Jim Burns, Resilient Leadership Partner

Jim Burns worked at Marriott International for 38 years and held a variety of positions including Restaurant Manager, Director of Food & Beverage, Regional Director of Human Resources, Vice President of Total Quality Management, Vice President of Service Development, and Brand Executive for MHRS — to name only a few of his many positions. Jim earned his MBA from the Jack Welch Management Institute in 2015. Jim’s wide range of leadership experiences enables him to apply Resilient Leadership resources in ways that connect with leaders at all levels of an organization. He provides keen insight into Resilient Leadership concepts, methods and tools and can quickly demonstrate how these tools can be used to lead more effectively. As he often says: “The secret sauce of leadership is knowing how to recognize and manage emotional process.”

Sofia Gonzalez, Resilient Leadership Coach and Trainer

Sofia Gonzalez began her more than 30 years in the hospitality industry with two objectives, to serve others and specifically to assist others in achieving their highest potential. She is an experienced facilitator and executive coach, specializing in strategic human resources development at all levels of an organization. Sofia brings infectious enthusiasm, energy and depth to her client interactions and facilitation sessions. Her extensive business operations background allows her to fully optimize her coaching sessions because she has walked a mile in others’ shoes. In her coaching practice, Sofia works with her clients to develop strategies and behaviors by encouraging growth in self-awareness and experiential learning resulting in greater personal and organizational effectiveness. Her clients gain a better awareness of their own hidden assumptions, perceptions, and unspoken expectations that block them from their objectives. Through coaching, her clients expand and realign their thinking, actions, and communications to achieve their desired outcomes. Her practice with Resilient Leadership has created great resonance in her life; and she is an enthusiastic sharer of this information to continue fulfilling her life mission of assisting others in achieving their resonance and range in their own lives.

Dr. Bob Duggan, Resilient Leadership Founding Member

Dr. Bob Duggan is a founding member of Resilient Leadership, LLC and is the co-author of the book Resilient Leadership (with Jim Moyer), Resilient Leadership 2.0 (with Bridgette Theurer) and of the Resilient Leadership training materials now available in a variety of formats. Bob is a veteran Executive Coach and organizational development consultant, a prolific and widely published author, and a speaker and workshop facilitator both in this country and internationally. In his work with individuals and organizations implementing the Resilient Leadership model, he brings a diverse background that includes counseling, teaching at the university level, leadership of an organization that achieved national recognition for excellence, and success in working with CEOs and executive teams in the corporate world, government, and non-profit settings.

Bridgette Theurer, Resilient Leadership Senior Presenter

Bridgette Theurer is a RL Speaker and co-author of Resilient Leadership 2.0 (with Bob Duggan). She has been instrumental in the design and development of Resilient Leadership training programs, including a 9-month leadership development program for the FDA. She facilitates our 3-day Coach Certification Course and has helped to certify over 100 coaches in the Resilient Leadership model. As an Executive Coach, Bridgette specializes in coaching senior and emerging leaders facing significant growth and change. Her clients have included larger organizations such as the Marriott Corporation, Sodexo USA, and Booz Allen as well as numerous small businesses and entrepreneurial enterprises. In 2015 she co-authored her first book, Missing Conversations: 9 Questions all Leaders Should Ask Themselves (with Heather Jelks). She has been coaching and consulting in the Washington, D.C. area for over 20 years.

Analia Medina, Resilient Leadership Associate

AnaLia Medina is a certified executive Coach, strategy consultant, and Associate at Resilient Leadership, LLC. She specializes in collaborative culture, helping leaders and team bring their individual and collective best thinking and creative solutions to their toughest problems. Withy 20 years of experience, she has a proven track record working with federal government leaders and decision makers in the United States, globally as well as private sector professionals specializing in health care, finance, law enforcement and regulatory affairs.

Jim Moyer, Founding Member/Resilient Leadership Partner

Jim Moyer is a founding member of Resilient Leadership, LLC, and is the co-author with Bob Duggan of the book Resilient Leadership. Jim is an Executive Coach and strategic planning and organizational development consultant with over 30 years’ experience in for-profit, not-for-profit, and government organizations. Jim has successfully grown his consulting and coaching practice since 1998. Before he began his consulting practice Jim worked for 25 years at Marriott International as a manager, director, and senior executive in Strategy, Organizational Development, Human Resources, Quality and Loss Prevention.

Mike Nowland, Resilient Leadership Coach and Trainer

Mike Nowland understands that his purpose is to help managers be better, do better and live better! To achieve this, he uses the principles and concepts of Resilient Leadership to coach managers in new ways of seeing, thinking, and leading their teams and more importantly, themselves. He’s a persuasive and empathetic communicator with over 30 years of senior level experience in Leadership Development and human resources with companies like Marriott International, ResMed and Kisco Senior Living.

Dr. Jennifer Bigelow, Resilient Leadership Coach and Trainer

Jennifer Bigelow is a successful academic leader with over 20 years of experience in public and private schools. Jennifer has a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from the North Carolina State University and specialized in organizational leadership in her degree program. She has presented to groups locally and nationally in Catholic school leadership, organizational fit, collaborative leadership, and Resilient Leadership. Jennifer currently serves as adjunct professor at Marymount University in their Ed.D. Program and as Academic Dean at the Benedictine Schools of Richmond, Virginia.

Dr. Irvine Nugent, Resilient Leadership Associate

Irvine Nugent is an Executive Coach, speaker, trainer, and associate at Resilient Leadership, LLC. He possesses fifteen-plus years in senior leadership roles in organizations of various sizes, stages of growth and different sectors. As an executive coach, Irvine offers a unique combination of experience and skills to assist leaders and individuals reach the next level and fully realize their inner potential. Through active listening and observation, Irvine quickly gets to the heart of the matter with clarity and compassion. Born in Northern Ireland, Irvine brings to his practice a rich and varied experience. Growing up in a society torn apart by conflict and violence he has always been attracted to discovering ways to help leaders develop greater resilience in the face of chaos and change. He has been privileged to work with many different cultures, learning firsthand the challenges of effective communication and understanding. He is an ATD credentialed Master Trainer and Certified World Class Speaking Coach and has offered seminars on various topics of leadership all over the country.

John Moyer, Resilient Leadership Coach and Trainer

John Moyer uses a systems lens to help leaders achieve breakthroughs by tapping into their own creative capabilities to solve real problems. As a 30+ year veteran of education, John has trained and coached both student and adult leaders. Through his work primarily in education, John has helped leaders of all ages discover that leadership is influence--which starts with the leader becoming a less anxious presence. Effective leadership involves being close enough to influence others, yet distant enough to lead. Managing relationship tensions at multiple levels is key in leading any sustained change. A visionary without key allies is simply a philosopher. John's focus is primarily on individual coaching along with targeted training engagements as a complement to his teaching career.

Dr. Dennis Stiles, Resilient Leadership Coach and Trainer

Dennis Stiles is a guide and leadership coach whose focus centers on helping clients develop meaningful and purposeful direction by tapping into their true strengths and gifts. Finding the best in people is his goal. Since 1986, Dennis has been a practicing dentist and part time university educator. He has held leadership positions on nonprofit boards, in community groups and in small businesses. Having served as a facilitator for strategic planning and coached other leaders, Dennis has amassed a vast portfolio of leadership training experiences. Lifelong learning is a top priority for Dennis. Systems thinking allows leaders to navigate corporate cultures, families, and communities. It also allows leaders to be grounded by a deep understanding and awareness of how to bring calmness and clarity to their surroundings. As a result of this awareness, Dennis helps leaders see the spark of change and influence that they have on the hearts of the people they serve. Having had experiences in teaching, caring for people, mentoring students and professionals has enabled him to see the benefits of coaching and leadership development. Dennis’ offer is simple and powerful: “to help my clients find their unique abilities and strengths through good conversation, connection and listening.”

Tracey Cairnie, Resilient Leadership Coach and Trainer

Tracey Cairnie is a professional certified coach (PCC) and has a Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. Tracey is a frequent trainer and consultant to corporations and federal, state, and local government agencies, non-profit organizations, and individual executives, in various topics, including organizational and leadership development, communications, group dynamics and performance optimization. Tracey has nearly 30 years of experience working with clients involved in the fields of science, business, legal, finance, health care, and education, among others.

Marge Shonnard, Resilient Leadership Coach and Trainer

Marge Shonnard has served several organizations in a variety of executive leadership roles over the past 25 years. Throughout her work experience, she has become increasingly aware of the impact that leaders have on the systems they serve. During her leadership tenure, she had the privilege of working with two seasoned executive coaches who have had a deep impact on her effectiveness as a leader. The key insight she gained from working with theses coaches is that managing the emotional dynamics within the complex systems in which we live and work is the key to being a Resilient Leader. At this point in her career, Marge is well equipped to combine her background in teaching, coaching and training to offer leaders at all levels of the organization the opportunity to deepen their understanding of themselves by discovering their strengths and experiential wisdom, and thus to bring their “best self” to every situation.

Dr. Mel Palmisano, Resilient Leadership Coach and Trainer

Dr. Mel Palmisano is a dedicated educational expert with over 35 years of experience as a teacher and administrator on the elementary, middle, high school and college levels combined with a doctoral degree in school leadership, certification as a school principal and supervisor of instruction, a Master of Education degree in curriculum and instruction, Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and secondary education, and certification as a student teaching supervisor. In June 2022 Mel retired as Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana Thirty Schools with an enrollment of approximately 15,000 Students. During her time as Superintendent Mel led the initiative in the Diocese to achieve National Accreditation as a district through Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (Cognia). She also has extensive experience in the development of programs focused on leadership, curriculum & instruction, governance (Board Training) and strategic planning with a specific focus on continuous improvement and operational capacity. After 13 years in service as Superintendent of Schools, Mel is now a leadership coach and continuous improvement consultant. She achieved her professional certification as a Resilient Leadership Coach and RL Trainer in 2021. Among her many strengths, she has a keen insight into how to guide leaders on the pathway to increased self-awareness and self-command so that they learn how to stay calm, stay convicted, and stay connected. Mel communicates these insights through sharing her true-life experiences in her coaching, training, and presentations.

Dr. Kate Bond, Resilient Leadership Coach and Trainer

Dr. Katherine (Kate) Bond has more than 30 years’ experience leading and managing health initiatives and teams in federal government, philanthropic, academic and non-profit organizations with global responsibilities. In 2020, she founded Network Strategies for Health, LLC, which supports organizations and individuals to map, strategize, act, measure and lead critical initiatives to improve health. Born in Northern Ireland, Kate has lived and worked in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. She has acute insight into how social, cultural, and emotional dynamics and networks influence behaviors, social systems and organizational culture and how to navigate them to improve lives. As a leadership coach and trainer, she supports leaders to see, think and act with calm, clarity, and conviction to achieve mission priorities. She builds relationships based on trust and openness, supporting leaders to build self-awareness and insight, to build from their strengths and to manage their own emotions and the dynamics in the systems they lead.

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