MEET OUR TEAM
Office Phone: (203) 779-5329
Email: Dennis.Perkins@SyncreticsGroup.com
Dennis Perkins is Chief Executive Officer of The Syncretics Group, a firm devoted to effective leadership and teamwork in demanding environments. Dennis has studied leaders and teams facing conditions of extreme challenge – a place he calls The Edge – the outer limits of human endurance. Based on his research, Dennis has identified critical strategies that enable leaders and teams to reach their greatest potential in any challenging environment.
Dennis’ passion to understand The Edge has taken him to disparate places – to Antarctica, where he retraced the footsteps of famed explorer, Ernest Shackleton; and to Australia, where he sailed with the crew of the Midnight Rambler, winners of the challenging 1998 Sydney to Hobart Race. He subsequently completed the 626 nautical-mile race, often called the Everest of offshore racing, as a crew member on a Volvo 60 racing boat.
Dr. Perkins has worked for over thirty years as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and teams in organizations ranging from Fortune 100 corporations to nonprofit associations. He is a highly, sought-after keynote speaker and an accomplished author. His riveting leadership and teamwork presentations feature dramatic stories recounted in his best-selling books, Leading at The Edge and Into the Storm.
A graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Dennis served as a Marine infantry officer in Vietnam. He subsequently received his MBA from Harvard University, and a PhD in psychology at The University of Michigan. Before he founded The Syncretics Group, Dennis was a faculty member at the Yale University School of Management.
Dr. Perkins has written extensively on leadership, teamwork and organizational effectiveness. He is the author of Leading at the Edge: Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition; Into the Storm: Lessons in Teamwork from the Treacherous Sydney to Hobart Ocean Race. Managing Change: The Challenge of Building a New Organization; Racing through the Storm: Building Exceptional Teams in Extraordinary Times; and Using the Power of Resonant Metaphor to Increase Leadership Effectiveness.
To inquire about Dennis’ services and availability, click here.
Email: Colleen.Marr@SyncreticsGroup.com
Colleen Marr is the Director of Client Services. She brings many years of experience to this role. Colleen has a special way of engaging each of our clients and forming strong relationships with them. As an author’s assistant, she is also skilled in copy editing, proofreading, research analysis, book promotions, and social media. Colleen is also proficient in 360 feedback reports and administrative management. She wears many hats, as you can see. Prior to joining the firm, Colleen was a compliance auditor in the banking industry. She holds a BS degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Southern Connecticut State University.
Colleen is a life-long Connecticut resident who likes to give back to the community by volunteering on various committees and charities, such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She enjoys traveling, sports, gardening, and spending time with her husband and twin daughters.
After starting his career as an eager graphic reproducer in the depths of a pre-press house, Mike quickly found his forte and entered into the world of sales. Moving swiftly, the peak of his learning came from working at Xerox and he brings his years of experience at a myriad of organizations into the practices and beliefs at Banjar Group.
Mike’s extensive experience has allowed him to connect with sales people from all industries and walks of life across the globe. The common thread in all these interactions is the universal desire of people to do better.
His passionate and energetic personality lends itself to connecting quickly with others and building a relationship of trust in which to share the experiences of the sales game. He thrives on the challenges presented and strives to present solutions and possibilities to achieve successful outcomes.
Mike’s practical and educational knowledge have provided a firm foundation for developing programs and presentations ideally suited to today’s sales person. His ongoing interest in the world of sales makes him a source of insight and the perfect coach for those lucky enough to be in his ‘Sales Rockets’ inner sanctum.
With a genuine passion for sales and an enthusiastic personality, Mike is the perfect source of inspiration for sales teams and individuals. Business leaders know to rely on him to ‘cut through the crap’ and get their sales vision in check! Whether it is a one-on-one interaction or a presentation to an entire sales force, Mike has the ability and drive to make the selling future clear and achievable.
Dave has held corporate positions as an Executive VP/Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate VP Human Resources, VP Personnel, Director of Training, and Director of Employee Development for a Fortune 50 conglomerate and two international corporations.
He has consulted for Bank of America, Ford, Marriott, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Bell South, MIT Research Engineers, Amoco Oil, Bass Hotels, Nike, Levi Strauss, Oracle, GE Capital, KPMG, Union Bank of Switzerland, Coca-Cola Company, Disney University, IBM, Georgia Pacific and Delta Air Lines. Mr. Ellis has worked with a variety of top-notch organizations to help them develop best of class programs, strategies and cultures. This depth and diversity of experience has helped him provide creative responses to a variety of business challenges. His corporate experience gives him a solid background in how different businesses operate.
Dave holds a BS degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland. He lives in Atlanta and enjoys all types of outdoor sports, especially tennis.
Dr. Fero is a sought after speaker and facilitator, providing keynotes, conducting workshops, designing programs, and performing organizational development initiatives for organizations in the not for profit and for profit worlds. He has designed corporate training programs, academic degree programs, and strategic plans for various organizations, all according to his philosophy that leadership is about helping everyone involved in your organization to reach their full potential, and it is the job of all involved to help them to do so. A major area of focus for Howard is to help his clients understand the importance of job satisfaction and identify ways to become more satisfied, excited about, and committed to the work that they do.
In addition to coaching and consulting, Dr. Fero is the Director of Graduate Leadership Programs and Associate Professor of Management and Leadership programs at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT.
Howard is involved in numerous professional organizations and is a past president of the Institute of Behavioral and Applied Management, an international association of management scholars and practitioners.
Dr. Fero holds a PhD in Organizational Behavior from Claremont Graduate University, a MS in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Baruch College, City University of New York, and a BA degree in Psychology and Marketing from Hofstra University.
Bob brings over thirty years of experience in leadership and team development with a focus on action learning. He has designed and delivered programs for CEOs and senior managers at Xerox Corporation, Bankers Trust, The Global Leadership Program of the University of Michigan, Prudential Real Estate, and Motorola Cellular. He provides operational leadership for the Brimstone team, supports client relationships, and leads workshop design and facilitation—with a focus on providing powerful lessons and insights into the behavior of leaders and teams in challenging situations. Prior to joining Brimstone, Bob was President of Outward Bound Professional and a member of the senior management team for Outward Bound USA. Under his leadership, Outward Bound Professional became a leader in the professional development space by delivering results-focused programs for Outward Bound’s clients in the areas of team building, leadership development, cultural change, communication, and trust building.
Bob attended Oregon State University on a National Student exchange program and holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Southern Maine. He completed leadership programs with The Center for Creative Leadership, NTL, General Electric, Interaction Associates and The Harvard Business School. Bob also co-authored the book, Leadership The Outward Bound Way, which provides lessons for leaders in the workplace and has a forward by former President Jimmy Carter. He lives in Camden, Maine with his wife and two children.
As a Leadership Development professional, she has played a number of key roles. She was the Director of Sales Management Training and Development at Connecticut Mutual; Vice President of Branch Management Training and Development for Smith Barney; Director of Corporate Staffing Planning at Travelers; and Vice President of Talent Management for Hartford Insurance Group.
Peggy is co-author of Leading at The Edge: Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition. Her compelling presentation will make the audience feel like they are a part of the crew as the gripping narrative becomes the departure point for an intense and unforgettable experience. In addition to this thrilling adventure story, she will explore the ten key strategies for success as the valuable lessons from Shackleton’s ill fated voyage.
Described by her audiences as very present, authentic and energetic, Peggy is an engaging speaker on the many challenging aspects of leadership. She speaks with candor and credibility from her extensive background and years of leadership experience both inside and outside of organizations.
Peggy has delivered presentations to a wide range of organizations including ESPN, Target, Kraft Foods, Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, Cigna, The Conference Board, Society of Information Management, LIMRA International and The Hartford Insurance Group.
She is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management, The Cape Cod Human Resource Association, and Association of Psychological Type. Ms. Holtman has a BA degree in English from The College of New Rochelle, an MA in English from University of Wisconsin and an MS degree in Organizational Behavior from University of Hartford.
Ron has successfully delivered the Leadership and Decision Making unit of the MBA course at RMIT Graduate School of Management for over 10 years, a program which he designed and delivered and which has received excellent reviews from participants and their organizations. He is engaged in coaching assignments to numerous CEOs, MDs and GMs as well as a number of senior executive teams.
Ron is a highly experienced and accredited Margerison-McCann Team Management Systems (T.M.S.) facilitator, having incorporated the T.M.S. suite of instruments in a vast number of coaching and training programs for over 15 years. He is a highly regarded facilitator of experiential learning, which he skillfully uses to combine learning and practical application through the use of specially designed activities and simulations. He has served on a number of expert committees advising industry groups, and government sector organizations. Ron has spent extensive periods of time living within other cultures and speaks three languages fluently. He has developed an excellent network of contacts nationally and internationally, enabling him to access the latest information and techniques in his field.
Ron’s coaching approach is centered on first identifying the needs and professional development the organization has of an individual and ensuring that a high level of ownership of outcomes rests with the individual. Ron then develops a coaching plan which targets the combined development needs of the individual and the business, thereby ensuring the best outcome for all stakeholders. This approach combined with his breadth of experience, highly skilled facilitation and his obvious passion for his work, enables Ron to design and deliver highly successful training and coaching for individuals, teams and organizations.
In addition to her experience with large-scale organizational change efforts and executive education programs, Dr. Miller taught for seven years at Yale’s School of Organization and Management, where she rose from Assistant Professor to Associate Dean. She created courses on organizational design and cross-cultural communication. An editor of the Journal of Small Group Research, she has published articles in a variety of professional books and journals.
For five years, Dr. Miller was Associate Dean for MBA Programs at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. In 1992, she moved to Washington, DC where she works as a consultant on leadership and cross-cultural management.
Dr. Miller received an undergraduate degree, Phi Beta Kappa, from Indiana University and a PhD from Harvard University. A Danforth Fellow, she was selected as the representative to the Aspen Institute’s Executive Seminar.
Jillian is a dynamic keynote speaker who has been featured at numerous conferences and client events. She has worked with senior executives in a broad range of organizations, including Walmart, AIG, Nationwide, and HT Media.
Jillian is a contributor to the books Leading at The Edge: Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition, and Into the Storm: Lessons in Teamwork from the Treacherous Sydney to Hobart Ocean Race. She also contributed to the article Using the Power of Resonant Metaphor to Increase Leadership Effectiveness.
Jillian’s focus is on helping leaders and teams achieve their greatest potential. She has coached executives to help them achieve the highest level of performance, and has done extensive work with teams, facilitating a development process designed to help them increase their effectiveness.
Jillian graduated magna cum laude from the University of Connecticut and received her MA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at the University of New Haven. She has studied, worked, and volunteered extensively in Cape Town, South Africa. She also has significant research experience and has worked with the Networking HIV/AIDS Community of South Africa, the African National Congress Women’s League, and the Department of Epidemiology and Health at Yale University.
In her free time, Jillian enjoys running and has completed the Philadelphia and NYC marathons.
Dr. Hazel M. Rosin is a Professor of Organizational Behaviour at York University’s Schulich School of Business. Dr. Rosin has taught Introduction to Organizational Behaviour at both the undergraduate and MBA levels, and International Dimensions of Organizational Behaviour in the International MBA Program. She also teaches Interpersonal Managerial Skills, and Strategic Career Management.
In addition to her work as a Career Coach/Consultant she has worked with Schulich’s Executive Development Program as a facilitator as well as an instructor in the EBA program. Dr. Rosin has taught courses in Human Resource Management for the Institute of Canadian Bankers, the CGA Association, and Ontario Hydro. She is also a qualified Expedition Leader for the Leadership program Leadership at The Edge and has delivered the program both within Schulich and to private clients. Dr. Rosin has been nominated by her students for the Seymour Schulich Excellence in Teaching Award.
Prior to accepting an academic position at York, she spent time in personnel research at IBM World Headquarters in Armonk, New York.
Dr. Rosin’s research has looked at: the impact of dual-career family participation on men’s careers, marriages, and family relationships; career patterns and job change among professionals; employee retention, job attitudes and voluntary turnover among professionals, work-family conflict, and differences between self-employed versus organizationally-employed individuals. Currently, she has begun to conduct research in the domain of organizational social capital. Her articles have been published in journals such as Human Relations, Journal of Vocational Behavior, Journal of Occupational Psychology, Human Resource Management Journal, and the Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences.
Dr. Rosin received an M.Phil. in Organizational Behaviour in 1984 and a PhD in Organizational Behaviour in 1986 from Yale University.
Vérité Founder Mary Proctor Trane is a strengths-based Coach and Master Facilitator, dedicated to developing passionate, effective professionals.
At the heart of Mary’s approach is authenticity; she believes finding what comes naturally and honestly leads to personal and professional growth. Specializing in leadership development, presentation skills, and personal coaching, Mary creates customized workshops and keynote addresses to help teams and individuals lead with their strengths to achieve results.
Mary brings a unique balance of business acumen and creativity; her approach was cultivated over her 11-year tenure at Estee Lauder, where she trained some of the most creative and analytical minds in the industry. As Director of Global Education, she helped build and maintain Bumble and bumble University – among the best-in-class in corporate education programs – which is attended by top-level executives and small business owners alike. Her workshops – known for their open, safe, and fun atmosphere – quickly gained popularity, becoming the most requested classes in The Estée Lauder Companies.
Mary’s warm and engaging facilitation style is complemented by her many years as a professional actor. She holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Performance from the Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory, as well as a Coaching Certification from New York University.
Originally from Minneapolis, Mary is now a New Yorker, living in Manhattan with her husband, son, and their beautiful (and very expressive) dog, Trixie.
To inquire about Mary’s services and availability, click here.