Org Design in Practice
From Startup to System:
How a New State Program Built for Continuous Evolution
Lindsey Behrenger – CO FAMLI + Sara Watson & Ardis McElhaney – Accenture
How do you build systems capable of adapting as they operate? Discover how Accenture and Colorado’s FAMLI Division turned start-up chaos into continuous evolution, designing an adaptive operating model that kept strategy, structure, and culture in dynamic alignment.
In this engaging session, participants will explore:
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- How Colorado’s FAMLI Division moved from start-up intensity to sustained, high-performing operations while serving every worker and employer in the state
- What it looks like to intentionally design for continuous evolution rather than a one-time “future state”
- How to create a living operating model that connects strategy, structure, governance, culture, and communication
- How decision rights and ways of working were designed to support stability and agility as the organization matured
- How to move beyond reorgs and redesign cycles
- Practical frameworks, mindsets, and design tools participants can apply immediately to organizations transforming while their work continues
A career public servant, Lindsey joined the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) in 2007 working in unemployment insurance. When Colorado voters approved paid family and medical leave, she jumped at the opportunity to help build the FAMLI program from the ground up, bringing nearly two decades of experience working with employers and public benefits programs – experience that uniquely positioned her to help shape and lead the Employer Services branch for the new program.
Sara Watson partners with executives to reimagine their organizations to solve their most pressing business imperatives. Common challenges to solve for include: spurring growth and innovation, reducing complexity and cost, integrating acquisitions, achieving enterprise agility at scale, gaining the benefits of a digital transformation, and delivering on sustainability commitments. Using a collaborative and inclusive approach, Sara helps executive teams design the operating models and organization conditions that bring enterprise strategies to life.
Sara has a strong track record of going from strategy design to benefit realization, and is especially skilled at bringing people together around a common cause, crafting holistic and pragmatic solutions, and implementing change programs to achieve sustainable results.
Ardis McElhaney is a Senior Manager in Accenture’s Strategy & Consulting practice, where she leads large‑scale public sector transformations focused on service delivery, operational efficiency, and workforce effectiveness. With over 12 years of experience in organization design and change management, Ardis brings deep expertise in operating model design, organizational strategy, and strategic planning. Ardis partners with government agencies, state governments, and higher education institutions to modernize structures, align talent with mission outcomes, and drive sustainable change across complex, multi‑agency environments. Known for her human centered approach to change management and a strong track record of stakeholder alignment, she consistently delivers measurable impact by connecting strategy to execution where it matters most.