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Presenter Partners

HRD courses are conducted by numerous presenters possessing a broad range of backgrounds and diverse skills. A brief profile of each presenter follows.

David Betts, B.S.

David is an Associate Director in the Office of Institutional Equity. That office is charged with delivering programming and services for University faculty, staff and students in the area of diversity, inclusiveness, equal access, equitable treatment and cultural understanding. David has been a Senior Human Resources Representative in the Staff Human Resources Office for seven years prior to joining the Office of Institutional Equity. David has a B.S. in Political Science from Eastern Michigan University.

Steve Brabbs, M.S.

Steve Brabbs is the Staff Development Associate for the U-M Division of Research Development and Administration (DRDA) where he currently manages their faculty and staff training. He has ten years experience in training and development at U-M, including over seven years at Plant Operations. Steve received his M.S. in Human Resources and Organizational Development from Eastern Michigan University and is a Certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR).

Todd Brockdorf

Todd Brockdorf is not an astronaut, a professional athlete, or a reality TV star (yet). The only Wheaties box he’ll ever be on is the one where he glued his own picture! He is simply someone who discovered how to excel beyond the ordinary and find what moves him in life. He is a professional speaker, author, and Better than Average guy. Todd is an expert in being better than average—exceeding what is the typically accepted “normal” in a given field. He has more than 10 years experience leading speaking programs and training for colleges and universities, corporations, and non-profit associations. He has served in leadership positions in worldwide non-profits, sales engineering at a major telecommunications company, and regularly consults with small businesses on technology. This varied background helps him to bring practical field knowledge to organizations across the spectrum.

April Callis, M.A.

April Callis has more than 10 years experience developing and teaching educational programs for colleges, universities, and corporations. She previously served on the M-Pathways Change Management team, where she trained units, facilitated trainers, and worked with units to prepare them for workplace change. April specializes in training and development, and has expertise in presentation, interviewing, and communications skills. She earned her M.A. in communications from Eastern Michigan University.

Susan Christy, Ph.D.

Susan Christy is passionate about helping college and university managers, staff, and faculty create the best in education, research and organizational effectiveness. she gained an appreciation for the complexity of staff-faculty relationships through her experience as a tenured psychology professor and then as a consultant/trainer/speaker for dozens of universities and colleges. She is the author of Working Effectively with Faculty: Guidebook for Higher Education Staff and Managers. Susan is president of Christy Consulting, Inc. and received her B.A. in psychology from Connecticut College, M.A. in psychology from the University of New Hampshire and Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies.

Joan Curran, M.A.

Joan has special focuses in strategic planning, team development, and group facilitation with an expertise in group dynamics, use of the PPS/DISC® work-style assessment, change management, process improvement and meeting management. In addition, she facilitates staff retreats and teaches leadership and management courses. Recently, Joan provided design and facilitation expertise for the VOICES network, the staff involvement program sponsored by the President’s Office. Joan has a B.S. in speech and an M.A. in organizational communication from Eastern Michigan University and certifications from the Adizes Institute in group process. She has 15 years of experience in the University environment and several years prior to that in corporate training and development.

Christine Day, Ph.D.

Dr. Christine Day has extensive global experience, including work assignments, projects, teaching, and schooling on five continents. She also has extensive Fortune Top 5 industry experience at Ford Motor Company where she managed employee development programs in a cost constrained environment. Christine holds a B.A. in English, M.A. in English, and a second M.A. in communication. She also holds a Ph.D., with an emphasis on organizational development and communication. She has extensive academic preparation, including additional professional development training at Harvard Law School, MIT, the Hay Group (EQ), and in change management and Six Sigma Greenbelt. She has also taught at University of Detroit/Mercy, Madonna University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and graduate classes at Baker College and The University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Randall Dean

Randy Dean, the "Totally Obsessed" time management/e-mail guy, is a professional speaker, author, and expert on time and e-mail management, effective organization, and the related use of technology. For more than 18 years, Randy has been leading training and speaking programs and presentations for corporate, academic, and association audiences. Obsessed with time management and personal productivity, he left a successful career as a graduate program admissions director, professional marketer, and manager to become a leading speaker and trainer. Randy is the author of two books on time and e-mail.

Ellen Dolsen, M.S.

Ellen was one of the designers and facilitators in the First Flight of the Women's Economic Club, Center for Women's Leadership six-month leadership program in 2003. She is principal of innovative resources, and has 25 years of leadership and training experience in both business and nonprofit organizations including the big three automotive companies, automotive suppliers, financial, banking and marketing, insurance, health care, telecommunications, retail and higher education. She holds a Masters Degree in counseling and business administration from Appalachian State University and a BA Degree in sociology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Jacqueline Doneghy, M.A., M.S.W.

Jacqueline has more than 20 years of experience in the field of human resource development including serving as an executive director of a non-profit agency, as a program developer of programs and courses on life skills as well as a consultant. Specifically, Jacqueline has over 15 years of experience as a training specialist specializing in staff development and organizational behavior. Her interests include communication skills, personal leadership, conflict resolution and teamwork effectiveness. She has worked for both private and public sectors in government, corporate, and educational environments; including facilitating workshops through HRD since 1985. In addition to training, she has been on faculty with Washtenaw Community College and a guest lecturer with the School of Social Work. Jacqueline earned an M.A. in education and an M.S.W. in social work, both from the University of Michigan. In addition to being on the faculty of Washtenaw Community College, she is a psychotherapist in private practice with The Ann Arbor Center for Groups.

Carole Dubritsky, M.A.

Carole Dubritsky is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator for the University of Michigan. She is also the assistant director of the Office of Institutional Equity. Carole has over twenty years experience working with issues that affect adults with disabilities. In her role as ADA coordinator, she works to promote the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities as part of the University’s commitment to creating a diverse, multicultural community. Services to staff, faculty, students, administrators and visitors on all University campuses include consultation regarding ADA/Section 504 compliance, training/educational programs on disability-related topics, and conflict prevention/resolution in situations involving disability issues. Carole’s tenure with the University has included positions with the Benefits Office, Risk Management Office and M-Works Occupational Health.

April Flanagan, Ed.D.

April Flanagan is a leadership consultant, educator, speaker and coach who has worked with multi-sector, major organizations in the areas of leadership, systems thinking, change, quality, communications, team effectiveness and diversity. Prior to starting her own consulting firm, she spent twenty years as a human resource executive with Philips Electronics, a large global corporation. She holds an Ed.D. in educational leadership from Eastern Michigan University and an M.A. in personnel psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. April teaches undergraduate, masters and doctoral classes for Davenport University, Baker College, Michigan State University and the University of Phoenix. She has also designed and directed leadership and professional development programs at Eastern Michigan University, and served as senior examiner for the Michigan Quality Council, using Malcolm Baldrige criteria.

Sabrina Garrett-Owens, M.A.

Sabrina Garrett-Owens is a HR Consultant in both Academic and Staff HR Services offices at the University of Michigan with a background in employment and union relations. Sabrina has many years of experience acting as an organizational consultant counseling departments in employment-related processes, policies and procedures. She has also been very involved in the HR Academy and training with HRD and for other departments on campus.

Pamela Heatlie, J.D.

Pamela Heatlie is an associate director in the University’s Office of Institutional Equity, where her duties include the delivery of programming and services for University faculty, staff and students in the area of discrimination, inclusiveness, diversity and cultural understanding. Prior to joining OIE, Pamela served for fifteen years as in-house counsel to several universities, advising on a wide range of legal issues affecting institutions of higher education. Pamela received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.

Paul Horvath, M.S.

Paul has been a math teacher for Eastern Michigan University for the past 8 years. In that time he has been recognized as an outstanding lecturer in classroom instruction on multiple occasions. His interests are heuristics and problem solving for math majors and also non-math students. When he is not acting on his passion for teaching math he is most likely either with his family or on the Huron river fishing.

Janell Kilgore, M.S.W., C.S.W.

Janell Kilgore is a Faculty and Staff Counselor at FASAP where she provides short-term counseling, assessment and referrals, problem resolution, supervisory and job consultations. Janell has many years of experience in providing training, workshops and brown bags. Janell received her B.A. from Michigan State University and M.S.W. from Wayne State University.

Lynne Lande, M.A.

Lynne Lande has designed and facilitated seminars and workshops for more than 15 years. She has been the executive director of Soundings: A Center for Women, and has a working knowledge of managing multiple roles and projects. Her current work includes group facilitation and psychotherapy for families, couples, and individuals. Lynne is in private practice and is employed at Catholic Social Services. She earned her B.A. and M.A. in education at the University of Michigan.

Geraldine Markel, Ph.D.

Geraldine Markel, Ph.D. is principal of Managing Your Mind Coaching & Seminars. An educational psychologist, Dr. Markel serves as a coach for those seeking to enhance their performance in the professional or academic realm. She is the author of Defeating the 8 Demons of Distraction: Increasing Productivity and Decreasing Stress and is coauthor of Finding Your Focus: Practical Strategies for the Everyday Challenges Facing Adults with ADD. Geri served as faculty in the School of Education, University of Michigan and is a seminar leader for Fortune 500 companies.

Jim Mettlach, M.B.A.

Jim Mettlach is payroll manager responsible for the pay section and attendance/timekeeping area in the Payroll Office at U-M. In addition to his eight years in Payroll, Jim has eight years of experience working in various fund areas within Financial Operations. He received his B.B.A. in accounting from Central Michigan University and his M.B.A. from Eastern Michigan University.

Paul Millis, M.B.A.

Paul Millis is a technical audit manager in University Audits. He has been a manager in University Audits for the last five years. Prior to that, he worked in ITS as a process analyst and a coordinator of policy education. Paul manages audits on campus as well as in the health care system, specializing in information technology, construction and research auditing. He is a C.P.A. and a CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor).

Barb Mulay, M.Ed

Barb’s expertise lies in the area of group facilitation and instructional design. She helps groups to collect and analyze information to assist in decision making processes regarding strategic planning, team development and performance management. She also facilitates a number of leadership and management development programs and has worked with units to enhance their customer service focus. Barb has a B.S. in business and education and M.Ed in education from the University of Maryland. She has additional training in change management, instructional design, and team facilitation/dynamics. She has over 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors including government, corporate, health care, and higher education settings.

Rob Pasick, Ph.D.

Since earning his Ph.D. in clinical psychology and public practice from Harvard University in 1975, Rob has provided leadership development services through teaching, coaching, speaking and writing. He is the president and founder of LeadersConnect and CEO Connect, which are leadership development and networking programs for executives and entrepreneurs. He also is a faculty affiliate at the William Davidson Institute at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. He has made many public appearances on radio and TV. In addition to "Oprah," he has been featured on NBC's "Today Show," NPR and CNN. He often can be heard on radio in Detroit and Ann Arbor.

Jane Pettit, M.S.

Jane Pettit Jane is an Organizational Effectiveness Consultant at UMHS Human Resources. She specializes in team development, group facilitation and workshop instruction with an expertise in group dynamics, communications, PPS/DISC work-style assessment, conflict management, stress management, change management and process improvement. Jane’s recent focus has been on the use of the Enneagram® instrument and understanding generational differences at work. Jane has a B.A. in psychology from Kalamazoo College and an M.S. in education from the University of Michigan and 20 years of experience in the University environment.

Joanna Sabo, Ph.D.

Joanna Sabo is a consultant and trainer in both the public and private sectors. She specializes in programs that help people plan and achieve new goals. She is well known for her award-winning participatory approach to training and designs her programs to be focused on objectives, as well as to be fun and inspiring. Joanna is a full-time tenured professor of political science and business management at Monroe County Community College where she was formerly chair of the business division. She has also held various management positions in her professional career. She holds a Ph.D. in political science and public administration from Wayne State University with minors in public law and business management.

Kim Schatzel, Ph.D.

Dr. Schatzel is dean of the University of Michigan-Dearborn College of Business. She has extensive experience working as a researcher, consultant, and teacher in the areas of new product success, marketing of high technology products, and reputation management. Additionally, she is the founder of iLabs, the College of Business’s Center for Innovation Research. Kim’s business experience includes over 20 years of corporate and new venture experience including tenure as the founder and CEO of a multinational automotive components firm and three start-up technology-based businesses. Kim earned her Ph.D. in marketing and management of technology from Michigan State University.

Sally A. Schmall, MSW

As founder of Academy Coaching, Sally provides confidential career coaching and professional development workshops in higher education, academic medicine and industry. With over 14 years as an executive career coach, organizational consultant and national speaker, Sally has worked with individuals from across the world as well as developed and presented workshops addressing strategic planning and leadership through change, communication and negotiation skills and strategies for successful academic and nonacademic job searches for audiences across the country. Sally is an adjunct professor with the University Of Michigan School of Social Work. She received her B.S. from Eastern Michigan University and M.S.W. from the University of Michigan.

Karen Semenuk, M.S.W., A.C.S.W.

Karen Semenuk is a Counselor with the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP) and has over 25 years experience assisting with mental health, substance abuse and disability/rehabilitation concerns. In her many years with the University’s employee assistance program she has developed expertise and done research in the area of job stress and work injury. She has designed and conducted supervisory training in a variety of venues: video, brochure and in-person. Karen is the past president of the International Association of Employee Assistance Professionals in Education and maintains a private practice in the Ann Arbor community.

Marilynn Semonick

Marilynn is a member of a global leadership development community and an entrepreneur with hundreds of people who look to her lead. She is also a past president of the National Speakers Association of Michigan (NSA-MI) and has served on the national board of the National Speakers Association (NSA). As the Chief Exploration Officer of The Success Studio, Marilynn focuses on helping individuals and organizations get from where they are to where they want to be by maximizing the human ingredient. If you're looking to make a real impact through people, you've found your solutions partner.

Wendy Shepherd, B.S.

Wendy Shepherd is a professional speaker and trainer who specializes in stress management, time management, leadership development, parent education, and balancing work and life issues. Wendy holds a degree in education from University of Michigan and has extensive training in human development and relationships. Her background is eclectic, including stints as a child care professional (teacher and program director), work-family coordinator, public policy consultant, fundraiser-outreach manager, event planner, campaign coordinator, executive secretary, office manager, advertising director, and mom. This varied background—along with her optimistic and resilient attitude—gives her the real-life experience that adds depth to her positive approach to real-life issues.

Lynne Shivers, M.A.

Lynne Shivers is the event coordinator at the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies. She is responsible for planning and administering major events and programs such as orientation sessions for nearly 1,500 incoming graduate students, an annual lecture series, Rackham’s interdisciplinary academic efforts, and various other projects. She has been involved in event management for nearly 19 years and has served on planning boards at both local and national levels. Lynne developed a workshop with LaTanya Terry entitled Getting the Applause: Orchestrating that Special Event. She received her B.S. from Bowie State College and her M.A. from the University of Michigan.

Bruce Tulgan

Bruce Tulgan is internationally recognized as the leading expert on young people in the workplace and one of the leading experts on leadership and management. Bruce is a best-selling author, an adviser to business leaders all over the world, and a sought-after keynote speaker and management trainer. Bruce received his J.D. from New York University School of Law and practiced law at the Wall Street firm of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn. He is still a member of the Bar in Massachusetts. www.rainmakerthinking.com

Donica Thomas Varner, J.D.

Donica joined the staff of the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel in July 2002 as Assistant General Counsel, after having practiced employment and labor law on behalf of private and public employers since 1994 and higher education law since 2000. She provides advice regarding employment and labor matters, Freedom of Information Act, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, student affairs and immigration issues. She litigates a variety of lawsuits on behalf of the University in state and federal courts with special emphasis on employment matters. Donica coordinates the University’s response to subpoenas and other formal requests for information not handled by the FOIA Officer. Donica graduated from North Carolina State University and the University of Michigan Law School.

Thomas Waldecker, M.S.W.

Tom Waldecker is the director of the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program for U-M. He has been with the University since 1998 and prior to that was in the employee assistance field for over 20 years. Tom has provided training in workplace violence prevention, family communication, and dealing with employees with psychiatric conditions. He received his M.S.W. from the University of Michigan.

Anthony J. Walesby, M.S.

Anthony Walesby is an assistant provost and the senior director of the Office of Institutional Equity at the University of Michigan. His duties include the delivery of programming and services for University faculty, staff and students in the area of diversity, inclusiveness, equal access, equitable treatment and cultural understanding. Prior to joining the University, Anthony served in a similar position as assistant provost and associate director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Prior to joining the University of Illinois, Anthony was a federal investigator for approximately ten years. He worked for the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, in Chicago, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Washington, D.C. and Chicago. He received his B.A. in history and political science from Illinois State University and his M.S. in educational policy studies from the University of Illinois.

Elizabeth Wierba, Ph.D.

Elizabeth Wierba is an organizational psychologist studying communications, influence and strategic development in a variety of settings, including the telecommunications industry and family-owned businesses. A member of the Academy of Management, she has taught several courses in organizational behavior at the University of Michigan Psychology Department and School of Business. Elizabeth has also worked as a consultant to the Michigan Department of Education in assessing statewide diversity program development and strategic change. She earned her Ph.D. at the University of Michigan.

Diane Winter, B.B.A.

Diane Winter has been with the University of Michigan Financial Operations department for 25 years. She is the manager of cost reimbursement and is a co-presenter of the financial responsibility module of the Foundations of Supervision program. Diane earned her B.B.A. in accounting from Eastern Michigan University.

Lynn Wooten, Ph.D.

Lynn Perry Wooten

Professor Lynn Perry Wooten joined University of Michigan Business School faculty in 1998 and earned her Ph.D. from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Prior to joining the faculty at Ross, she was an assistant professor at the University of Florida. She teaches organizational behavior, nonprofit management and strategic consulting courses. She is the co-director of the Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship at the Ross School of Business. Lynn received a B.S. from North Carolina A&T State University, an MBA from Duke University and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.

Pam Wyess, M.A.

Pam Wyess is president of Workplace Results LLC, a training firm specializing in communication, leadership and customer service. As a former lieutenant with the Ann Arbor Police Department, she has expertise in the effective de-escalation of difficult situations and upset customers, leading and building strong teams, and creating a culture of accountability at work. Pam earned her B.A from the University of Michigan and an M.A. from Madonna University.

Annie Zirkel, M.A.

Annie Zirkel is a personal and professional relationship consultant, speaker and writer in private practice in Ann Arbor, Mi. For 10 years, she has focused her work on teaching the specifics of relationship skills to create better work and home satisfaction. Specific areas of teaching expertise include communication skills, workplace relationships and optimism, along with parenting, couple issues, disability and bullying concerns. Her clients include businesses, schools, and organizations along with parents, couples and individuals seeking to improve themselves through learning new skills. She earned her M.A. in counseling from Eastern Michigan University.