About Us
D.E.& C Consulting
Determine, Educate, and Change
D.E.&C Consulting Firm offers training, coaching, and organizational planning and improvements designed to create long-term sustainable change. Led by seasoned experts in leadership development, professional development, community engagement, health and human services, social service, gap analysis, and change planning, D.E.&C Consulting creates meaningful relationships with leaders and teams. Our firm partners with agencies to foster growth mindsets, restorative communication, and continuous quality improvement.
Meet Our Consultants
Dr. Desiree Del-Zio-Walker
Dr. Desiree Del-Zio-Walker, the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Consultant for D.E.&C Consulting, has served public and private organizations for over 30 years. Her extensive background and expertise promote high-functioning organizational management, internal monitoring evaluation and measurement systems, targeted self-assessment procedures, training and technical assistance, and improved service delivery models. Toward that aim, Dr. Del-Zio-Walker leverages her innate ability to conduct gap analysis, identify opportunities, assess inefficiencies, and collaborate with external and internal stakeholders to design projects, programs, and initiatives to drive productivity, sustainability, and success.
She is a results-driven professional with outstanding skills in leading various facets of operations management, including designing and implementing strategies, ensuring regulatory compliance, and integrating technological solutions while meeting and exceeding set expectations. Dr. Del-Zio-Walker’s broad staff development and supervision background allows her to collaborate with organizational leadership to establish, lead, and motivate high-performing teams committed to achieving collective goals.
Dr. Del-Zio-Walker earned a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the University of San Diego and a Doctoral Degree in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California. She earned a Certificate in Generative AI for Business Transformation from Purdue University, a Diversity and Inclusion Facilitator Certification from Cornell University and a Nonprofit Management and Leadership Certification from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. Dr. Del-Zio-Walker is a globally recognized leader and a best-selling author. She launched D.E.&C Consulting to share her passion for uniting teams toward a sustainable shared vision and organizational outcomes.
Dr. Andre Walker, Ph.D., MPH
Dr. Andre Walker, Ph.D., MPH, the Director of Operations for D.E.&C Consulting, has served non-profit, academic, and health-based institutions for over 30 years. His commitment to health and human services includes an extensive background in direct service, internal monitoring, clinical research, and regulatory oversight.
His professional experience expands into project management, education and training, chemical dependency counseling, case management, and managed care. His work with health and human services agencies and academic institutions resulted in improved client outcomes, proven evaluation and measurement systems, and research publications. Furthermore, Dr. Walker earned a National Defense Service Medal for honorable service while enlisted as a Hospital Corpsman in the United States Navy.
He obtained a Master of Public Health with an emphasis in health promotion and education and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Health Services Policy and Management from the University of South Carolina. His research focuses on health disparities and pathways to equitable healthcare for children and adults. Most notably, Dr. Walker’s Dissertation research served as the template for the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Adult Preventative Dental Care Benefits Program.
Dr. Walker is keenly interested in expanding access to health and mental health services to underserved populations. His current focus is promoting evidence-based recommendations to state and federally funded programs that promote the inclusion of fathers and males in early childhood development. Dr. Walker also lends his extensive skills in secondary-data research analysis to developing resources such as data-informed practices that bridge resource gaps in oral and medical care, mental health services, and the full inclusion of historically minoritized children and families in the early years.
Emily Jacquez, M.A.
Director of Growth & Innovation
Emily Jacquez, M.A., serves as the Director of Growth & Innovation at D.E.&C. Consulting, where she advances initiatives that strengthen children, families, and communities. Her work includes social media strategy, parenting coaching resources, trauma-informed classroom initiatives, father and male caregiver engagement curriculum development, and supporting American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) organizations.
Emily values a holistic, culturally responsive approach to supporting individuals, families, and organizations. She believes people are shaped by the relationships, cultures, systems, and communities around them. By honoring each person's strengths, perspectives, and lived experiences, she helps develop thoughtful, sustainable solutions that foster resilience, meaningful connection, and lasting positive change.
Emily earned her Master of Arts from the University of Georgia and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Her graduate research explored identity development among Diné (Navajo) children and adolescents and examined changing narratives surrounding Tribal communities, with a secondary focus in rhetoric and composition. Emily is a proud member of the Navajo Nation, and her clans are Bit'ahnii and Tódích'íi'nii. She is passionate about supporting Indigenous youth, families, and communities through culturally grounded, strengths-based approaches.
Billy J. Starr
Billy J. Starr partners with D.E.&C Consulting, LLC to bring deep expertise in Head Start, Early Head Start, nonprofit fiscal management, federal grants compliance, fiscal systems improvement, and organizational capacity building to organizations seeking practical, sustainable support. As Managing Partner of The BSA Group, Inc., he helps Head Start, Early Head Start, community action, nonprofit, and federally funded organizations strengthen fiscal operations, improve compliance readiness, and build sound financial systems that support long-term program success.
Known for translating complex fiscal and regulatory requirements into clear, actionable strategies, Billy supports organizations in areas such as budget development, cost allocation, fiscal policy and procedure development, internal controls, accounting system transitions, grant management, corrective action planning, and board-level fiscal oversight. His work is grounded in practical implementation, strategic problem-solving, and a commitment to helping mission-driven organizations align financial stewardship with program impact.
Billy’s partnership with D.E.&C Consulting includes a key role in its Father/Male Engagement service model, including curriculum design, training, facilitation, evaluation, and improvement. He also offers extensive support in areas such as fiscal assessments and action plans, large language modeling solutions, policy and procedure development, budget and cost allocation support, grant compliance readiness, fiscal systems redesign, board and leadership training, and strategic support for organizations navigating growth, transition, and operational change.
