American Evaluation Association Evaluation 2025

Guidehouse is proud to sponsor Evaluation 2025, hosted by the American Evaluation Association (AEA).

The AEA Evaluation Conference brings together thousands of evaluation professionals from a multitude of disciplines and backgrounds to learn best practices, discover new techniques, and implement lessons learned from others in the field. Attendees can expect engaging sessions, practical tools, and meaningful connections that help elevate their work and expand their impact.

Guidehouse brings deep expertise in program evaluation, performance measurement, and outcomes-based delivery—helping agencies assess what works and improve how services are delivered. We collaborate across sectors to design and strengthen initiatives that drive measurable results and meaningful impact.

Guidehouse sessions

The power of why: Using vulnerability and collaboration to identify purpose, build relationships, and set, measure, and attain S.M.A.R.T. goals

Thursday, November 13 | 5:15 - 5:20 p.m. CT

This session showcases techniques to lead vulnerable and inclusive conversations that promote collaboration and innovation while developing evaluation materials. Based on Simon Sinek’s “The Power of Why”, participants will discover how to plan, facilitate, and follow up on conversations with program collaborators. These conversations will help evaluators uncover personal and programmatic purpose, introduce vulnerability to build lasting and strong relationships, and leverage these discoveries to collaboratively set, measure, attain, and report on S.M.A.R.T. goals for their programs. This presentation will empower evaluators with the confidence and tools necessary to lead with vulnerability, collaboration, and scientific rigor in their work.

Speaker: Vic Whitten, Senior Consultant, Health, Guidehouse

R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Come and co-create recommendations with me!

Friday, November 14 | 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. CT

This session offers participants an opportunity to co-create recommendations in a shared-leadership context. While evaluators hold the pen in evaluation reports, the community most impacted by the change knows what is feasible in their daily context. With active listening, thoughtful questions, and spoken insights, evaluators can facilitate the co-creation of recommendations with sponsors/leaders and the community, the latter of which that are more likely to be implemented. In this session, learners will have an opportunity to participate in scenarios drawn from our experience and play the part of evaluator, community leadership/evaluation sponsor, or community member—each with a unique persona. With a written finding and conclusion, participants will co-create a recommendation to address the documented challenge. In keeping with adult learning best practices, the facilitator will establish group norms and create a “safe-to-fail” environment—so experiment and lean into the possibilities!

Speaker: Lindsay Scanlon, Associate Director, Defense & Security, Guidehouse

Learn more

Guidehouse attendees:

• Lindsay Scanlon, Associate Director, Defense & Security, Guidehouse
• Jessica Baby, Senior Consultant, Defense & Security, Guidehouse
• Matthew St. John, Senior Associate, Defense & Security, Guidehouse
• Vic Whitten, Senior Consultant, Health, Guidehouse