Over the past 25 years, Malcolm Avner has experienced business leadership as a coach, facilitator, executive, entrepreneur, consultant and trainer. He has started, managed and sold businesses in various industries, including food service, software and staffing. In 10 years as coach and business advisor, he has guided the personal and professional development of hundreds of business owners and managers, and helped create more sustainable, enjoyable and profitable workplaces.

Malcolm has helped companies create strategic and business plans used for growth, allocation of resources, positioning for sale or capitalization, incentive plan implementation, or simply peace of mind. He has led organizational systems redesign based on Universal Principles (which explain human nature) and Systems Principles (such as, 90% of organizational productivity is the result of systems, not the people).

Using conventional and unconventional processes, he helps clients make more fruitful, healthier decisions by consciously balancing thoughtful analysis and intuition. He approaches all issues with the intention of guiding clients through a dual opportunity for growth: 1) To overcome a logistical, strategic or interpersonal challenge, and 2) To raise personal consciousness by increasing self-knowledge and challenging habitual beliefs.

His credentials include a MBA in Business Management, BA in Economics, Certification in Solution Selling, Certification in TQM (Total Quality Management) Leadership, Certified Instructor of DreamWork, Master/Teacher Certifications (2) in energy therapy, Licensed Healer Practitioner, martial arts black belt and former professional athlete.

Ariel built a strong foundation for her consulting practice, Thought Catalysts, through more than 25 years of business experience. She has worked in a wide range of industries including banking, health care, consumer electronics, paper and lumber manufacturing and technology development.

While working as a manager for Hewlett Packard Corporation, Ariel realized a dream of living and working in Europe. She served as Strategy and Planning Manager in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region of HP’s Imaging and Printing Group. In this role, Ariel lived in Barcelona Spain and supplemented her project implementation experience with a cross-cultural perspective.

Beyond working with organizational systems, Ariel enjoys feeding her curiosity through travel, the practice of various spiritual disciplines and learning to live in new cultures. Her current volunteer work is focused on malaria prevention in Africa.

Allison Bradley, Ph.D. brings over 15 years experience guiding individuals and organizations through maximum transformation. Allison's role is to assist in the initial diagnoses of organizational health and to act a resource to Workplace Evolution.

Allison holds a doctorate in Social Psychology. Her doctoral work explored the application of theoretical quantum physics as applied to social systems. As a white woman emerging from a strongly Native American family-influenced childhood, Dr. Bradley developed a deep commitment to matters related to cross-cultural integration, and the implications of ancient and ancestral ways for contemporary Western living. Dr. Bradley has worked at the systems change level within the areas of domestic violence, children's protective services, law enforcement, health care, and fortune 500 companies using the modalities of experiential training and outdoor and adventure-based programming. Dr. Bradley has over a decade of applied ethno-spiritual intensive learning experiences with native healers, teachers, and wisdom-keepers from both the North and South American continents.

Ellen Gehrke is a Professor of Leadership and Management at National University in the School of Business and Management.  She has taught and facilitated leadership and organizational development for almost 25 years.  Her Ph.D. is in organizational development and strategic planning.  She has an MBA in marketing and management and a BSc. in Natural Resource Management. 

Ellen worked in Europe for 8 years teaching and consulting to many European companies regarding economic transition.  Her career spreads across the public and private business working with a variety of profit and non-profit organizations some of which include the National Headquarters of the Red Cross, the Department of Agriculture, Booz Allen Hamilton, National Park Service, ESI International, Motorola, and BroadCast Advertisers.  She has been involved with national and international organizations and served on numerous boards in various leadership roles.  She is an associate of the Thiagi Group and has served as a coach within Marshall Goldsmith consultants.

Ellen became deeply involved with horses 10 years ago after returning from Europe. Horses have an incredible capacity to reflect truth, honesty and integrity, are non-judgmental, and are full of heart and care. This has contributed to a partnership with her horses which supports personal and professional growth in others. She combined her education with her love and appreciation of horses to create leadership, team building and personal development programs with horses.  It came out of adopting wild horses 9 years ago and having a particularly difficult time establishing trust and a relationship with one of the horses. She has completed a certificate program in equine guided learning and has worked with well-known horse trainers who take the perspective of the horse's point of view.

Ellen is a HeartMath Institute 1:1 Stress Reduction Provider and has done executive coaching for several years. She has also complete Level II of Healing Touch and Level I of Healing Touch for Animals.

Chris Hallman is founder and principal consultant with Great Circle Consulting, a training and consulting practice devoted to strengthening organizational performance and enhancing operational safety. Chris holds a M.Ed. with a focus in adult education from the University of Georgia, and has over 20 years of experience working with organizations operating in high criticality environments such as airlines, the U.S. military, healthcare and cruise lines. In navigation, the great circle route represents the shortest path between any two points on the Earth’s surface and serves as a fitting metaphor for a company devoted to bridging the gap between where an organization is and where its vision would have it be.

Chris approaches improving human performance from the perspective of designing and developing organizations that support and nurture high performance. Additionally, his focus on applying appreciative inquiry to national culture to design organizational systems that are culturally appropriate and make use of the strongest characteristics of a given culture have led Great Circle Consulting to an international presence.

Chris is a certified Davis & Dean Guide and serves as a consulting editor to the FAA’s International Journal of Applied Aviation Studies. He has published numerous articles on aviation safety and co-authored a chapter on applying pilot safety skills to hospital emergency rooms.

Sydney works with organizations and executives on transforming and building leadership capabilities, talent management requirements, employee engagement, and organizational structures. Other services and tools include organizational climate assessments, executive coaching, executive transition plans, organizational change management, communication plans, and culture and team development.  As part of her focus, Sydney frequently consults, facilitates and coaches CEOs and other members of the executive team on their unique leadership talents and aspirations, team “play” and contribution, and roles and responsibilities. 

She holds an MBA degree from Marylhurst University, with a concentration in organizational development, and has taught as an adjunct professor in the MBA program at Marylhurst University and Portland State University, teaching classes in leadership, organizational learning, strategic planning, change management, and entrepreneurship.

She is a frequent lecturer and presenter on emergent leadership models, organizational change issues, and the development of the “intellectual assets” within companies.  She serves on the board of the Oregon College of Art and Craft and chairs the Strategic Planning committee, and the board of Oregon Public Broadcast, and chairs the Governance committee.  Sydney was a Board Examiner for the Oregon Quality Award and is an accredited member in the Public Relations Society of America.

In 2004, Judson founded Svaha Concepts, drawing on her extensive management background, her proven expertise in strategic planning, process management, workflow, and knowledge management, her skills and training as a mentor and coach – and on her belief in the power of individual action to create change. Currently an instructor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Extension School, Judson also delivers workshops and presentations to corporations and professional organizations on various business-related topics. Audiences include the Organization Development Network, American Businesswomen’s Association, the National Association of Women Business Owners, the nonprofit Shakti Rising, the Golden Door Spa, UCSD’s Faculty and Staff program, and the O.A.R. Women’s Studies program.

Judson has written several books and workbooks related to her areas of expertise, and publishes a bi-monthly newsletter with articles of immediate, practical use to her readers.

Upon returning to South Africa and after a 2 year stint in the corporate environment and furthering his studies in marketing and business management, Paul founded a furniture manufacturing company (Candlewoods) which, at the time of its sale six years later, exceeded a million dollars in gross revenue. During this time he developed a unique business management methodology to meet the need for extreme efficiency, accuracy and ease of operation in a highly competitive and volatile market. (This methodology is presently being considered for development into an off-the-shelf type product for the global, small/ medium business market.) After taking ownership and managing an exclusive guest house near the major South African game reserves for three years, Paul spent a year in auditing before immigrating to the United States with his 2 children in 2002.

Since then, Paul has worked in the home improvement and landscaping industries while continuing development of his business methodology. In consulting to various businesses, it became apparent that this program could be modified to address a broader business market. Paul completed a coaching certification program with ActionCOACH in 2007. He has also been a student of the Course in Miracles for the past 2 years.

Whether it’s individual coaching, parent education or corporate consulting, Eileen’s work begins with discovering individual values and core beliefs. She is most known for her compassion and ability to connect to the heart and soul of the individuals and the organizations she works with. She sees them not only for the work they produce, but also and more importantly, for who they are in their process of unfolding their life purpose. Eileen inspires her clients with creativity, strategic thinking, and the excitement of proactively creating their heart’s desire.

Her clients include individuals for personal and professional coaching as well as small businesses to large companies utilizing her skills in consulting, strategic planning, organization development, employee and management development and executive coaching. Eileen’s consulting has included working internally for Rockwell Hanford Operations, Westinghouse Hanford and as VP of Operations for Jenny Craig. She is also a co-author of the book “Visionary Women Inspiring the World – 12 Paths to Personal Power”.

Eileen also understands the importance of work/life balance. Along with owning their own consulting and marketing firm, Eileen and her husband, Steve Dahl, are also Certified Family Coaches. When things are good at home, people are happier and more productive at work. It all works together. Their goal is help parents be successful and raise happy, healthy and successful children. They’ve had lots of practice with their two kids!

Eileen holds a BA in Family Life Education, an MS in Organization Development, and an MA in Spiritual Psychology. Whether working with individuals, families, or businesses, Eileen brings her broad background, unique experience, and extensive education to those most interested in finding deeper meaning in all areas of their lives.

Earl’s entertaining and imaginative approach of intermixing practical theory with a variety of creative expressions has also led him to the creation of IMAGINATION GAMES which alchemizes laughter, creativity and improvisation games into playful and profound business applications and results. Working with creative professionals, artists and business people of all stripes, Earl captures why imagination, innovation and ingenuity are the keys to job/career satisfaction and success.