Instructors Roster

Dr. Blake Leath; The Blake Leath Group

Dr. Blake Leath is the CEO of The Blake Leath Group (“TBLG”) — a dynamic research, curriculum development and intellectual property greenhouse that grows leaders and shapes cultures. He is the author of 90 copyrighted organizational science solutions implemented around the world.

Blake has worked with clients as diverse as Adidas, AT&T, Bausch & Lomb, BHP Billiton, BNSF Railway, Capital One, Citigroup, Daimler, Ericsson, GE, Kodak, Libbey, Lockheed Martin, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Northwestern Mutual, Pfizer, Sony and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Defense and Interior. Blake and TBLG colleagues provide consulting services and tools that transform leaders, cultures and processes to achieve dramatic breakthroughs in strategy and performance.

In his 18 years as an organizational strategist, Blake has instructed in excess of 13,000 participants across 41 states and his content has been used by leaders in 27 countries. TBLG has worked with more than 200,000 individuals and well over 2,000,000 imprints have been made of the Group’s combined intellectual property. Blake’s primary interests include strategy, culture, leadership, change, effects of a four-generation workforce, systems thinking, M&A integration, trust & influence and the process of acculturation.

In 2007, Blake published his first mainstream book, Cultivating the Strategic Mind. The modest-yet-ambitious text consistently receives high praise from professional strategists in locations as assorted as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Western Europe and Asia where his approaches have been embraced to reinforce more systemic strategic thinking.

His anticipated follow-up, Management Malpractice, is forthcoming in 2012-2013. Meanwhile, he and his colleagues research, write proprietary white papers and present extensively at international symposia and corporate events. Currently, TBLG is completing approximately four commissioned works every eight weeks (at the action research and formative & summative evaluation levels of scholarship) while collectively delivering 40–80 client days each month.

Gleanings from the Group’s contributions to knowledge and best practices (including Blake’s Blog) can be seen at www.blakeleath.com. Lifelong learners are encouraged to engage the site to experience TBLG’s work, download freebies, participate and contribute to an organic community of dialogue.

Blake earned his bachelor’s degree in Business, his master’s degree in Organizational Management and his doctorate in Organizational Sociology. In the course of nearly twenty years, he has worked with practitioners in over 300 companies and numerous federal, state and local agencies/departments/bureaus as well as with individual researchers from Oxford, Harvard, UCLA, Stanford, University of Virginia, MIT and The Union Institute to understand and maximize employee involvement, success, longevity and passion. Blake is currently an Adjunct Faculty at the Tandy Center for Executive Leadership in TCU’s Neeley School of Business.

Blake, his beloved wife Dawn, their precious daughter Lauren (and Daisy & Patch) make their home in the gently rolling hills of North Texas.

Haydn Hasty, MINDSPRING CONSULTING, Inc.; Ordinary People, Extraordinary Results

MindSpring’s mission is to provide individuals with the skills and motivation needed to better their personal and professional lives through the understanding and mastery of the forces shaping them. At our core, we are dedicated to helping ordinary people produce extraordinary results in their life and work.
MindSpring Consulting, Inc. was founded in 1993 by Haydn and Terry Hasty. Both came from the public education arena. From discoveries made through an innovative methodology, Suggestive Accelerative Learning and Teaching, which Dr. Hasty has implemented for over 10 years, the Hastys began designing curriculums and developmental processes in the areas of leadership, teacher development, and personal mastery. In 2006, the new training center on Tunnel Road in East Asheville was built, just 10 minutes from downtown Asheville, NC.

Haydn Hasty is President of MindSpring. He holds a B.A., in French, a M.A. in French, an Educational Specialist degree in curriculum and instruction, and a Ph.D. in psychology. Before creating MindSpring in 1995, Dr. Hasty was a student of leadership development for over 10 years at a major behavioral science firm where his philosophy, skills, and training values were deeply influenced and developed. In his own words, “It’s not what we know about leadership that matters but how much we can cause others to know. It’s not what we have achieved in our own lives but how much we can cause others to achieve. It’s not what we are but what we can cause others to be. This is the test of our worth and value to our clients.” He is a former finalist for North Carolina Teacher of the Year and is a certified Emotional Intelligence Trainer. An interesting note: Haydn loves disappearing on his pontoon boat into the wilderness of Fontana Lake and the surrounding Smoky Mountains

Gerald E. Evans, Ph.D.

Professor of Management and Information Systems
Department of Management Information Systems
School of Business Administration
The University of Montana; Missoula, MT 59812

406-243-6531; jerry.evans@business.umt.edu

Jerry Evans was born in Great Falls Montana and graduated from high school in Bigfork, Montana. His undergraduate degree is from the University of Great Falls and he earned two Master’s degrees from Montana State University. Dr. Evans earned his Ph.D. from The Claremont Graduate University in the area of information processing and systems. He has served on the faculty of The California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and The University of Nevada, Reno. He joined The University of Montana School of Business Administration faculty in 1988, and has devoted most of his teaching, research and publication activities to the areas of business information systems and organizational leadership. Additionally, Dr. Evans has consulted in businesses throughout the U.S. on topics such as negotiation, leadership, team building, conflict resolution, and quality management in service organizations. Jerry has served as a member of the board of directors of various corporations and foundations and is currently a member of the Board of Governors of Leadership Montana.

JILL DONALDSON

Jill Donaldson is an executive coach with CI International. Jill’s experience, before establishing her professional coaching practice, spans over 20 years in the highly competitive international airline industry. Jill’s strength is connecting with people of all backgrounds, which led her to a career within British Airways, allowing her to fulfill her people passion all over the world. Positions within her corporate life included, Vice President of Strategy and Planning, Vice President of Leisure Sales and Marketing, Chairman of the People Group. As a manager, her love was developing cohesive teams, focusing on relationships, and effective communication, including difficult conversations. She is recognized as a strong leader and coach who encourages a challenging and questioning environment, personal effectiveness and achievement while driving organizational change. She has coached and consulted in a variety of industries, including government, banking, travel, technology, engineering, consumer goods medical and non-profits. Jill received her B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Texas in Austin. She is a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation, as well as, a graduate and certified coach from the Co-active Coaching program. Jill Donaldson is based in Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

Dr. James A. Burchfield, Dean, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT.

Jim Burchfield provides leadership to the research, instructional, and outreach programs of the College of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Montana. He is trained as both a rural sociologist and a forester, and his major interest centers on how people may reside and interact with forest and grassland settings in a productive, harmonious manner. Dr. Burchfield received his academic training at the University of Washington and the University of Michigan. He continues to study the effectiveness of community-based groups in the development of plans and activities on forested lands, as well as how people have responded to frequent wildfire events in the West. Prior to becoming the Dean, Dr. Burchfield served as Associate Dean of the College of Forestry and Conservation and the Director of the Bolle Center for People and Forests at the University of Montana. Prior to coming to The University of Montana he worked for the USDA Forest Service in several locations in the United States as a silviculturist and timber management assistant. He has conducted assessments of social conditions in the Columbia River basin, worked in the international division of the Forest Service in Washington, D. C., and helped implement forest management operations on National Forests in Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, and the state of Washington.

MARK J. METOYER

A consultant, trainer, and facilitator with CI International, Mark Metoyer conducts training courses and workshops for corporations, government agencies, associations, and universities. His topical specialties include leadership, diversity management, communications, organizational development, interpersonal relations, and negotiation. Mark is a retired U.S. Coast Guard officer whose service specialty was training and development. His distinguished career included assignments throughout the United States and abroad. He was selected as a coordinator and facilitator for the Presidential initiative on race relations, One America. Mark holds academic degrees from Southern Illinois University and Webster University. Mark serves on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Brevard County FL. In addition, he was a practicing supervisor, manager, and executive for more than 20 years in government and private industry. Certifications include Total Quality Management (TQM) facilitator, conflict resolution mediator, Equal Employment Opportunity counselor, and situational leadership (SITLEAD II) facilitator. Mr. Metoyer is based in Melbourne, Florida.

Dr. Martin Nie

Martin Nie is professor of natural resource policy in the College of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Montana. His research and teaching focuses on federal lands, resources and wildlife policy, planning, law and management. Nie received his Ph.D. from Northern Arizona University and his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska. His latest book is The Governance of Western Public Lands: Mapping Its Present and Future (2008). When not thinking about public lands, he likes to hike, backpack, ski, float, take pictures, hunt, and fish on them.

Orville L. Daniels – USFS Retired; Middle Leader Program “Sage”

Graduate forester from Colorado State University

37 years with the US Forest Service as a field forester, District Ranger, Recreation, fire and timber staff officer, Job Corp Center Director and ultimately as Forest Supervisor on the Bitterroot and later the Lolo National Forest.

During career received graduate level training in organizational development from University of California.

Early pioneer in fire use applications particularly with prescribed natural fire in wilderness. Began the first prescribed natural fire program in the nation in 1972.

Continues to teach Fire Use for Managers at the National Training Academy in Marana Arizona emphasizing the role of fire in ecosystems and the responsibilities of decision makers in fire use.

Oversaw creation of the first national forest long-range management plan under the National Forest Management Act of 1976.

Interest in ecosystem dynamics led the Lolo National Forest in creating one of the early and successful ecosystem management programs

Instrumental in creation of the Arthur Carhart Wilderness Training Center

Under his direction the Lolo National Forest created the first wildlife interpretive program under auspices of the national Watchable Wildlife initiative

Developed the Missoula Trails initiative helping build interconnected trail systems in the valley with linkages to the surrounding mountains.

Extensive policy development work with SAF, Wilderness Society and the Center for the Rocky Mountain West.

Since retirement from the Forest Service, Orville has been a trainer and consultant for the Forest Service, Park Service, BLM and a variety of private organizations dealing with strategic planning and leadership issues.

He also serves on various non profit boards including being President of Missoula Children's Theater, Montana Community Foundation and others.

Dr. Perry J. Brown

Dr. Brown is currently Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Montana. He is also former Dean and Professor, College of Forestry and Conservation, and Director of the Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, at the University of Montana-Missoula. He has considerable expertise in natural resource social science, policy and planning, in recreation behavior and planning, and in wilderness studies. His Ph.D. is from Utah State University and emphasized outdoor recreation and social psychology. A life-long westerner, he has served on the faculties of Utah State University, Colorado State University, and Oregon State University in addition to his current assignment in Montana. He has served in formal advisory appointments with both the USDA Forest Service and the USDI Bureau of Land Management, including a recent leave assignment with the International Programs Office of the USDA Forest Service. He is a Past-President of the National Association of Professional Forestry Schools and Colleges (NAPFSC) and currently is Chair of NAPFSC’s McIntire-Stennis ATR Committee. He served as a member of the National Research Council’s Committee on Forestry Research Capacity and Chair of the Pinchot Institute’s National Panel on Wilderness Stewardship. He is a member of the executive/advisory boards of NAPFSC, the International Union for Forest Research Organizations, the Center for the Rocky Mountain West, the Ecosystem Management Research Institute (a private non-profit research institute), the National Forest Foundation, the National Forest Service Historical Museum, and he chairs the Executive Committee of the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. He has published over 100 scientific papers, books, and book chapters and graduated 48 masters and 11 Ph.D. students.