2013 Leadership Team



Board of Directors

 
Rick Palmer - President
rick@astdfortworth.org 214-709-7121

Over the past 14 years, Rick has helped organizations create people-based solutions to move organizations forward. In his current role as Manager of Organization Development with The Beryl Companies, he is passionate about helping people build careers.  He has held leadership roles in training, operations, quality assurance and human resources. Rick has consistently demonstrated success in the education, insurance, hospitality, financial services and healthcare industries.  Rick is the host of the chapter's podcast. He is also an active member of the Dallas-Fort Worth Organization Development Network.  Rick holds an MA in Speech Communication and a BA in Psychology, both from Southwest Texas State University.

  Mike McCauley - President Elect
mike@astdfortworth.org

Mike has been developing aviation, supply chain and safety training for several years. He specializes integrating multimedia into classroom and computer based training. He was recently referenced in the book "Rapid Video Development for Trainers". Mike enjoys helping people learn and improve to meet their full potential. He holds a bachelors of science in business management.

  Neal Cribbs - Vice President of Technology
neal@astdfortworth.org







Mariya Gavrilova - Vice President of Membership Growth
mariya@astdfortworth.org

Mariya is completing her Ph.D. in Applied Technology, Performance Improvement at the University of North Texas. She is currently working part-time at City of Corinth HR Department. Mariya has had the opportunity to intern at the HR departments of various companies such as Leggett & Platt, Inc. (manufacturing) and Downstream Casino & Resort (gambling and hospitality). She holds Bachelor’s degrees in Marketing, Management, and Spanish and has passed the PHR certification. Mariya joined the ASTD Fort Worth/Mid-Cities Chapter in February 2008 and was elected the VP of Records later that year. Her research interests include organizational creativity, organizational commitment, leadership and career development, and diversity and inclusion.



  Mark Coleson - Vice President of Hospitality
mark@astdfortworth.org








 
Brian Melven - Vice President of Programs
brian@astdfortworth.org










 

Jonathan Wright - Vice President of Communication
jonathan@astdfortworth.org  817-705-5878

Now VP of business development for Simple Leadership Strategies, Jonathan has previously been an optician, a rehab gym coordinator, stage musician, skydiver, comedy radio show host and mortgage analyst. With a knack for diversity, strategy, and quick execution of ideas, Jonathan is a doer that values exploration, learning, experience, and relationships.


 

(Position Open) - Vice President of Marketing


Chapter Manager

  Larry Wilson - Chapter Manager
larry@astdfortworth.org

Larry’s career has included working in the fields of education (primarily college level), corporate training and government.   A primary emphasis throughout the career has been use of technology as an educational / instructional tool.  Specific endeavors include instructional television production, curriculum design and development, program coordination and administration.  Larry has earned bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and has recently completed post-doctoral graduate work.   Degree majors include biology, speech, instructional technology, administration, and human resources.    Larry is currently an adjunct professor at Concordia University and periodically teaches in the Trainer Certificate Program at Tarrant County College. He originally joined the Fort Worth Mid-Cities Chapter in 1991 and served as newsletter editor and VP-Communications, but left due to a job change situation.  He returned to the chapter in 2002 and has since served as VP-Programs, VP-Finance, President-Elect, President, Past -President and currently is serving as Chapter Manager.   He has held similar positions in other professional associations.   A primary hobby is genealogy / family history research.  He also enjoys outdoor physical activities such as walking, hiking, biking and roller-blading.

  Kyle Anne Poland - Chapter Manager in Training
kyleanne@astdfortworth.org

During the past 9 years, Kyle Anne was a Corporate Trainer with RadioShack and works now as a contract trainer for a variety of companies.  Prior to her role as a Workplace Learning Professional, she served in IT functions such as Network Administration and Desktop support, IT Asset Management and IT Project Management.  In her free time she loves to garden and travel.
 
Prior to joining the Training & IT world, Kyle had a theater background with ten years spent in New York City studying voice, dance and acting, which afforded her many opportunities to wait tables, tend bar and temp in numerous NYC offices.



Past Presidents

  Mary Coleson - President 2011 - 2012
mary@astdfortworth.org
 
 

 Rhonda Wilson - President 2010
John Wright - President 2009
john@simpleleadershipstrategies.com  817-881-8490

John served as VP of Programs in 2006 - 2007, President Elect in 2008, President in 2009 and currently serves on the Past President's Advisory Council. 

John is President of Simple Leadership Strategies®, a management training and consulting firm based in Fort Worth that specializes in leadership development, team building, employee engagement and customer retention.

Having spent over thirty years studying, experimenting, developing and practicing some simple strategies that help organizations create leaders at every level, John is
 convinced that the world needs a transformation, and that organizations - both profit and non-profit - can play a far bigger role in helping society achieve it's potential.

Sharon Dera, MBA, CPLP - President 2007, 2008
tpgi.1@charter.net  817-236-7594

Sharon served as VP of Communications in 2004, VP of Marketing in 2005 and 2006, President Elect/President in 2007, President in 2008, and currently serves on the chapter’s Past President's Advisory Council, and the National ASTD Chapter Recognition Committee (CRC).

Sharon has over 17 years of experience in needs assessment, human performance, process improvement and organizational development. Her broad experience was acquired by working in the retail, finance, healthcare, government, manufacturing, hospitality and travel industries in operations, business management, customer service, sales, communications, marketing, succession planning, leadership, coaching and training.


Sharon is owner and CEO of The Proficience Group, Inc., working in partnership with organizations to identify the root cause of performance deficiencies and determine the best solutions/interventions that will close performance gaps; lending a “fresh set of eyes,” exposing possible blind spots.

Sharon is contributing author of, “The Book of Road-Tested Activities,” and “The 2012 Pfieffer Annual - Training,” which provides workplace learning and performance professionals with an array of tried-and-true training tools for every occasion and purpose.



 
 

National ASTD ChIP Code: CH7039
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