CEPE Instructors

Employment attorney Kyle Abraham works with organizations to develop effective workplace policies and provide proactive counsel. A partner with Barran Liebman, Kyle has successfully represented clients before U.S. circuit and district courts, state courts, and state and federal agencies. Kyle earned a BA in Economics and Philosophy from the College of Wooster, an MBA and JD from Willamette University, and PHR and SHRM-CP certifications.

Kelliann Amico has worked in earned media, media training, community relations, event production, writing, crisis communications, and issues management for more than 30 years. As a “generalist” she has clients in the professional service, customer service, built environment, nonprofit, and health care sectors. Kelliann earned a BA in Communications and Drama from the University of Portland.

Samuel Ashby is the director of performance excellence for Legacy Health Systems. Previously, he worked as managing principal of Speed of Thought Consulting and in process improvement leadership roles for Nike, Converse, GE Capital, Medtronic, and Toyota. Samuel holds a BA from Eastern Kentucky University. He is a Change Acceleration Process Coach and a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

Theresa Bauccio-Teschlog is the purchasing manager for the City of Everett. She has over 21 years of supply chain management experience with 18 years in public procurement. Theresa is involved with the Institute for Public Procurement. She holds a BA in Business Administration from Seattle University, is a Certified Professional Public Buyer, and earned a Certificate in Construction Contracting from PSU.

Matt Bolte is the vice president of global merchandising for Nike Sportswear, at Nike. Prior to working at Nike, Matt held several career positions in the athletic and outdoor industry including working for SaraMax Apparel Group and Jantzen. Matt graduated from Lewis and Clark College with a BA in history and a minor in Latin American Studies.

Steve Brook founded Atainium, Inc., and is a natural facilitator who works to improve an organization’s capabilities by integrating people, processes, and technology to deliver tangible results. He has worked with Nike, Linear, PGE, Mercy Corps, Kroger, Albertsons, Nautilus, US Bank, Salem Health, and Fiserv. Steve holds a BS in Industrial Technology and an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.

Allison Brown has worked in senior roles in human resources, organizational development, and learning and development, including positions with Penske, Rite Aid, and Columbia Sportswear Company. She specializes in change management, strategic human resources, coaching, leadership, and project management. Allison earned a master's degree from Portland State University.

Teri Danielson works with clients to design, develop, and implement improvements to plant operations and food safety, launch products, and design custom solutions for a range of manufacturing environments. She has worked for Starbucks Coffee, Quest International, and Bridgeport Brewing. Teri holds a B.S. in Microbiology from Oregon State University and a Project Management certificate from Portland State University.

Christopher Dennis’ work in product and process development, problem-solving, and project management spans utilities, music publishing, food manufacturing, and electronics industries. His perspective on innovation was developed during six years on staff at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Chris earned a BS in Physics from the University of Rochester and an MSEE from Northeastern University.

Michael Dimond spent more than 25 years managing results for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to entrepreneurial startups, including HSBC and RR Donnelley. Michael earned a BS in Business Administration, with a concentration in finance and accounting, and an MS in Financial Analysis from Portland State University.

Heather Dodge has over 17 years of experience in employee benefits, working for Kindercare Education, Ecova and Qorva. Her diverse industry experience spans transportation, healthcare, retail, mining, high-tech, energy and education. She served as a board member of the Columbia Willamette Compensation Group. Heather earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Oregon and is earning (C(k)PF) certification.

Shawn Duffy has worked in the business intelligence industry for over 18 years as a consultant with Fortune 500 companies. He currently serves as the chief information officer and business intelligence practice lead for Axian, Inc. Shawn earned a BS in Business Administration from Regis University and an MBA from Portland State University.

Scott DuHadway is an assistant professor of Supply Chain Management for Portland State University, where he researches supplier relationships, conflict, fraud, and disruption due to intentional supplier behavior. His industry experience includes positions with RR Donnelley and Obelis. Scott earned a BS in Operations Management and Business Administration and a PhD in Operations and Sourcing from Michigan State University.

Elena Einstein is president of the Einstein Group and contracts site leader for Harris Corporation. She previously served as senior contracts manager and chief of staff for The Boeing Company. Elena has experience in leadership, strategy, diversity and inclusion, and employee development. Elena holds an MS from the University of La Verne and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University.

Anne Ely Kenlon is a senior-level writer and communications manager with 35 years of experience serving as a strategist and counsel to senior leaders at three Fortune 500 companies, including Corning Incorporated. Her focus has been on employee communications and translating complex technical and financial information into understandable terms. She holds BAs in English and Journalism from Clarke University and an MS in Management and Administrative Science from the University of Texas.

Albrecht Enders serves as principal of endersgroup. He possesses 25 years' experience in innovation leadership, including work at Siemens and A-dec. Today, Albrecht teaches and consults with organizations that seek to innovate and grow their market share. Albrecht teaches at Portland State University and the University for Economics and the Environment. He has an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Fachhochschule Darmstadt.

Lori Emerick, principal of the Aspen Group, brings more than 20 years of organizational and leadership development expertise to her teaching work, including experience at Intel, Nike, and Kaiser Permanente. Lori’s roles have spanned human resources, leadership, diversity and inclusion, team facilitation, and process excellence. Lori earned an MBA in Human Resource Management from Seattle Pacific University.

Margy Evans brings over 25 years of executive, operational, and human resource management experience to her work as a coach, consultant, and training professional. She serves as the workforce development manager for Portland Parks and Recreation and previously worked for the City of Portland.

Jessica Ferrell has managed private events, small restaurant operations, and kitchen pop-ups. She cut her teeth as a bartender in Chicago before moving to Maine to manage the beverage program at Salt Water Farm, where she sourced local beers, wines, spirits, and coffee directly from makers. She received her BA in Sociology from Lake Forest College and her MBA from Portland State University.

Alicia Garrison co-founded Northwest Food Solutions to help organizations plan and implement practical and sustainable solutions. She possesses more than 15 years of supply chain experience in operations and quality management roles, including working with Starbucks Coffee and TAZO. She earned a B.S. in Biology from the State University of New York.

Dave Garten teaches business strategy, acquisitions, and negotiation for Portland State University. He has extensive experience in strategy development, management, marketing, product development, and finance. Dave is the former CEO and board chair for SeQuential. Previously, he worked as an Intel executive. He earned an MBA from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MEng from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Janene Grace has worked at a large craft brewery and cidery and as a field investigator for the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. She established Grace Regulatory Consultants to assist breweries, wineries, cideries, and other alcohol producers with regulatory services. Janene earned a BS in Education from Illinois State University and an MA in Women’s Studies from the University of Illinois.

Todd Greco is a practice area lead at Slalom Build and previously worked with Ziba Design, Adobe, and Barclays. With more than 20 years of experience, he is well-versed in design research and innovation. Todd has run his own design studio, written for Wired and Fast Company, and taught digital design at PSU. Todd studied Computer Science at the University of Ohio and Interior Architecture at the University of Cincinnati.

Maria Grzanka is a principal consultant with Lean Portland and Quantum Leaders. She has 20 years of experience in process improvement and operations leadership, including working for XPO Logistics, Vestas, Con-way Freight, and Tektronix. She earned a BA in Business Administration with a concentration in Integrated Supply Chain Management. Maria earned her Black Belt in Lean Sigma and has led dozens of kaizen projects since.

David Hall is an educator and organizational consultant who appreciates the opportunity to help others create better ways to live and work together. In addition to serving as an adjunct faculty member at Portland State University, David has worked as a consultant and sustainability advisor. He earned an M.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Systems Science: Psychology from Portland State University.

Carmen Hill has worked as a TV journalist, content strategist, copywriter, and marketing director. As Content Director at Babcock & Jenkins, Carmen built an industry-leading content marketing practice, working with global clients including Adobe, Google, and Xerox. Carmen holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin and has completed advanced certification programs.

Brion Hurley is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt at Business Performance Improvement. Prior to BPI, he spent 18 years at Rockwell Collins as a Lean Six Sigma consultant. Brion has a BS in Statistics, a certificate in Sustainability, and an MS in Quality Management from the University of Iowa. He volunteers with Lean Portland as the community consultant lead, managing and leading nonprofit improvement projects.

Janet Johnson is president of O’Johnson Partners, providing interim marketing leadership and digital marketing services for B2B and B2C businesses. She has held key marketing leadership positions with top technology companies including Apple, Enron Broadband Systems, Puppet, Now Software, and Merant. Janet has a BS in Psychology and Political Science from Western Washington University.

Elizabeth Kunesh is a compensation consultant with over 20 years of experience working for companies in the public and private sectors, including Gillette, The Standard, the Port of Portland and OHSU. She has served on the boards of the Columbia Willamette Compensation Group and WorldatWork. Elizabeth earned a BA in Political Science and Sociology from UCLA and holds CCP, GRP, and SHRM certifications.

Elaine Lees helps companies select, develop and retain key employees. She is the principal of Elaine Lees Consulting and worked as the vice president of organizational development and talent for DWFritz Automation. Elaine holds a BA in Urban Affairs from Virginia Tech and an MBA from the University of Houston. She holds SPHR, Lominger, Hogan Assessments, and Human Capital Institute certifications.

Heather LeFevre has held senior strategic roles at some of the world’s most creative companies, including Crispin Porter + Bogusky, StrawberryFrog, Tribal DDB, and Hyper Island. She has crafted brand worlds for Emirates, Bacardi, Philips, and Gucci. Heather holds a BA in English and an MS in Communications and Media Studies from the University of Texas.

René Léger has held diverse senior leadership positions with companies such as Nabisco Brands, the Oregon Business Council, Portland Public Schools, and Camp Fire Columbia. He earned a BA in Political Science from State University of New York and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. René is certified as an Integral Coach through New Ventures West.

Kent Lewis founded Anvil Media, Inc., a digital marketing agency specializing in search engine and social media marketing for Fortune 2000 companies. He also co-founded career community pdxMindShare; eROI; and SEMpdx, a Portland-area SEM professional trade association. Kent holds a BA in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing from Western Washington University.

M. Stephen Mahaffey has more than 30 years’ executive experience in supply chain, operations, and sales management with companies such as PermaCold Engineering and Johnstone Supply. He has “a collaborative [teaching] style that engages and energizes internal talent with the external body of knowledge to deliver best practice advancements.” Stephen holds a BS in Business Management and an MBA from Marylhurst University.

Darin Matthews possesses nearly 25 years of contracting experience, including serving as the director of procurement for the University of California, Santa Cruz and the chief procurement officer for Metro. He has taught for Portland State University, Florida Atlantic University, and the Institute for Public Procurement. Darin holds a BS in Business and a Master of Acquisition Management.

Mitch Menendez serves as the senior director, global apparel leader for Men’s Athletic Training at Nike. His team works to strategize, line plan, design, commercialize, and bring to market a global apparel line. Mitch’s experience at Nike has spanned sales, retail merchandising, operations, and product creation. He holds a BS in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of Florida.

Sara Mesing is a senior experience designer for Cambia Health Solutions. She has delivered over 30+ human-centered design projects across social impact, healthcare, higher education, corporate, and government sectors. Prior to Cambia, Sara worked as a systems lead at XPLANE. Sara holds a BA in English Literature and French Studies and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.

Carolyn Niehaus works as a senior leadership and organizational development consultant with MetaSkills Consulting Group Inc. Previously, she worked with Leverage Networks on the publication of the electronic periodical The New Systems Thinker. Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Rochester and an MBA from Portland State University.

Jennifer Nolfi serves as the director of PSU’s Athletic and Outdoor and Retail Leadership programs. Previously, Jennifer served as the director for partnership development at Looptworks and worked for the Portland Development Commission. Jennifer earned a BA in Political Science from Lewis and Clark College and a Project Management Certificate from PSU’s Center for Executive and Professional Education.

Founder of E3 Craft Strategies, Marty Ochs has worked in multiple marketing management roles with small and large breweries, including serving as president of sales for Brew Pipeline, Inc., and as vice president of sales for Ninkasi Brewing. Marty earned a BA in Advertising and Broadcast Journalism Management from Arizona State University.

Tom Parker, principal of Glacier Group Training, has more than 20 years of experience in consulting and project management, implementing enterprise applications and technology solutions for Nike, the Greenbrier Companies, and Deloitte Consulting. Tom is a certified Project Management Professional and a certified SAFe program consultant. He holds a BS in Finance from Indiana University.

Naira Perez has two decades of marketing experience and is the founder of SpringHill Digital. She specializes in helping small to medium businesses thrive using digital paid media. Naira holds a BA and MBA in Logistic Operations and Management from ESADE Business School. She has also completed programs in Advertising and Digital Marketing Strategies at Portland State University.

Corissa Saint Laurent has owned and operated two small businesses and led regional development for Constant Contact. She speaks nationally for Google’s Get Your Business Online program. Corissa’s passion is helping people and companies grow, transform, and be the best versions of themselves. She earned a BA in Environmental Analysis and Design from the University of California, Irvine.

David Richards has served as a leadership and executive development professional at Intel for the past 12 years, and he previously worked at Nike. He has created and directed successful executive and leadership development programs. He earned his BA in Business Administration from Weber State University and holds leadership coaching and Hogan assessment certifications.

Ron Sarazin, president of Olympic Performance, Inc., specializes in project management, business analysis, visual management, customer service, and strategic planning training and consulting. He has worked for PACCAR, Portland General Electric, and Mutual Health Systems. Ron earned a BS in Industrial Engineering at Oregon State University and completed specialized training at the University of Idaho and Stanford University.

Mitchell Sayre serves as business development and implementation manager at OIA Global, where he creates material sourcing and supply chain solutions for major footwear brands. His previous roles included working in business development and marketing roles for PACCESS, Pony Leather, and CEVA Logistics. Mitchell earned a BS in Business from the University of Oregon.

Rachel Shafran is a business consultant, coach, and facilitator with experience in leadership development, change strategy, and organization effectiveness. She is currently a global leadership and learning manager at Intel Corporation. Previously, she worked at Nike, AT&T, and Johnson & Johnson. Rachel holds an EdD in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University and a certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University.

Sarah Stebbins has over 20 years of experience that includes developing and delivering professional training programs, and organizational consulting. Her clients include Fortune 500 companies, the federal government, universities, and diverse nonprofit organizations. Sarah has a PhD in Organizational Development from Oregon State University and holds certifications in Prosci Change Management and Fierce Conversations.

Serilda Summers-McGee is the founder and CEO of Workplace Change, LLC. She has also worked in human resources for the City of Portland, Portland Development Commission, Oregon Department of Education, and Kaiser Permanente. She earned an MBA from Willamette University, an MEd from Ball State University, and a BS in Biology and Behavioral Science from Grand Valley State University.

Roel Uleners is a design partner who loves playing at the intersection of design, strategy, and people. Previously, he was the vice president of strategic design at Chehadé & Co. and an assistant professor at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. Roel earned his MFA from the Royal Academy of Arts and his Masters-after-Masters in Visual Communication from Sint-Lucas School of Arts and Design.

Kate Vance works as a project delivery program manager for Multnomah County. Previously, she worked for CH2M Hill and Portland State University. Kate’s additional professional commitments include collaborative leadership, client relationships, teamwork, and safety. Kate earned a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Portland and a Project Management Certificate from PSU.

Kjell van Zoen is a strategic energy management and Lean operations coach for Energy 350, Inc., where he helps clients realize energy efficiency using continuous improvement practices. Kjell has worked for Plywerk, PhotosbyKim, and the Parati Company. He has delivered over 100 workshops focused on Lean whole systems thinking. Kjell studied business, philosophy, and economics at University College London and Leiden University.

Ed Warnock is the CEO of the Perlan Project, a scientific research project sponsored by Airbus. He has more than 20 years of experience in consulting and business management, including working with companies and governments in Asia, Africa, and the United States on leadership development and change management. Ed holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Arizona and an MA in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University.

Tammi Wheeler is principal of PeopleSense and specializes in leadership and talent development. Previously she worked for Intel and Stimson Lumber in talent development and strategic leadership positions. Tammi earned a BS in Biblical Education from Multnomah University and an MA in Systems Design/Organizational Development from Antioch University. She has Myers-Briggs, Hogan, Facet Five, DDI and Achieve Global certifications.

Nate Young has served as the marketing coordinator for Brightworks, a small environmental consulting agency, and as the sustainability manager for Hopworks, a regional brewpub in Portland, Oregon. Nate also works as an elementary teacher and as a consultant for a variety of craft breweries. He holds a BS in Education from Northern Arizona University and an MBA from Portland State University.