| CUSTOMIZED TEAM PROJECTS |
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Larkspur Hotels, LLC |
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City of Oakland |
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Evolved Knowledge |
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WorldRes.com |
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Greenough Communications |
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Women.com Networks |
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Interop, Inc. |
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IBM |
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Dexter A&C Systems |
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MSO, Inc. |
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Consilium, Inc. |
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Novell, Inc. |
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ILC Technology, Inc. |
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Alameda County |
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Godbe |
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Tandem Computers |
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Envirotest Systems |
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Ford Aerospace |
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Mylex |
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Chemical Bank |
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CA Teachers Assoc. |
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MacroVision |
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Sunnyvale |
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Alameda County |
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InsiteVision |
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Permag |
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Boeing Computer |
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CA Teachers Assoc. |
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Fox & Carskadon |
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Spirit Rock |
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Swinerton & Walberg |
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State Fund |
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Chevron U.S.A., Inc. |
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Ford Aerospace |
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Dexter Corp. |
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Rolm |
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Marriott Hotels |
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Northwest Mortgage |
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Memorex |
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OPM |
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Beckman Instruments |
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Hewlett Packard |
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Ocean Routes |
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Scicon Systems |
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Genoa Technology |
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Dexter Corporation |
| HEALTH CARE |
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Intercontinental Services, Inc. |
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UCSF |
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Alta Bates Hospital |
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Fairmont Hospital |
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Children's Hospital |
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San Jose Hospital |
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Crystal Springs |
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Bay Nurses |
| KEYNOTES |
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TEC 20,23 |
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iPass Inc. |
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ASTD |
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Wang Labs |
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Women in Business |
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Blood Banks |
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The Rand Corp. |
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CA. Dept. of Health |
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CA Pharmacists |
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Mogul Division |
| 1on1 COACHING |
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VA Software Corporation |
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Nice Ventures, Inc. |
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SpineCare |
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The Dexter Corp. |
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Guittard Chocolate |
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Airplane Manufacturer |
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The Good Guys |
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Browning/White |
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Northern Telecom |
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Airplane Manufacturer |
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ILC Technology |
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ILC Technology |
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Airplane Manufacturer |
  
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BUSINESS
MANAGEMENT
Through the
years, the foundation materials of Learning Center have acted as a springboard
for many projects. For instance:
- In the early
nineties, IBM hired Learning Center to help solve what
they perceived to be a critical problem. After decades of market dominance,
some IBM employees felt “entitled” to continued success, and were
having difficulty making the changes required to step up to new competition
that was capturing IBM’s market share. The result was a course for
managers—“Ball & Change”—which guided participants
through the emotional mazes of difficult change and emphasized the dangers of
complacency. The course was fun and productive, and won IBM’s award that
year for most innovative course. It led to Learning Center’s engagement to
create “Choice Points,” a course designed to eliminate unnecessary
risk aversion that targeted all IBM managers world-wide.
- Elan
Pharmaceuticals likewise hired Learning Center for an application of TLC
method for closure communication; one that would ensure that their complex
cross-functional compliance team would receive FDA approval for a very high
profile pharmaceutical that is successful in the market today.
- Applied
Materials also needed a refinement: more accurate execution of projects
handed off from senior executive to senior administrator.
- Utilicorp
needed a way to ensure success in a newly decentralized and growing management
system.
- Sun
Microsystems needed a format that would ensure better forecasting
coordination between Finance and Sales.
- The Federal
Reserve Bank San Francisco needed more balance between the investment and
the regulatory sides of the house.
- Novell needed a system to build more trust in a shifting
management structure.
- Stanford
Research Institute (SRI) needed to instill more profit motive in some of
the most effective independent basic research done in the United
States.
- Women.com needed strategies for growth, and their
ultimate sale, through mergers and acquisitions.
- Tandem Computers needed to change its initial marketing
strategy from sales to “mom & pop” businesses to larger, more
centralized customers.
- The Stanford
Sloan Program wanted a strong introduction to teamwork and the perils of Us
versus Them activity as part of a kickoff to their yearly program.
- ROLM needed to reconcile its initially dual product line of
field computers and telephone systems.
- The Sharper
Image needed an interactive program for its managers that detailed the
relationship between trust and high performance.
- Spinecare and SOAR (the San Francisco
49’ers physicians) needed improved business growth strategies.
- The Tosco/Avon
Refinery needed, by law, to demonstrate better execution between management
and its bargaining unit in order to re-open after a catastrophic
explosion.
- Aquila
needed more successful strategies to hedge risk in natural gas futures
transactions and thus protect its parent company’s value.
- The University of San Francisco Medical Center
needed a way to combine managements and reduce overhead expenses by $25 million
annually after a major merger.
- The American
Conservatory Theater (ACT) needed better coordination between the business
and the artistic sides of the house.
We’ve
mentioned here some company names that we think you may recognize. We have not
included the hundreds of lesser-known company names: the startups, the
“small businesses,” the non-profit organizations and the many other
organizations that range from successful dot coms to Native American schools:
heroes, in our view, of successful innovation. But the success of every one of
these projects is based on Learning Center methods.
what others say
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Following are just a
few of the many letters and project responses we've received from:
To go straight to
topic specific letters, please click below:
Customized Team Projects
Health Care
Keynote
Speaking
1on1 Coaching
Customized Team
Projects
Karl K. Hoagland III., President and CEO, Larkspur Hotels,
LLC
“Learning Center has
been a valuable asset to the growth, stability and profitability of Larkspur
Hospitality and our affiliated companies. Even though we previously consulted
with reputable consulting services and were aware of the need to make
improvements, our culture did not promote a company of accountability and
action where every level exhibited execution performance and appropriate
innovation without undue top-down pressure. Learning Center assessed our
situation and got to the root causes of our challenges.. customized and
orchestrated a series of executive leadership meetings and then developed and
implemented the tools, training and skills to achieve major improvements. We
are so pleased with progress, that we have recently engaged Learning Center to
continue working with other levels of the organization including our direct
reports - the leadership team general managers, directors of sales and various
other key positions in the company. This work has been enthusiastically
received at these levels as well. I should also point out that our key
financial stakeholder recently acknowledged how well the team is working
together to drive results, consequently generating confidence in the Company
and a desire for them to increase their investment with us via additional hotel
acquisitions. I fully endorse and recommend Learning Center services to any
company seeking to raise the bar on getting ahead in today's
market.”
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Al Auletta, Executive
Director, City of Oakland Alliance Management Team (AMT)
“The Oakland Workforce Investment
Board's (WIB) Business Services Plan called for hiring a private sector firm to
coordinate services for our One Stop system's business customers. This meant
merging organizational cultures of our state, non-profit and for-profit
partners into an integrated and effective service delivery process. The
feedback that I received from each of the AMT members, and what I have seen in
terms of their functionality all points to your tremendous contributions to
this process. In your one-on-one and group work with the AMT members, you
created an atmosphere of trust and disclosure that enabled the individuals and
the team to rise to the challenge of fulfilling the WIB's plan. I cannot think
of any organization more qualified than the Learning Center for enabling
individuals and organizations to realize their fullest potential. Thank
you!”
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top
Ahmad Mansur, Managing Director, Evolved Knowledge, LLC
(Project Manager for AMT)
“I would like to thank you and Learning Center organization for
assisting the Alliance Management Team (of the WIB Business Services) with our
efforts to implement our strategic goals. As you are aware, the AMT had a great
challenge of coming together to integrate two cultures and two systems into one
outcome. We sought the assistance of your firm to help provide us with a
process to mitigate mistrust amongst our stakeholders. In our 2-day seminar,
the Learning Center facilitated a safe forum for AMT members to learn about
each other and to resolve conflict. Subwequently, we are building a pathway to
mutuality. I really appreciate the fine work of the Learning
Center.”
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Gregory A. Jones, Founder & CEO, WorldRes.com
“I just wanted to thank you for all
the help over the past few years. I strongly believe that the Learning Center
played a crucial role helping WorldRes through each of its very challenging
phases: start-up, hyper-growth, dot-com collapse, path to profitability, and
the ongoing success. Frequently, employees and investors are skeptical about
the value and/or ROI from investing in teamwork training. Too often, this type
of work is characterized as "touchy feely" or intangible. However, you managed
to tailor each session to our specific issues as they evolved with the various
phases. In addition, each workshop would close with a very tangible, measurable
set of goals and milestones that tied very closely to our overall business
objectives. This proved to be a great demonstration of the benefits of closure
resulting in better execution and improved financial performance. On a personal
note, your one-on-one leadership training course was extremely valuable to me
both as a CEO/leader and as an individual. Again, I mainly wanted to say thank
you for all your help over the past few years. I honestly do not know how
WorldRes would have fared without your contributions.”
Back to
top
Matthew G. Hegarty, Vice President, Greenough
Communications
“When
Greenough Communications had our first seminar in March of 2001, we relied on
your guidance to set us on a reliable, sustainable course of direction for team
building. These discussions set us on a solid foundation of trust, and have had
a discernible impact on the way we interact with out clients, vendors, and
perhaps most of all, ourselves. We firmly believe that the tenets of respect
and trust begin from 'within' and only under these conditions, can the message
have integrity and meaning to whom it is imparted. In fact, recent client
surveys assert that out teams scored highest on such concepts as 'overall
reliability' and 'ability to honor commitments.' This is a clear manifestation
of our program's impact and success. Greenough and our colleagues have
benefited immeasurably from our relationship with Learning Center. The
standards for success, and the principles of trust, respect and integrity we
continue to nurture are a reflection of your leadership and commitment, and for
that we thank you.”
Back to
top
Marleen R. McDanial, Chairman and CEO, Women.com
Networks
“This letter is
to make my strongest recommendation for The Learning Center. I have had the
pleasure of working with The Learning Center in two different capacities and
companies over the past twelve years. I have only the finest things to say
about the programs that The Learning Center produces. All programs are
customized to the group and situation, yet they use common principles that
focus on teamwork, trust and accountability. I was able to develop a stronger
team with fewer problems than in other companies with more random cultures. The
Learning Center produces results that work and support the bottom
line.”
Back to top
Daniel C. Lynch, President, Interop, Inc.
“Your custom organizational
development sessions and private advice were key in helping us focus on
focusing instead of trying to grow in every opportunistic direction. Today we
are very successful...”
Back to top
C.L.
Blodgett, Management Development, IBM
"Helped us fulfill our desire to develop
and deliver a module entailing IBM's Basic Belief of Respect for the
Individual. This module was facilitated with over 750 managers from the nine
Northwestern states this year by Arky Ciancutti with measurable success. Your
module offered an innovative approach to renewing an IBM core
value."
Back to top
Jeff McClelland, Pres.,
Dexter A&C Systems
"One
of the best investments we have ever made. I think one of the greatest
attributes to the program is the fact that the results are LASTING
ones."
Back to top
James McDowell,
President, MSO, Inc.
"The
performance of MSO has steadily improved since we first started with the
Learning Center. We have not only weathered the storm, but we have improved
during the storm. Operations costs have decreased by approximately
$750,000."
Back to top
Tom Tomasetti, Board
Member, Consilium, Inc.
"Your
up-front assessment process, customized teamwork program and follow-up resulted
in 11 bottom ups-team initiatives that have had a positive impact on our
company. These initiatives helped solve intrinsic company problems but also
allowed employees to feel empowered and satisfied that their issues are being
resolved. I again would like to thank the Learning Center for your fine work.
If any of your prospective clients would like to speak with a very satisfied
customer, please have them contact me."
Back to top
Tom
Steding, Vice-President, Novell, Inc.
"I wanted to register in this letter the
tremendous impact the Learning Center Teamwork Program has had on the
Communications Infrastructure Division as a result of our high performance
teamwork initiative. After sending nearly 300 people through one day of
training, often with additional follow-up sessions, we have established a solid
platform for organizational transformation. We can already see tangible
results; for example, cycle times in product development are coming down
rapidly as the cross-function teams place a higher value on early
closure."
Back to top
John H. Reilly, ILC
Technology, Inc.
"The old
walls blocking communication between the work force and management and between
different groups are beginning to erode. Fear is driven out of the organization
and trust increases. People are more satisfied with their work and productivity
goes up. The ultimate beneficiaries are the customers of ILC, both external and
internal."
Back to top
Don LaBelle, Dir. of
Public Works, Alameda County
"Time is always a true test of the effectiveness of any type of
training. It has now been 3 years since the Learning Center staff joined with
our Agency to help us. Our employees still effectively practice techniques on
how to improve communications and remove barriers to teamwork. Perhaps one of
the most important benefits of the Learning Center's efforts has been the
willingness to accept accountability and the practice of supportive
accountability in our key management staff. This has really helped individual
managers develop all of their potential and has increased the quality and
reliability of our services."
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Leslie
Godbe, Partner, Godbe Communications
“These team development sessions
helped our organization to implement a new paradigm for responsive
communication and responsible team interaction. It was interesting to note how
quickly the concepts of "closure" and "commitment" were put into action by our
staff. Meetings were suddenly much more productive. Communication improved
within and between all levels. And, everyone became more focused on how they
could contribute to everyone's success, rather than just their own. Some of the
sessions dug a little deeper to address some of the more sensitive trust issues
that can affect morale and productivity. These sessions were particularly
valuable. In these sessions, you helped us to develop a set of custom
guidelines to continue to reference in the future. This has been an invaluable
tool for going forward as a team and continuing to incorporate what we have
learned. As a result of the investment we have made in the sessions from The
Learning Center, we are well on our way to working more efficiently, creatively
and happily as a team.”
Back to top
Craig
M. Herman, Manager, Tandem Computers
“I was impressed with how you
worked with me to establish a special program (using your standard concepts and
techniques) in the time frame I needed, the length of presentation I desired,
and the goals I wanted to attain. The immediate results from your presentation
were overwhelming. The concepts, principles and pragmatic approach to team
dynamics were openly accepted by my people... they came away motivated.
However, It's the long term effects in which I am interested: as of this
writing, I am still seeing positive results.”
Back to
top
Perry Ludy, VP of
Operations, Envirotest Systems
"Both training programs were performed
extremely well and the results have been much higher than expected in both
scenarios (e.g., our WA program continues to perform above expectations and the
performance of our company is indicative by our successful turnaround, as
documented by our performance in the stock market.) We remain appreciative of
the results and would recommend the Learning Center to other peers and
associates."
Back to top
Joe Colosimo Manager,
Human Resources, Ford Aerospace
"Looking inward at ourselves is the
toughest part of planning for the future and the techniques you taught us will
help a great deal. The management of human resources will be our major business
issue in the years ahead and I feel that in a special way you have assisted us
in developing a new way to see
our contribution."
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top
Joseph Schmidt, SPHR, VP
Human Resrc., Mylex
"The
Learning Center recently provided Senior Managers with a focused seminar
regarding getting to closure and accountability. Overall, we are very pleased
with results and have established specific plans to assure that matters of
closure and accountability are embedded in our culture."
Back
to top
Hans Prakelt,VP,
Chemical Bank
"Some of the
feedback given us went from "I enjoyed the no-nonsense common language
approach" to "The presentation as a whole proved a valuable tool in
understanding new paths of communication and straight forwardness."
Back
to top
Loretta Doon, Assist.
Exec. Dir., CA Teachers Assoc.
"The final session on developing a
mission statement was particularly well received by the staff. The department
statement that came out of that day's session was the product of each person's
contribution. Consequently, the staff buy-in was almost unanimous and
overwhelmingly positive."
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Patrice Capitant, VP of Engineering, MacroVision
"You have enabled our group to
communicate much more effectively and it can be felt throughout. Issues used to
be laid out and never quite closed and this was impacting team work. Meetings
were often a waste of time. Now everything runs quite smoothly, productivity
has been increased, and the environment is a lot more pleasant."
Back
to top
Kathleen Lockwood,
Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce
"Our Board members responded very positively to your program and are
actively engaged in "muck-busting". Your professionalism, depth of knowledge
and excellent presentation skills set just the right tone for encouraging Board
member interaction. Even though some of the members didn't particularly think
this would be a good retreat subject, they did a complete change of face by the
end of the afternoon."
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Patricia Brimer, County of Alameda
"In the fifteen years that I've been
involved with the Learning Center, I've never hesitated to recommend your
programs. As my career has advanced and as I have moved from one County agency
to another, I've experienced the universal application of your
programs."
Back to top
Jan Ivy Howard, Human
Resources Mgr., InsiteVision
"Research and Development environment is difficult at best and we
needed a lot of work to make our project management system function properly.
Your seminar allowed for employee involvement and the exercises offered in the
material helped the Company "open-up" the communications lines. I believe this
has made the glue that has held our project management system
together."
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Bill Hulsey,Director of
HR, Permag
"The course taught
me that there is a basic core curriculum for learning communication. Being
impressed with your concept, we "turnkeyed" your program. I found the turnkey
train the trainer training to be professional, thorough, unique and applicable.
I recommend this application of the Essential Communications Skills Lab to all
companies who are serious about becoming or maintaining a world class supplier
status."
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R. Blake Emery, Boeing
Computer Services
"We've been
using it for over two years. We continue to be pleased with the results of the
course. The instructors continue to enjoy teaching the class, and the
enrollment is very steady. Our senior instructor thinks the skills lab should
be the cornerstone of our curriculum, and become a prerequisite to the other
courses in our curriculum."
Back to top
R.
Stenhouse, Mgr., California Teachers Assoc.
"Equiped us with tools and information
that are extremely useful and productive for us. Thank you Learning Center
staff for your dedication, expertise and cooperation. We have surely benefited
from our association with you."
Back to top
Carole
Rodoni, President, Fox & Carskadon
"Your knowledge, skills, expertise and
leadership as facilitators helped make this weekend the success
it
was."
Back to top
Arlene De Vries, Exec.
Dir., Spirit Rock Meditation Center
"Spirit Rock Meditation Center engaged
the Learning Center to facilitate a strategic planning process, preparing us
for the next phase of development. You brought a busy group of people together,
and in approximately ten hours, mid-wifed a strategic plan, which in the year
since then has been a guiding force for the organization. I cannot say often
enough how impressed I was with your abilities, and without reservation highly
recommend your skills for other organizations."
Back to
top
Vikki Turner, Training
Mgr., Swinerton & Walberg
"It is not often one has the opportunity to work with such dedicated
people as the professionals at the Learning Center. There are many seminars and
workshops to choose from today. Learning Center is the type of training effort
that is long lasting."
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Jane
Schuller, Operations Mgr., State Fund
"Twenty-five managers, supervisors and
lead people from Data Processing Operations participated in your course. All of
my objectives have been realized. Instead of complaining about each other, the
supervisors now come to the meeting with acknowledgements of each
other."
Back to top
R.F. Boynton, Chevron
U.S.A., Inc.
"It has been
about a year and a half since we all took the Teamwork course. I think we all
benefited from the course and we are still using the tools... I find myself
doing these things without even thinking about it. We intend to continue and
improve."
Back to top
J.E. Guibord, Manager,
Manager, Ford Aerospace
"A
special note of thanks for your successful design and completion of the
"Profits thru Partnership Program". All-in-all the program was a smashing
success; it improved our management team communications, it was a means of
institutionalizing a message/vision to our subordinates and it continued to
show our customers we're serious about change."
Back to
top
T. Daniel Clark,
President, Dexter Corp.
“The process you led us through to establish team guidelines,
which were subsequently published globally and put to use in promoting a team
approach to problem solving, helped bridge cultural gaps that inevitably exist
in global businesses. I found the basic principals you base your training
around to be equally applicable as a change agent in under performing
organizations or as a building block to improve performance of successful
business units.”
Back to top
Brent
Neel, Regional Sales Manager, Rolm
"Over the last ten years I have taken a
lot of seminars which have provided a lot of data about communications and
teamwork. The Learning Center programs have given me much more than data - they
have given me the opportunity to experience true teamwork and communication in
such a way that it is natural to use it in the work and personal environment. I
would encourage anyone and everyone to experience your training
programs."
Back to top
Robert Boykin, General
Mgr., Marriott Hotels
"I
recommend the approach that your organization has opted to use because it
offers the client a high probability of results provided in an unthreatening
atmosphere for a reasonable cost."
Back to top
Brad
King, Pres., Northwest Mortgage & Escrow
"Some of the many benefits we feel that
were derived from our sessions include: The reduction of stress in the
workplace; improved relationships with clients; a bond through which to
communicate job related wants and needs more fully; improved quality of staff
meetings; communications delivered to management more easily."
Back
to top
Doug Winget, Industrial
Relations Mrg., Memorex
"What
I got out of the course were practical skills in building trust, ability to
listen and objectivity in communications. I am still sold on "Dynamics of
Teamwork" after first going through the course almost 3 years ago."
Back
to top
Don McElhone, Office of
Personnel Management
"I
strongly believe that this course (Teamwork) would be of significant benefit to
any Federal worker. The content of the course deals with developing one's
individual ability to form teams in such a way which, in my opinion, would
optimize the probability of achieving goals."
Back to
top
Robert Samuels, Ph.D.,
Mgr., Beckman Instruments
"All of the people from our department who have taken the course hold key
positions in this business. A number of people have observed that stress and
tension in our team is considerably reduced and people are giving more
attention to the problems at hand rather than interpersonal games and ego
exercises."
Back to top
N. Johnston, Corp.
Training Dev., Hewlett Packard
"Dr. Ciancutti's approach is
interesting, often amusing, and has many good examples of how to develop
teamwork and communication."
Back to top
Jack
Vowell, VP Data Processing, Ocean Routes
"The most beautiful part of Dynamics of
Teamwork is that it is not just a set of canned formulas for the work
situation. On the contrary, it gets to the very core of human interactions and
is applicable to all of life, not just the work environment."
Back to
top
James Nunan, V.P.,
Scicon Systems Control
“The teamwork training really made a significant difference in
our ability to complete the Michigan System Project on schedule and so
successfully. Perhaps even more significantly, many issues get raised and
resolved routinely now, before they grow and become major problems as they did
before.”
Back to top
Jim Zuber, President,
Genoa Technology, Inc.
“Genoa is a rapidly growing high tech company, and integrating
teamwork into our culture was a critical path issue to further accelerate our
growth. The two training sessions that you conducted at Genoa (one for Bold
Step Team members and the other for team leaders) were very well received. You
presented many powerful concepts that map well to Genoa's culture and have been
quickly internalized by a surprising percentage of our
employees.”
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Richard J. Finnick, The
Dexter Corporation
"Thank you
for a superb contribution to Mogul's February Managers Meeting. You are a true
craftsman and watching you involve our mixed and somewhat skeptical management
group into your "Dynamics of Teamwork: A Study in Achievement" workshop was a
pleasure to behold and to be a part of."
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For free consultation on your critical team/leader/performance
issues,
or leadership training seminars in California or your own
state/country
email
info@learningcenter.net
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