Beyond the Chaos is blessed with excellent employees and contractors who help us serve and support our clients at an exceptional level. Please meet our Chaos Killers:
Laura Elliott
Senior Project Manager
Laura Elliott is a project manager based out of New York. After graduating from the University of Virginia, Laura spent some time in Chicago working with pharmaceutical advertising companies gaining project management experience. Relocated to New York, Laura spends her free time working in the theatre and film world in acting, writing, and production. Laura is Beyond the Chaos’ first employee and has been one of our Chaos Killers since August of 2017. She supports our clients with her incredible project management and process development skills.
Shannon McNair
Project Management Consultant
Shannon McNair graduated from DePaul University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Following her six-year reign at Leo Burnett Chicago, she moved to San Francisco and began freelance Customer Success and Operations roles. Additionally, Shannon works as the co-founder of a startup called DiveIn, an app that makes it easier for people to make an impact in their local community through volunteering. In her spare time, she serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate with SFCASA – an organization that fights for the best interests of an abused or neglected child in the foster care system. Joining the Chaos Killers in October of 2019, Shannon supports our clients with project management and process development.
Andrea Stevens
Project Manager
Making things work smoothly in chaotic environments is exactly what Andrea thrives on. She leverages her extensive corporate experience as a project manager, developer, tester, and business/systems analyst to understand how a variety of teams work. “A picture is worth a thousand words” is her motto, as she finds depicting processes incredibly valuable when working toward calmness and stability within a team or an organization. A recent empty-nester after six children, she and her husband live in an 1890 Minnesota farmhouse, enjoy watching their grandkids grow (too fast), and draw straws to see who gets to use their John Deere tractor for yardwork (or anything else they can think of).
Barb Murphy
Project Manager
Barb is an operations professional with diverse experience in marketing. She specializes in project management skills with a focus on continuous improvement. Barb worked for Leo Burnett for many years, most recently as Senior Vice President of Operations, but has turned in her advertising hat to help manage the unmanageable as a patient advocate for senior and disabled people. Barb is a recent empty nester to 3 college graduates (YEAH!) and lives in Westchester, Il with her very spoiled Cockapoo, Milo. She is an avid reader and tutors 3rd grade ESL students in math.
Kim
Content Manager
Kim is the team’s content manager. She is responsible for crafting compelling content to build and extend the reach of the brand. Based out of Kansas City, Kim graduated from The University of Kansas in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. She spent her early years in Chicago working at several different advertising agencies, including Williams-Labadie where she worked with Susan. But, Kim has returned home to Kansas City. During the day, Kim keeps busy with her Consumer Insights and Analytics role at a large financial planning firm. In her free time, she can be found traveling the world (over 20 countries and counting!). Plus, she enjoys taking classes at the local art institute. Kim has been one of our Chaos Killers since February 2018.
Mariann Hyde
Project Manager
Mariann Hyde is a versatile project management professional. She has experience in multiple industries, including financial services, pharmaceutical, banking, market research, and software development. Mariann has worked in both small and large size organizations but has a real affinity for small, growing companies. She started her career as a software developer in a small company of 15 people, where everyone wore many hats. It didn’t take her long to realize she was not meant to sit and interact with just a computer screen all day, leading her to roles in product support, training, business analysis, and, eventually, program management. She is a respected leader, priding herself on her communication and relationship management skills. She has also enjoyed great success in mentoring junior colleagues.
With such strong project management skills, it is no surprise that Mariann also enjoys cooking and entertaining – you need a plan and you need to execute that plan for a successful dinner party! Also, she has started moonlighting as a travel advisor. A self-proclaimed travel junkie who is always responsible for planning the friend and family vacations has decided to offer her expertise to others, and Hyde and Seek Travel is her personal pet project. Mariann has been one of the Chaos Killers since October 2019.