Presenter Biographies

Michael Basch

Internet Revolution Leader
Michael Basch was an innovator at FedEx and is now a leader in the Internet
revolution.

Federal Express Senior VP
FedEx started and matured in the decade of the ‘70’s going from from 0 to $1 billion in sales and from #278 to #1 in their industry. They were selected as one of the 10 best managed companies of the decade and changed the way we do business and live in America.

As a founder and senior officer for their first ten years, Mike led the teams who invented bar code tracing, set-up the intitial sales and service department, founded the Business Logistics Division and built the Federal Express $100 million SuperHub.

United Parcel Service
Prior to FedEx, Mike spent 8 years with UPS in Sales, Personnel, Operations and Industrial Engineering.

InfoNow VP
Basch believes that, in the Internet world, there will be a continuing need for local presence to fully meet the needs of most buyers.

In addition, all companies, large and small, will need to integrate the enormous connective power of the Internet into their business.

Bringing the Power of the Internet to Channel Partners
Given the above assumptions (need for local, Internet presence), Basch’s company, InfoNow, provides eBusiness for resellers that sell InfoNow’s client products.

A pressing issue - Channel Conflict
Most manufacturers today are wrestling with how to use the Internet to grow their business. InfoNow delivers a solution that leverages the reselling partners instead of replacing them.

International Speaker
Mike founded Service Impact—an organization focused on improving customer service through people and technology.

As part of Service Impact, he has spoken internationally and was consistently rated in the top ten speaking resources by TEC (The Executive Committee) where he was a resource for four years.

Speaking Topics
The greatest issue today for most companies is creating a vision around how to use the power of the Internet to grow business.

The Internet is the greatest single marketing, sales and service tool ever invented. This major opportunity also disrupts exitsing ways of doing business.

Basch talks about focusing on the end user to transition to an Internet vision that serves Customers, Employees and Owners (CEO).

Bob Smith, CEO, Jungle Marketing

Bob Smith is the CEO and Founder of Jungle Marketing, Inc. Since its inception in 1989, working out of a spare bedroom in his home, Bob has grown the business into an international training and consulting firm.

With clients in over 37 states, two countries and in over 162 different industries, "The 19 Gorillas" at Jungle Marketing bring a knowledge base in marketing for small business that is unsurpassed by anyone in their field. Bob is a true entrepreneur and has been committed to the success of businesses across the world for more than 10 years, donating thousands of hours of his time.

Jungle Marketing is a marketing advisory firm that specializes in the development of one-to-one marketing campaigns and training for organizations and small businesses. Our recent programs for business clients and training workshops for a multitude of national associations have been received with rave reviews.

We are a full integrated marketing service firm that develops strategic marketing plans, brochures, logs, full digital design, multi-media training, video and audio production, WEB design, direct marketing campaigns and complete implementation services…all in house.

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Tom Drucker, Consultants in Corporate Innovation

As a management consultant, Tom Drucker has specialized in providing services to business, both domestically and abroad, which are committed to growth and enhancing their performance. These client engagements are generally focused on increasing some fundamental business measure or quantifiable business-related goals.

Tom studied at the University of Vienna with Dr. Victor Frankl, received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from UCLA, and graduate degrees in Psychology and Business, both from UCLA. Tom began consulting after studying with Abraham Maslow and working with a variety of corporations, including Proctor and Gamble, TRW Systems, Hughes Aircraft, Xerox and Bank of America, in the areas of innovation, productivity improvement and management effectiveness.

This early experience in applying the principals of self-actualization continues to shape and focus Tom's work on leadership skills, strategy development, communication, and the planning and execution of innovation and change efforts. All are focused on teaching people to express their fullest capacities. Tom founded CCI after spending 15 years as a senior executive in Human Resources at Xerox Corporation. His experience at Xerox provided Tom with a global business perspective and refined his personal skills in leadership and management. He has developed unique methods for coaching successful leaders as they grow their organizations. He is also very proud to apply these same business tools to nonprofit organizations and community institutions like schools, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies. Tom is an avid bicyclist, photographer, scuba diver, and artist.

Susan London, Consultants in Corporate Innovation

Susan London is a principal of Consultants in Corporate Innovation and has 25 years experience as a consultant, educator and executive coach to large and small organizations. She specializes in the areas of leadership, organizational learning, and communication for innovation. She has designed hundreds of seminars and workshops, and she is recognized for her ability to help people build their own capacity to innovate and lead inspired work lives that add value and meaning for themselves and others.

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Tricia Kochevar, Manager of Training and Development, Monterey Bay Aquarium and President, Hidden Art Consulting

Tricia currently holds a dual role in the Training and Development field. As Manager of Training and Development at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, she is responsible for all areas of management and staff training. As a private consultant, she designs and facilitates programs for a wide variety of clients in the public and private sectors. She has 15 years of experience in creating and leading corporate training programs on both a national and international level, and has specialized in experiential training and non-traditional methods of instruction. The program outlined here unites her vocation (corporate training) with her avocation (theatre and the arts) and draws on her collective experience in both realms.

Tricia currently works half time for Monterey Bay Aquarium and half time out of her home office in the country. Tricia and her partner Bixby (a 90 pound Bernese Mountain Dog "puppy") find that their best creative work is done during long hikes in the hills and well away from anything resembling a cubicle, so they encourage their clients to approach training and personal development activities in the same light: outside and in non traditional settings.

Tricia believes strongly that there are no "teachers," only "learners," so she involves participants actively in her programs in the early stages, making sure they know where ownership for the learning process lies. Within each learner is a true artist, full of untapped potential. Unleashing that potential is Tricia’s mission in her work.

Teri McCorkle, West Marine Products, Inc.

Teri is currently the Payroll Manager for West Marine Products, Inc., the nation’s leading boat accessory supplier with 4500 employees operating 226 stores in 38 states. Teri has fifteen years management experience in human resources and accounting. Teri previously held the position of Accounting Manager at Air Trails. It was during a reorganization of this firm that Teri began working with Tricia doing work which would help her prepare herself to transition into a new work role in a new company. Much of the material Teri worked with is contained in our program "Reinventing Yourself at Work: Using Your Creative Potential to Accomplish More."

Teri’s degree is in Special Education and she has an extensive background in the arts, but most of her professional experience is in the Human Resources field. Teri takes the role of client facilitator in our workshop. She has been a co-presenter with Tricia Kochevar in the past and her recent experience working with Tricia in development and use of the workshop exercises make her a perfect partner in this program.

After several years of participating in and coordinating Tricia’s workshops, it has been Teri’s goal to blend the authentic and creative self she has rediscovered into her work persona. Her natural interests in the areas of music, theatre and movement had often taken a back seat to the day to day challenges of life. She enjoys watching creativity and self-awareness come alive for workshop participants and it is with great enthusiasm that she contributes to bringing these approaches and perspectives to life as a natural part of the work place.

Ted Coulson, Applied Creativity, Inc.

Ted Coulson is president and co-founder of Applied Creativity, Inc., a consulting/training firm dedicated to assisting individuals and organizations in reaching their creative potential. For more that seventeen years his major focus has been developing creativity and managing innovation in a business and professional setting. Ted designs and presents creative thinking and problem solving workshops, seminars, and multi-media presentations for corporations, businesses, and community and professional organizations. He also consults with organizations on ways to foster creativity and innovation.

Organizations Ted has worked with include Adrea Laboratories, Aramis, American Express, Astra Merck, Chase Manhattan Bank, Coca-Cola, Control Data, Dreyfus, DuPont, EDS, Fujitsu, GE, Goodyear, Huntsman Chemical, IBM, Lifetime TV, Lucent Technologies, Maryland State Department of Education, Martin Marietta, Mead, Merck, MetroMedia, Motorola, NASA, NBC, NYNEX, Paradyne, Procter and Gamble, Quaker Oats, Reckett & Colman, S&A Restaurants, Shell Oil, SmithKlein Beecham, Suncost Management Institute, 3-M, UNUM, Washington National Insurance, and The Wool Bureau.

In 1989 Ted co-developed POET (Principles of Effective Thinking), a creative problem solving workshops for individuals working in a technical environment, for DuPont. POET is now offered as a public program and has been in the corporate training catalogues of the Coca-Cola Company and Reckett & Colman.

Ted co-authored and produced an audi-cassett program, Journeys into Creative Problem Solving. He invented the card game Diversity that helps people understand and appreciate the value of different thinking style preferences.

The game has been translated into French and German and is played worldwide.
He co-authored Applied Creativity which appeared in Steven Covey’s magazine, Executive Excellence. Other publications include a chapter in Learning Creative Process: A Basic Life Skill, published by Sage Publications in 1996.

Ted is on the faculty of the Creative Problem Solving Institute, Buffalo, NY and is a Colleague of The Creative Education Foundation which recently presented him with the distinguished Service and Commitment award. He has presented programs at several American Society for Training and Development national conventions, the American Creativity Association national conference, Training Directors Forum, Innovation Network Convergence Conference and numerous IBM recognition events.

A member of the Innovation Network (IN), he is the Founding Dean and serves on the faculty of IN’s Innovation University, a program offering certification in organizational creativity and innovation.

Ted holds a Ph.D. in human development from the University of Maryland.
His graduate studies focused on creativity and adult learning theory. His dissertation investigated creative problem solving with particular emphasis on idea development. His hobbies and favorite activities include golf, photography and playing with his grandchildren Adam and Anna.

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Edwin H. Neill, II, Neill Corporation

A leader of innovative business, education and management techniques, Neill Corporation CEO, Edwin H. Neill, II has dedicated his career and his companies to the development of the salon industry. With a relentlessly determined vision, he has created a diversified organization that employs over 300 people.

Neill Corporation incorporates Aveda Concept Distribution, Paris Parker Salons and Spas, Integrated Learning Institute, Neill Institute - An Aveda Share School, eight Aveda Environmental Lifestyle Stores, Neill Creative, an in-house design group supporting Aveda Concept Salons, Extended Technologies, a computer software development company, and Vital Information Systems, a computer hardware reselling company.

Edwin attributes a great deal of his success to his participation in ongoing education. He has studied Critical Thinking Skills with Charles Krone, Total Quality Management with Dr. Deming prior to his death, and has a Bachelor of Science in Business from Louisiana State University.

Edwin has always recognized the value of networking with other industry professionals. He was a board member of the Beauty and Barber Supply Institute from 1976-1983, and President of that organization in 1984. In 1992,1993, and 1995, Edwin served on the Nomination Committee of the Beauty and Barber Supply Institute as well. He has served as an Aveda Corporation Advisory Board Member from 1980 - present, and currently is an International Spa and Fitness Association board member. Edwin also served as chairman of the International Spa and Fitness Association Strategic Planning Committee and on the Executive Council of I/SPA.

However, itís the people in Edwinís life that play the biggest part in his success story. He acknowledges his parents, Abner and Harriet Neill, for their guidance and encouragement throughout his life, and his wife, Debra Neill, for her tireless support, motivation and endless contributions - at home and at work.

The future of Neill Corporation is not set in stone - and Edwin likes it that way. Edwin has turned Neill Corp. into a living laboratory for management science through his progressive business design. He bases his company on core values that include integrity, sustainability, vitality, authenticity, contribution, adaptability and evolution. Above all, Edwin is committed to creating a diversified organization that encompasses his values and ethics, and encourages each person he interacts with to reach their full potential.

Marshall Thurber, MetaQuality Inc.

Marshall Thurber is known as one of the creative geniuses of our time. He is an entrepreneur, attorney, writer, inventor, master teacher and successful businessman. Marshall is the creator of several international businesses including: Money & You, The Burklyn Business School, The Future of Business I and II, The Secrets of Powerful Presentations, The Accounting Game (granted a US Patent), The Leadership Development Training, The Global Leadership Network Training, The Future of Business/The Essence of Deming, and MetaManagement. Many of these creative programs are taught in several countries throughout the world including China, Hong Kong, Australia, Russia, Poland, France, Sweden, Germany, New Zealand and Canada. Marshall is renowned for his unparalleled ability to communicate the essence of complex information. He was an avid student, friend and colleague of both the late Dr. W. Edwards Deming, the legendary "Father of Quality Control in Japan" and the late R. Buckminster Fuller. Much of Marshallós teaching is based on the principles and theories of these two great minds.

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