MEET TRICIA, YOUR STRATEGIC ADVISOR & THOUGHT PARTNER
About Me
Hi, I’m Tricia Zarfoss—founder of Aviz Consulting. I bring a systems-level perspective shaped by 23+ years supporting federal research programs and mission-driven teams at the National Institutes of Health. That work taught me how to translate ambiguity into structure, surface the right questions, and help teams navigate complex operational challenges.
Background & Credentials
23+ Years of Experience: Deep expertise in organizational analysis, program operations, and cross-functional leadership across complex environments.
Interdisciplinary Education: Degrees in Psychology and Industrial & Labor Relations, with graduate coursework in applied statistics, research design, human performance, and cognitive psychology.
Certified in Change Management: Prosci Certified, combining structured change methodologies with practical operational delivery.
I also have a genuine love for self-improvement and business development books and podcasts—if we’ve worked together, I’ve probably recommended at least one!
Why I Started Aviz
During my 23+ years supporting federal programs, I worked alongside dedicated teams deeply committed to their missions. But administrative and operational demands often felt like an extra burden—pulling time and focus away from their core work. Teams were so busy delivering day-to-day that they rarely had the space to step back and evaluate whether their systems were actually serving them well.
I created Aviz Consulting to bridge that gap.
My Goal
Help your organization make grounded decisions, strengthen internal systems, and deliver on your mission effectively by providing:
Clear analysis: Make sense of complex operational challenges
Practical recommendations: Deliver actionable guidance tailored to your reality
Low-friction support: Integrate smoothly alongside your team and changing priorities
What Colleagues Say
"I relied on Tricia for the problems that were tangled rather than just hard. She would take something ambiguous, figure out what was really going on underneath it, and come back with a recommendation I could act on. She is also steady when things get messy, which matters more than people expect."
— Former Section Chief, National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), providing a personal, non‑official testimonial
Track Record of Operational Impact
The highlights below reflect key initiatives I led and executed prior to founding Aviz Consulting
Governance, Compliance & Decision Support
42 Authority Recommendations Updated: Led systematic reviews across general administration, HR, finance, and travel to strengthen compliance controls, serving as gatekeeper for 270+ operational delegations.
Streamlined Agreement & MOU Oversight: Partnered with legal counsel and ethics to establish efficient review, vetting, and oversight processes for inter-agency agreements and MOUs.
Risk Assessment & Mitigation Planning
60%+ Reduction in Risk Clutter: Led a multi-disciplinary team to overhaul an enterprise risk inventory, consolidating clutter into 19 core operational priorities for executive approval.
Custom Risk Toolkits & Training: Designed reassessment schedules, reporting templates, and training materials to onboard new program leads and drive consistent risk oversight.
Process Mapping & Workflow Analysis
Policy Change & Waste Prevention: Conducted detailed operational reviews that uncovered systemic overpayments, resulting in a policy change and new internal controls to prevent waste.
SOPs & Visual Decision Tools: Developed Standard Operating Procedures, visual decision tools, and intranet resources to bring clarity to complex administrative workflows.
Strategic Alignment & Organizational Insights
13-Point Engagement Increase: Analyzed multi-year employee survey data to deliver actionable insights, directly contributing to a 13-point increase in engagement and "belief in action" metrics.
Enterprise Strategic Roadmaps: Managed a strategic planning effort, utilizing SWOT analysis and strategy prioritization matrices to align organizational goals.
My Approach
Strong outcomes emerge when strategy, systems, and people are aligned. That core belief shapes how I work:
Strategy: Clarify goals, constraints, and decision pathways so your team acts with clear purpose
Systems: Analyze how processes, structures, and information flows drive day-to-day outcomes
People: Ensure role clarity, transparent communication, and team alignment for sustainable results
This framework delivers support that is grounded, analytical, and practical—never abstract or theoretical.
What I Bring to Work
Senior‑Level Analysis
I provide the kind of thoughtful, structured analysis that helps leaders understand issues, evaluate options, and make informed decisions.
Operational Clarity
I translate complexity into clear workflows, requirements, and recommendations that teams can use immediately.
Risk‑Aware, Compliance‑Aligned Thinking
My work integrates legal and policy obligations, internal controls, and the realities of mission‑driven environments.
A Calm, Structured Presence
I bring clarity, steadiness, and a focus on what matters—especially when teams are navigating uncertainty or change.