ALIA Institute

Summer Institute 2011: Who is Coming

  • Benefactor Group
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Lenneke Aalbers

  • Nijmegen, Netherlands

Lenneke, a partner in the Reos Partners, is involved in developing a platform for social and business innovation around sustainability in the Netherlands and Belgium. She co-designs and co-facilitates change labs and is involved in many international programs and networks supporting the development of leadership and innovation. With post-graduate programs and courses at Haagse Hogeschool, Radboud University Nijmegen, and MIT Boston, Lenneke is based in Nijmegen, Holland and Greenwich, London.

AnaMaria Accove

  • Illinois Department of Human Services
  • Program Administrator
  • Chicago, IL, United States

Work for the Illinois Department of Human Services. I am working on developing a learning team with local network coordinators from communities across the State that are forming communities of practice either on early childhood or teen pregnancy issues. My goal is to create an understanding of emergence as the way change occurs. The ALIA program is an opportunity to develop my leadership skills and join with my Illinois Art of Hosting mates in deeper learning.

Paul Adams

  • PCF
  • VP Information Services
  • Wayland, MA, United States

An executive at Publishers Ciruclation Fulfillment. Paul's focus is information technology. He enables connection, collaboration and communication via technology tools and enlightened leadership.

Lori Adams

  • CHURCH EXTENSION
  • INDIANPOLIS, IN, United States

Charlotte Agnone

  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

Chie Aikawa

  • Interpreter
  • Tokyo, Japan

I happen to be Japanese who speaks English, so I've been interpreting series of dialog events in Japan since last year. It's been a great learning experience both professionally and personally, and I'd like to learn more! At the same time, I'd also like to dwell upon my ultimate question of how to connect people from different backgrounds.

Jan Allen

  • Women on Fire
  • National Chair, Each One Reach One, Women on Fire
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Donna Alvarado

  • Aguila International
  • President
  • Granville, OH, United States

I am interested in sharing and learning how the practice of authentic leadership can serve as a catalyst for inspiring positive change.

David Anderson

  • Huntington Bank
  • Corporate Controller
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I currently lead the accounting team at Huntington Bank. I am excited about learning some new leadership skills at the ALIA program.

Kim Anderson

  • Consultant
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Thomas Arthur

  • The Earthanima Project
  • Director of Attention
  • Seattle, Washington, United States

Thomas Arthur is a poet of fluid motion: a visual artist, contemplative juggler, filmmaker and teacher of embodied presence. Through his art and his teaching he seeks to deepen and nourish heartfelt relationships with Earth and Other. Currently Thomas is touring Earthanima, a media/performance event throughout the US.

Mary Alice Arthur

  • Wellington, New Zealand

Mary-Alice, an intentional nomad gathering wit and wisdom from the world in stories, mythologies, teachings and learnings, has been a facilitator for inspired change for over 15 years. With the intention of witnessing and supporting authentic mastery, she considers herself to be both an apprentice to and in service of life. Through the Art of Hosting network she carries inquiries on leadership, stewardship, eldership and conversations that may profoundly influence interdependence and oneness.

Linda Artis

  • Senior Independence
  • Executive Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Marcela Azevedo

  • Physicians Free Clinic
  • Student Coordinator
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Brian Bacon

  • Oxford, United Kingdom

Brian serves as a consultant, mentor and strategic advisor to numerous multinational corporations around the world, including Ford, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, GE, Goodyear and Volvo. He is the founder of the Oxford Leadership Academy, former President of the World Business Academy, and visiting scholar at the International Institute of Labour Studies in Geneva. Brian is an engaging facilitator, known for his skill in helping leaders link their personal vision with their organizational mission.

Claire Badger

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • Director of Annual Giving
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

Ann Badillo

  • Ann Badillo Leadership
  • Principal
  • Palo Alto, CA, United States

I am the Principal of Ann Badillo Leadership and have been a leading business strategist and acceleration coach to Silicon Valley executives and entrepreneurs for more than 20 years. Returning to ALIA this year is like returning to the well for a long drink of water. I am drawn to the community, the work, and the energy.

Ria Baeck

  • Vitis
  • Founder
  • Ransberg, Belgium

My work is always centered on finding the highest potential, be it individuals, teams or large-scale systems. I'm an Art of Hosting practitioner and Steward; and co-initiator of Women Moving the Edge. My current question is around the inner and subtle dimensions of our work and the paradigm shift that is going on.

Cheryl Barbour

  • Naropa University
  • Vice President Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
  • Boulder, CO, United States

Lianna Barbu

  • Community Shelter Board
  • Operations Director
  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

Brenda Barnett

  • Columbus Medical Association Foundation
  • IT Manager
  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

Virginia Barney

  • City of Upper Arlington
  • city manager
  • Upper Arlington, OH, United States

The necessity of having meaningful conversations in our communities cannot be over emphasized as we struggle through unchartered waters toward the future. The practices and techniques I have learned at ALIA and implemented in my work are invaluable. I look forward to learning more!

Charles Baron

  • Laval University
  • Professor
  • Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

My experience and research interests revolve around the consciousness development of leaders and the practices that foster it. What draws me to ALIA is the insight that the world will soon change dramatically - if only in ecological and economical terms. To navigate through this period, we will need more than just wise and creative leaders: we will need ways to tap into the collective intelligence of organization members and the community.

Dorian Baroni

  • Sierra Madre, CA, United States

Dorian is an executive coach and organizational consultant who works with people and organizations to create a higher quality of transformational self-awareness, so as to enable conversations in which the truth can be told. She believes that a journey towards wholeness is critical in today's world, and she is especially passionate about the power of women to leverage their individual journeys of growth to support the evolution of global systems and models of economic impact.

Cathy Barr

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

Lydia Barron

  • Huntington Bank
  • Chief Information Officer
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Seasoned senior executive with over 20 years experience leading, driving and managing technology for several Wall Street financial services firms. Experienced mentor and coach.

Karen Barrow

  • Baybridge Consulting, Inc.
  • President
  • Rochester, NY, United States

As an organization development practitioner, I am involved in helping my clients make change in their environment. Watching my clients move through change is always enlightening and amazing. I look forward to learning more about the process of change in this conference.

Barbara Bash

  • Accord, NY, United States

Barbara is an artist involved in communication. She is a calligrapher, illustrator and teacher who leads classes in field sketching, communication practices, and Big Brush workshops. She has collaborated with musicians, storytellers and dancers exploring calligraphic performance art and written and illustrated a number of books about the natural world, most recently True Nature : An Illustrated Journal of Four Seasons in Solitude. Her visual blog explores the joining of word and image, inner and outer perception. Barbara’s involvement with ALIA began in 2002 as a member of the creative process team and continues to expand through her collaboration with Bob Wing and Toke Moeller.

Andrew Bateman

  • Social Entrepreneur
  • Halifax, NS, Canada

Specializing in multimedia communications and community development projects, I have worked with grass-roots groups, universities, public schools, and the Halifax Regional Municipality on a range of projects ranging from urban farming to creative, alternative educational workshops for university and public school students. I'm excited to extend my knowledge of participatory processes and can't wait to meet people who know more about this than I do.

Mary Anne Baum

  • Columbus City Schools
  • Manager, HR Administration
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Education and educators are being challenged to change to ensure that each student is successful in the new global classroom. We will need to support staff in this process that will revolutionize teaching and learning as we know it.

Colin Baumgartner

  • Mid-Ohio Food Bank
  • Communication & Marketing Director
  • Grove City, OH, United States

My role with the Foodbank involves educating and bringing the community together for such a vital cause (& finding creative and innovative ways to make this happen). I'm excited to learn some of the new strategies that can help accelerate this process.

Jessica Baxter

  • Young Women's Leadership Network
  • Development Officer
  • Brooklyn, NY, United States

As I work at a non-profit that supports women and with primarily women co-workers, a constant question in my mind is "how can we harness the unique energy and power amongst us, rather than allowing it to scare us, to hinder us?" I am drawn to this ALIA program because I want to lead by embracing my full, powerful self, and by doing so I want to create a space around me in which my friends, family, co-workers, and the young women I support are not only able but also comfortable doing the same.

Jennifer Beard

  • The Women's Place
  • Assistant Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Nancie Bechtel

  • Central Ohio Trauma System
  • Executive Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Matt Bennett

  • Third Way
  • Senior Vice President for Public Affairs
  • Washington, DC, United States

I help run our work on clean energy policy. While I am hopeful about my role in moving America toward clean energy, I believe that the debate has become stuck and we need new paths forward. I am eager to learn new methods and approaches to solving tough, complex problems.

Diane Bennett

  • Action for Children
  • CEO
  • Columbus, OH, United States

The exploration of all ways of being present is what draws me to ALIA program. How can I participate with others more fully to call forth a new paradigm for "raising our children"?

John Bennett

  • Huntington Bank
  • Government Banking Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Personal journey is to strive to get better every day and learn as much as I can to be the best for our Team. Draw is for the learning experience and to hear best practices from others. How to work with our clients that are facing continued budgetary pressures.

Anita Bhasin

  • SageWays
  • Bend, OR, United States

I am a practising consultant looking to help clients forge new ground through collaboration. Driving change by bringing together multiple stakeholders facing complex challenges is what gets me excited in terms of making a difference for the future. I am attracted to the program by the prospect of spending some time with Adam Kahane at The Change Lab.

Jeff Biehl

  • Access HealthColumbus
  • President
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Peter Block

  • West Mystic, CT, United States

Peter is an author, consultant and citizen of Cincinnati, Ohio. His work is about chosen accountability, and the reconciliation of community. Peter is the author of several best selling books. The books are about ways to create workplaces and communities that work for all. They offer an alternative to the patriarchal beliefs that dominate our culture. His work is to bring change into the world through consent and connectedness rather than through mandate and force.

Joan Blough

  • Kalamazoo, MI, United States

I am attending ALIA for the second time. I am returning because of the community of learners and the opportunity to explore, through so many avenues, ideas that matter to our collective future. My work focuses on public policy and social innovations that will improve the lives of vulnerable children and families. I'm musing a lot about - design thinking, collective impact and authentic community.

D. Blythe Boger

  • The Ohio State University
  • Director, OSU's Delaware Center
  • Delaware, OH, United States

I am the Director of a satellite campus with The Ohio State University, and will be going through an organizational change in the near future. When I received an email about ALIA's Summer Institute, it had my name written all over it. I was excited to see a track that concentrates on developing confidence, compassion, handling conflict, dignity, and sense of humor. (I already have a sense of humor, but I need a refresher on the others!)

Priscilla Boucher

  • Assiniboine Credit Union
  • VP Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

I lead my organization's efforts to be positive agents of change and to integrate social and environmental responsibility into all areas of the business. With over 20 years of experience, I know this work is hard, takes time, and requires a holistic approach and authentic leadership. Need I say more? Having experienced the 2010 ALIA Summer Institute it seems like the perfect place for deepening my leadership skills while connecting to amazing people doing wonderful work around the planet.

Jen Bowden

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • Director, Corporate & Government Relations
  • Grove City,, Ohio, United States

David Bower

  • UNM College of Education
  • Lecturer III
  • Albuquerque, NM, United States

Dr. David F. Bower supervises field-based administrative internships in the Educational Leadership program in the College of Education at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM. His 2003 dissertation explored complexity theory and sustained school improvement.

Anna Bowers

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • Inventory Manager
  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

Chester Bowling

  • The Ohio State University
  • Associate Professor
  • Wellington, OH, United States

I do exclusively appreciative/strengths based organizational development work with businesses, elected officials and non-profit organizations. I continue to be curious about being completely authentic and unconditionally appreciative.

Alvin Brea

  • Columbus Medical Association
  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

Steve Brigham

  • AmericaSpeaks
  • COO
  • Bowie, MD, United States

To ensure I continue to impact critical issues facing our society, I want to develop a deeper understanding of what I am capable of & what it means to be an effective, authentic leader in my work. How do I become bolder in my work and find time as a leader to become more reflective & more strategic? How do organizations become better at having an impact collectively? How do we create better spaces to conduct deeper, more meaningful dialogue about what matters and what needs to be done about it?

Cheryl Brilmyer

  • The Ohio State University
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Marilyn Brown

  • Franklin County
  • County Commissioner
  • Columbus, OH, United States

As a public official, I am happy to learn and engage in leadership activities that enhance my skills and abilities.

Juanita Brown

  • The World Cafe
  • Co-Founder
  • Tomales, CA, United States

I continue to serve as global ambassador of the World Café while also in a life transition to our 90 acre "family farm" in a local community in North Carolina, near Asheville, where we are engaged in an intergenerational collaboration for the future with my 90 year old mom and a group of younger leaders. One question at the leading edge of our work is: How can we use the unique contributions and wisdom of all generations alive and awake today to meet the common challenges we face.

Heather Buchmann

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • Special Projects Associate
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

I attended the Summer Institute last year in Halifax as an AmeriCorps member working with Mid-Ohio Foodbank. This year, I'll be attending as an MOF employee. The Institute was an incredible experience last year, and I'm looking forward to continuing my learning this year.

Kelly Budros

  • The Women's Fund of Central Ohio
  • Director of Programs
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I believe in potential. The potential to change, adapt, create, discover, uncover and grow. The big question is how to bring individuals, organizations and systems into their potential.

Caecilie Buhmann

  • Doctor
  • Copenhagen N, Denmark

I am a medical doctor working with traumatised refugees and global health. I am currently enrolled in a deep democracy training programme and participated in the last European ALIA metting.

Nadine Burton

  • CHURCH EXTENSION
  • INDIANPOLIS, IN, United States

Meg Buzzi

  • The Ohio State University
  • Director, Academic Information Technologies
  • Columbus, OH, United States

After ALIA 2010, I felt a mounting gratitude that has kept me company throughout the past year. What draws me to the program this year is the luxury of time to think, the generosity of the faculty and fellow participants, and the opportunity to reconnect with my work on a much deeper level.

Matthew Calton

  • Mid-Ohio Food Bank
  • Director; Food Resource Development
  • Grove City, OH, United States

Marjorie Campbell

  • Columbus Chamber of Commerce
  • Member Services Representative
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I'm eager to connect with others seeking innovative ways to bring mindful awareness into our community and give people the tools to live intentionally, with clarity, compassion, and purpose.

Sherri Cannon

  • The Cannon Group
  • Founder
  • San Pedro, CA, United States

Victoria Cannon

  • The Ohio State University
  • Program Manager
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I work at Ohio State managing the student information system for the College of Medicine. In this role, I lead a team of nine and interact with staff, faculty and administration in the college which requires a delicate balance of intelligence, humility strength and deference. I think I can hone these skills at ALIA and learn a great deal!

Tania Carriere

  • Advivum - Learn, Live, Lead
  • Leadership Consultant and Coach
  • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

My passion is designing meaningful experiences that suddenly illuminate the inner way of knowing and new perspectives that leave each person more aware, present and engaged. I am innovator in experiential leadership workshops, and combine a gift for self discovery with a passion for renewal. I am a collector of experiences and perspectives; I gather these on my frequent international travels, my time on stage and my insatiable desire to learn in fields that have nothing to do with what I already know. What might you teach me? Where should I explore next?

Nancy Case

  • Columbus State Community College
  • Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Robert Cass

  • Platinum Group
  • Partner
  • Eden Prairie, MN, United States

A leader and visionary more than a manager. Need great execution people surronding me. Ideation is my top talent. Percieve issues and opportunities very quickly. Must balance vision with ability of others to join the vision. Turnaround troubled organizations. Usually perform CEO role. Not good at being number two in an organization. Help companies to narrow their focus to broaden their appeal.

Philip Cass

  • Columbus Medical Association
  • CEO
  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

Phil is CEO of the Columbus Medical. Phil provides leadership in the areas of strategic direction, operations management, human resources management, policy development, government relations, and community relations. Phil also serves on the Board of the ALIA Institute. Meditation, the use of intentional dialogue, and leading strategic change initiatives are all areas of intense interest and focus for Phil.

Barbara Cecil

  • Ashland, OR, United States

Barbara consults with a council of health care CEOs on radical change, has spearheaded movement into uncensored media in the Soviet Union and South Africa, was Associate Dean of the School of Humanities at California State University, and taught for The American Leadership Forum. She developed a dynamic coaching program for people in transition and pioneered the Coming Into Your Own leadership program for women. She is a Founding Director of the Ashland Institute.

Kyrsten Chambers

  • Access HealthColumbus
  • Project Coordinator
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Mary Chatigny

  • Northern Essex Community College
  • Director of Human Resources
  • Haverhill, MA, United States

Lauren Chender

  • Youth Challenge International
  • Program Manager
  • Toronto, ON, Canada

Michael Chender

  • ALIA Institute
  • Founding Chair
  • Halifax, NS, Canada

Michael Chender is the founding chair of the ALIA Institute, and the founder and chair of Metals Economics Group, a leading strategic consultancy in the worldwide mining business since 1980. He has managed to maintain his sense of humor (he thinks) by also studying and teaching meditation in the Buddhist and Shambhala traditions since 1970. His animating passion is exploring how the wisdom and compassion pointed to in these traditions can be developed in the life of the larger society.

Kathryn Clark

  • CMA Physicians Free Clinic and Voluntary Care Network
  • RN
  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

I have been a nurse for over thirty years, 11 of which I have worked in a self-organizing free clinic for the uninsured in our community. My work place uses circle practice and I am drawn to authentic leadership centers of training

Mark Coffin

  • Alliance of Nova Scotia Students Associations (ANSSA)
  • Executive Director
  • Halifax, NS, Canada

I work on issues in Higher Education. I get to work with student leaders from across Nova Scotia taking on large leadership roles in their universities and communities, many of them for the first time. Each year the team of young people I work with refreshes itself and I get the chance (and the challenge) to work with a whole new crew. Last year I left ALIA's Action Inquiry module with plenty of questions. This year I'm coming back with one big question: How does effective collaboration work?

Gilbert Collazo

  • CHURCH EXTENSION
  • INDIANPOLIS, IN, United States

PC Consul

  • Shared Strategies Inc.
  • Managing Director
  • Calgary, AB, Canada

Lynn Cook

  • Delaware Area Career Center ABLE
  • counselor
  • Delaware, OH, United States

Bringing a counseling and design background to the circle, I look forward to participating in these emerging practices for transformation at the individual and universal level. After all we know it really is our quarks that connect us!

Ashley Cooper

  • Easily Amazed
  • Consultant
  • Asheville, NC, United States

I support individuals and groups in their efforts to live more vibrantly, bring visions into action and collaborate across generations, cultures, and disciplines. I have a strong passion for supporting intergenerational partnerships and creating opportunities for the voices and ideas of young children to be heard. How can community members be more integrated into young people's lives and how can young people play a more active role in addressing the challenges and opportunities of our time?

Jane Corbett

  • Own consultancy, plus Oxford University
  • Consultant, Tutor
  • Oxford, United Kingdom

I’m a facilitator, tutor, consultant and coach on generative leadership for a sustainable future. I work as a tutor on leadership for climate change and sustainability in the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. With half my time I run a consultancy practice working with people and organisations to achieve their full potential to lead and learn at times of change and transition, including working collectively on global sustainability challenges. My training workshops develop transformational self awareness and generative leadership through reflection on the connection with self, others and nature. I’m involved in international programmes and networks supporting leadership development and innovation at an organisational and systemic level in the move towards a more sustainable future. I teach authentic, resonant and generative leadership practices, systems thinking, future mindedness techniques, creativity and making sense of the science of climate change and ecosystem change. I’ve designed learning and leadership programmes on climate change at the Open University UK and Earthwatch Institute Europe and have worked on food security, environmental management, poverty alleviation and climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this programme I hope to share experiences, become part of an exciting community and develop alliances with people and international networks. I have an MPhil in Economics: Oxford University and a MA Contemporary Arts: Oxford Brookes University.

Chris Corrigan

  • Bowen Island, BC, Canada

Chris has worked over 20 years with indigenous and non-indigenous systems, community organizations and ways of thinking in North America, Africa, Hawai’i and New Zealand. A long time practitioner of Open Space Technology, World Cafe and other participatory methodologies, he has taught the Art of Hosting at three previous ALIA institutes and around the world. Chris is a member of the Berkana Collaborative, a group of practitioners working to support leaders in organizations and communities.

Mary Courtney

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • Coordinator, SNAP
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

Jennifer Cowley

  • The Ohio State University, City and Regional Planning
  • Associate Professor
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Mary Cozza

  • RTM Institute
  • Encinitas, CA, United States

After 20 years in executive leadership roles in General Management, Sales, Business Development, Operations and Engineering with start ups and Fortune 500 companies, I am keen to learn ways to bring simplicity and honesty to all levels of an organization. To spread the word that profits can be made using the golden rule as a leadership mantra.

John Crace

  • WHW Architects
  • Chairman/Director of Sustainability
  • Halifax, NS, Canada

Over the past 10-15 years I have been helping to lead my company towards practicing a more sustainable form of architecture/design. Several years ago I attended a workshop in Halifax lead by Brian Bacon, Oxford Leadership Academy, and found it very helpful in focusing my efforts and aligning my personal and professional aspirations. I'm hoping Columbus will help build on that experience as our company and profession go through significant changes now and in the uncertain future ahead.

Lina Cramer

  • Wisdom Exchange
  • Principal
  • Evanston, IL, United States

Deborah Crawford

  • Deborah A. Crawford Consulting LLC
  • Consultant
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Daniel J. Cushing

  • Executive Core
  • Toronto, ON, Canada

I have had a daily meditation practice for about 20 years. I have been teaching leadership courses for about nine years in various professional faculties at the University of Toronto. My leadership development practice of teaching and coaching has focused on helping managers to be more effective and more fulfilled in the work they do by becoming more self aware. I am now very interested in merging my meditation practice with my leadership development work.

Judy D'Andrea

  • Columbus Medical Association & Affiliates
  • COO
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Tom D'Aquanni

  • D'Aquanni and Associates
  • Management Consultant
  • Morristown, NJ, USA

I work with CEOs and Senior Executives of Fortune 500 companies in the arena of corporate culture. For the last 18 years my work has been about supporting leaders in creating work environments that unleash the full human spirit of the people within those organizations and, in the process, lead naturally to superior business performance. I am always asking how to go "deeper", I am intrigued by the prospect of bridging corporate and global concerns.

Roy D'sa

  • Huntington Bank
  • SVP, Enterprise Integration Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I've been in Banking for over 25 years in various functional and leadership roles. Currently focused on M&A Integration and Strategic Enterprise Wide Initiatives. My passion is driving transformational change focused on creating long term value. My personal journey is about building lasting relationships, self awareness, understanding others, continuously learning and getting better.

Chris Davis

  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Director, Conservation
  • Seattle, WA, United States

I oversee all field conservation work for the Conservancy in Washington's Puget Sound. Ours is a very complex effort to find conservation solutions that will sustain the ecological health as well as the economic and cultural values of one of the most productive systems in North America. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to more deeply develop an emerging collaborative approach to resolving persistent conflicts among resource users in some of the region's most contested landscapes.

Barbara Davis

  • Spiritual Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

As a spiritual searcher and spiritual companion, I am aware that there is a great yearning to 'right the wrongs" that we as a species have done to our earth home and one another. This institute addresses this yearning from both micro and macro levels. ALIA offers the best of academic, cultural/social and spiritual explorations. Last year was transformative for me in many ways and I look forward to further explorations.

Terry Davis

  • Nationwide Children's Hospital
  • Assoc. Med. Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Elaine DeCanio

  • Houston, Texas, United States

To be able to tackle the tough business challenges while remaining authentic and in balanced relationships with myself, my community and the environment

Bridget DeCrane

  • Mid-Ohio Food Bank
  • VP Agency and Program Services
  • Grove City, OH, United States

Lynda DeGuire

  • CARE Canada
  • Program Manager - International Programs
  • Ottawa, ON, Canada

Diana Degen

  • The Cadmus Group, Inc., Environmental Health Solutions
  • Associate
  • Washington, DC, United States

My passion is inspiring informed action to protect people's health and the environment. To that end, I have been working as an outreach specialist and currently design, implement and evaluate national environmental health communication and outreach projects. Part of this work includes capacity building and creating community among a variety of sectors (i.e. general public, schools, non-profit organizations, healthcare, science, and state and federal government) to accelerate system change.

Colleen Dempsey

  • OSU College of Social Work
  • Columbus, OH, United States

This year I was able to help organize a political roundtable with students and state legislators. After the event, our planning group was invited to a meeting at the White House to present the information derived from our roundtable. The past four months have launched me into advocacy and leadership roles, and I am very excited to learn more about leadership from this conference!

Karen Densmore

  • ALIA Institute
  • Program Coordinator
  • Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Rachel Derrah

  • Serial Collaborator
  • Halifax, NS, Canada

Matt Di Iorio

  • Dublin, OH, United States

I studied under Kettner Polley of Harvard and Hanson of Case Western at CTU. After getting my doctorate, I left non-profit work and signed a buy/sell on yet another company. The market shrunk by 2/3 but we took a company that lost money in good times and made it profitable in bad. However, I long for the day I felt I could align individual and corporate goals and values. I lived for Senge when I was younger... I want that back... I need that back.

Kelly Dillon

  • The Ohio State University - Discovery Prep
  • Program Coordinator
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Pam Dillon

  • Community Activist / Community Volunteer
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Sharon Dittmar

  • First Unitarian Church
  • Reverend
  • Cincinnati, OH, USA

This is my 13th year as the Senior Minister at First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati, Ohio. As our congregation grows and our staff expands, I have become intersted in leadership development as a way to expand our mission and engage in best practices. As a congregation we are deeply engaged in urban social justice work.

Kevin Dixon

  • Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Board of Franklin Co.
  • Vice President, Cultural Competency
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Exploring the issues associated with serving diverse populations in behavioral healthcare (i.e,.addressing disparities in health systems). Passionate about organizational behavior and how worldview influences that process through axiology, epistemology, logic, and process.

Patricia Donahoo

  • Disciples Women
  • Executive Director
  • Indianapolis, IN, United States

A partnership has been built across general ministries of the Disciples church. This partnership utilizes Theory U and Appreciative Inquiry that is part of my doctoral program and I am interested in using it as we move forward on our journey. Some of the early lessons of my project has been the realization that leadership was being taught through orchestration and mobilization. As part of this program I am looking forward to learning more about leadership in action.

Gabrielle Donnelly

  • Sage Social Design
  • Halifax, NS, Canada

Kim Dorniden

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • Human Resource Director
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

Marguerite Drescher

  • Windhorse Farm
  • Halifax, NS, Canada

Margeurite is a visual artist and graphic recorder/facilitator, trained in cultivating vivid expressions for learning. As a second-generation Shambhala Buddhist, she is dedicated to fostering community and culture, and to bringing mindfulness and compassion into everyday activities. Marguerite works with women groups, The Shambhala School, Windhorse Farm and The Hub. Marguerite is an unwavering Nova Scotian, with deep roots in this raw and magical place, and currently lives in Halifax.

Jim Drescher

  • Windhorse Farm
  • Co-Director, Windhorse Farm
  • New Germany, NS, Canada

Windhorse Farm, an earth stewardship training centre in Nova Scotia, is where I live with Margaret and some other remarkable beings. My questions are around the relationships among protecting/enriching the natural environment, building sustainable communities and enabling societal transformation altogether. I'm particularly interested in how deep spiritual practice enhances our naturally compassionate inclinations as human beings.

Margaret Drescher

  • Windhorse Farm
  • Co Director
  • New Germany, Nova Scotia, Canada

Windhorse Farm is a land stewardship centre which hosts a community of residents, small business entrepreneurs, and guests who come to learn and teach. In my role as host, teacher, student, and holder of the institutional memory I come to ALIA. There I refresh, rediscover and remember the power of our sweet humanness. Through the process of total immersion questions cease to have answers and relinquish themselves to curiosity and openness. This process brings freshness & genuiness.

Jendy Dunlop

  • Central Ohio Trauma System
  • Critical Incident Response Planner
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Nichole Dunn

  • The Women's Fund of Central Ohio
  • President and CEO
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Paula Dunn

  • Physicians Free Clinic/Voluntary Care Network
  • Administrative Coordinator
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Christian Durant

  • Action for Children
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Lisa Durham

  • The Ohio State University
  • Assistant Dean
  • Columbus, OH, United States

James Dye

  • Senior Independence
  • Director of Business Development
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Nancy Eagan

  • People Potential/All My Sisters
  • New York City &
  • Jersey City, NJ, United States

Nancy is a practitioner and steward of the Art of Hosting Meaningful Conversations and facilitates organizational and community development through the use of appreciative inquiry, open space, world café, future search, presencing and other participatory and engagement tools. She is on the Board of The Berkana Institute and is a founding member of the NYC Art of Participatory Leadership Community of Practitioners. Looking forward to another ALIA experience of . . . . . . . . collaboration, illumination, meditation, fascination, cultivation, agitation, celebration, calibration, creation, cooperation, activation, civilization, oration, quotation, communication, nation, vacation . . . . . . . .

Tracy Enger

  • Alexandria, VA, United States

Glenda Eoyang

  • Circle Pines, MN, United States

Glenda is a pioneer in the field of complexity and human systems dynamics (HSD). Glenda is a gifted teacher and practitioner who blends remarkable theoretical insights with extraordinary practical experience to help others observe, decide, and act in the most complex and challenging situations. She leads a network of 190 certified Human Systems Dynamics Professionals who use HSD theory, models, methods, and tools to engage creatively with individuals, groups, and institutions.

Lanae Erickson

  • Third Way
  • Deputy Director, Domestic Policy Program
  • Washington, DC, United States

I'll be attending the conference as part of a team from Third Way, a moderate think tank in Washington, DC. We're hoping to gain insights about how to advance lasting social change, particularly on two issues on which we are attempting to lead: clean energy/the environment and gay equality. I am looking forward to expanding my thinking and the tools at my disposal to make progress on those issues, as well as enhancing all of our work and achieving greater impact.

Reed Evans

  • TerraLocke Sustainability Consultants
  • Consultant
  • Chicago, IL, United States

Marie-Noel Faber

  • Montreal, QC, Canada

Jenny Farber

  • Action for Children
  • Worthington, OH, United States

Mark Feinknopf

  • Sacred Space Inc.
  • Co-President
  • Tucker, GA, United States

My history is architecture and urban planing. My focus has been creating spaces for collaborative community building. My long term pallet has been Columbus, Ohio. Now Atlanta, Ga. My present involvement is to help build individual capacity and community through the understanding and use of Nonviolent Communication, Restorative Circles and Apreciative Inquiry.

Barbara Fergus

  • Community Activist / Business Owner
  • Dublin, OH, United States

Randi Fiat

  • Glencoe, IL, United States

Patrick Flint

  • Mid-Ohio Food Bank
  • AmeriCorps Member
  • Grove City, OH, United States

Diane Florian

  • The Women's Place
  • Communications Coordinator
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Terri Forgy

  • Nationwide Insurance
  • VP, Human Resources
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Christina Foster

  • Sugar Grove, IL, United States

My dream is to transform education.

Kathleen Fox

  • Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission
  • Executive Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I am an Art of Hosting training alum, seeking renewed insights into authenticity and leadership.

Joshua Freed

  • Third Way
  • Vice President, Clean Energy
  • Washington, DC, United States

Deborah Frieze

  • Boston, MA, United States

Deborah, an author, entrepreneur and social activist, joined Berkana to help bring their vision into the world and grow the Institute. She serves as a board member and leads several initiatives, including Feeding Ourselves Sustainably, Swaraj University in India, and multiple Illumination and Thought Leadership projects. With Margaret Wheatley she co-authored the forthcoming book, Walk Out Walk On: A Learning Journey Through Communities Daring to Live the Future Now (April 2011).

Denise Frizzell

  • Hudson, MA, United States

I am a student of Shambhala Buddhism and I am deeply committed to awakening bodhichitta so as to be of greater benefit to others and society. I work in the nonprofit sector as a manager-leader. I am also currently in a PhD program and am interested in investigating the impact of a daily mindfulness meditation practice on leadership development and organizational effectiveness.

Caitlin Frost

  • Harvest Moon Consultants
  • Facilitator and Coach
  • Bowen Island, BC, Canada

Caitlin Frost is a facilitator and coach, and partner in Harvest Moon Consultants. She works with individuals, leaders and groups to open space for more possibility through participatory process and engaging with powerful questions. Caitlin is deeply interested in working with the limiting beliefs and thinking patterns that keep us from connecting to our full capacity as intelligent, compassionate human beings. Caitlin is a Certified Facilitator, and deep practitioner in The Work of Byron Katie.

Jack Frost

  • OSU Medical Center
  • IT Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Andy Furnas

  • Diamond Innovations, Inc.
  • Commercial Finance Manager
  • Powell, OH, United States

A recent system implementation has created numerous challenges for me and others in our company. I am looking for better strategies or techniques to control of these challenges, so that they don't control me!

Kelli Gargasz

  • Fifth Third Bank
  • Senior Vice President; Director, Private Banking and Personal Trust
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Elizabeth Garrabrant

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • Volunteer Projects Manager
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

Debbie Gelman

  • Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Steve George

  • Huntington Bank
  • CTO
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Charles Gerlach

  • Self
  • Psychologist
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Curious about your approach to leadership.

Chrissy Gilbert

  • OSU College of Social Work
  • Field Coordinator
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I attended an AOH 3-day training in December and found it transformative both personally and professionally. I'm ready to experience more. Questions: How to weave more of this work into a personal practice and also in teaching my classes?

Araminta Gilders

  • Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

I have recently completed my undergraduate dissertation which explored how we might create learning experiences that enable individuals to engage in conversation around meaningful issues. I am passionate about how this might be explored further within education, how can we make empowering learning experiences more accessible to children and young adults so that they have the resources to face challenges within society today?

James Gimian

  • Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

James has taught seminars, corporate retreats, and leadership programs on how to apply effectively the strategies and principles of The Art of War in a wide range of contexts. He is currently the publisher of the Shambhala Sun magazine and the co-director of the Denma Translation Group, which produced a critically acclaimed and best-selling translation of The Art of War. James is the co-author of The Rules of Victory: How to Transform Chaos and Conflict-Strategies from the Art of War.

Margaret Girkins

  • Flathead Valley Community College
  • Program Director
  • Kalispell, MT, United States

This will be my first time attending the conference, so my eyes and ears will be wide open. I have heard many good things from friends.

Liv Gjestvang

  • The Ohio State University
  • eLearning Program Manager
  • Columbus, OH, United States

As a media artist, I am committed to helping individuals and communities learn to speak out about their lives and experiences though digital media. I believe in the importance of teaching, listening, learning and creating.

Janice Glowski

  • Wittenberg University
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Ernest Godin

  • CIG sa.
  • Human system facilitator
  • Outremont, QC, Canada

I am teaching and coaching project management team.I am interested to learn more about the conditions and the methods to brings all the stakeholders on the same page...

Shannon Gonzales-Miller

  • The Ohio State University
  • Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Kathryn Gonzalez

  • Woodruff, WI, United States

Jill Grammer

  • Naropa University
  • Vice-President, Devopment and External Relations
  • Boulder, CO, United States

With 20+ years in higher education administration and 10+ as an ordained minister in the Community of Christ, Missionary Coordinator; President of volunteer homeless community; peace awards and camps, I would like to bring all of my experiences to ALIA and have a sense of growth and renewal to bring back to Naropa University.

Jerry Granelli

  • Halifax, NS, Canada

Jerry has been a core faculty member of the ALIA Institute since its first year in 2001. On December 30th of this year Jerry Granelli turns 70. Forty-five years ago he was peaking as a commercially successful Jazz drummer- playing with Vince Guaraldi. It was shortly after that success that Jerry took a hard turn left into the world of improvisation and musical exploration. He has never looked back.

Tom Gregoire

  • Ohio State University College of Social Work
  • Dean
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I am the dean of a large social work program at the Ohio State University. I became engaged in the Columbus Art of Hosting Community a few years ago and find that the experience has transformed me and my leadership. My role as leader is to ask questions that transform conversation, and to communicate a shared purpose. I'm drawn to Alia because of the experience of my AoH mates who have attended, and because I wish to grow further.

Daryle Griffin

  • Brightway Center, Inc.
  • President/CEO
  • Westerville, OH, United States

Brightway Center is a Christian Youth Leadership Development Organization that focus on the moral and character growth of our youth. Christian Youth Development has been a life long journey dating back to 1972 when I met Kara Bright the founder of Brightway Center. ALIA is an organization offering leadership skill building courses that are forward thinking in dealing with issues of the present and near future.

Vicki Grimes

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • Accounting Manager
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

Matt Habash

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • President
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

Diane Habash

  • The Ohio State University
  • Nutrition Researcher & Teacher
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I'm one of 7 children, have 2 children & 1 grandchild. I studied human biology and am a scientist trained to assess what we eat, how fit we are, how we use nutrients, and how disease plays into this. At OSU, I help other scientists with their research design but I also teach 2 classes & try to foster student research. I am a dietitian and volunteer in that capacity and my researcher capacity for the Foodbank, the Physicians Free Clinic & others. Making impact better is my question!

Pawa Haiyupis

  • National Centre for First Nations Governance
  • Emerging Leadership Manager
  • North Vancouver, BC, Canada

Pawa lives in North Vancouver and is a member of the Ahousaht First Nation. She is trained in First Nations Studies and Environmental Science with a focus on Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Governance and Coastal Ecology. She facilitates dialogues on governance, leadership and nation rebuilding. As full-time Emerging Leadership Manager with the National Centre for First Nations Governance, she is also developing and implementing national programs and workshops for youth.

Nancy Hale

  • Third Way
  • Vice President for Strategy and Leadership Development
  • Washington, DC, United States

Matthew Hall

  • Huntington Bank
  • SVP, Business Segment Sales Support Manager
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I manage a team of 7 that provides sales support to the majority of the business segments of the bank. I have been with Huntington for 25 years and have spent time in Retail Banking, Business Banking, Call Center and now in Segment Support. My roles have been in direct sales, management and administrative support. I look forward to this program to help me to continue to challenge myself to think more strategically in my role and for the benefit of the organization.

Tracy Hall

  • Corporation for a Skilled Workforce
  • Director/Business Development & Operations
  • Ann Arbor, MI, United States

I help lead a U.S. based national nonprofit whose vision is to re-imagine work and learning as a means to increase economic opportunity and sustainable prosperity for vulnerable people, companies, and communities. My academic research concerns feminine/right-brain based administrative and organizational alternatives, with a deep interest in exploring wholeness, drawing from the feminine, as well as from the more dominant masculine, in carrying out large scale transformational change.

Marybeth Hamilton

  • Meditation and Yoga Teacher
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I'm a yoga teacher and a long-time practitioner of mindfulness meditation who recently relocated to Columbus from the UK. I'm also a writer and a former university professor. I'm eager to connect with others seeking innovative ways to bring mindful awareness into schools and the workplace and to give people the tools to live intentionally, with clarity, compassion, and purpose.

Lyn Hang

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • VP Development
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

Anette Hansen

  • Program Manager
  • Valby, Denmark

I am now looking for new opportunities and inspiration as my my job as project manager in a minor software company ceases by the end of August Earlier I worked in the health care sector with accreditation (Joint Commision International) as well as planning / economy. One night I listened to Toke Paludan Møller on the Danish broadcasting and he was very inspiring, so here I am :-)

Cille Harris

  • Real Alternatives Inc.
  • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Jeannette Harrison

  • Columbus, OH, United States

I am a private consultant. My clients are usually public, non-profit, or governmental health care providers or systems. Present leadership approaches and strategies are not the answer for current challenges and future opportunities faced by these organizations.

Lanny Harrison

  • New York, NY, United States

Lanny began her career in the New York Pantomime Theater in 1966. She has played character roles in Off-Broadway musicals and films and, for the past 30 years, has written and performed one-woman shows, touring America and Europe. She is currently at work on a show about her mother's and godmother's hitchhike across the US in 1929. For the past eight years, she has been part of the Creative Process team at the ALIA Institute. Lanny is a meditation instructor in the Shambhala tradition.

Lyn Hartley

  • Whitehorse, YK, Canada

Originally a biologist, Lyn has great interest in understanding her own species and helping groups work together. For the past 20 years, she has lived and worked across the Canadian North – from her home base in the Yukon to Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Integrating scholarship with grassroots practice, Lyn holds a doctorate in human and organizational development, specializing in transformative learning and the role of contemplative practices.

Yojiro Hashimoto

  • Tokyo, Japan

Colleen Hawksworth

  • Action for Children
  • Senior Manager
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Arawana Hayashi

  • Presencing Institute
  • Director Social Presencing Theater
  • New York, NY, United States

Arawana is a dancer whose pioneering work is rooted in improvisation, collaboration, and traditional dance forms. Her inter-disciplinary performance work became one of the foundations of Naropa University's current degree programs in performance and somatic psychology. Arawana began a collaboration with Otto Scharmer in 2003 and is now actively engaged with the Presencing Institute, where she is leading the development of Social Presencing Theater. She has been ALIA faculty since 2001.

Renee Haynie-Jackson

  • Raising...The Next Generation of Leaders
  • Director of Training & Development
  • Chicago, IL, United States

My passion is empowering, mentoring, coaching, and leading others to reclaim their lives back. It's not work at all, as I'm only paying my life forward. If I can help one, who helps another, then I've done my job. ALIA represents professional development and the refilling of my vessel, as I continue to pour out onto others what I learn.

Amy Headings

  • Mid-Ohio Food Bank
  • Director of Nutrition
  • Grove City, OH, United States

I have had some experience with mindfulness as it applies to eating practices and am interested in how it applies to other areas. Greatest questions are 'how do you best understand how to implement sustained change in terms of eating habits.'

Yolanda Hegngi

  • Stimulus, LLC
  • Founder and Managing Partner
  • Silver Springs, MD, United States

Yolanda is committed to the growth and development of leaders, especially female leaders in global organizations. For over eight years, she headed learning and development at the International Finance Corporation. Yolanda's career has focused on facilitating the exchange of experiences and knowledge through dialogue, and by providing high quality global learning and leadership experiences in public, private, academic sectors and local communities in several continents.

Deb Helber

  • Delaware, Ohio, United States

Deb is a strategic planner working with community organizations/corporations in health care, homelessness, housing, education, food/nutrition and bio-products, focusing on building healthier communities. Using planning and designing, hosting, facilitating and harvesting skills, she brings groups together to find consensus and clarity around needs and shared purposes. With a B.A. in Education and a Masters in Health Administration, Deb is a project coordinator of the Our Optimal Health project.

Michelle Heritage Ward

  • Community Shelter Board
  • Executive Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

The Community Shelter Board is a public-private partnership organization that creates collaborations, innovates solutions, and invests in quality programs in order to end homelessness in Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio. In her role as Executive Director, Michelle provides visible leadership in achieving community-wide homeless services and prevention objectives.

Alleah Hilker

  • Legasus Group, LC
  • Wichita, KS, United States

Jane Hirst

  • Bissell Centre
  • Executive Director
  • EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada

Sophia Horwitz

  • Atlantic Council for Community & Social Enterprise
  • Thriving Practitioner
  • Halifax, NS, Canada

I thrive when working to re-imagine our collective potential and support creative meaningful processes. I have worked with community design, participatory creative engagement, and sustainable development in Latin America, Canada, and across Europe. I am attracted to the ALIA community to deepen my practice, step into my potential, exchange with inspirational individuals while learning in community.

Laurel Hubber

  • Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Laurie Hunt

  • Laurie Hunt & Associates
  • System Disrupter
  • Barrie, ON, Canada

Laurie is passionate about working as a change agent in organizations and communities. She uses a systems approach specializing in relational leadership skill building to bridge difference, to raise cultural intelligence and to develop diverse innovative teams and organizations. Laurie considers herself a ‘system disrupter’. By raising a leader or team’s awareness of how they are operating, she helps them disrupt the patterns and habits that get in the way of achieving what they want.

Thomas Hurley

  • Oxford Leadership Academy USA
  • President and Senior Fellow
  • Richmond, CA, United States

As President and Senior Fellow of Oxford Leadership Academy USA, Tom serves as senior consultant and executive coach to leaders seeking innovative approaches to strategy formation, leadership development, and the creation of more collaborative cultures. Tom was Managing Director of the Chaordic Alliance, a consulting firm in which he partnered with VISA founder Dee Hock, and a member of the senior leadership team at the Institute of Noetic Sciences founded by Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell.

Michael Iannetta

  • Columbus, OH, United States

Kyoko Ikeda

  • Tokyo, Japan

What constitutes our well-being? What do we need to re-member to be well. My research as well as my work as a coordinator of cross-cultural education programs revolve around these questions. Also, as a language teacher, interpreter, and translator, I keep pondering what the relationship between language and our perception and experience of 'reality' is, and how we can learn to be a better weaver of the world through our use of language.

Isi Ikharebha

  • Director
  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

Violetta Ilkiw

  • Laidlaw Foundation
  • Toronto, ON, Canada

My work is focused on developing partnerships & collaboratives toward building a strong social infrastructure to support youth organizing in southern Ontario & mostly in Toronto. Questions at the edge of my work right now are around how to continue to provide leadership in the background, work with individuals who create blocks/ resistance to moving forward without overreacting...oh, so many things...

Deth Im

  • Jacob's Well
  • Lead Pastor
  • Kansas City, MO, United States

I'm committed to collaborative leadership processes which value a variety of voices and a collective sensing that invites creativity, dialogue and action in order to enact social change.

Marty Janowitz

  • ALIA Governing Council Chair; and Stantec Consulting
  • Vice President Sustainable Development
  • Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

My work and my life journey has long been dedicated to transformation...in a world and beings often beset with fracture, separation, and dangerous aggression, I see a journey to peace, the intertwined discovery of personal and societal connection to a heart of basic goodness - ineffable and always available - the ground of genuine transformation. In my work I focus on 'sustainability'- environmental and social- working with communities, businesses and governments to develop strategic pathways.

Kristen Janson

  • Action for Children
  • HR Representative
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Judy Jewison

  • REALM
  • St. Paul, MN, United States

My work involves hosting leaders and communities who desire to live a more vital life and an inspiring future. My work is rooted in calling forth the wisdom within, sifting through the possibilities and choosing to take wise actions.

Sissy Jhiang

  • The Ohio State University
  • Professor
  • Columbus, OH, United States

My work involves teaching, research, and service at multiple levels. I have benefited tremendously from OSU leadership program and I look forward to learning more from ALIA which is highly recommended by OSU leadership program. I feel rewarding by making progress to improve patients’ care and seeing students/fellows doing well in their career development.

Dianne Johnson

  • Capital Improvements Ltd.
  • Managing Director
  • Lower Hutt, New Zealand

I attended a programme in Halifax and would like to have this second opportunity to expand my understanding of myself and other people in my life.

Gordon Johnson

  • The Performing Arts Centre Project
  • CEO
  • Paget, Paget, Bermuda

I am looking forward to my second ALIA experience!

Brad Johnston

  • Ontario Government
  • Social-Intrapreneur
  • Port Carling, ON, Canada

As a social innovation facilitator in the Ontario government I am working to increase the innovation capacity of the public service to solve complex social problems. I am drawn to ALIA to be in the middle of local energy from Columbus and global energy from participants around the world. The question on the leading edge of my work is how to become more sensitive to larger system dynamics by paying attention to my embodied senses. How to be the canary in the coal mine and not die?

Peter Jones

  • Redesign Research
  • Toronto, ON, Canada

Justin Jones

  • Consultant
  • Lakewood, Colorado, United States

Kathy Jourdain

  • Shape Shift Strategies Inc.
  • Process Artist
  • Bedford, NS, Canada

How can we be more intentional and conscious about the shifting shape of the world? What more is possible as we work in Communities of Practice around the globe? What is the weave of relationships that need to be made more visible - in the relational, physical, spiritual and energetic realms? How can we host more beauty and brilliance in the world and in each other so that we see it, feel it, appreciate and recognize the power of it?

Greg Judelman

  • Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Greg Judelman is a designer and innovation consultant. He collaborates with a range of clients on organizational change initiatives and is designing an online service to distribute innovation tools at scale. He previously spent 5 years at design-thinking pioneer Bruce Mau Design, where he led teams on identity, web, experience and strategy projects. He is a co-founder of Design with Dialogue, a community that meets monthly in Toronto to explore methods for systems change.

Adam Kahane

  • Reos Partners
  • Partner
  • Cambridge, MA, United States

Adam is a partner in Reos Partners, dedicated to building capacity for innovative collective action in complex social systems. He is Associate Fellow at the University of Oxford and the University of Waterloo and the author of Solving Tough Problems: An Open Way of Talking, Listening, and Creating New Realities and Power and Love: A Theory and Practice of Social Change. Adam is a leading organizer, designer and facilitator of processes through which leaders work together to solve challenges.

Kobun Kaluza

  • The Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn
  • Teacher
  • Brooklyn, NY, United States

Kobun teaches Technical Theater and Play Production classes at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn. His latest play, The Abduction Story of a Loser, was presented in part at The Little Theater at Dixon Place. Lighting Design credits include Mostly Mozart at Lincoln Center’s Kaplan Penthouse. He has returned to his role as Captain of the Baby Moths in The Village Halloween Parade, has performed and co-created performance work since childhood, and works with the Social Presencing Theater.

Judith Kamber

  • Northern Essex Community College
  • Dean of Professional Development
  • Haverhill, MA, United States

My work is increasingly about owning our strengths and honoring self and others. My work has been influenced by Parker Palmer and others who honor reflective practice. I am particularly interested in leadership characteristics and understanding what makes an exceptional leader. I am also coming to understand that the spaces and pauses are as important as the notes we play.

Patricia Kambitsch

  • Redesign Research
  • Toronto, ON, Canada

Mike Kang

  • Engineers Without Borders Canada
  • Co-Director, Water Team, Malawi
  • North Vancouver, BC, Canada

In my work in Malawi, I manage a complex network of relationships. My organization brings no money and therefore no hard power into the system, so I facilitate change by understanding interests and relationships. I want to learn more about how one can create change with this "free actor" positioning; how can you solve complex problems by changing relationships between actors within a system? How can you foster game-changing innovation through positioning yourself as an embedded outsider?

Chris Kang

  • Schools Without Borders
  • Co-Founder
  • Toronto, ON, Canada

Koichiro Kato

  • Takamatsu City, Japan

I'd like to extend my experience of dialogue to a lot of communities.

Keizo Katsumoto

  • Tokyo, Japan

I have been working at Citibank for more than ten years. As a supervisor of Citibank's Call Center, I coached my team and planned "KAIZEN" to improve service quality for customer satisfaction.

Taku Kawada

  • Micronic Mydata Japan, KK
  • President
  • Fuchu-shi, Japan

Having worked for foreign affiliated companies (American, British, Swedish) 23 years. Keen interest in what really makes people/organization capable of creating good future.

Susan Kelly

  • Casey family programs
  • Sr. Director, Strategic consulting
  • Ypsilanti, MI, United States

Susan Kelly is a Senior Director, Strategic Consulting, with Casey Family Programs Systems Improvement Division. In this role Susan works with the Managing Director in Systems Improvement to actively seek ways to assess and support systems improvement in organizations and agencies providing Child Welfare throughout the United States. The focus and purpose of this position is to resolve issues related to reducing, the number of children in foster care through effective system change strategies.

Joanne Kelly

  • Evanston, IL, United States

As a state level systems person, I am exploring my role and contribution to local community building and family/parent leadership. I am thinking about the profound shifts and changes underway in public systems and what lies ahead. I hold questions about my my leadership place in this time of systems transition.

Todd Kilburn

  • Naropa University
  • Chief Administrative Officer
  • Boulder, CO, United States

I have worked in nonprofits for most of my 28 year career, including serving as a pastor in a Baptist Church, teaching theology and working for a family foundation in New York City before moving into the realm of higher education. I have been the Chief Administrative Officer at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado since January of 2010, and am enthusiastic to learn new ideas and perspectives.

Maryanna Klatt

  • Ohio State University, College of Medicine
  • Assistant Professor
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I am a mindfulness teacher and researcher. I run a minor at Ohio State in Integrative Medicine and love my work!

Art Kleiner

  • strategy+business
  • Editor in Chief
  • New York, NY, United States

Art is the editor-in-chief of strategy+business, the award-winning management magazine published quarterly in print and weekly online by Booz & Company. He is the author of The Age of Heretics and Who Really Matters: The Core Group Theory of Power, Privilege, and Success. Formerly, he was the editorial director of Peter Senge's Fifth Discipline Fieldbook series and an editor at the Whole Earth Catalog. He is a founding member of the Neuroleadership Institute and been on ALIA faculty since 2001.

Steve Knight

  • CHURCH EXTENSION
  • Leadership Development Consultant
  • CHARLOTTE, NC, United States

I love telling stories and throwing parties.

Laura Koprowski

  • Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
  • Public & Government Affairs Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Rebecca Krantz

  • Many Stones Consulting, LLC
  • Consultant
  • Madison, WI, United States

I am currently a consultant working to bring transformational capacity-building resources to the progressive movement in Wisconsin and nationally. I am grateful when I have opportunities to contribute my energy to a team working to make the world a better place for all. I am interested in deepening my understanding of somatic and energetic practices for leadership development and group work, and being able to "sense the future that is trying to emerge" and help birth it.

Bridgette Kreuz

  • CMAF
  • YAC Program Coordinator
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I am interested in the ALIA program because I want to strengthen my conviction, character, and leading abilities. One question I struggle to answer is the following: What does it take to lead a remarkable life? About Me: Dancing is my passion. My greatest aspiration is to travel the world and study folkloric dance.

Mark Kuznicki

  • The Moment
  • Chief Change Officer
  • Toronto, ON, Canada

I am 1/3 of The Moment, an innovation studio focused on combining design, collaboration and systems change methods to create better futures. My own work has often experimented with combining the tools of face to face social engagement and co-design with online social technology in order to facilitate and amplify innovative ideas. I have a blog at http://remarkk.com where you can learn more about me.

John Largent

  • Huntington Bank
  • Director, Commercial Operations
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I lead the Commercial Operations organization at Huntington, which provides back office services and support for Huntington's commercial customers. My leadership team and I are focused on building a high performance culture, including leadership development, team development, business unit partnering, continuous process improvements, scorecards/metrics, strategic planning and delivering outstanding customer service.

Daron Larson

  • Attentional Fitness Training
  • Freelance Contemplative
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I share practical mindfulness strategies that strengthen attentional skills. I've worked as a social worker, researcher, teacher, and librarian. I see significant opportunities for incorporating mindfulness practice into educational and workplace settings. Energized by trying to remove obstacles that prevent people from giving attentional fitness strategies a chance. Confident they will soon become as mainstream as physical fitness fitness strategies.

Jeffrey Larson Keller

  • Mayo Clinic
  • Manager, Research Operations
  • Rochester, MN, United States

Sherri Lassila

  • Leadership Development
  • Hong Kong, Hong Kong

My work is transformational leadership development – workshops, groups and individual coaching. I have a particular passion for women’s leadership, and for working with people and organizations driven by a sense of purpose to make a social impact. I also do Corporate Based Mindfulness Training and have been on a path of spiritual growth for many years. At ALIA, I’m continuing to explore intersections among these passions, and excited to connect and collaborate with others who share them.

Terri LeMaile-Williams

  • Action for Children
  • Director, Organizational Advancement
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Abby Letcher

  • Neighborhood Health Centers of the Lehigh Valley
  • Medical Director
  • Allentown, PA, United States

Myrna Lewis

  • Indranet Consulting Limited
  • Senior Consult: R & D, Training and Quality Control
  • Randburg, South Africa

CEO and Director of Professional Services of Deep Democracy Ltd International, Myrna trains, accredits and supervises Deep Democracy Instructors in over 20 countries. She is responsible for innovation and ongoing development of Deep Democracy, and consults internationally to private and public sectors. Specializing in conflict resolution, interventions and transformation in complex and difficult situations, Myrna is author of Inside the NO: Five Steps to Decisions that Last.

Fredrik Lidman

  • Fram
  • Huddinge, Huddinge, Sweden

J'Lein Liese

  • Phoenix, AZ, United States

Dawn Lindblom

  • American Red Cross
  • CEO
  • Sacramento, CA, United States

Aurelie Liu

  • Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Helene Liu

  • The MasterMinds
  • Founder
  • Hong Kong, Hong Kong

My purpose for doing the programme is to integrate those skills and practices in my own transformational work with organisations as a 3rd party catalyst to leaders and senior management, with a focus on dialogue (bohmian model), culture change, eco-system leadership, engagement and strategies. I work with leaders in groups and individually. I am coming to the Summer Programme with Aurelie, my 13 years old daughter.

Lorri Lizza

  • Center for Shared Leadership (CSL)
  • Co-Founder
  • Chatham, NJ, United States

As a VP of Human Resources for a multi-national corporation, I worked extensively with diverse teams and senior executives. I learned that more energy and possibilities arise as people speak from the heart and all voices are heard. Now my personal journey is integrating these principles, offering ways to apply them, and supporting a different form of "shared leadership." A current question is: When the "energy of waiting" is present - in self, community - what does it mean? What is a next step?

Joan Lloyd

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • Operation Feed Campaign Director
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

Adam Lobel

  • Cambridge, MA, United States

Senior teacher in the Shambhala tradition, Buddhist minister, and scholar of philosophy and religion, Adam leads meditation workshops and courses on Buddhist philosophy & the social vision of Shambhala. He teaches meditation to youth in the prison system and a mental health institution, and is helping to establish a track for Buddhist ministers and chaplains at Harvard Divinity School. A doctoral candidate at Harvard University, living in Pittsburgh. His son, Javin, is a Jedi Knight-in-training.

Betsy Loeb

  • Action for Children
  • Columbus, OH, United States

My work primarily focuses to enhancing opportunities for children and adults to have quality experiences in the outdoors. ALIA seems to provide "out of the box" ways of viewing the world...which I enjoy. Question: How to experience a value (I hold) of slowing down, taking the time to immerse in the joys of outdoor experiences...that I then can incorporate into my life and possibly be a model for others.

Stuart Lord

  • Naropa University
  • President
  • Boulder, CO, United States

Dr. Stuart Lord, president of Naropa University, has dedicated his life work to foster the growth and advancement of many communities as both educator and humanitarian, working for the benefit of all. He has served as an administrator and managed civic education, community service and religious and spiritual life programs at Dartmouth College, DePauw University and now Naropa University.

Johanne Lortie

  • International Training Centre of the ILO
  • Activity Manager
  • Turin, Italy

I am interest on finding new ways of promoting social justice and gender equality and hope this workshop will help. I did a Master’s degree in sociology in Ottawa, and coordinated the Ontario Public Interest Research Group on environmental and social justice issues in the 80s and worked as a consultant. I joined the Centre in 2003 as an activity manager. I design and run trainings for ILO constituents. I really enjoy learning about knowledge sharing methodology.

Bill Lowry

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • VP, Programs & Services
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

Chelahnnhe Lyons

  • Action for Children
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Sheila MacCrimmon

  • Nova Scotia Community College
  • Manager, Portfolio Learning
  • Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

I'm growing into myself. Through a life path that has woven through fields of recreation management, community development, private counselling practice, career counselling, I've landed solidly in staff development within a post-secondary college. The essence of my work is to encourage what Parker Palmer calls 'the undivided life'. I create opportunities for staff to critically reflect on their life, to engage in conversations about their own learning, beliefs about learning and work with others, and to step further into authenticity. I am also a volunteer in federal prisons in Atlantic Canada, and an artist rendering relief tablets from clay ...

Duncan MacMurdy

  • Wind River
  • Vice-President, Human Resources
  • Alameda, CA, United States

My work includes organizational and leadership development. I am interested in collaborative problem solving approaches to complex problems. I am drawn to the Alia program because I would like to learn more about the change lab approach.

Heidi Madsen

  • JPMorgan Chase
  • Technology Program Manager
  • Columbus, OH, United States

As a performance artist and social activist, my vocation is to spend my time doing creative things for good causes, supporting good causes creatively and creatively causing good.

Brad Magnusson

  • Credit Union Central of Manitoba
  • Manager, Business Consulting
  • Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Business Consulting to the Credit Union system is about Advancing Thought Leadership regardless if they do not know they need it.

Angie Mandich

  • University of Western Ontario
  • Professor & Director, School of Occupational Therapy
  • London, ON, Canada

I am a Professor and I have been a Director in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Western Ontario for the last five year. Having been exposed to various types of leadership, I am drawn to leadership that is authentic, respectful and fosters diversity and creativity. I am drawn to ALIA as it resonates with me as an institute that seems to explore and realize the potential in people and in the systems we live and work in, finding ways to bring out the best in people.

Michael Marlowe

  • Sharon, CT, United States

Michael Marlowe, management consultant and former director of the AT&T Organization Effectiveness Center, is the author of Children and Leaders and the Small Books with Big Ideas series.

Jim Marsden

  • Boulder, CO, United States

Jim is currently leading a variety of organizational development initiatives within Hewlett Packard. With more than 16 years of experience at HP, he has worked across the company in positions including organizational development, business team management, strategic planning and marketing management. Jim has a passion for the wilderness and guides quests for the Animas Valley Institute and co-leads other outings that help inform and deepen our relationship with wilderness.

Ty Marsh

  • Columbus, OH, United States

Laurie Marsh

  • Leadership Columbus
  • Executive Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I have been to the Shambhala Institute in the past as well as the Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter. Christina Baldwin's workshop on the "Storycatchers" changed my perspective on the importance of this art and has made my facilitation skills at Leadership Columbus much more effective. I have been re-introduced to Open Space, Appreciate Inquiry, and information that is always enriching to me- both personally and professionally.

Dave Martin

  • SHC Direct, LLC
  • Chief People Officer
  • Downers Grove, IL, United States

Recently had my professional focus change from being partially about HR/People management to a full time role. Interested in bolstering organizational communication and engagement, in both conventional and creative ways. Theory is by giving associates more freedom they will develop stronger bonds and commitment to each other and the organization, thereby needing less formal structure.

Dorothy Martindale

  • OSU College of Social Work
  • New Knoxville, OH, United States

As a second-year honors student in the College of Social Work at The Ohio State University, I have found that community involvement greatly enhances my self-development. Whether it is mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters or organizing events for the College of Social Work Student Association, authentic leadership is key to success. The Authentic Leadership in Action program will help me to further develop my skills as an effective and empathic leader.

Jane Masters

  • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

Mary Ann Masur

  • Synergy Consultants, LLC
  • Columbus, OH, United States

My personal journey is reflected in my professional work as a coach. I am constantly learning and growing. I am fortunate that my desire to reach my full potential and live life to the fullest, is reflected in my work by supporting my clients to do the same for themselves.

Diane May

  • Columbus Medical Association
  • Director of Member Relations
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Barbara McAfee

  • Music for Life
  • Chief Exuberant Officer
  • Minneapolis, MN, United States

My work involves instigating radical aliveness through singing, voice coaching, writing, and speaking. I'm curious about the role arts can play in transforming culture and remembering us to ourselves and each other. My first book, Full Voice: The Art & Practice of Vocal Presence (Berrett-Koehler) will be out in Oct. 2011. I'm coming to ALIA to meet more of my people and have a lot of fun.

Peggy McAllister

  • Intentional Leadership
  • Principal/Executive Coach
  • Greensboro, NC, United States

An executive coach/facilitator, poet, and explorer, I like working on edges. My passion and “calling” is to help individuals, leaders, organizations and communities access their own knowing, their own sense of Being, so they can take action from That place. I used to think I knew something about what that meant, but now I am not so sure. The opportunity to learn from and connect with this amazing diverse community is very appealing as I open to discover more deeply What is calling me right now.

Rob McDonnell

  • Providence Care
  • Kingston, ON, Canada

Yavonne McGarry

  • The Ohio State University
  • Program Coordinator
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Amy McGee

  • Health Policy Institute of Ohio
  • President
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Iain McKinnon

  • Department of Justice
  • Assistant Director - Organisational Culture and Innovation
  • Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Born in Scotland, my family emigrated to Australia in the 60's. Varied career including work with Melbourne Theatre Company, the hospitality industry, working as a general nurse, and for the last 20 years working in various organisational development, change management and HR roles. Currently responsible for recruitment services, learning and development, succession and talent planning, knowledge management, workforce planning, change management for the Department of Justice (8000 employees).

Janet McLaughlin

  • Action for Children
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Ruth McNeil

  • Columbus, OH, United States

I'm in a season of developing and strengthening my leadership acumen. My hope is to take away new knowledge that will help in refining my leadership philosophy.

Dawn Mcnichols

  • Mid Ohio Food Bank
  • Warehouse Manager
  • Laurelville, OH, United States

I have worked for the Food Bank for 18 years and at present i am the Ware House Manager. I was offered the opportunity to take the leadership class and was very interested.

Susan Melsop

  • The Ohio State University
  • Assistant Professor
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Jessica Mercerhill

  • The Ohio State University
  • Director, Curriculum and Program Planning, Project ASPIRE
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Tim Merry

  • Myrgan Inc.
  • Blockhouse, Nova Scotia, Canada

Tim works with bold leaders to deliver participatory gatherings and strategic innovation. Tim has diverse experience ranging from major international businesses and government agencies to local communities all over the world. His work is rooted in participative processes where stakeholder voice is key to creating the systems, structures and services that meet their needs. The rebuilding of our sacred relationship to the land and to each other is a common thread through his life and work.

Maureen Metcalf

  • Metcalf & Associates, Inc.
  • CEO
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I am the President of Metcalf & Associates, Inc., bringing 26 years of business experience to support leadership and organizational success. The question that most informs my work is: What type of leadership is required to meet our current and emerging world challenges? How do we develop this leadership talent? My co-author and I are on track to publish a book on this topic in 2011. I am drawn to the ALIA program to learn from leading thinkers globally.

Andrew Miller

  • Writer
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I have gone through art-of-hosting training with the city of Upper Arlington and find this type of inquire and processing very useful in my community building work, as well as gaining understanding about how to change the environment around me. I'm drawn to the ALIA program because my mentors are involved; so I know that my desire to gain further understanding about these practices will be rewarded.

Jason Miller

  • Accenture
  • Global Program Lead, Human Capital
  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

Jeff Miller

  • Innovative Leadership Solutions/Univ of Indianapolis/Indiana Univ @ IUPUI
  • Builder/Connector of Human Leadership Networks
  • Brownsburg (Indianapolis), IN, United States

Until 11 years ago I worked with a large youth program, at local, state, and national levels. I still track & prod that program, but now consult & teach org learning, servant leadership, & collaboration. My teaching is with 3 universities. I’ve been a leadership “student” for 30 years. In the past 15 I’ve immersed myself in learning & teaching systems/org learning practices. My personal learning takes me into complexity and chaos & how it can deepen learning & enhance organizations/communities.

Anne Mitchell

  • Consultant
  • Speedway, IN, United States

Sikhethiwe Mlotsha

  • Kufunda Learning Village
  • Community Organizer
  • Harare, Mash Eas, Zimbabwe

I have already stepped into leadership but there are some challenges that I am facing as a woman in leadership therefore I look forward to ignite fire , charge batteries in my leadership by going to attend to this programme. How can men accept and acknowledge being a women leader considering my cultural background?

Val Moeller

  • Val Moeller Consulting
  • Consultant
  • Westerville, OH, United States

I am a former president of a community college. My interest in leadership development in academic institutions goes back about twenty years. I understood one day that all I learned about heroic leadership would not help students fullfil their dream of an education. We needed to create an environment conducive to learning - a learning community. This is how my journey began in authentic leadership. We were able to achieve more and enjoy our work and create meaning.

Toke Moeller

  • Silkeborg, Denmark

Toke has been pioneering the fields of sustainable entrepreneurship, participatory leadership, educational renewal, and social responsibility since the early 1970s. Toke is the co-founder of The Art of Hosting, The Flow Game, and the Warrior of the Heart dojo, and former Chair of the Board of the Danish Entrepreneurs Association. For the past six years he has worked in support of large-scale transformation in England, the U.S., and Canada, as well as in the European Commission.

Gwendolyn Moman

  • Action for Children
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Linda Montano

  • The Ohio State University
  • Director of Business Operations
  • Columbus, OH, United States

How do I create a safe and productive work environment where people thrive?

Candada Moore

  • Huntington Bank
  • Manager of Corporate Trust
  • Columbus, OH, United States

As an attorney I have worked in the public finance arena for nearly 30 years. A little over two years ago the financial world imploded in a way never seen before, and many companies did not survive. Ours did but the business environment has changed - more uncertainty, more regulation, more oversight, less tolerance for risk, and more technology but more controls around it. The challenge is to lead employees through this uncomfortable, changing environment and still produce profitable results.

Robin Moore

  • Action for Children
  • Woodward Family Resource Center Program Coordinator
  • Delaware, OH, United States

I am an MSW register within the state of Ohio. I have a passion for working with children and families and love innovative ideas and programming.

Max Moore

  • Leadership Columbus
  • Program Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Sandy Morckel

  • Development Systems International
  • President
  • Sunset Beach, NC, United States

I am a nonprofit fundraising consultant and thought leader who has worked with the nonprofit sector and its staff and volunteer leadership for the past 24 years. I am also an 18-year Rotarian, and I am very interested in the concept of stimulating meaningful dialogue among various sectors of the community to identify and address real community issues and create abundant environments in which to live, work and thrive. Looking forward to the experience and meeting others with shared values!

Linda Morgan

  • Casey Family Programs
  • Senior Director
  • Clearwater, Florida, United States

I work with a foundation dedicated to working with child welfare systems to reduce the need for foster care in the US through keeping children safely at home and finding safe, permanent homes for children in foster care who cannot return to their parents. I am looking for ways to be more fearless and harmless in my consulting work.

Kat Morgan

  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Mount Vernon, WA, United States

The Nature Conservancy is developing a conservation niche in Puget Sound related to multiple-benefits (conservation that has direct, tangible benefits to people as well as nature). This is challenging territory with numerous stakeholder groups who all have important emotional, cultural, and economic attachments to place. We are seeking guidance in working with these diverse groups to produce positive outcomes for people and nature, which is remarkably aligned with the change lab.

Wendy Morris

  • Creative Leadership Studio
  • Founder
  • Minneapolis, MN, United States

Wendy Morris facilitates change with organizations and communities in North America and Asia through arts-based approaches to leadership development and intentional change. Two juicy, professional highlights: writing a white paper for a global company of 160,000 employees on new directions in leadership learning (creative process, somatics, mindfulness, neuroscience...); and hosting a retreat for a foundation on communities using imagination, creativity and innovation to solve tough problems.

Hazel Morrow-Jones

  • The Ohio State University
  • Associate Provost and Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Kevin Morse

  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Director, North Puget Sound Program
  • Mount Vernon, WA, United States

Puget Sound recovery and conservation efforts have been fraught with conflict between natural resource industries, tribes and governments for decades. Existing policies and tools are inadequate for working at the scale of Puget Sound and addressing the complex social and political challenges needed to be successful. Our challenge and journey is to find new ways to bring historical adversaries together to work cooperatively at unprecedented scales.

Richard Morse

  • CHURCH EXTENSION
  • INDIANPOLIS, IN, United States

Kimberly Moss

  • The Ohio State University
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Brent Mulgrew

  • OSMA
  • Executive Director
  • Hilliard, OH, United States

I am attempting to rethink the way I think.

Maura Munoz

  • Physicians Free Clinic
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I am a medical student aspiring to practice in an underserved area. ALIA interests me because I seek to build effective leadership skills to instigate change by increasing the accessibility and quality of care for those that have difficulty getting it in the existing system. How will I, as a future physician, advance medicine such that care is tailored to individual patient needs, that waste of resources is reduced and that positive patient health outcomes are increased?

Andrew Murphy

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • Operation Feed Campaign Manager
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

Mary Mutegi

  • Columbus Medical Association
  • Care Coordinator
  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

I am a Care Coordinator for the Physicians Free Clinic/Voluntary Care Network, in Columbus, Ohio.

Lorraine Muwuya

  • Kufunda Village
  • Art of Life Practitioner
  • Harare, Mash Eas, Zimbabwe

I am an individual who likes to share profound issues about life especially life experinces of women.

Michael Negraeff

  • Pain BC Society
  • Chair
  • Vancouver, BC, Canada

I am a practicing pain medicine physician in Vancouver. I had a paraplegic injury in 1995 that led me to a career in pain medicine rather than anesthesiology. I work with spinal cord injured people with pain. I am currently the Chair of Pain BC Society, an organization that seeks to improve access to resources to better support people with pain.

Rebecca Nelson

  • The Ohio State University
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Robert Newman

  • Cisco Systems, Inc.
  • Learning & Development Manager
  • Lewis Center, OH, United States

Organizational learning needs to be more collaborative and participative. We need to tap into the knowledge and passion that people have, and help them move beyond their own limiting beliefs and perceptions of constraints.

Jennifer Nguyen

  • CMA
  • Senior Consultant
  • St. Louis, MO, United States

Jennifer works as an senior organizational consultant for CMA, a firm out of Saint Louis, MO. She has served in that role since May of 2000. She received her Ph.D. in organizational psychology from Saint Louis University. She is a licensed psychologist in the State of Missouri. Her work at CMA focuses on talent management, assessment, executive coaching, organizational development, and strategic planning. She enjoys the arts vicariously through her creative husband and two children.

Martha Nieset

  • The Ohio State University
  • Information Analyst
  • Columbus, OH, United States

My personal and professional interests have mingled around technology and women's health. I work in the field of technology, I'm researching access to midwifery care in Ohio, and I am on the board of directors for a non profit working to improve access to evidence-based maternity care for women locally. I'm drawn to the idea of authentic leadership and learning to cultivate this for the better of society and in those areas which I work.

Batian Nieuwerth

  • Wageningen, Netherlands

Yuya Nishimura

  • Dialog Bar/Emerging Future
  • Otsu, Japan

My work is creating Ba with Dialog. I am also a founder of Art of Hosting in Japan. Now I try to do new work that is a Youth Community Leadership WS for restoring Japan from Damage of Tsunami.

Monica Nissen

  • Silkeborg, Denmark

Monica is co-founder of InterChange and The Flow Game. InterChange has specialised in designing and facilitating participatory processes, engaging larger groups of people in strategic conversations, to co-create solutions, strategies or the futures they want. In working with larger groups, Monica's special interest has been to harvest the results of these conversations in a way that moves collective insights into action.

Daniel Nottingham

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

Gloria Nouel

  • Naropa University
  • Assistant Dean for Program Development
  • Boulder, CO, United States

I have worked in higher education for the last 12 years as a psychology professor and program director. I am currently the the Assistant Dean for Program Development at Naropa University. I've also worked in the non-profit world. Throughout my life I have been committed to the integration of spirituality and social change grounded in a reflective approach. I see the Alia institute as a place where I can develop new ways of thinking and acting helpful to social and organizational transformation

Phyllis Novak

  • Sketch Working Arts
  • Artistic Director
  • Toronto, ON, Canada

I am a part of a community arts development initiative with young people who live street involved, homeless and are otherwise marginalized. AoPL has been a strong part of how we have been cocreating the CoP for Youth Organizing in Ontario. We want to share our story and develop our leadership.

Sarah Nunn

  • The Pew Charitable Trusts
  • Deputy Director, Operations Planning & PMO
  • Philadelphia, PA, United States

I have been looking for a leadership program that has depth and is multi-dimensional - touching the spirit, the mind, and the physical. I am re-thinking my direction and would like to blend my 30+ years of experience and my aptitudes into something new. I am a natural leader who is looking for an experience that will expand my thinking and approach to working with people.

Mitch O'Brien

  • City of Pickerington, Ohio
  • Mayor
  • Pickerington, Ohio, United States

Mitch O'Brien was elected Mayor in the November 2007 election. Mitch previously served as a City Council member in 2004-2005. He was Chairman of Rules Committee and Vice-Chairman of Service Committee. He also served as Council Representative to the Planning and Zoning Commission. He and his wife, Kelly are residents of Pickerington and have two children, Catie and Ben. Mayor O'Brien can be reached at mayor@pickerington.net or 614-837-3974.

Kelly OBrien

  • Columbus Medical Association
  • Executive Assistant
  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

Martha Oestreich

  • Large Group Facilitator
  • Austin, TX, United States

Martha is a creative writer, a large-group facilitator, and an artist agent/manager. She engages groups of people in strategic dialog about systemic social issues related to diversity, power, and sustainability, with special emphasis on environmental sustainability and lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender equality.

Stephanie Orr

  • The Ohio State University
  • Assistant Director for Technology
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Lisa Oyer

  • Columbus Medical Association
  • Member Relations Manager
  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

Lindsay Page

  • WWF-Canada
  • Manager, Public Mobilization
  • Toronto, ON, Canada

Wendy Palmer

  • Leadership Embodiment/Conscious Embodiment
  • Founder
  • San Rafael, CA, United States

Wendy Palmer is the founder of Conscious Embodiment and Leadership Embodiment a profound approach to personal and professional development using embodied practices. She is a sixth degree Black Belt in Aikido. Wendy is author of two books: The Intuitive Body and The Practice of Freedom. She offers coaching in embodied leadership for individuals, groups and teams. Her clients include, Hewlett Packard, Genentech, Oracle, Apple, Old Navy, Gap, McKinsey, Frazer Health and NASA.

Tiphani Palmer

  • San Rafael, CA, United States

Tiphani is an executive coach and facilitator with 10 years experience teaching and working with Conscious Embodiment, a model for Embodied Leadership. Tiphani has her Black Belt in Aikido, and 15 years of experience owning and running a successful design business. Some of the companies and venues she has worked with include Oracle, Genentech, NVW Coaching programs, Central California Women Facility, Audience, UCSF chaplain services and Capital Health in Canada.

Emily Panzeri

  • OSU College of Social Work
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I am a Master's of Social Work Candidate at the Ohio State University, and have interests in child welfare, research, and advocacy. I do contract work at Action for Children, and I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). I am looking forward to learning more about mindfulness and leadership development.

Marielle Pariseau

  • Shaping the Future of Dentistry
  • Founder / Dreamer
  • Nepean, Ontario, Canada

As dentists, our daily decisions balance precariously between our roles as health care providers and business managers. In 2010, I created Shaping the Future of Dentistry, an organization wishing to invite the members of our profession to engage in new directions of meaningful prevention, greater professionalism and Total Health promotion. The invitation is a challenge to change in ways that require from us more than simply acquiring new technical skills: a new balance, a global vision.

Marissa Parisi

  • Hunger Free Vermont
  • Executive Director
  • South Burlington, Vermont, United States

I am the executive director of a statewide non-profit organization taking a systems approach to ending hunger. I've been interested in ALIA for many years and decided to finally take the plunge.

Alissa Parks

  • Early Childhood Investment Corporation
  • Senior Director of Great Start Consultation and Technical Assistance
  • Lansing, MI, United States

I currently lead our state's work to build local collaboratives/coalitions who lead early childhood reform and system building efforts in their community. I am hoping ALIA will help me to build my leadership skills to authentically empower others. One question guiding my learning is: In my role, how can I help facilitate leadership development? How do we build community readiness for change and break through power struggles that inhibit the work?

Judy Parnes

  • Social Worker
  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

Marc Parnes

  • Physician
  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

Stephanie Parnes

  • Student
  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

Tanya Patrella

  • Abrasive Technology, Inc.
  • Leadership
  • Lewis Center, OH, United States

I am the coach of leaders for our organization. Heard of Darcy Winslow's work, knew she was working with OSU program, reviewed it and am anxious to learn more!

Edward Pauline

  • The Ohio State University
  • Director, Buckeye Leadership Fellows
  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

I am charged with developing a new type of leadership program for students at Ohio State that introduces them to the real world and proves to be a transformational experience for them. I hope to gain better insight into as many leadership initiatives as possible so I can try to make my program unique and memorable to the students. Universities can do more to ensure that we help our next generation of leaders be as successful as possible...this program is my opportunity to do that.

Erica Pegues

  • Physicians Free Clinic/Voluntary Care Network
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Columbus, Oh, United States

Susan Petry

  • The Ohio State University
  • Chair
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I Chair the Department of Dance at Ohio State University; we are in the midst of many changes - curriculum, facilities, personnel, budget - creating opportunities as well as stress points. Honoring "old" while ushering "new" is a nugget of current challenge.

Jessica Pever

  • Toledo, OH, United States

David Phillips

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • VP of Operations
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

I attended ALIA in Halifax and it was an amazing experience. I would like to continue that Learning Journey.

Heather Plett

  • Sophia Leadership
  • Writer, consultant
  • Winnipeg, MB, Canada

In the past year, my life has been transformed, thanks in part to my experience at ALIA 2010. It was there that I dreamed up the beginnings of a new business, now called Sophia Leadership. I work as a writer, facilitator, leadership mentor, story midwife, and edge-walker, helping people unleash their unique wisdom in ways that impact the world. ALIA, and the amazing community it draws together, helps me dream big dreams and walk the edge with confidence.

Angela Pogue

  • Columbus Medical Association
  • H.R. Benefits Administrator
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Barbara Poppe

  • U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
  • Washington, DC, United States

Kathy Porter

  • The Kresge Foundation
  • Administrative Assistant, Administration Department
  • Troy, MI, United States

I am an advocate of postive healing and growth in the family and the community and the workplace, I currently teach yoga and I am in training to provide support to people who are in crisis. I am drawn to ALIA because of the attention to "mindfulness".

Malcolm Porter

  • Bexley, OH, United States

How can I improve my contribution to better work on public issues in the most meaningful way possible?

Lauri Prest

  • Providence Care
  • Director of Leadership and Learning
  • Kingston, ON, Canada

James Price

  • Physicians Free Clinic
  • Columbus, OH, United States

We are medical student coordinators at the Physicians Free Clinic and are participating in this program to better understand how to magnify our roles as leaders. We look to network with others in similar situations and to gain knowledge on new techniques to implement at the free clinic.

Addie Price

  • Physicians Free Clinic
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Ann Ralston

  • Ralston Consulting Inc.
  • Powell, OH, United States

Jonathan Ramsey

  • Columbus, OH, United States

Michelle Reese

  • New Albany, OH, United States

My goal: Quality of life for all. My area of interest is in helping leaders and teams that have an influence on the issues that impact the lives of those in greatest need. I endeavor to be a part of the solution to end homelessness and hunger, and to make access to affordable, quality health care a shared human experience. I am drawn to ALIA because of the people that are drawn to it - we're "fueling our tanks" and making meaning of our individual and collective energy.

Richard Reichard

  • Muskingum University
  • Asst. Professor
  • Reynoldsburg, OH, United States

I teach in an innovative Masters degree program from Muskingum University called MISST - Master of Information Strategy, Systems and Technology. I am drawn to ALIA because I want to be authentic in all aspects of my life. The question at the leading edge of my work is how do you prepare adult learners for a world of rapid change?

David Reis

  • LivingConsciously
  • Consultant
  • Charlottenlund, Denmark

Melissa Reynolds-Prond

  • Honda
  • OD Leader
  • Marysville, OH, United States

I began my career in the social sector helping to build a national non-profit I later realized that I was doing the work of organization development. After completing my graduate degree in OD at Case Western Reserve University, I moved into more formal OD and leadership development roles and believe that I am doing the work I was born to do! I am most passionate these days about facilitating the intersection of "best in the world and best for the world" in leaders and organizations.

Anders Risling

  • Fram
  • organizational psychologist and ph dr
  • Stockholm, Sweden, Sweden

Working to combine leadership development with organizational improvement. Have been planning and implementing Action Learning Program on grand scale for the Swedish and Norwegian government, government agencies and authorities, municipal authorities and the most successful companies in Scandinavia. My biggest satisfaction is when the organization by itself can run the action and I make myself not necessary.

Heather Robinson

  • Success Across Borders
  • Principal Consultant
  • Kent, WA, United States

The desire to learn with others who live their inspired visions. What possibilities emerge as I encourage others to step into the fullness of who they are by doing so myself?

Maria Rodgers

  • Care Coordinator
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Jose Romero

  • Independent Consultant
  • Mexico City, Mexico

I currently work as an independent consultant for UN agencies in the LAC region. My areas of expertise are: capacity development assessment/strategies, and simplification of complex systems for decision making. I hold a PhD. in sociology from the National University of Mexico (UNAM). Previous to my consulting practice, I worked for the UN system for 16 years (PAHO-WHO and UNDP). I am the author of two books on civil society and empowerment for development.

Daniel Rose

  • The Moment
  • Chief Collaboration Officer
  • Toronto, ON, Canada

I design and facilitate collaboration programs for organizations large and small. My methods seek to tap into the collective wisdom and passion of participants but I'm looking to learn skills to take participants to deeper, more personal places as a way of bring sustainable change to important projects.

Matthew Rosine

  • Church Extension
  • Church Consultant
  • Indianapolis, IN, United States

As a consultant with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Matt comes alongside congregations as they define their community and discern their future. Always looking to learn new roles for a consultant beyond that of "expert" or "advice giver," Matt appreciates the art of asking really good questions.

Thomas Rosol

  • Ohio State University
  • Professor
  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

Interested in improving leadership skills in motivation and change.

Howard Rossman

  • Mesirow Advanced Strategies, Inc.
  • Chicago, IL, United States

As the founder and CEO of a company that grew from 7 employees to over 100 today, I learned, first hand, about the practice of leadership. Having transitioned the day-to-day operations to the next generation of leaders, I am actively engaged as a board member with non-profit organizations to develop strategies that fulfill their missions. My experience as a psychologist, a long-time practice of Buddhist meditation, and over 30 years growing a business, informs my approach to leadership.

Brenda Rossy

  • Church Extension
  • Indianapolis, IN, United States

John Roy

  • JBR Consulting
  • Director
  • Falmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada

I have been a successful business entrepreneur ( real estate) having created public and private companies (several billion dollars of assets). Also I am a budding social entrepreneur focused on climate work ( EEE initiative) and authentic leadership (ALIA board member). I have also been an amateur actor and a scientist (BSc in theoretical chemistry/math). I am a father and grandfather. Although not a Buddhist I meditate daily. Q.--Where can I make the most valuable/meaningful contribution.

Donna Ruch

  • OSU College of Social Work
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Kathryn Russell

  • Teacher
  • Denver, CO, United States

Fred Rutter

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • transportation manager
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

I have held several management positions during the past 20 years with Mid-Ohio Foodbank. Acquiring new leadership skills, or refining the talents already possessed, is a useful pursuit. ALIA has been recommended by our senior management.

Tim Ryan

  • Niles, OH, United States

Congressman Tim Ryan grew up in Niles, Ohio, where he currently resides. In his last year of law school at Franklin Pierce Law Center in 2003 he won election to become one of the youngest State Senators in Ohio history. Tim serves on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. In addition to a heavy schedule of business for the his district and the country, Tim finds time to attend and present keynote speeches about the applications of mindfulness in America.

Tuesday Ryan-Hart

  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

Tuesday has spent her work life improving systemic responses for all people in a community, and she is passionate about working with groups to enhance awareness, understanding, alliances, and action across differences. Tuesday's current efforts span all levels of transformational work - from individual coaching to large-scale systemic change processes.

David Sable

  • Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

David combines over 20 years of management consulting with teaching and research, including as clients Prudential, government of Nova Scotia, Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents and the Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq. He is completing an Interdisciplinary PhD program at Dalhousie University, studying the impacts of reflective practices on critical thinking. His work appeared in book form first in Transformative Learning and Online Education: Aesthetics, Dimensions and Concepts.

Yuka Saionji

  • Goi Peace Foundation
  • Tokyo, Japan

Its always difficult to explain my work.. but it involves peace, spirituality, inter-faith, youth, consciousness, networking etc. I am very excited to join this program to expand my leadership and learn from the program itself and also the participants.

Xochitl Salvador

  • Illinois Project LAUNCH
  • Local Young Child Wellness Coordinator
  • Chicago, IL, United States

Ketty Santos

  • CHURCH EXTENSION
  • INDIANPOLIS, IN, United States

Gabe Sawhney

  • Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Dwight Scarborough

  • Columbus Medical Association
  • Dublin, OH, United States

David Schamer

  • Huntington Team
  • Director of University Banking
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Jean Schelhorn

  • Ohio State University
  • Commercialization Specialist
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Kristen Schmidt

  • Columbus Alive
  • Editor
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Linda Schoen

  • Ohio Dominican University
  • Inetrim Vice President for Academic Affairs
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I have had the opportunity to attend Art of Hosting workshops and participate in the Columbus AOH Communty of Practice. Every time I come away with renewed energy, greater openness, and a stronger belief in the essential nature of community which in turn gives grounding to my leadership.

Pamela Schreiner

  • Wisdom Works Wonders
  • Consultant
  • Ottawa, ON, Canada

I'm interested in how we humans can come together in ways of authenticity, integrity and respect. How can we look at the hard data and let it speak to us as humans. How can we move towards greater wholeness. Previously, I worked in technology (telecommunications software development) and then as a Quality Analyst where I focused on Organizational Performance Measurement systems such as Balanced Scorecard.

Alissa Schwartz

  • Director of Evaluation/Independent Consultant
  • Brooklyn, NY, United States

I have a passion for building vibrant social communities. I am the Director of Evaluation for a large non-profit, and I am in the process of developing a consulting practice specializing in crafting meetings that are productive and exciting; designing and producing useful, humanistic evaluations; and building engaged, motivated teams. I draw from my family’s hosting traditions, my background in theater directing, experience in social research, and passion for positive organizational behavior.

Jorie Schwartz

  • OSU College of Social Work
  • Field Coordinator
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I am interested in building on what I've learned in my experiences with the AoH community.

Pamela Scott Crace

  • Progress Media Group
  • Editor
  • Halifax, NS, Canada

As the editor of a regional business magazine, I am always searching for new ideas to explore for our readers. My fundamental triad of questions goes like this: How do we make "progress" as individual leaders, within our organizations, and as a community?

Elizabeth Scoville

  • Chilipepper Communications
  • CEO
  • Worthington, Ohio, United States

Kevin Seymour

  • COSI
  • Director of Public & Member Programs
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Abby Sharpless

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

Will Shilling

  • Columbus Alive
  • Creative Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

William Shivers

  • Huntington National Bank
  • Regional President
  • Canton, OH, United States

Akron Canton Regional President for Huntington Bank. I am looking to improve my leadership skills.

Linda Siefkas

  • Siefkas Public Relations, LLC
  • President
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Martin Siesta

  • Berkana
  • Planner
  • maplewood, New Jersey, United States

John Simmering

  • Legasus Group, LC
  • President
  • Wichita, Kansas, United States

William Singer

  • CHURCH EXTENSION
  • INDIANPOLIS, IN, United States

Susan Skjei

  • Longmont, CO, United States

Susan is a management consultant specializing in organizational change, coaching, and leadership development. Formerly a vice-president and chief learning officer in the high-tech industry, she designs and facilitates participative approaches to strategic planning and organizational transformation. Susan is a founding board member of the ALIA Institute and a long time faculty member. She is also the founding director of the Authentic Leadership Certificate Program at Naropa University.

Alan Sloan

  • Alan Sloan Consulting and Facilitation
  • Leadership Coach
  • Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

An executive coach, educator, and facilitator in Halifax, NS, Alan provides services in leadership development to governments, organizations, businesses and individuals. He is a recognized trainer in community development and collaborative methodologies. For 35 years, Alan has been a senior teacher of mindfulness in the Shambhala tradition. He has been an active member of the ALIA community since its inception, and for the last 5 years, a presenter of mindfulness at the summer programs.

LuJean Smith

  • Huntington National Bank
  • SVP, Business Segment Communications Director
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I lead a team of 7 people managing internal/external communications for Huntington's primary business segments. I have over 20 years' experience managing strategic marketing, communications and media relations programs. I have supported a wide range of organizations--from small businesses and nonprofits to large, global conglomerates--including state universities, medical device manufacturers and healthcare providers. I look forward to expanding my leadership skills through the ALIA program.

P. Louise Smith

  • Credit Union Central of Manitoba
  • Director, Strategic Solutions
  • Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

I'm a mother of two children. I work with credit unions and other co-ops, a system undergoing major shifts as economics, technology and social preferences change. My team provides business consulting for credit unions and related organizations, in planning, process and transitions. I also volunteer with mothers who breastfeed or want to, as a La Leche League Canada Leader. My focus is on systems thinking, helping others see systems, and supporting organizations through change.

Margaret Smith-Burke

  • New York University
  • Professor Emeritus New York University
  • New York, NY, United States

A former professor from New York University, I am interested in ways to facilitate communication, language and literacy acquisition, district and school change and the role of mindfulness in education.

George Spack

  • Brightway Center
  • Salem, OH, United States

Mary Stacey

  • Context Management Consulting
  • Managing Director
  • Toronto, ON, Canada

My work builds leadership & cultural capacity to thrive in today's complex, rapidly changing systems. I'm currently engaged in global leadership development programs, a portfolio of executive coaching relationships, & as a faculty member with the Canadian Physician Management Institute. This year I'm returning to ALIA in a team coaching role, having previously co-hosted the Action Inquiry module, the Remarkable Leadership Series, & (with my son Kalin) the Intergenerational Leadership Exchange.

Stephen Starkey

  • Backstop Solutions Group, LLC
  • Development Manager
  • Chicago, Illinois, United States

I have always been interested in leadership at a community-organizational level, but never sought any formal training. I am drawn to ALIA because I find myself for the first time in a leadership position in business, and as I have been participating in Shambhala meditation training, the Institute seemed a natural fit.

Michele Steckler

  • Spencertown, NY, United States

After a 26 year career in the theatre - as a stage manager and then a producer - I am transitioning out of that world and beginning to explore new roads. Looking forward to the unfolding of the next chapter.

Maurice Stevens

  • The Ohio State University
  • Associate Professor
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Having been a teacher/learner in various contexts for a very long time now, I have witnessed the intensity that can accompany the awakening of a learning community. I have felt the powerful intention that can come from groups defining their own edges of learning and leadership. I want to deepen my sense of practices that support these kinds of emergences.

Bob Stilger

  • The Berkana Institute
  • Former Co-President
  • Spokane, WA, United States

Over the last decade as part of The Berkana Institute, I've worked with people around the world using a "living systems" approach to leadership. We believe that organizations and communities have the knowledge, wisdom and resources needed to take their next steps as healthy and resilient communities. I've had the opportunity to take Berkana's work into Japan and will be joined at the Summer Program by a number of wonderful folks from Japan.

Carly Styer

  • The Ohio State University
  • Marketing and Promotions Coordinator
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Angie Swartz

  • RTM Institute
  • Co-Founder
  • San Diego, CA, United States

My background includes over 20 years of experience in business strategy, finance, marketing, human relations and communications at large and small companies where big functional things were happening without much meaning. I am interested in ALIA's work as it relates to changing this. I live in San Diego and have a great interest in advancing conscious business awareness, social change and leadership.

Susan Szpakowski

  • ALIA Institute
  • Executive Director
  • Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

What good fortune to be part of a community dedicated to creating spaces that are intentional and alive! Over the past decade, I have experienced how our best selves and our best work are nourished and empowered by these spaces. My questions now are about scaling up and scaling down. How do the practices of authentic, transformational leadership become more available to more people? How do we transition to more wholesome and sustainable ways of living and working?

Samantha Tan

  • The World Cafe & The Meristem Group
  • Cambridge, MA, United States

How can we be Wiser Together? I am a host and facilitator in multi-generational and multi-cultural dialogue and co-creation. Working, often struggling :) with generational, cultural, religious and gender diversity in my own life and relationships has allowed me to experience and appreciate the profound humanity and incredible possibilities in this work. I can't wait to meet each of you!

Sarah Tarrant

  • Ohio State College of Social Work
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Sarah is a Master's of Social Work student at The Ohio State University. Her primary interests include gerontology, advocacy, research, and public policy. The ALIA conference is a great opportunity to obtain knowledge and skills from the leading professionals in order to become an effective leader in my future career.

Brian Taylor

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • Outreach Specialist
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

Danielle Terrance

  • The Ohio State University
  • GAA - The Women's Place
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I am a Ph.D. student in Education Policy and Leadership at The Ohio State University.

Sonya Lin Thesing

  • Westerville, OH, United States

Collette Thompson

  • Northern Kentucky University
  • Highland Heights, KY, United States

Tammy Thompson

  • Columbus, OH, United States

Sera Thompson

  • Halifax, NS, Canada

Sera supports leaders who cultivate social innovation. She is passionate about engaging diversity and works to bring communities together across generations, classes, sectors and cultures to solve pressing challenges. She has recently been working on regional initiatives including public health, sustainable food, and shifting systemic racism. She is a co-founder of The Hub in Halifax, a board member of the ALIA Institute and a senior trainer of Deep Democracy and the Art of Hosting.

Marilyn Tomasi

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • Strategic Initiatives
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

Marilyn Tormey

  • Action for Children
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Kristina Torres

  • The Ohio State University
  • Communications Program Manager
  • Columbus, OH, United States

As a communications professional in the IT world, I often find myself translating between worlds and trying to keep the purpose centered. ALIA embodies the core principles that drive me to be passionate about my life and goals. How do I preserve my own sense of purpose and continue to grow as a leader? How do I catalyze strategic conversations?

Emi Tsudaka

  • Hyogo, Japan

*Eco-tourism guide in Western Japan. *Facilitator at dialogue events on environmental issues. *Researcher on environmental conflict management. *Human Resource Manager of Climate Youth Japan (Youth Organization fighting against climate change issues) "I'd like to be enzyme to let more people to discover their authentic leadership in Japanese environmental arena." My question: "How can we make a process of local environmental decision making process with satisfaction of stakeholders?"

Lisa Upson

  • ecotone communications
  • Principal
  • Bozeman, Montana

I work in wildlife and biodiversity conservation, but I have a varied background in law, organizational development, and instructional design. I'm drawn to ALIA because I seek to bring holistic, interdisciplinary influences and systems thinking to conservation orgs and work, currently much needed in the field. The Summer Institute will not only model what I'd like to help deliver, it will also help me develop my idea for a venture through which to do this.

Susan Ursel

  • Green & Chercover
  • Partner
  • Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Working with the labour and progressive communities in Ontario, I am always interested in new approaches to leadership and organizational renewal.

Joe Valentino

  • Upper Arlington, Ohio, United States

I believe there is a correlation between leadership and the spiritual world; this has been reinforced through the Art of Hosting and people associated with AoH and ALIA. I look forward to exploring my heart and soul so that I might be a more effective servant leader.

Michelle Vander Stouw

  • United Way of Central Ohio
  • AVP, Planning & Accountability
  • Columbus, OH, United States

As a member of the Columbus Art of Hosting community and Our Optimal Health I have been deeply impacted by how the collective can transform the landscape of a community. My work at United Way has me supporting both organizational and community level change through strategic dialogue coupled with rich harvesting. A personal goal I have is to deepen my practices of grounding and presencing and I am looking forward to reconnecting with my mates from around the world.

Stephanie Vecchiarelli

  • Columbus, OH, United States

Georgina Veldhorst

  • VW Consulting
  • Consultant
  • Toronto and Nairobi, Kenya and Canada

Georgina works in complex decision-making and transformation in Canada and Africa, helping to strengthen organizations and enabling groups, communities and individuals to gain new understanding of their situation and achieve breakthrough results. A certified Deep Democracy facilitator and instructor, her consulting work includes organizational reviews, strategic planning, change management, maximizing team potential and leadership success, harnessing diversity and conflict transformation.

August Ventura

  • Psychologist
  • Cincinnati, OH, United States

Susan Virnig

  • Spokane, WA, United States

I am very pleased to be serving as one of the coordinators of the Japan Team, having a relationship with Japan that goes back 40 years to my time as a college student there. My work these days consists of different callings, including facilitating/hosting groups, teaching cross-cultural communication as well as poetry, and volunteering with nonprofits. A question: as I move into elderhood, what's next? What will call me deeply at this point in my life?

Nora Vitins

  • Moving Conversations
  • Director
  • Daylesford, Australia

I work with communities and clients to bring about change. This year Australia is recovering after drought, fire, floods, locusts and a cyclone. ALIA is an opportunity to explore: How do I as an "elder" of the community develop my wisdom? How do you help rebuild human spirit, resilience & optimism? How does my business need to adapt to better do its work in a world of climate change & continually challenged rural communities?

Judy Wallace

  • Hosting evolutionary convesations
  • Gloucester, MA, United States

I come to ALIA to be in learning & inquiry with others at the edge of what is possible. I am co-initiator of Women Moving the Edge with Ria Baeck - exploring, evolving, experiencing, moving ever more into subtle ways of knowing. How can collective presencing as a new human capacity become core in us as collective leaders and participants? How will we fully integrate this ? What is collective leadership? What would a school for true collective leadership look like? How to best serve our planet?

Ann Walle

  • Church World Service
  • Director for Innovation & Strategic Affairs
  • New York, NY, United States

Juanita Ward

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • Agency Services Training Coordinator
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

Rebecca Ward

  • Brock University
  • Professor/Psychologist
  • Fonthill, ON, Canada

I am a psychologist working with teens with autism and Asperger interested in how to engage them in learning about the social world so as to relate to others better, and to find their own self-expression. Social Presencing Theatre may be a vehicle for teaching these young people to become self-advocates in creating a world of acceptance and appreciation for diversity.

Dana Ward

  • Mid-Ohio Food Bank
  • AmeriCorps VISTA
  • Columbus, Ohio, United States

Ali Warner

  • London, United Kingdom

A music teacher, mindfulness practitioner and arts facilitator. How can these three be integrated to provide a powerful path of human enrichment for our communities, societies and ourselves?

Amy Watson

  • The Hertz Corporation
  • Culture Change Facilitator
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I have been a culture facilitator since spring 2009 when I began delivering interactive training sessions and facilitating conversations around organizational-culture concepts and values at Ohio State. ALIA 2010 blew me over with the quality of thinking and the powerful practices I encountered here. I am still facilitating learning and conversations in organizational culture, now for a new organization, and I am eager to learn more about how to be a force for positive change in the world.

Ryan Watson

  • ALIA Institute
  • Program Director
  • Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

I've had the pleasure of being a member of the ALIA staff team since 2006. Personally, I'm drawn to questions and projects of social transformation. How does power show up? How is it applied, and by whom? How can powerful actions be aligned with values of compassion, authenticity, and responsibility?

Juanita Webb

  • Action for Children
  • Early Learning Specialist
  • Columbus, OH, United States

David Weisberg

  • Huntington National Bank
  • Senior Vice President, Commercial Region Manager
  • Pittsburgh, PA, United States

Laura Weisel

  • The TLP Group
  • CEO
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Looking forward to more inspiration, validation, personal development, and mates!

Heidi Wengerd

  • Lehigh Valley Health Network
  • Allentown, PA, United States

Samantha Werner

  • Worthington, OH, United States

As a post college graduate, I am looking forward to sharing my Art of Hosting experience and insight. Wherever my hoped-for future travels take me, I aim to use ALIA as a guide to help me address what I can learn from the community I am with and how can I help if my help is needed and wanted. Using dance, speech, and written word, I want to re-channel my emotions into actions that will benefit the communities I interact with and affect positive change.

Meg Wheatley

  • Sundance, UT, United States

Meg writes, teaches, and speaks about how we might organize and accomplish our work in chaotic times, and willingly step forward to serve. She is co-founder and President emerita of The Berkana Institute, a charitable global foundation that works in partnership with a rich diversity of people around the world who strengthen their communities by working with the wisdom and wealth already present in their people, traditions and environment.

Diane Willemse

  • Walmart Canada
  • Toronto, ON, Canada

Judy Williams

  • Action for Children
  • Program Coordinator
  • Columbus, OH, United States

My work is to help create positive, nurturing envioronments for children by supporting their parents, teachers and caregivers with resources. I want to help bring about change in the way that our communities value and support families. And I recognize that I may first need to bring about change within myself--how I look at things, how I interact with others. I am eager to engage in a full day of learning and connecting with others who share these passions and goals.

Autumn Williams

  • The Ohio State University
  • Program Manager
  • Columbus, OH, United States

I am a young professional, early in my career, but very intentional about the paths that I choose. ALIA is attractive to me as I strive to remain authentic and self aware as opportunities present themselves. I want to always be my best self in everything that I do.

Penny Williamson

  • Relationship Centered Health Care
  • Baltimore, MD, United States

I am a keen learner in embodied presence, Social Presencing Theatre and 5 rhythms Dance and committed to bringing these ways of knowing into my work with health care leaders and their institutions. I look forward to meeting kindred and deepening my learning at the ALIA summer institute.

Bob Wing

  • Boulder, CO, United States

Bob is the director of Mountain Warrior Institute and a founder of Warrior of the Heart seminars and retreats, designed to train individuals and groups to live and work wisely and courageously. He has studied and taught Aikido since 1977 and has worked throughout the world for many different organizations. Bob is an active facilitator of Art of Hosting trainings, as well as a sculptor and painter, with a special interest in spontaneous and "in the moment" works.

Darcy Winslow

  • Portland, OR, United States

The founder of Designs for a Sustainable World Collective, LLC, focusing on the development of strategies for sustainable and regenerative business practices, Darcy serves as a Senior Strategist with Brightworks, Inc. and is an Executive-in-Residence and Senior Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management. She is also on the Board of Directors for Portland Oregon Sustainability Institute, Greenopolis, The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education, and the Council for Responsible Sport.

Sally Wolf

  • Illinois Balanced and Restorative Justice Project
  • Executive Director
  • Paxton, IL, United States

I have worked in Probation and Court Services here in Illinois, where I began to learn about restorative justice. We began using RJ practices in 1998, incorporating it into our work. By 2005 I left Probation and have worked with our statewide NFP we created since that time, Working with communities interested in changing philosophies brought me to Art of Hosting. I want to learn all I can about Authentic Leadership.

Jeff Wolfsberg

  • Jeff Wolfsberg and Associates
  • President
  • Canton, MA, United States

I'm a Drug Education Specialist and Youth Speaker. I work as a facilitator, speaker, educator, and consultant to private secondary schools around the issues of underage drinking, drug use, and mental health. My work takes me all over the United States and to a few countries overseas. Although my work in the classroom with students seems to evolve organically as I personally grow, I'm always dealing with institutional resistance and parental apathy to taking the lead on this issue.

Lisa Woods

  • OneAmerica
  • Web Content Manager
  • Indianapolis, IN, United States

Jessica Wright

  • Mid-Ohio Foodbank
  • Grove City, Ohio, United States

Dana Wright

  • Action for Children
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Rita Wuebbeler

  • Interglobe Cross-Cultural Business Services, Inc.
  • President
  • Halifax, NS, Canada

"After attending ALIA for the first time last year, I am returning with even bigger excitement about the ALIA learning community, an even greater openness to experiencing new things, and huge "Vorfreude" (anticipation) of deepening connections made last year and forging new ones. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia but moving moving to Toronto in less than two months, I am engaging the ambiguity of being "in between" in all aspects of my life. My work includes teaching programs in Personal Leadership, helping intact teams grow and building cultural competence with individuals and in organizations."

Leslie Yerkes

  • Catalyst Consulting Group, Inc.
  • President
  • Cleveland, OH, United States

I am passionate about leadership and creating organizational cultures where individuals can bring the best of their whole selves to work each day. I have been consulting in the field of organizational behavior for 25 years, have authored seven books, teach at CASE and speak internationally. I love my work and working with others.

So Yoshida

  • Freerlance
  • Trainner
  • Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Leadership and human relationship training trainer, facilitator. Taiwa (Dialogue) House, co-working space, founder.

Kazemaru Yukawa-Bacon

  • Hakalau, Hawai'i, USA

Kazemaru is the Founder and Director of the Society of Human Sustainability, a Division of the Oxford Leadership Academy dedicated to the sustainability of individuals and organizations. Kazemaru was trained from childhood in zen meditation and martial arts by her father Yoshi Yukawa (Master of the Zenku-Kai dojo and creator of Zenergy). She has studied, practiced and taught holistic sustainability in Sweden and Japan since 1986.

Joseph Zaremba

  • Huntington Bank
  • SVP, Corp Risk Management
  • Columbus, OH, United States

Nicholas Zorko

  • MD/PhD Student
  • Columbus, OH, United States

After hearing about the ALIA program, I was drawn to it because of the innovative methods it utilized relative to other leadership training programs I had been through. These methods will be of great use in my future as a physician scientist, where I will be required to work in clinical and basic science settings. Given the different mindset and goals of each of these groups, experiencing the ALIA program will provide me with the tools needed for effective leadership throughout my career.

Rosa Zubizarreta

  • DiaPraxis
  • Principal consultant
  • Great Barrington, MA, United States

My calling is helping develop the social capacity for creative collaboration. As facilitator and learning catalyst, I work with groups who want to engage in inspired and effective action. As we creatively explore divergent perspectives, we discover shared systemic understandings and new possibilities for moving forward. Here at ALIA, I am particularly interested in discovering other approaches that are being developed for addressing “wicked problems”. What might we learn from one another?