We are proud to introduce you to our team of professional speakers. You can click on speakers’ names to read their bios, see their pictures, review their specialty topics, and in some cases view videos of their presentations. If there is a topic or type of professional that you are searching for but do not see listed here, Steinbrecher can still assist you. Simply contact us and let us know exactly what you need and we will tap into our team of professionals to find the right fit. We are committed to making your event a success.

Susan Steinbrecher
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

Susan Steinbrecher, an internationally acclaimed businesswoman, executive coach, speaker and author, is president and CEO of Steinbrecher And Associates, Inc. a management consulting firm that provides professional development services in the areas of executive coaching, group facilitation, and leadership training.

Susan works with senior executives and their organizations to develop and implement innovative, life-changing and profit-building solutions to address the global and day-to-day challenges of leadership, operations, human resources and training.

Susan’s expertise has positively impacted companies worldwide like Bank of America, Diageo, Capital One, CVS/Caremark, Brinker International, Gaylord Entertainment, Hilton, Miraval Spa and Resorts, Seneca Gaming, and Northwest Airlines to name a few.

Prior to founding Steinbrecher And Associates in 1992, Susan was a rising star with one of the country’s best known hotel chains for fourteen years. She went from entry level to the chain’s youngest General Manager in history to leading the strategic training and development initiatives.

Susan earned her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Arts and Sciences from Southwest Texas State University, and an Honorary Doctorate in Hospitality Management. She holds professional certifications as a master practitioner of neuro-linguistic programming, a certified mediator and several 360 assessments. She is also a certified HeartMath coach. Her first book, Heart-Centered Leadership: An Invitation to Lead from the Inside Out was published in 2004. Her new book Roadmap to Success with Stephen Covey and Ken Blanchard was released September 2008.

Susan is a member of the International Coach Federation, Women’s Foodservice Forum, HRPS, and CHART, the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers, which she is past-president. For four consecutive years, she has received the Business Leadership Center’s Teaching Excellence Award at the SMU Cox School of Business.

Susan has served as an expert on multiple business issues on various radio shows, publications such as Strategy Magazine and Fortune Small Business and has been seen on Fox, NBC and CNN.

To see Susan’s speaking topics and video, please click here.

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Robert Schaefer
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

Robert Schaefer is the Vice President of Client Services at Steinbrecher Associates. He has over 15 years experience within the hospitality and retail industries. As an HR&D leader, Robert is an accomplished OD and HR management consultant, facilitator, and instructional designer, who specializing in assessments, survey development, competency modeling, performance management, job analysis, and executive coaching. Robert has a B.A. in religious studies and psychology, graduate studies in counseling, an M.B.A., and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in organizational psychology.

Speaking Topics

• Assessments in the Workplace: 360s, personality testing, and ability testing
• Using Training to Maximize Performance and Drive Change
• Effective Competency Modeling: What to Do and What to Avoid
• Job Analysis: A Critical Component of Strategic HR&D

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Deborah Dearmond
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

Deborah has an impressive 25-year track record in the performance development field. She has considerable experience in executive coaching, facilitation, and performance assessment and development, including training and curriculum design.

Deborah has provided leadership training and coaching for a variety of executive leaders in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, telecommunications and manufacturing industries. Developing leadership performance is an area of focus for Deborah. Her work includes performance diagnostics for executive and senior level leaders, including CEOs using 360-degree evaluation processes, and she is certified as a Master Trainer in Development Dimension International’s (DDI) Leadership Development Program, the Empowerment Mirror, Leadership Assessment and Leadership Mirror systems, as well as the DiSC Behavioral Profile.

Deborah’s client list includes The Clorox Company, HJ Heinz, Raytheon, Campbell Soup, QUALCOMM, Cisco, and Time Warner Cable. She has led programs for organizations in the hospitality and travel industries, restaurant industry, and retail sectors as well as manufacturing, health care, and pharmaceutical companies.

Deborah’s professional experience includes leadership roles for Bank of America, H.J. Heinz and Telecommunications Inc. (TCI). In her last internal role at TCI she served as a division level director of corporate learning and orgnizational development, responsible for a staff of 65 serving an employee population of nearly 7,000 employees.

Deborah received her education in Training and Development from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California, and holds numerous certifications in the field of organization and performance development.

Speaking Topics

• Can We Talk? The Secrets to great communication that will keep you away from conflict
• Speak Up, Move Up! Gaining the Opportunities You Deserve
• How Come You Never Told Me That??!! Understanding How Others See You

 

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Patricia Smith
Atlanta, GA

Patricia Smith is an Executive Coach, Facilitator, and Professional Speaker for Steinbrecher & Associates. Her passion is helping people and businesses discover and unleash their possibility, which is the focus of her company.

Formerly with Wyndham International, Smith was an Executive Vice President responsible for transforming the corporate culture and leading a network of regional HR offices across North America and the Caribbean providing people services to 24,000 employees. Linking employees to the business and developing strategies that engage discretionary energy, Smith led a team aligning the company’s customer recognition program to the employee experience. Smith was also focused on the company’s diversity reinvention that took the company’s NAACP hotel ranking in just three years from #11 to #2.

Prior to Wyndham, Smith was a Strategy Implementation Director and Senior Consultant with Wilson Learning Corp. She partnered with William Ury, co-founder of Harvard’s Negotiation Program and author of Negotiating to Yes. Smith designed cultural evolution strategies and diversity and sales training solutions for pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and insurance industries.

Smith spent 15 years with The Walt Disney Company in leadership roles at various theme park, hotel and vacation ownership start-ups partnering with leaders to create customer service based cultures. Partnering with Marcus Buckingham, author of First, Break All the Rules, her key accomplishments include launching the first two, off-site Disney resorts earning 4-Diamond ratings and achieving the highest leader score on the Gallup Organization Talent Formula.

Beginning her career as a nurse, Smith holds a Master’s Degree in Career & HRD and two Bachelor Degrees in Communications and Metaphysics.

Speaking Topics

• Unleashing Possibility - Changing Your Success Pattern to Achieve Breakthrough Results
• Unleashing Possibility in your Strategic Planning Process
• Customer Service - The Road to Service Excellence

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Guy Smith
Atlanta, GA

Guy Smith has a passion for helping people and organizations discover and unleash their possibility. With experience in hospitality, lodging, healthcare, technology, entertainment, retail, and automotive, he has delivered presentations around the world.

Formerly with Gaylord Opryland, Guy was head of leadership and training. Focusing on leader and frontline development, Guy led a team that created and implemented a resort-wide customer service initiative resulting in a 21% increase in customer satisfaction in eight months.

Also with Methodist Health System as VP of Organization Effectiveness, Guy lead a team focused on linking employees to business strategy and aligning the processes, systems, leadership and messages to the culture. Guy was instrumental in helping the company achieve the Dallas Business Journal’s Best Place to Work distinction two years in a row.

Guy also worked for Texas Instruments as a performance coach focused on designing and implementing customized training and cultural interventions. He also oversaw the company’s enculturation process lessening time-to-contribution for new hires by 29%.

Guy spent 18 years with The Walt Disney Company, where he was responsible for directing a 40-person team of facilitators while overseeing the operation of 30 training programs. Consistently surpassing his sales goal by as much as 40%, Guy partnered with leaders in Corporate America, Europe, Japan, and South Africa. He also trained employees from such countries as China, France, Morocco, Italy, Mexico, Norway, and United Kingdom.

Guy began his career as a vocational counselor for the hearing impaired at The Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. He is a graduate of Flagler College and holds Bachelor Degrees in Education and Psychology.

Speaking Topics

• Customer Service- The Road to Service Excellence
• Leadership - Creating a Culture of Heroes: Enrolling Your Employees in Your Company’s Success
• Possibility Thinking - Changing Your Success Pattern to Achieve Breakthrough Results

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John Alexander
Orlando, FL

John Alexander is a Certified Heart-Centered Leadership Facilitator, Consultant and Professional Speaker. A 35-year veteran of the foodservice industry, John’s professional experience includes hotel and restaurant management, sales team management, and creating technology solutions for the hospitality industry. He has represented the National Restaurant Association Solutions as a Director of Sales, providing programs to support the training needs of global restaurant chains.

He is a graduate of The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University and earned his Master of Arts Degree in Human Resources Development from Webster University.

John is a three year member of the Board of Directors of CHART - The Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers, a 700-member organization dedicated to the development of hospitality training professionals In this capacity, his emphasis has been on providing engaging speakers for the educational programming at CHART Conferences and directing volunteer conference teams.

Firmly believing that the principles and virtues of Heart-Centered Leadership are the solution to many of today’s business challenges, John looks forward to helping your organization by sharing his experience through the lens of this exciting program.

Speaking Topics

• Heart-Centered Leadership

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Joel B. Bennett
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

Joel B. Bennett, Ph.D., is president of Organizational Wellness & Learning Systems (OWLS), providing tools to create, sustain, and renew healthy workplaces. Authored books include Time & Intimacy (Lawrence Erlbaum), and he is co-editor of Preventing Workplace Substance Abuse: Beyond Drug Testing to Wellness (American Psychological Association). Dr. Bennett is the primary developer of “Team Awareness,” an award-winning, science-based training program in workplace health promotion.
www.organizationalwellness.com

Speaking Topics

• Heart-Centered Leadership
• Time & Presence: Beyond Time Management to Deep Wellness
• The Ripple Effect: The Positive Effects of Healthy Leadership
• Team Awareness: How to Build Healthy Teams to Manage Risks

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Andy Atkinson
Wilmington, NC

Andy Atkinson is dedicated to training and facilitating in areas of leadership, group dynamics, and team building. He provides motivational speaking, group facilitation, and strategic planning. Prior to starting LII in 2005, Andy worked as Deputy County Manager in Wilmington, North Carolina. He managed operating and capital budgets in excess of $150,000,000 annually and received Certificates of Excellence in Financial Reporting from 1981-1993 (Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada).

Andy works to enhance productivity and profit in the workplace setting. He makes lively and practical presentations that help participants develop leadership skills and know how to effectively implement them. His interactive sessions help companies build teams that empower individuals to set goals and determine their roles within their organizations. His client base includes health organizations, faith communities, government entities, and service industries. Some of his many clients include Cape Fear Memorial Foundation, Chemonics International, Inc., N.C. Association of Insurance Women, the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, and University of North Carolina-Wilmington.

In addition to being a certified facilitator for Heart-Centered Leadership, Andy is a certified trainer for Education for Ministry Program, is qualified to administer Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and is a certified facilitator for Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Franklin Covey Company. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina.

Andy was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons in the Episcopal Church in 1988. He currently serves at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Speaking Topics

• Heart-Centered Leadership
• Building Block of Leadership: An Introduction to Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBIT) and Teambuilding
• Group Facilitation Retreat

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Kim Rivera Beattie
Atlanta, GA

Kim Rivera Beattie has 15 years of experience in the corporate coaching, human resources, training and development arenas, 5 years of which were at the executive level as VP of Human Resources, Recruiting, and Training for one of the most recognized brands in the restaurant industry. She is also a member of Council for Hotel and Restaurant Trainers.

Kim’s experience at an executive level position in corporate America allows her to have an insightful understanding of the challenges facing people in business today. She has excellent problem-solving skills, masterful team-building skills, outstanding brainstorming capabilities, and is a motivating public speaker. Her approach with her clients is direct and personable. She gives them the professionalism, determination, and motivation of an executive on their team.

Kim graduated from University of Central Florida with a degree from the school of Communications. She also attends coaching school at the Tomas Leonard Schools of Coaching, one of the top coaching schools in the United States.

Speaking Topics

• Heart-Centered Leadership
• Change Management
• Coaching skills for managers
• Accountability

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Marie Guthrie
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

Marie Guthrie, ACC, is a Career and Change Management Strategist who thrives on making BIG things happen in careers and the people side of businesses. With over 20 years senior executive and 10 years professional coaching expertise as both an internal and external coach, Marie is an innovative business leader, professional coach and productivity consultant known for building employee capabilities needed to achieve personal and business goals. Interviewed by Fortune Magazine and The Financial Times of London, Marie is a frequent keynote speaker on strategic Career & Change Management issues. Several of Marie’s programs have won local and international recognition.

Marie is the Managing Director of, a Career, Executive, Professional and Business Coaching services firm. Previously Marie served on the Board of Directors as Corporate Secretary for Hitachi Semiconductor (America) and was the Director of Human Resources, Legal Affairs and Administration for sales, R&D and manufacturing in North America, Asia and Europe. She has also held senior human resources and operations positions with a human capital management firm, the law firm Locke, Purnell, Rain, Harrell; and with Continental Insurance Company.

Marie is a Certified Executive and Career Coach with the International Coaching Federation; IPAT Certified Talent Consultant (Institute of Personality and Ability Testing); Certified Facilitator with The Institute of Heart-Centered Leadership, Now What? 90 Days to a New Life Direction and Get Clients Now!. She is trained in the Career Coach Institute’s Authentic Vocation Model, Career Design and Today’s Job Search methods. Marie is a SPHR (Senior Human Resources Professional). Marie is a graduate of Coach U and has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Insurance & Risk Management from The Ohio State University. She is a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF) and the International Coach Federation of North Texas.

Speaking Topics

• Heart-Centered Leadership

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Ed Morgan
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

Ed Morgan is a consultant in human resources, organization effectiveness and executive coach who works with individuals and organizations to develop creative solutions and results which enable their continued success, growth and development.

Ed spent more than 20 years serving in corporate officer, and management levels in human resource management, organizational development and administration for Fortune 50 and private companies.

His expertise is recognized in executive assessment and talent and change management, M&A integration, system design and implementation, communication, compensation system design and dispute resolution.

Ed earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Oberlin College and a Masters of Liberal Arts from Southern Methodist University. He has professional certifications Mediation, The Birkman Method, Myers-Briggs and Heart Centered Leadership.

Speaking Topics

• Heart-Centered Leadership

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Cheryl Tyler
Las Vegas, NV

Cheryl Tyler’s experience ranges from operations management to human resources executive in the hospitality industry, to professional facilitator for executive, management and front line teams in a variety of industries to include technology and healthcare.

As a former Vice President of Human Resources and Training and now as an independent Human Resource and Training Consultant, Cheryl partners with clients in the areas of vision, mission and teambuilding initiatives, culture transition, corporate university programming, selection processes, executive and management leadership facilitation, accountability workshops, customer service seminars, and liability training to name a few.

Cheryl has extensive experience as a facilitator both in front of and off camera. Cheryl’s broad range of “live” interactive seminars bring her from behind the podium and into the audience leaving participants energized and recharged while her leadership seminars inspire teams to search inward and ask for more.

Cheryl is an active member of Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers, serves as VP of Professional Development for the Las Vegas Chapter of American Society for Training and Development and has earned her PHR from the Society of Human Resource Management.

Speaking Topics

• Heart-Centered Leadership
• Leading Change
• Professional Presence and Presentation Skills
• Creating a Culture of Accountability
• Social Styles - Identifying and Adapting to Communication Styles
• The Customer Focus!(c) - A unique customer service program based on teh bestselling books “Moments of Magic” and “The Cult of the Customer” by Shep Hyken. This program can be customized to your organization’s needs.

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Kathy Wade-Yacoubian
Memphis, TN

Kathy brings 20 years experience in leader development to her work with Heart Centered Leadership. Kathy designed and led formal development programs for high-potential, emerging talent; coached individual managers as well as leadership teams to take on new challenges; and guided teams through mergers and acquisitions.

As an executive in her own right, Kathy has led multiple departments composed of centrally- and remotely-located business professionals who supported nationwide operations. With Holiday Corporation and Promus Hotels, Kathy was responsible for new manager development, customer service and diversity training, and executive development. At Harrah’s Entertainment, Kathy was the corporate vice president accountable for selection systems, training, employee metrics, employee relations and management development. While performing these roles, Kathy served as a confidential internal coach across multiple levels of the organization. Kathy was a winner of the prestigious Excellence in Leadership Award, the highest honor given to Harrah’s executives.

Kathy recognizes firsthand the challenges of meeting day-to-day business goals, yet taking the time to develop oneself as an ever-growing leader. Kathy considers the context in which her clients must succeed, and is able to coach and guide them in a way that benefits them, their teams, and their organizations. As a certified facilitator of Heart Centered Leadership, Kathy offers a supportive yet challenging experience in personal growth.

Speaking Topics

• Heart-Centered Leadership

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Linda Glass
Austin, TX

Joleen Goronkin
Minneapolis, MN

Goronkin is a high energy, passionate speaker and facilitator engaging her audience and delivering quality sessions with substantive take a way value.
Joleen Goronkin’s broad experience, ranging from her work as the President and CEO of the Elliot Leadership Institute, a not for profit organization providing leadership training solutions to foodservice industry professionals, to her role as the Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Training for Famous Dave’s of America, where she led human resources, organizational development, payroll, risk management, training and development, gives her the unique perspective and background to assist organizations in reaching their full potential.

Goronkin has had 25 years of practical, progressive roles with organizations large and small cultivating teams, identifying talent and assembling the teams to execute organizational strategies. Goronkin’s career began in operations which gives her keen insight to front line employees and their impact on the customer experience. This experience along with deep professional insights as a human resource leader, training leader, and executive gives her the capacity to provide real solutions to clients.

Speaking Topics

• Multi – Unit Supervision; The Real Regional Manager Job
• Leading Courageously in Challenging Times
• Building a Performance Driven Organization – Appraisals, Goal Setting and Performance Plans
• Communication Made Easy – Really!!

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Speaker Information

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