Rod served as Senior Performance Consultant at Arthur Andersen where he provided knowledge management support to executive leadership on global strategy and performance management initiatives. He was also instrumental in forming the first unit within Andersen’s learning community to focus on organizational development (OD) strategies, and he pioneered an encompassing Learning Assessment Model to “dashboard” key learning facets and functions. In his various roles, Rod has also developed expertise in the areas of organizational communication, strategic facilitation, and change planning & implementation.
 
In the mid-1990s, Rod worked as an independent management consultant, serving such clients as First Chicago Bank, A.T. Kearney, Motorola, and Loyola University. Prior to that, Rod worked on financial and investment matters in the nonprofit sector, serving as Treasurer for Southern Methodist University (Dallas) and Director of Investment Research for the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (Chicago).
 
Mr. Mebane holds a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College and master’s degree from the Annenberg School for Communication (University of Pennsylvania), and he is broadly published on a variety of learning and general business topics. Avocationally, Rod serves as Board President for a literacy volunteers organization in his Chicago suburban community.