Quire is a collective of talented thought leaders.
We have access to experts in a wide range of fields—business leaders and entrepreneurs, social science professionals, design masters, and more. We hand select consultants for your team based on your needs and project goals.
Quire Consultants
Autumn Sanders | Founder, CEO
Since 2010, Autumn Sanders has worked with Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, and nonprofits, helping them grow their businesses by understanding their customers. She launched Quire in 2017 to bring ethnographic research and design thinking to organizational leaders that are looking for a way forward but don't know how to get there. Throughout her career, Autumn has worked with organizations including Target, Samsung, FedEx, SC Johnson, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Chicago Public Education Fund, and many others.
Autumn currently serves on the City of Birmingham Small Business Council. She teaches tennis with Better Basics and coaches entrepreneurs with Create Birmingham and EGK Starters. She has served on several non-profit boards focusing on the arts and design. Autumn holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University (Athens, OH) and a master’s degree in design management from the Savannah College of Art and Design (Savannah, GA).
Activities & Affiliations
Cavu, Flight Crew Member
Co.Starters, Facilitator and Trainer
EPIC People, Member
Education
Savannah College of Art and Design - M.A., Design Management and Graphic Design
Ohio University (Athens) - B.S., Journalism
Katelyn Foote | Design Research Associate
Katelyn is a design researcher passionate about the intersecting institutions and informal interactions that make up the social life of a city. She has worked with non-profit organizations in urban neighborhoods in Birmingham and rural communities across Alabama providing a range of services. Katelyn has also held positions in small local businesses focused on hospitality.
Katelyn is part of the Greater Birmingham Ministries program The Exchange, and volunteers as a researcher and writer for their Election Guide. She hosts a podcast with international colleagues and friends exploring women’s work in cities and urban design. Katelyn holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and social entrepreneurship from Samford University (Birmingham, AL) and a master’s degree in urban strategies and design from The University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh, Scotland).
Education
University of Edinburgh & Heriot-Watt University - MSc Urban Strategies & Design
Samford University - BSc Business Administration: Social Entrepreneurship
Activities & Affiliations
Alabama Women in Business, Board Secretary
EPIC People, Member
Helen Johnson | Design Research Associate
Helen brings expertise in social work, systems theory, and the human development and social systems framework to Quire Consulting. With over a decade of experience in social work research and behavioral coaching, she is passionate about uncovering insights that address social challenges and empower individuals and organizations. Her work bridges theory and practice by leveraging systems theory to understand the connections between individuals, communities, and larger social structures.
Helen has worked with underserved communities, nonprofits, and healthcare systems to develop equitable, actionable solutions. She excels at evaluation research, program development, and integrating evidence-based insights into design strategies. Her macro social work background enhances her ability to approach challenges holistically, while her experience as a wellness coach adds a unique perspective on fostering growth.
At Quire, Helen applies her skills in design research and stakeholder engagement to help clients create strategies that are innovative and aligned with the needs of their end users.
Activities & Affiliations
National Association of Social Workers, Member
Lincoln Parks and Recreation, Youth Sports Coach
Education
The University of Alabama – M.S.W., Social Work
Jacksonville State University – B.S.W., Social Work