Forum Moderators on StrengthsCampus are independent volunteers, recognized for their experience in the field of Strengths. Each of these individuals have demonstrated unique and valuable perspectives in one or more areas of leadership, management, training and coaching. Their job is to make sure our StrengthsCampus Forum is THE place you come to ask questions, get answers and share stories about your Strengths journey.

Alexsys "Lexy" Thompson

Lexy has been working with Strengths since 2007 and has coached hundreds of of people on their journey to discover who they are. She is a certified StandOut Coach, NLP Practitioner, Human Capital Strategist, Strategic Workforce Planner and Dream Coach. She has facilitated Strengths conversations for Fortune 500s, executive teams, non-profits and government organizations–including Texas State Penal Facilities.

She is humbled by the "Ah Ha" moments and always has a few of her own. The last 12 plus years have been spent in the Human Capital and Talent Management space, working with people and organizations in transition. The strengths conversation is a natural fit as it creates awareness and drives action needed in transition.

Recipient of the 2010 AWBA Business Associate Award, Lexy is a partner and principal in Fokal Fusion, a People Strategy firm.

Top 5 StrengthsFinder® themes:
Strategic, Connectedness, Input, Intellection and Command
Top 2 StandOut roles:
Connector-Stimulator
TMBC Certified StandOut Coach

Courtney Smock

In addition to a full time role as a performance consultant in the Education industry, Courtney Smock provides Strengths learning opportunities to groups and businesses interested in leveraging strengths to reaching higher levels of performance. Courtney's passion for work that empowers people originally manifested with Change Management and eventually led her to Strengths.

As a certified practitioner in both areas, she offers instruction at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Courtney lives with her family in northeast Iowa. Courtney is a TMBC Certified SimplyStrengths® Trainer.
www.eachstrong.com

Craig Trombly

Craig is a registered Civil Engineer, with over 30 years of experience working in the California Department of Water Resources and has managed staff and projects there for over 20 years, holding increasing levels of responsibility. He currently oversees the Project Water Management Group with a staff of about 40 people.

Craig has been highly involved in the Strengths Movement since reading Now, Discover Your Strengths in 2003, and has taken Gallup’s Great Manager Program, and the TMBC SimplyStrengths and Strong Manager workshops. He has also read all the Gallup and TMBC books published on the subject, and is highly knowledgeable of the research and practice of this material in the workplace, in career development, and in life.

Craig leads workshops in his agency to introduce staff and managers to the principles of strengths-based management, leadership, and performance, and loves this part of his work.

Top 5 StrengthsFinder® themes:
Discipline, Responsibility, Analytical, Individualization, Belief.
StandOut roles: Teacher, Equalizer.

Dennis Smith

Dennis Smith believes Strengths are what we 'come in' with. Our natural self. Through the challenges we have in life, we either strengthen our Strengths, or start to live our un-natural self, where everything is a struggle and never seems to reach that Success we yearn for.

The work of TMBC brings people back to their core, their value, and their true ability to contibute to their careers, their families, and their self. He is an educator and coordinator, with too many letters after his name to mention here.

Jean Nichals

Jean has over eight years experience applying Strengths-based strategies within Fortune 500 companies, non-profits and small-mid sized organizations. She is also an Independent Consultant, with certifications from TMBC in StandOut in Practice and Strong Manager training. Jean is also a TMBC Certified StandOut Coach.

Jean holds an advanced Leadership certification through St. Catherine University, was a finalist for the Ventana Business Performance Management award in 2007. She is currently enrolled in the Certification for Creativity and Change Leadership program through Buffalo State University, and serves on the Board of Directors for Zenon Dance Company and the MN: Twin Cities Strengths Community organization.

Jean’s commitment to helping professionals connect with each other lead her to found Network Buzz, a 600-member and growing networking organization that provides the platform for meaningful connections between Twin Cities businesswomen. She also spends her spare time competing in duathlons and represented the USA at the 2008 Duathlon World Championship in Rimini, Italy.

StrengthsFinder® themes:
Adaptability, Arranger, Strategic, Individualization, Empathy
StandOut roles: Teacher-Connector

Jim Seybert

Jim is paid to do what he loves to do, which is making a difference by unabashedly encouraging people to do their best work, and love doing it.

In September 2001, Jim followed his heroes Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid by jumping off the cliff of a “real job” with a national retail group to launch The Jim Seybert Company, a private consulting firm serving corporate professionals who want to shake up their own organization’s Status Quo.

He’s led business retreats at surf resorts in Nicaragua and librarian conventions in Canada, and has had the pleasure of working with theme park marketers in Florida, entertainment marketers in New York, publishers, retailers, non-profits, university administrators, health care professionals and a host of others. He is an adviser to the Office of Strengths & Vocation at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, has authored two books on leadership (Tyndale House) and is a certified by TMBC as both a SimplyStrengths® Trainer and StandOut Coach.

Jim and his wife Rhonda live on the coast of California, 90-minutes north of Santa Barbara. His dream job is driving a shuttle bus in Yosemite National Park.

StrengthsFinder themes: Ideator, Strategist, Futurism, Maximizer, Communicator
StandOut roles; Pioner-Stimulator

Jocelyne Vezina

Throughout her career at Kinney Canada Jocelyne has given numerous Selling Skills and Time Management Seminars to groups of employees across Canada. She has lectured on colleges campuses to introduce Kinney Canada to the soon-to-graduate students with career interests in the field of Retail.

Jocelyne is currently Human Resources Manager for a footwear wholesaler. She also teaches night classes to adults for the Peel-Dufferin Catholic School Board.

Jocelyne is an Accomplished Communicator of Toastmasters International where she has won several awards. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from the Universite de Sherbrooke in Quebec. Fully bilingual, she now lives in Toronto. Jocelyne believes in the Strengths Movement. She learned the hard way that not living to your strengths can be hazardous to your health.

Jonathan "JJ" Jarrell

Jonathan (who prefers to be called "JJ") is founder and senior consultant at Own Your Growth, a professional development and training agency specializing in helping companies and individuals improve workplace efficiency, productivity, leadership, and morale.

JJ has helped some of the most successful businesses in the Southeast improve their productivity and profitability through a unique method of focusing on individual strengths while doubling and tripling overall performance.

As a StrengthsEssentials® facilitator and a John Maxwell Certified Coach, Trainer and Speaker, JJ offers workshops, seminars, keynote speaking, and coaching. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources, and over 20 years of corporate experience as a human resources executive.

When he’s not busy helping individuals and organizations reach their goals, he’s working to master the art of raising his teenage son.

StrengthsFinder themes: Communication, Ideation, Woo, Developer, Positivity

Josh Allan Dykstra

Josh is an author, speaker, consultant and agent of change. It is his mission to better the world by helping organizations become more vibrant and energizing places to work.

He has an eclectic work background in a variety of industries, from Fortune 500 companies like Apple, Starbucks, and Viacom/CBS to startups, nonprofits, and government agencies. He has an MBA in Executive Leadership from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in addition to Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts and Leadership.

Josh has been leading teams and working with talented individuals for over ten years, with a proven track record of increasing employee engagement and maximizing organizations. He has individually coached hundreds of high-potential leaders, helping them to discover and leverage their natural talents and strengths. His particular passions include social trends, cultural movements, technology, and helping to create the future in a positive way.

His new book about the changing world of work: Igniting The Invisible Tribe: Designing An Organization That Doesn't Suck will be released in 2012. He is a principal at Strengths Doctors, a consortium of strengths-focused consultants.

Kenneth Flamer

As a Field HR Manager, Kenneth counsels retail managers on a multitude of human resources topics including hiring and firing decisions, hotline investigations, disciplinary actions, mediation and conflict resolution, employee law and company compliance. He has facilitated over 30 leadership development trainings, including the Strength Essentials workshop. He earned his PHR in December 2008 and recertified in December 2011.

Kenneth enjoys Human Resources because, “I get to spend my days thinking about other people and playing to my Strengths.”

As his TMBC "Show Us Your Strengths" winning video describes, his Strengths story has been a marathon, not a sprint. He works at recognizing and acting on opportunities to practice his talent themes. By focusing on activities that make him Strong, and volunteering them when he can, Kenneth is able to excel at work by being a pro active contributor.

My top five talent themes: Futuristic, Maximizer, Arranger, Focus, and Self-Assurance
My top two Standout Roles: Equalizer and Creator

Linda Rowley

Linda Rowley is based in Victoria, Australia. A professional coach and facilitator with over 18 years experience in the government and private sectors, Linda brings a wealth of skills, insights and experience to those she works with.

Linda is committed to assisting people to accelerate their self awareness and understanding, enriching them with the insights they need to lead authentic lives. She is passionate about providing people with practical strategies for success and promoting positive health and wellbeing through happiness, meaning and purpose.

As a TMBC Certified SimplyStrengths® Trainer, Linda embraces the strengths philosophy as key to assisting individuals achieve success in their lives and is proud to be part of the broader Marcus Buckingham team.

Linda has a range of tools in her toolkit and holds a Certification in Professional Coaching, Master Practitioner of Neurolinguistic Programming, and has certifications in the Myers Briggs Type Indicator® and the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test. A member of the International Coach Federation, Australian Association for Psychological Type, and the Australian Facilitators Network, Linda has a focus on quality service, ongoing professional development and results with integrity.