Who We Are
Vianova, Inc. is a collaboration coaching, consulting and facilitation firm that brings leaders and teams together to ignite transformative and sustainable change within their organizations. We specialize in delivering meeting and retreat facilitation services, harnessing the collective power of group dynamics to shape visions, strategize, and define actionable plans.
Leveraging a diverse range of facilitation techniques and tools, we craft highly engaging, interactive, and productive sessions that bring out the best in every participant. Whether it’s a team meeting, strategy development session, or an organization-wide retreat, our expert facilitators create environments that spark innovation, encourage dialogue, and foster consensus.
Vianova has been carbon neutral since 2016.
Why Choose Us
- Leveraging Vianova’s digital collaboration platform alongside our expert facilitation, we guarantee you get higher-quality planning outcomes in less time.
- Our size allows for less overhead, equating to lower costs and more personalized attention.
- We have nearly two decades of experience working with companies, nonprofits, associations, and schools.
Using Our Business as a Force for Good
As a Certified B Corporation, we balance purpose and profit. We measure our success across a spectrum of areas that include revenue as well as the impact we have on our workers, clients, our community, and the environment.
We are proud to be among the first wave of businesses to adopt this purpose-driven approach; we’ve been B Corp certified since 2008.
Our Values
- Lead with purpose
- Focus on people
- Do the right thing
- Make a difference
Community & Environmental Nonprofits We Support
Our Team
Frank G Scarpaci, Founder & President
Connect with Frank
Frank G Scarpaci is the founder and president of Vianova, Inc. His experience, skills, and passion for helping teams collaborate, explore what’s possible, and create positive change are the reasons for which he is an admired and trusted advisor, facilitator, and coach.
Frank has over 30 years of experience working with leaders and organizations in a variety of for-profit and non-profit sectors including: education, technology, social services, performing arts, healthcare, travel and hospitality, banking, financial services, insurance, biotech, and marketing. His extensive experience providing services to organizations of all sizes, including serving as an interim executive director for several non-profit organizations, has made him a skilled and impartial observer of organizational dynamics, an essential skill in identifying effective solutions that advance change within organizations and teams. Frank approaches his work as a trusted advisor with integrity, accountability, and high professional standards. He strives to exceed his client’s expectations in all aspects of his work product earning repeated praise from clients.
A strong advocate for using business as a force for good throughout his career, Frank prioritized having Vianova become one of the first certified B Corporations — a classification reserved for businesses that adhere to rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. He is a B Corp champion, someone who raises awareness of the value of the certification process. Prior to starting Vianova, Frank was a travel industry leader for 20 years, where he worked for American Express Travel in various regional and national positions. During his time at American Express, Frank discovered his passion for using business as a force for good, where he developed and led a variety of successful good citizenship initiatives for the company. In 2000, his efforts earned him the American Express Great Citizens Award in honor of the company’s 150th anniversary.
Frank currently lives in San Diego and enjoys fitness, traveling, and painting.
Our Team
September Spore
September is a highly skilled meeting facilitator, coach, consultant, and facilitation trainer with extensive experience and expertise in various sectors, including nonprofit, retail, education, financial services, and government. With a knack for quickly identifying obstacles that hinder success, September effortlessly guides executives, organization leaders, teams, and entrepreneurs toward victory by helping them recognize and overcome their challenges.
Throughout her career, September has mastered the art of guiding groups to arrive at decisions that drive successful business operations and strategy implementation. In addition, she possesses a unique talent for managing group dynamics, ensuring active participation from all members, and fostering an environment where the entire group can create, understand, and agree on key decisions.
September’s facilitation skills go beyond simply leading discussions. Her ability to drive groups to consensus on crucial matters leads to long-term commitment and successful implementation. In addition, she possesses an innate understanding of the complexities of organizational dynamics and excels in creating an atmosphere that encourages open communication, collaboration, and effective decision-making.
Those who have attended September’s classes and facilitated sessions describe her as personable, energetic, engaging, and creative. She creates an environment where individuals feel comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions. In addition, her interactive coaching style enables participants to fully grasp and internalize the concepts discussed, resulting in tangible outcomes and positive transformations.
With a strong background in diverse sectors, September brings a breadth of knowledge and real-world experience to her facilitation and coaching sessions. Her versatile expertise allows her to tailor her approach to each client’s specific needs and challenges, ensuring that they receive tailored guidance and support.
September is more than just a meeting facilitator and coach; she is a driving force behind successful teams and organizations. Her ability to guide individuals and groups toward their goals, overcome obstacles, and reach consensus on key decisions has made her a trusted and sought-after professional. September empowers organization leaders, teams, and entrepreneurs to unlock their full potential and achieve lasting success through engaging and results-oriented facilitation.
Dr. Karla Rhay
Dr. Rhay has more than 30 years of executive-level experience in the insurance and education sectors. She is a dynamic leader who is an expert in strategic planning, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), leadership development, and risk mitigation strategies.
She is a passionate believer in empowering others, having served as CEO of one of California’s largest Joint Powers Authorities providing employee benefits and risk management insurance to over 70 school districts across Southern California.
In 2015, she was appointed as one of six state Commissioners to serve a 4-year term on the Fraud Assessment Commission under the California Department of Insurance. Subsequently, she was elected president of a statewide association for public entity special districts providing education, accreditation, and legislative advocacy. In 2019, based on her work as chief executive officer of the California Schools Risk Management Joint Powers Authority (JPA) and California Schools Employee Benefits Association JPA, she was recognized as California Classified Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA).
Dr. Rhay earned her Doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California and her Master’s in Education Leadership from Pepperdine University.
She currently resides in Fresno with her husband and two dogs, Duchess and Bentley.
Steven B Johnson
An award-winning communications and marketing professional, Steven Johnson has more than 20 years of executive-level experience in internal and external communications and marketing programs for community-based, mission-driven, not-for-profit organizations. He is a strong writer, storyteller, collaborator, and strategic thinker that values teamwork, creativity, and lifelong learning.
As the Chief Communications Officer of the Salk Institute from 2018-2022, he oversaw internal and external communications for the internationally acclaimed scientific research institute. His tenure included multiple industry awards and numerous achievements, including the adoption of a new intranet, the development of a comprehensive public messaging platform for the Institute’s Campaign for the Future, a $500M philanthropic and scientific initiative, and helping the Institute secure a $100M challenge gift from Joan and Irwin Jacobs.
From 2006-2016, he served as the Vice President, Public Affairs for the San Diego Convention Center Corporation, where he oversaw the research, planning, implementation, and evaluation of corporate communications and public affairs programs. His work to expand the San Diego Convention Center was instrumental in the unanimous support for the project from the California Coastal Commission. His efforts were honored in 2011 by the Public Relations Society of America with a Silver Anvil for Excellence in Issue Management, recognizing the best strategic public relations campaigns of the year.
Steven has provided strategic communications and marketing support to a range of organizations, including the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Levi Strauss Foundation, Kaiser Family Foundation, and Hewlett Packard.
He received his marketing degree from the University of Oregon and his master’s in public affairs from San Diego State University. Mr. Johnson lives in San Diego, CA, with his partner and two dogs, Ma and Cole.
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