Noele Stith Appointed as Successor to Co-Lead Design Group International in a New Era of Shared Governance in Transformative Succession

Global — [21 April 2025] — Design Group International [DGI], a human and organizational development company and leader in the field of Process Consulting, is excited to announce a significant transition in leadership. Noele Stith will succeed Lon L. Swartzentruber as Chief Executive Officer effective 1 January 2027. Until then, Noele and Lon have been named Co-CEOs by the Senior Design Partners as part of a strategic transition and succession plan built on the principles of shared governance and collaborative leadership. As Co-CEOs, Noele and Lon will help ensure Design Group International’s continued growth and flourishing. 

Lon commented, “It has been an honor to guide Design Group International’s growth over the past eight years. All CEOs, Presidents, or Executive Directors must plan the process of their transition before they implement it. It is an essential component in leading in our volatile, ambiguous, complex, ambiguous, and anxious (VUCCA) world.

As Noele and I began our planning process, we knew immediately that we wanted to leverage being Co-CEOs. We both have a passion for collaboration, shared governance, and sharing power with others. I'm looking forward to stepping into this emerging space with Noele.” 

Lon added, “Noele is a gifted leader who cares deeply about others and the organization’s they guide. I’m confident that Noele will continue Design Group International’s long tradition of Client-centered transformation and helpful guidance to leaders.” 

"I am incredibly proud to be appointed to succeed Lon as CEO at Design Group International. This opportunity represents a personal achievement and underscores the importance of shared power, diversity, and representation in leadership positions. I look forward to the continued work of designing equitable opportunities and fostering an inclusive culture within Design Group International that transcends into our global impact with Clients." said Noele Stith. "Working alongside Lon in our Co-CEO roles during this time of succession and expansion while also celebrating our 25th year is an honor. Together with our dedicated partners, consultants, and stakeholders, Lon and I are excited to execute this innovative leadership model that empowers collaborative co-leadership that aligns with our Process Consulting approach of listening, helping, and learning alongside leaders." 

Senior Design Partner Lukie Wells noted that “my fellow partners are excited to name Noele and Lon as Co-CEOs. Noele and Lon have complementary gifts that will benefit everyone. As Co-CEOs, they model for all of us a best practice in the field of transition and succession planning, namely, to be able to visibly map out your transition with your successor and those whom you serve.” 

Design Group International was co-founded by Mark and Lorie Vincent, who jointly owned the company. Now in its 25th year and for the first time in history, Design Group International will be led by a person of color as well as being a female majority owned company.  

Design Group International practices Process Consulting, a type of organizational development consulting that relies on the process of inquiry, iteration, and collaboration when working with a Client. This form of human and organizational development consulting has seen an increasingly widening use that crosses all geographic boundaries, organizational forms, functions, departments, teams, and leadership modalities. 

Our mission is to help organizations, and their leaders transform for a vibrant future. If you’d like to learn more, please visit designgroupintl.com. 

More on Design Group International 

Design Group International encompasses several Process Consulting communities of practice including the Society for Process Consulting, Maestro-level Leaders, and Culture Change Leadership. Design Group International has Process Consultants located in fourteen cities across the United States. It is led by four Senior Design Partners and seventeen Senior Consultants, Facilitators, and Consultants who work nationally and internationally with a wide variety of Clients.  

Design Group International offers expert human and organizational development counsel spanning many areas including leadership development, organizational governance, strategic planning, executive advising, coaching, organizational culture, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, strategic interim, and philanthropy all from the Process Consulting approach.  

For further information or to schedule an interview with:  

Contact Information: 

Noele Stith, co-CEO, 616-516-2842, noeles@designgroupintl.com  

Lon L. Swartzentruber, co-CEO, 616-516-9870, lons@designgroupintl.com 

t yourself in an immersive environment. Visit an aquarium where you can be surrounded by fish.