Our Team

Michael and Janine Cook | Founder and Co-Owners 

Michael Cook, PhD is the founder and former President of Colleague Consulting. Although now retired, Mike continues to support Colleague in a consulting role, bringing his wealth of experience to the table. Under Mike’s leadership, Colleague became a go-to partner for many federal agencies, including the Department of Energy, General Services Administration, Department of Education, Defense Acquisition University, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Internal Revenue Service, and the Foreign Service Institute. Mike earned his PhD in psychology from the University of Iowa and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). His expertise and commitment have been key to the firm's success and strong reputation in the industry. 

Janine Cook, PhD has a rich background in both teaching and laboratory management. As an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, she developed and taught a variety of courses for undergraduate and graduate students, covering topics like biotechnology techniques, clinical chemistry, and scientific writing. In her role as Lab Manager and Technical Director at Quest Diagnostics in Baltimore, MD, Janine oversaw $65 million in annual test sales. She handled a high volume of daily tests, wrote safety manuals, and developed continuing education programs. Additionally, she provided expertise for corporate standardization initiatives and researched topics on the federal Drug-Free Workplace Programs at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Janine earned her PhD in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry from the University of Iowa. 

Both Mike and Janine enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and exploring the country in their RV, discovering national landmarks and new destinations along the way.