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John McGrogan, MSSA, is a human resources professional who is experienced in creating value through improvement in personnel and organizational performance. His areas of expertise include leadership development, organizational strategy, employee relations, and performance improvement. McGrogan is well-versed in combining systems and behavioral theories as a basis of assessment, education, mentoring and training. His areas of industry expertise are food services, government, healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture and retail. McGrogan holds a master’s degree in psychology and organizational development, as well certification from the Harvard University-based program on emotional intelligence. He is a member of the International Society for Performance Improvement.
Sharon Collins has over 10 years of experience consulting with Fortune 500 firms and non-profits. Her clients include Eli Lilly, Kroger, ADM, HSBC, Crozer Keystone Health System and Kraft Foods. Collins earned a B.S. in journalism from Northern Illinois University.
Karen Thompson has over 20 years of experience in business leadership and teaching at the university level. She currently serves as the assistant director of Career Services at UNCW and is a nationally trained and certified expert in business etiquette and international protocol. Her certifications are with At Ease Inc. and The Protocol School of Washington ®. Her seminars incorporate theory into practical applicable seminars that are characterized as enjoyable and very useful.
Karen regularly conducts seminars for business, industry, government agencies and higher education professionals. She has written featured articles on specific etiquette topics with a New York Times affiliate newspaper and has been interviewed by both radio and television for special etiquette segments. Recently she was interviewed and quoted in Diversity, Inc. magazine.
Her clients include: AOL Time Warner, KPMG, University of South Carolina, SunTrust Bank, Progress Energy, and RSM McGladrey.
Walker Taylor III, CIC (certified insurance counselor),is a graduate of Davidson College and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Taylor is also the recipient of an honorary doctorate from the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. Taylor has worked as an insurance broker for 50 years specializing in ocean marine, property and casualty insurance.
Martha Dietrich, M.Ed., is a licensed professional counselor with more than 15 years experience in counseling and coaching. She has motivated thousands to take charge of their lives at work and at home. Her seminars are filled with practical information to develop greater productivity and effectiveness. Dietrich’s interactive style supports and challenges individuals to reach their full potential.
William A. Oden III is an attorney with Ward and Smith, P.A., Attorneys at Law. His practice experience encompasses various areas of civil litigation in both the federal and state courts at the trial and appellate levels. He regularly represents employers and employees before the North Carolina Industrial Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Employment Security Commission, and federal and state wage and hour divisions. Oden is a frequent lecturer and advises clients on a wide range of personnel issues, including, Title VII, Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and Fair Labor Standards Act. He also advises clients on environmental contamination issues in commercial and industrial property transactions.
His practice groups include:
• Litigation
• Construction
• Labor and Employment
• Appellate
His practice specialties include:
• Construction Litigation
• Employment Discrimination and Harassment
• Employment Litigation
• Environmental
• Occupational Safety and Health
• Workers' Compensation
Oden holds a J.D. and M.B.A. from Campbell University and a B.A. from UNC. He holds memberships in the following:
• American Bar Association - Section: Labor and Employment Law
• North Carolina Bar Association - Sections: Construction Law (assistant editor, Change Order 2005-2006); Education Law; Labor and Employment Law (contributing writer, Labor and Employment)
• Craven County Bar Association (president 2006-2007, vice president, treasurer, secretary 2005-2006)
• Lower Cape Fear Human Resource Association (board member)
• North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys Workers' Compensation
• Young Lawyers Division (Judicial Representative for District 3B 2005-2006)
• North Carolina Society for Human Resource Management
• Society for Human Resource Management
Ron LaReau, M.B.A., has expertise in developing and implementing marketing, sales and customer service strategies. He is an experienced and seasoned business consultant enabling organizations to enhance performance and generate profitable growth. LaReau has presented seminars/workshops on management, sales and customer service to more than 500 companies and authored sales and service training programs. His articles on creative marketing, computer based training and business designs have been published internationality.
