About Mary Cook
Accomplish Points Consulting is dedicated to re-imagining and rebuilding civic participation, partnerships, and public service. Founded by Mary Cook, the firm brings a people-centered approach to every project, grounded in decades of experience across both the public and private sectors.
Mary brings consensus building, process design, project management, and entrepreneurial energy to every engagement. Whether serving as an external consultant or embedded staff, she meets organizations where they are and helps them move forward with clarity and purpose.
Based in Bend, Oregon, Accomplish Points works with municipalities, special districts, and mission-driven organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
A Career in Service
Mary Cook is a first-generation college student who earned both a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Arts in Urban Planning from UCLA. Her academic foundation in public administration and urban systems set the stage for a career dedicated to strengthening communities.
She began her career in the private sector, specializing in land use economics and market analyses. It was during this early work that she discovered her passion for the art of meetings — the craft of bringing diverse stakeholders together to find common ground and move toward shared goals.
Mary spent approximately seventeen years at Clackamas County, serving as a Senior Planner across six divisions. During this time she earned her AICP certification, became Change Management Certified through PROSCI, and led award-winning public involvement initiatives that set new standards for community engagement.
Following her public sector tenure, Mary co-founded Swanson Partners, LLC, an independent consultancy operating under the motto “Your Partner in Service.” The firm delivered facilitation, strategic planning, and organizational development services to public agencies across Oregon.
Today, Mary leads Accomplish Points Consulting from Bend, Oregon, continuing the mission she has pursued throughout her career: helping public service organizations accomplish more for the communities they serve.
Credentials
Education
Master of Arts in Urban Planning
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science — Public Administration
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) — Geography minor
Certifications
- A.I.C.P. — American Institute of Certified Planners
American Planning Association
- Change Management Certified (ADKAR model)
PROSCI
- International Research Board Certification (I.R.B.)
Certified 2009
Certified Women Business Enterprise (WBE), State of Oregon (No. 5490)
People. Planning. Economics.
People
Emotionally intelligent leadership grounded in empathy and adaptability. Mary is Change Management Certified and brings a facilitative approach to every stakeholder interaction, building trust and sustaining momentum through complex processes.
Planning
A nationally certified planner (AICP) with award-winning process design skills, trained at UCLA and refined through decades of practice. Mary designs engagement processes that produce actionable plans grounded in community input.
Economics
Fluent in public and private sector dynamics, fiscal analysis, and practical innovation. Mary translates economic realities into clear strategies that help organizations allocate resources effectively and deliver measurable outcomes.
Start a Conversation
Whether you need strategic planning, facilitation, or organizational development support, Mary is ready to help your organization accomplish more.