Who we are
SKL Associates LLC is a consulting firm focused on advancing clients' vision through creative and comprehensive solutions that have practical application. Our services include human capital/human resources management, organizational development, start-up strategy and execution, and next-level development and training. We are a minority, veteran-owned located in the Washington, DC Metro Area serving small start-up to large public and private companies
Our Philosophy
SKL Associates believes that even with the emergence of AI, robotics, and other technological advancements, people will still remain the greatest resource of an organization. Most businesses do not provide staff with engagement opportunities to showcase their talents and skills, and maximize their value. In the past, companies could survive, even thrive under those circumstances, but not now -- changes are happening at an unprecedented rate and its difficult to be competitive when you don't know where your competition is coming from. It's impossible to control what happens outside of the organization, so the best strategy is to maximize what happens within the organization -- that's the competitive edge and that's how an organization control its future.
The "current-future" demands that companies not only maximize their talents, but attract and retain the best talent and determine how best to maximize that talent in a mutually-beneficial way.
NAICS Codes
Primary Code:
541611 - Admin Management/General Management Consulting
Secondary Codes:
541612 - Human Resources/Executive Search Consulting Services
541618 - Other Management Consulting Services
561110 - Office Administrative Services
611430 - Professional and Management Development Training
921190 - Other General Government Support
923110 - Administration of Educational Programs
Certifications
Company Leadership
Founder
Mike J. Laidlaw
Mike Laidlaw is a Strategist, Coach and Human Resources & Organizational Development (OD) Consultant with over 25 years of diverse corporate and consulting experiences. He is an effective leader and consultant in small and large organization, especially where he is challenged to help transform a transactional organizational culture to a forward-thinking, results-oriented and engaged workforce. His diverse experience, nationally and internationally, coupled with his natural problem-solving skills, make him a unique strategist who achieves results through strategic clarity and creative solutions that have practical applications. As a strategist for start-ups, he collaboratively moves leaders from conception to implementation, and clearly outline the necessary steps that translates those strategies to execution. In more established and larger companies, he primarily works with leaders to ensure the right balance of management systems (structure, leadership development, planning and performance management) and operational systems (Operations, IT, HR, Marketing and Accounting) to make the organization more efficient and effective.
Mike founded SKL Associates LLC in 2007 after returning from two years in Panama City, Panama where he was an Import/Export Consultant and helped form a bilingual newspaper and a nonprofit. Mike started his career in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) where he served as an Administrator who focused on providing human resources (HR) and administrative services. Since departing the USAF, he served as the Director of HR for United Worldwide; Deputy to the Assistant General Manager for Administration at WMATA/DC Metro where he provided oversight to several divisions of the department – HR, Civil Rights, Labor Relations, IT, Procurement, Supply and Facilities; and Team Leader, Human Resources in Prince George’s County Public Schools where was responsible for advising and supporting 65 principals in all aspects of school management (he later became an Independent/private coach to some of those principals).
As the recent, Executive Deputy Commissioner for the NYC DSS with over 16,000 staff and $9.7 billion budget, he was responsible for the people strategy that maximized the potential of the organization and advanced its mission. In less than one year, he developed strategic initiatives which saved the organization $2.5 million in reduction to his HR staff, while increasing staff engagement and morale (this doesn't include his involvement in other program development and process improvement initiatives which saved the agency countless dollars). Mike created NYC agencies first Conflict Resolution Program and taught other agency leaders how to create and implement similar programs. He also presented to over 40 attorneys on the topic of Effective Conflict Resolution in the public sector, and co-facilitated two workshops for law students on the same topic. In addition, he taught several leadership and management courses to diverse audiences and presented to delegations from Sweden and Denmark on Best Management Practices in the Public Sector. Mike also served an Executive Coach to leaders and Career Coach for transitioning staff in the public and private sectors.
Mike earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina and a Master’s in Management from Webster University. He has a certificate in Strategic Human Resource Management.