A Yellow Beetle & A Purpose

The name YLWBUG came from a yellow Volkswagen Beetle.

Growing up, Erin's father drove hours from Philadelphia to Maryland every other week—just to spend two days with her. Those journeys taught her something she's never forgotten: she was her father's 'why,' and that purpose moved him to action.

That understanding became the foundation for everything. In 2019, YLWBUG LLC was founded with a simple conviction: when daily actions align with purpose, transformation thrives.

The name "YLWBUG" symbolizes our role as both a vehicle for transformation and a pollinator of ideas—carrying insights from one engagement to the next, cross-pollinating best practices across industries and sectors.

2019
Transformation begins with Y.
What We Believe

Our Philosophy

Inform

We bring clarity to complexity. Through research, analysis, and honest assessment, we help you understand where you are and what's possible.

Inspire

We connect daily actions to larger purpose. When people see how their work matters, engagement and performance follow naturally.

Empower

We build capability, not dependency. Our goal is to leave you stronger, more capable, and more aligned than when we started.

Leadership

Meet the Team

Erin Wilkerson

Founder & CEO · CCMP, Six Sigma Green Belt

The name YLWBUG came from a yellow Volkswagen Beetle. Growing up, Erin's father drove hours from Philadelphia to Maryland every other week—just to spend two days with her. Those journeys taught her something she's never forgotten: she was her father's 'why,' and that purpose moved him to action.

That understanding became the foundation for everything. Her 15+ year career—from radio intern at 92.3 WERQ to leading $120M transformation initiatives for state government—gave her the expertise. The yellow bug gave her the philosophy.

Today, YLWBUG's YOU™ Framework helps communities, organizations, and individuals connect purpose to action. Erin brings analytical rigor as a Certified Change Management Professional and Six Sigma Green Belt. She brings heart as someone who learned early what it looks like when commitment meets intention.

Education: B.A. Mass Communications-Public Relations, Delaware State University · M.A. Organizational Communication (In Progress), Bowie State University
Certifications: CCMP (Prosci) · Six Sigma Green Belt

Tony R. Sawyers

Partner & COO

Tony Sawyers spent 30+ years building teams across four continents—and learning that transformation happens one person at a time.

His career started at Lockheed Martin, laying groundwork for fiber optics and telecommunications, then advanced into classified roles with General Dynamics, Honeywell, and Northrop Grumman. He pioneered biometric technology. He led teams in 15 countries. At Consumer Reports, he built resilient talent operations during a pandemic. At Capital One, he created pipelines connecting HBCUs, PWIs, and HSIs to corporate opportunity.

What he discovered across all of it: sustainable change requires connecting people to purpose.

As Partner/COO at YLWBUG LLC, Tony brings a global perspective and people-first philosophy to transformation work. He also serves on the Executive Board of Young Playwrights' Theater in Washington, DC—because empowering the next generation of voices matters.

Leadership Philosophy: Perseverance, positivity, and intentional action transform every person into their own most valuable brand.
How We Work

Our Values

Purpose-Driven

Every engagement starts with "why." We believe transformation rooted in purpose creates authentic, sustainable change.

Authentic Partnership

We work as trusted advisors, not just service providers. Your success is our success.

Measurable Impact

We focus on outcomes, not activities. Our solutions create lasting change that continues delivering value.

Cross-Sector Expertise

We bring diverse perspectives from government, education, healthcare, tech, and nonprofit sectors.

Our Journey

Milestones

2019

YLWBUG Founded

Erin Wilkerson launches YLWBUG LLC, providing strategic communications and change management consulting to government and educational institutions in Maryland.

2021

Service Expansion

Expanded offerings to include organizational transformation, strategic facilitation, and leadership development programs.

2024

Tony Sawyers Joins as Partner

Tony brings 30+ years of global talent strategy experience, strengthening YLWBUG's organizational development capabilities.

2025

Trademark Approved

YLWBUG® becomes a registered trademark, marking a new chapter in brand protection and growth.

Ready to Start Your Transformation?

Let's explore how the YOU™ Framework can work for your organization.

Get In Touch