Founded in 2016, SparkPlug Agility is a consulting firm that specializes in agile training, coaching, and consulting services dedicated to helping others grow and develop into more than they thought possible. We are proud to be a Member Organization with ICAgile and a Trainer Organization with Scrum Alliance.
Our background in training and consulting allows us to connect with a wide range of industries, and specifically the IT services area in the D.C. / Maryland / Virginia area. With delivery experience in both commercial and federal environments, our stories resonate with a wide audience.
Everything we do is focused on the needs of our clients. Our training courses are designed to involve students from the beginning with an interactive mix of movement, variety, and collaboration, enabling them to retain more knowledge and have stories and techniques that they can then take back to their organizations. Our coaching and consulting work is custom to the needs of where our client is right now. working to help bridge the gap to where they want to go.
Our founder Chris Li is a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST), and the first trainer in North America certified by Scrum Alliance to teach both the Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM) and Certified Scrum Professional – ScrumMaster (CSP-SM) courses.
Originally a Microsoft developer and database administrator, his close work with the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security give him a unique perspective into organizational change and technical delivery. He founded the Agile Institute at Agilex (now Accenture Federal), introducing agility and demonstrating its effectiveness to clients in these challenging sectors.
In addition to working with teams and enterprises throughout the United States in improving their work through Scrum adoption, Chris frequently speaks at major agile conferences and supports initiatives of the world’s major agile organizations. He recently extended his expertise in the area of Professional Coaching, and received his ICF certification from the Hudson Institute of Coaching.
In his spare time, Chris enjoys a wide range of interests. He's an auto enthusiast, music lover, trumpet player, a closet foodie, a poker player, and a sports fan. He is also a former video game competitor who now works to help organize competitive fighting game events.
See Chris's profile on LinkedIn
Our Chief Operating Officer Christine Li brings over 20 years of experience in web design and delivery, with a focus on leading software development consulting teams using an agile approach. In addition to keeping SparkPlug Agility running, she works with all of our clients to understand their unique challenges, and craft agile-based solutions that most effectively meet their goals and budget.
After starting her career as a designer and business analyst, Christine began incorporating agility into her consulting with clients in 2008, promoting this new way of working alongside effective delivery in software development. She is a Certified Scrum Professional ScrumMaster (CSP-SM), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), and SAFe Program Consultant (SPC).
Prior to joining SparkPlug Agility, Christine was a Regional Agile Delivery Lead for Eliassen Group, and a Principal Consultant for Excella. Balancing the needs of internal teams and external clients, Christine has successfully led the implementation of both large custom applications and small marketing websites for Federal, Commercial, and non-profit organizations while providing mentorship and growth opportunities to junior technology consultants as they grow their careers.
See Christine's profile on LinkedIn