Meet Our Founder

Connie W.Y. Yates is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of C-JEY Consulting, LLC, doing business as (DBA) Yates & Associates. Having established Yates & Associates in June 2025, she is focused on continuing a career of service by offering management consulting to small and medium sized organizations seeking support in the areas of fractional executive services, project management, change management, human resources, and finance. Connie is a seasoned executive with a strong background in administration, management, and operations. 

Prior to establishing Yates & Associates, she served 20 years in the federal government and her last position was the Deputy Director, Program Support Center at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Appointed to the senior executive service in October 2020, Connie also served as the Assistant Inspector General – Management (AIG-M) for the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and the Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Management (DAIG-M)/Deputy Executive Director at the Department of State OIG. She also previously held senior management positions at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the Office of the Commissioner and Office Regulatory Affairs.  

Connie began her federal civilian career in August 2012 as an Information Technology Systems Program Manager for capital investments with the U.S. Department of Treasury, Bureau of Fiscal Service. Prior to joining the civil service, Connie gained a wealth of experience as a contractor to the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration, and as a member of the U.S. Air Force on active duty, including serving on a prestigious assignment as an Assistant Audiovisual Director with the White House Communications Agency.  

Connie believes in lifelong learning and for almost 10 years, served as an adjunct faculty member with National University, the largest private university in California. She holds a BS in Business Administration, with a major in Management Information Systems from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and an MS in Management, with a concentration in Project Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus. Connie also earned a Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security Management and Policy; a Master Certificate in Federal Program Management, and previously earned both the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and Federal Acquisition Certificate in Program/Project Management (FAC P/PM) Senior Level. As part of her own career pivot, Connie is pursuing a Master of Science in Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Family Financial Planning and Counseling. Her passion and spiritual gifts are helping and serving others and she is particularly focused on helping blended and single-parent families, federal and former federal employees, active duty military, and veterans achieve financial freedom. 

Jasmine Yelder is a marketing consultant with a passion for helping brands grow with purpose and clarity. With a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Auburn University and an MBA in progress, Jasmine brings a strong foundation in marketing strategy, analytics, and information systems.

She has experience across both public and private sectors—from working with the Bureau of Land Management at the Department of Interior to supporting startups and local businesses. Her work spans content strategy, campaign development, social media management, web optimization, and podcast marketing. Jasmine is especially skilled at uncovering what makes a brand unique and turning that into messaging that resonates.

Known for her thoughtful, values-driven approach, Jasmine helps clients not only attract the right audience but also build authentic connections that last. Whether it’s launching a new brand, refining a content strategy, or analyzing performance data to optimize growth, Jasmine combines creativity with insight to move businesses forward.

Our Why

I stepped into adulthood at 17, enlisting in the Air Force because college felt out of reach and home offered little support. While on active duty I took night classes at the Community College of Southern Nevada, earned my associate’s degree, and steadily advanced to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Yet when the Air Force ordered an unaccompanied tour that would split my young family, I chose separation from the Air Force over separation from them.

Leaving uniform in 2000 meant trading rank for risk: finishing a bachelor’s degree with GI-Bill funds, moonlighting at the airport, and raising a newborn daughter as my marriage unraveled. However, the first career pivot paid off. I obtained an internship with a Department of Energy government contractor, which led to a full-time position, and a ton of great experience in project management. I pursued a master’s degree and took on another career pivot, parlaying my contractor experience into a GS-14 role at Treasury’s Financial Management Service/Bureau of Fiscal Service. Then an opportunity for a lateral move to the FDA resulted in a GS-15 position within 3 months, and ultimately the Senior Executive Service in 2020—overseeing $800 million in shared-services operations.

But success inside the system wasn’t enough. I kept hearing a refrain from mentors: “You’re built for entrepreneurship.” For years I resisted; single-parent stability ranked higher than entrepreneurial risk. By 2025, however, I had the credentials, the capital, and a clearer calling: amplify under-represented voices and deliver the caliber of operational excellence too often reserved for the largest agencies and contractors. So, I took voluntary early retirement and launched Yates & Associates.

Today my “why” is clear: to serve mission-driven organizations and the communities they protect, ensuring that every stakeholder—regardless of rank, race, or résumé—has a seat at the table and the tools to succeed. Entrepreneurship isn’t a departure from public service; it’s the next chapter in it.