Who We Are
Our firm is inspired by the story of Ceres (seer-eez), the Roman goddess of agriculture, growth, and renewal. Like Ceres, we believe in nurturing individuals and organizations to reach their full potential. We cultivate purpose-driven strategies in close collaboration with our clients, empowering them to sow the seeds of sustainable impact in their communities.
Our team will help you leverage best practices and evidence-based strategies to build a strong foundation for your organization. Just as a successful garden needs fertile soil and careful timing, we guide you in creating the right environment for growth, planting the right seeds at the right time, and adapting when necessary. We equip you with the tools and the support you need to thrive.
Our Team
Jocelyn Horner Kelly, PhD, Principal
Jocelyn Horner Kelly is a seasoned nonprofit leader and strategist with two decades of cross-sector experience in philanthropy, higher education, and youth and community services. Jocelyn is passionate about helping organizations to achieve impact for their communities from places of strength, knowledge, and dignity. She believes in the power of strong stories, thoughtful strategies and data-informed thinking.
Jocelyn is a people and ideas person. In her career, she has worn many hats - from executive director of a mid-sized non-profit to a program officer at a major foundation - making her an agile generalist. She uses her extensive and varied background to collaborate with clients to design creative and achievable solutions to their most pressing challenges.
A self-professed school geek, Jocelyn holds an interdisciplinary PhD in Social Work from Tulane University’s City, Culture and Community Program, a Masters of Science in Urban Geography from the London School of Economics and a Bachelors of Philosophy in Sociology and Urban Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to her work with Ceres, Jocelyn is an adjunct faculty member of the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work.
Jocelyn lives in the Point Breeze neighborhood of Pittsburgh with her husband and daughter, but will always consider herself a Northsider (where her parents still reside). She loves running, being outside, and eating Pittsburgh salads made with her favorite brand of vegetarian chicken.
Abby Whalen, Senior Partner
Abby Whalen is a dynamic professional specializing in data analysis, strategic project management, and workplace efficiency. She excels at organizing complex information into actionable insights and coaching teams to develop strong routines and data-informed decision-making habits. Abby focuses on implementing tools and processes in a thoughtful, human-centered way, ensuring efficiency improvements are both effective and sustainable for the people involved.
In her current full-time role as an HR Data Specialist, Abby balances efficient data processing with fostering a positive employee experience. She uses data analysis and visualization to identify and monitor key performance indicators to drive change while ensuring that employees and stakeholders have the support, education, and resources they need to thrive.
Earlier in her career, Abby held generalist roles across the service and nonprofit sectors, constantly adapting to changing conditions and streamlining operations. Her ability to see the intersections between different processes and people allows her to support cross-functional teams and implement scalable, effective solutions.
A natural problem-solver and strategic thinker, Abby is passionate about empowering individuals and organizations to work smarter. She brings an equity-focused lens to her work, ensuring that efficiency and effectiveness go hand in hand with inclusivity and impact.
Abby resides in the Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh. In her free time, she loves to cook new cuisines and scrapbook.