Ray Wells, based in the Philadelphia region, is the president of a consulting firm that uses a strengths-based approach in designing leadership, team and organization development programs for its clients. This approach, which focuses on accentuating and building on “who we are when we are at our best,” has helped the firm capture the energy and professional passion of the people it serves. Ray has been certified by Company of Experts.net as an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator and Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Trainer (AIFT ©). Since 1987, the firm has customized programs and projects for nearly 100 non-profit, business, and education clients in organizations ranging from just a dozen people to the Fortune 500, from the smallest private schools to the Ivy League, from single-office non-profit agencies to the largest corporate health systems. When necessary, the firm draws on the talent of a host of trainers, facilitators and consultants with whom it regularly partners. Ray’s own strengths and professional passion are focused on guiding higher education institutions and their leaders in transforming the post-secondary educational landscape. He has assisted with major change initiatives at Penn State University, Lehigh University, the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, the University of Connecticut, and in the growing Drexel University system. He has facilitated whole systems change workshops for the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education, the American Council on Education, and A Community of Agile Partners in Education (CAPE), a not-for-profit Pennsylvania-based consortium of higher education and K-12 members, where he has served as a consultant since January of 2001. In 2001 Ray joined the faculty of the Foundation for the Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) as a leadership scholar/instructor. The annual FAIMER Institute serves medical school faculty from developing countries in South America, Africa and Asia who have the potential to play a key role in improving medical education in their schools. Over a four-year span at Princeton University, Ray worked with an on-going culture change program targeted towards Princeton’s top 450 administrators and managers. Among many other projects, he assisted with the design of several management development conferences and post-conference training programs on the challenges of change, process improvement, the introduction of a performance enhancement initiative, and the impact of new technology on organizational processes. Ray earned his Master of Arts from Bowling Green State University (OH) in college student development and his Ph.D. in applied social-psychology from Temple University, where his research focused on how leadership creates and maintains a sense of community on a college campus. He has held professional student affairs positions at Arizona State University, Southeast Missouri State University, and Temple University. |
Specialties:
|
Tag Archives: appreciative inquiry facilitator training
Nancy Stetson
Nancy E. Stetson, Ed.D., was the founding president of Company of Experts.net (COE.net), a highly successful firm she founded in 1989 primarily to serve the professional and organizational needs of colleges, community colleges, schools and universities. She and her business partner, Charles R. Miller, sold the business to COE.net principals Jim Pulliam and Kathy Becker in 2005. While mostly retired, Nancy occasionally serves as an Expert on Call for COE.net. Since 1979, Nancy personally has provided hundreds of consulting, executive coaching, facilitating, keynoting, and training services to more than 125 organizations-corporations and businesses, educational organizations, governmental organizations, and non-profit organizations-and, within those organizations, to many groups and individuals. Nancy has made more than 100 presentations at international, national, and state conferences. She also has published dozens of professional articles and monographs. She is the co-author, with Miller, of Appreciative Inquiry in the Community College: Early Stories of Success, published in 2004 by the League for Innovation in the Community College; and author of Stories of Positive Change in the Community College: Appreciative Inquiry in Action, published in 2008 by Company of Experts.net. Her publications also include light verse, poetry and short stories, and she is currently seeking an agent for several “picture” books for preschoolers. While working as a part-time consultant, Nancy also worked full time from 1972-91 for several colleges, holding a variety of executive-level management positions including Vice President for Planning and Development and acting Vice President for Student Services. From 1991-97, she taught college courses full time. From 1997-2001, she taught many part-time undergraduate and doctoral-level courses in business, communications, education and leadership/management/supervision, face-to-face and online, at six different two and four-year public and private colleges and universities. She continues to be a Mentor/Assessor in Walden University’s Ph.D. in Education online program, specializing in Community College Leadership. Jane Magruder Watkins and Ralph Kelly of Appreciative Inquiry Unlimited trained Nancy as an Appreciative Inquiry practitioner. She holds a doctorate in higher education from Nova Southeastern University, and did post-doctoral work in higher education on classroom assessment at University of California at Berkeley with K. Patricia Cross and Thomas A. Angelo. Nancy earned a Master of Science degree in individualized studies/organizational behavior from Central Washington University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in writing and development from The Evergreen State College, and an Associate in Arts degree from Wenatchee Valley College. She also attended Swarthmore College for several years before taking a 13-year break in her education in order to be a full-time parent to her two daughters, Laurel and Nancy Lee. She is the proud grandmother of Laurel’s two sons, Connor and Brendan; and pays motherly and grandmotherly attention to some of her former husband’s children and grandchildren. Nancy’s honors and awards include:
|
Specialties:
|
Charles Miller
Charles R. Miller was a full-time member of the faculty at a northern California community college for 31 years, serving as an instructor, learning specialist and coordinator of faculty and staff development. He also served as adjunct faculty at the University of San Francisco and The Professional School of Psychology. Charles was the vice president of Company of Experts.net for ten years. He is now an Expert on Call with the same company, specializing in Appreciative Inquiry and the Enneagram. He has been certified by COE.net as an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator and as an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT©) Trainer. Charles works as a consultant, facilitator, and trainer throughout the world. He was the national director of the Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW), a training program for college and university faculty. Miller has an extensive background in conducting workshops for faculty, staff, and colleges, including Active Learning, Appreciative Inquiry, Classroom Assessment, Collaborative Learning, Enneagram, Great Teaching Seminars, Instructional Skills Workshops, Presentation Skills Workshops, Relationship Training, Right to Succeed/Helping Students Succeed, Strategic Planning, and Student-Centered Instructional Principles & Practices©. His clients have included dozens of schools, community colleges, and four-year colleges and universities, including Concordia University in Montreal, Golden Gate University, Sonoma State University, and Samuel Merritt College. In 1995, Miller received the John Fry Individual Leadership Award from the National Council for Staff, Program and Organization Development. In 1996, he received the Lorraine Barry Individual Leadership Award from the California Community Colleges Council for Staff Development (4C/SD). Charles has completed the coursework in a doctoral program in clinical and organizational psychology at The Professional School of Psychology in San Francisco. He holds a master of arts degree in psychology from Sonoma State University, a master of arts degree in English from San Francisco State University, and studied at Rikkyo University in Tokyo, and Mexico City College. He holds a bachelor of science degree in marine engineering from the California Maritime Academy. Charles was trained as an Appreciative Inquiry practitioner by Jane Magruder Watkins and Ralph Kelly; and as an Executive Coach with an Appreciative Approach by Bill Bergquist and Kathleen O’Donnell. He is an Expert on Call with Company of Experts.net, co-Owner of Appreciative Inquiry Consulting (AIC), LLC, and a member of the Positive Change Corps. |
Specialties:
|
Earl Bloor
Earl Bloor has a diverse background spanning higher education, government and industry, including twenty-five years as a chemistry instructor and administrator of a wide range of college-level programs, including arts, sciences, health occupations, technology, and trades programs. He has managed major instructional divisions in colleges in Canada, Massachusetts and California, and in Abu Dhabi (UAE). In government, he has worked with departments focusing on human resources development and apprenticeship training. For a two year period, he coordinated corporate development and training programs for a Middle Eastern oil operating company. With his wife, he publishes a regional magazine which focuses on sustainability issues. Earl has managed major curriculum development projects, such as the Competency Based Apprenticeship Training Program in Alberta (Canada) and the Adult Applied Academics Project in British Columbia (Canada). Earl was one of the first Facilitators/Trainers of the Instructional Skills Workshop Program, now a major element in instructional improvement programs in colleges and universities around the world, and one of its original Directors. Earl has been certified by Company of Experts.net as both an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator and an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT©) Trainer. He is also a certified Team Coach. Earl’s experience has led him to understand that empathy is at the root of every successful human relationship. “My approach to supervision is relationship-based. I believe that every employee seeks to do the best job s/he can do. If there are factors preventing peak performance, these need to be identified in a non-threatening manner and addressed. This belief is at the base of the work I do to help organizations plan to achieve the goals that are most important to them.” Earl earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Western Ontario (London, Canada) and conducted research at the University of Illinois and Simon Fraser University (Canada) before settling into a long and rewarding career based in community colleges around the world. |
Specialties:
|
Kay Weiss
Kay Weiss is a community college administrator and has extensive experience in professional and organizational development. In addition to teaching, Kay has served as a division dean, department chair, committee chair, and Standard Chair for Accreditation. She received the outstanding professor of the year award at her college in 1999 and, in 2000, the Golden Apple Award from the San Bernardino Education Roundtable. In 2006, was the recipient of the National Leadership Award presented by the National Council for Staff, Program and Organizational Development (NCSPOD.) Kay has been certified by Company of Experts.net as an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Trainer and an Instructional Skills Workshop Trainer. Kay has been an extremely active volunteer with NCSPOD, serving as Western Region Vice President, President Elect, President, and Past President. She currently serves as Certificate Program Liaison, working with newer practitioners and mentors on NCSPOD’s professional certificate process. She has served as facilitator for the New Practitioners Institute, the Summer Institute and the International Professional Developers Workshop for NCSPOD. She has also served as the lead facilitator for various Campus Great Teachers Format Seminars, including Great Staff Seminars, and the Great Online Teachers Seminar and has utilized both Appreciative Inquiry and the World Café Model to facilitate dialogue about topics “that matter most” in a variety of settings.. Kay is a long-time member of the California Community College Council for Staff and Organizational Development (4C/SD), the International Reading Association, and the California Reading Association. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Southern California, a master of arts in education degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and a bachelor of science degree in general studies/education from the University of Southern California. |
Specialties:
|
Experts on Call
Since 1989, Company of Experts, Inc., has sought out the most qualified Coaches, Consultants, Facilitators and Trainers within their specialized subject field. Each person has a strong commitment to the theory and practice of their subject area bringing a balance of education, consulting and on-the-job experience to bring unique real-world richness to our training.
With Experts on Call (EOC) located throughout the World, we can provide training and consulting on-site at a reasonable rate. Each Expert on Call strives to create a learning environment that is open, respectful and focused to ensure that you will have practical and relevant experience to immediately use when you return to work.
Ways to connect with clients
Connecting with new clients is complex. Experts on Call share branding and name recognition to build new and enhanced connections with clients and other consultants world-wide. This is an important social network that combines professional identities with enhanced brand capacity.
Leverage your membership as an Expert on Call by:
- Designing your Expert on Call profile to indicate you’re taking new clients and serious about your business.
- Your picture can create an instant connection with potential clients. Make sure your photo shows you in a professional, positive light. You will need a web ready picture to upload onto your webpage on the Company of Experts site.
- Create a 140-character resume, a concise summary describing your skills, what you’re interested in so that a client will want to find out more. Clients and others will be able to connect directly to your email address for more information or to click onto your Expert on Call webpage for more.
- Create a more detailed two paragraph summary. This will be next to your picture on your Expert on Call webpage. You will be able to post your full resume/vita onto your portfolio here
- Consider creating a short video highlighting your skills or showing you at your best to add to your portfolio
- Have your written books, articles, designed workshops that you would like to share? You will be able to post those on your portfolio or sell in the store
- Connect with other Experts on Call – those you share an interest with and those you’d like to work with.
- Help us by writing new material for the Company of Experts webpage. Follow us on social media, participate in twitter chats
- Participate in virtual meetings
- Attend the virtual Conference (fall of each year)
- Attend the live Conference (Spring of each year)
- Offer free and low cost workshops to other Experts on Call – build your expertise and enhance your relationships
- Volunteer to serve on working groups
Expert on Call Membership Requirements:
The requirements for Expert on Call Membership simple and straight-forward. Membership requirements if the Business or Professional Member:
- Support and continually work to embody the business values of the Company of Experts (refer to the values listed below).
- Conduct business in a fair, legal and ethical manner.
- Is current with its membership dues (refer to the information under the “Dues” tab above).
Membership Approval
All applications for Expert on Call Membership are subject to approval by the EOC Review Committee. If Membership is not accepted fees paid (minus the evaluation review fee will be refunded).
Programs
The Appreciative Inquiry is a collaborative, strength-based approach to both personal and organizational development that is proving to be highly effective in thousands of organizations and communities in hundreds of countries around the world. It is a way of bringing about change that shares leadership and learning – fully engaging everyone in the organization. Since March 2003, we’ve trained nearly 2000 participants in our Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT©) workshops. Join us at one of these workshops and learn how to change the way you think about change!
| Visit Website… | Downloadable Brochure |
————————————————————————————————————————————–
The Leadership Development Institute (LDI) includes programs and workshops designed for leaders at all levels. Customized programs designed for your organization can be delivered as well – tailored strategically to meet your leaders and your organization. What makes our programs unique and what distinguishes us from the others is our inquiry-based learning which emphasizes learning by doing.
————————————————————————————————————————————–
Today’s Department Chairs have one of the most conflicting roles on campus as they serve as liaison between faculty and administration. Department Chairs are responsible for curriculum, strategic planning, budget matters, personnel management, and program reviews – yet their position is not one of undisputed authority. Conflict can arise from many stakeholders – making it difficult for the chair to lead, plan, and unite their department.
| Visit Website… | Downloadable Brochure |
——————————————————————————————————————————–
Since 2005, the Creative Change Institute has designed and convened several Creative Change though Imagination™ dialogues for positive change. The Institute is committed to facilitating dialogue that will bring together businesses and corporations, educational institutions, community leaders, governmental agencies, unions, and nonprofit organizations to focus on leading positive change in America.
——————————————————————————————————————————–
The Instructional Skills Workshops (ISW) program is a comprehensive three-tiered program that serves as the foundation for several professional development activities.
Workshops
| Workshop FAQs | Event Calendar | Contact Us |
Company of Experts, Inc. is known for delivering exceptional training and consulting services to hundreds of organizations, groups, and individuals in corporate and academic sectors and has received 5-Star ratings for their on-site trainings and programs.
Company of Experts, Inc. provides its users with the flexibility to complete their training by offering their renowned workshops in a variety of ways: on-site, hybrid, or online; providing users with the option to decide which learning method would work best for their organization and/or individual.
Company of Experts now offers online registration. Don’t want to register online? Company of Experts has created flexible registrations for you…
Phone: We also process registrations taken over the phone. Just call our office (702) 228.4699 and we will be happy to process your order over the phone.
Missing something? Company of Experts can customize trainings – just for you!
Press Releases
Company of Experts, Inc. and Distance Edu Learning, Inc. Team Up to Launch an Innovative Online Solution to Training and Development
January 2, 2009
Company of Experts, Inc., an international network of people with outstanding expertise in consulting, development, facilitating and training, and Distance Edu Learning, Inc., developer of the ground breaking platform for online learning and development, Fintelo, announced today that they have teamed up to create a new system for organizations and individuals to, within their budget and time, continue in further growth and advancement with online programs.
“We saw the need for organizations to have access to high quality training while keeping their budget low and keeping productivity high, and knew that we could work together to make this possibility a reality.”
Company of Experts Online Programs provides individuals and organizations with an easy to use online solution for change and growth. Company of Experts has received 5 Star ratings for their on-site trainings and programs, and with the introduction of their high quality programs available online, without the cost or time of travel, more individuals will have the opportunity to engage in positive change. Many companies are also trying to go green, using fewer resources for employees to drive to locations for training. By using Fintelo, a Learning Centered Framework developed by Distance Edu Learning, users will experience the ease of not having to focus on how to work the technology but rather how the technology works for them. Users will feel at home with state of the art graphics depicting their own virtual office that manages their announcements, tasks, calendar, assessments and more. Fintelo’s collaborative learning allows learners and trainers to communicate like never before, utilizing interactive real-time chat, discussion boards, forums and private email. Using assessments, organizations can track the use and progress of their associates.
Company of Experts Online will begin to offer their programs for organizations and individuals in with the inauguration of their trainings in January 2009.
About Company of Experts: Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, Company of Experts has experience in consulting, organization development, facilitating, keynoting and training and development in colleges, schools, universities, corporations, governmental and nonprofit organizations. They have a variety of service offerings that help move from conflict to opportunity including the Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training, the Department Chair Institute, the Leadership Development Institute, Instructional Skills Workshops and the Creative Change Institute. www.CompanyofExperts.net
About Distance Edu Learning: Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, Distance Edu Learning is an innovative software company that just released the Fintelo online learning platform in 2008. They have already seen the positive results Fintelo lends to online learning with their clients in the education and corporate markets. www.Fintelo.com
Careers
Become an ‘Expert On Call‘
Company of Experts.net is looking for Consultants, Facilitators, Keynoters, and Trainers who are an EXPERT.
Since 1989, Company of Experts.net has been serving clients in corporations and businesses, education, government and non-profits including individuals seeking training, coaching, skill development, assessment and planning expertise, as well as keynote speakers.
We encourage individuals and organizations to become the leaders of their dream – their vision. Viewing the individual and organization as a living treasure to be nourished by providing tools, skills and expertise for learning, growth and change. Our role is to provide the support, expertise and guidance to each client to achieve their goals while maximizing their ROI.
To support our diverse client base, we actively seek out Experts on Call that are adventurous, results oriented and learning centered. We are looking for trainers, coaches, facilitators and organizational development professionals with experience serving a wide range of clients and organizations. Providing innovative quality programs and exceptional service to our clients is the foundation of our company.
We are looking for Experts on Call who share our vision of creating a legacy for the future that we can be proud of today. Our Experts on Call are Independent Consultants that are genuinely interested in people and organizations, who strive to improve themselves and value learning and sharing.
If you have proven expertise in your field and outstanding references, with a depth of knowledge, skills and education to meet our client needs, You might be the Expert we are looking for!
If you are an Expert looking to join an organization that values people – Please submit an online application; your detailed resúme detailing your work experience, education, consulting, keynoting and training experience; and three current professional recommendations (include phone number and email contact information).
We look forward to meeting you!
