About
ADVISORS
Anna Aku, MSc
Software Security Engineer
Thermofisher Scientific, Brno, Czech Republic
Anna Sara Aku is currently working as a software security engineer for Thermofisher Scientific in Brno, Czech Republic. Recently completed her Masters degree in Computer Science - specialisation of Computer Human Interface from Westpomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin. Her thesis “Certificate transparency mechanisms based on blockchain technology”, was heavily focused on certificates and the public key infrastructure. Prior to that she received her engineering degree from the same university (2018) and concentrated on computational intelligence. Worked as a young Graduate Trainee for the European Space Agency in Madrid where she was tasked with developing a multiclustering solution for a data processing platform. Proficient in coding in Python and C++ and gained new knowledge in the area of DevOps.
Steven D. Berkshire, EdD, MHA, SPHR, FACHE
Director, Doctor of Health Administration Program
Central Michigan University
Dr. Berkshire joined the faculty at Central Michigan University in the capacity of Professor and Director of the Doctor of Health Administration Program in July 2008 after serving as the Dean of Graduate Programs and Professor of Management in the College for Professional Studies at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. Prior to Regis University he served as Associate Academic Dean and Associate Professor of Management at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, Alaska. Prior to joining the academic world full time Dr. Berkshire was a health care executive and consultant for 25+ years in several capacities. During his hospital career, Dr. Berkshire managed shared services, led public policy initiatives, and represented the health care industry as a lobbyist at the local, state and national levels. His consulting practice includes work with organizations on management and leadership programs, human resource issues, and organizational development and change management.
Ed Beakley, BEng (L), MEng (Air)
A 1968 NROTC graduate from Vanderbilt University and of the Naval Post Graduate School, followed by the Flight Research Incorporated Test Pilot and Flight Test Engineer Course. A retired Naval Aviator and test pilot with 170 combat missions and over 3000 hours in 20 different military aircraft, at the end of his naval career Beakley served as Test Director and Lead Project Test Pilot for the Tomahawk Cruise Missile Program in the Flight Test Division of the Pacific Missile Test Center, Point Mugu. A widely recognized expert in homeland security and national defense, Beakley worked subsequently as an Anti-Terrorism Specialist in support of Navy Anti-Terrorism Force Protection efforts, and Lead Officer for operations design, planning, control, and analysis for exercises focused on counter-terrorism, force protection, homeland security and homeland defense for the Center for Asymmetric Warfare. Currently a senior engineering officer at GBL Systems in Camarillo California, he works with the development of Live-Virtual-Constructive simulation for homeland security exercises, and also serves as the Terrorism Liaison Officer with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Terrorism Working Group. His contribution to aviation, naval affairs and issues of national security are recognized through his membership of the International Test and Evaluation Association, Naval Institute, the Association of Naval Aviation, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and the Board for Certification in Homeland Security. In addition to his professional duties, Beakley is the founder and director of the internationally recognized Project White Horse 084640, the first of its kind web-based analytical think-tank focused on decision making in severe crises.
Lt Gen Frederic Brown, PhD, USA (Ret.)
Lieutenant General Frederic J. Brown retired from the United States Army in 1989 after 32 years of service in various command and staff assignments. Serving in both Cavalry and Infantry units in Vietnam, he has commanded army units at virtually every level in the U. S., Germany and Vietnam. He has served in the Office of the Army Chief of Staff; Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; National Security Council Staff and as interim Deputy Chief of Staff to the President. Graduating from West Point as a Distinguished Cadet, Rick attended the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland, as an Olmsted Scholar receiving both Licence and Doctorate degrees. Rick has published broadly: four books, various articles and seven papers on national security issues. From 2003 to 2006 he served as the Army Senior Mentor establishing the Battle Command Knowledge System, the leading Knowledge Management effort in the Department of Defense. From 2006 to 2009 he was the Senior Mentor for Commander US EUCOM creating then fielding Teams of Leaders (ToL). He has been a member of the Council on Foreign Relations since 1973, Who’s Who in America since 1983 and Who’s Who in the World since 2006. In 2010, he was designated a Distinguished Graduate of West Point.
LGEN Paul K. Carlton, MD, USAF (Ret.)
Lt. General Paul K. Carlton, Jr., retired from the US Air Force as its Surgeon General in 2002. Dr. Carlton serves as Director to the Office of Innovations and Preparedness for The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center. He joined the Texas A&M Faculty in November of 2002. As the Surgeon General of the Air Force, he served as a functional manager of the U.S. Air Force Medical Service. He had authority to commit resources worldwide for the Air Force Medical Service, to make decisions affecting the delivery of medical services and to develop plans, programs and procedures to support peacetime and wartime medical service missions. Dr. Carlton is a fellow and former Air Force governor of the American College of Surgeons. He was named a consultant in general surgery to the Air Force surgeon general in 1981.He conceptualized and implemented the first Air Force rapid- response surgical team in Europe – the flying ambulance surgical trauma team. During Operation Desert Storm, he commanded the 1702nd Air Refueling Wing Contingency Hospital, completing 32 combat support missions and 140 combat flying hours in the C-21, C-130, KC- 10 and KC-135. He has published extensively in the medical literature. He is an 11,000 case surgeon who continues to “wash his hands” whenever he can .His vision for medical care in the combat zone led directly to our current best survival in the history of warfare.
LTC Brad Hilton, US Army
Bradley Hilton has been actively involved with Knowledge Management (KM) for the past 10 years. He was involved with the Army's initial development of the KM field, including the integration of KM doctrine, communities of practice, and the development of KM officers and supporting education systems. He was also an integral part of a Teams of Leaders initiative at the European Command Headquarters in Germany, which focused on rapidly building and effectively employing cross-boundary and culturally diverse teams highly competent in learning and adapting. Brad’s current research interests include developing a broader understanding on the impacts of trust and culture in enabling knowledge flow and learning particularly in non-traditional environments such as disaster response or virtual environments that bridge time and space.
Lt Gen Russel Honoré, USA (Ret.)
Lieutenant General Russel L. Honoré retired from the United States Army on February 29, 2008. His distinguished military career spanned 37 years of active service culminating with his appointment as the Commanding General, First Army. General Honoré served in a variety of command and staff positions which focused on defense support to civil authorities and homeland defense. Prior to his command of Joint Task Force-Katrina where he led the Department of Defense response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, General Honoré supported the planning and response for Hurricanes Floyd in 1999; Lilli and Isidore in 2002; Isabel in 2003; and Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne in 2004. General Honoré also planned and supported the United States military response to the devastating flooding which swept Venezuela in 1999 and Mozambique in 2000. As Vice Director for Operations, he led the Defense Department’s planning and preparation for the anticipated Y2K Millennium anomaly. As Commander of SJFHQ-HLS under NORTHCOM direction, he planned and oversaw the military response to the Space Shuttle Columbia Tragedy and the DC Sniper shootings. General Honoré is the recipient of many of the highest military service awards. He holds a Master of Arts in Human Resources from Troy State University and several Honorary Doctoral Degrees from leading national universities. In addition to serving as a contributor to CNN, General Honoré became well known nationally and internationally for his work on developing the culture of preparedness, a topic on which he both lectures and consults.
Lani Kass, PhD
Former Senior Vice President and Corporate Strategic Advisor, CACI International Inc.
Dr. Lani Kass is the former Senior Vice President and Corporate Strategic Advisor for CACI International Inc, a $5B Fortune 1000 Information Solutions and Services company. Dr. Kass led corporate efforts to advance CACI’s presence and stature in the U.S. national security sector, as well as enhance and expand key client relationships. Working directly for the Chief Executive Officer, as well as the Chairman of the Board, she participated in the development of corporate strategy, positioning CACI for growth. In this role, she brings skills and expertise honed during 29 years of distinguished federal service at the highest levels.
Prior to joining CACI in January 2012, Dr. Kass served as Senior Policy Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS). She was responsible for the high-level assessments and analyses necessary to render the best military advice and execute the integrated strategies, programs, and plans essential to America’s security. Her foresight, expertise, and cross-cultural, multi-lingual skills were highly valued, particularly during international crises. Her contributions were recognized by both the Secretary of Defense and CJCS. She received the Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award – the highest award granted to U.S. Government civilian employees.
Dr. Kass also served as the Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force (CSAF), Senior Mentor to USAF Project CHECKMATE, and Director of the Cyber Task Force. She developed the intellectual concepts that led to the establishment of the U.S. Cyber Command and continue to underpin U.S. cyber strategy. She was awarded the prestigious Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service by both the Secretary of the Air Force and CSAF.
Dr. Kass’ other career highlights include appointment as the first woman Professor of Military Strategy and Operations at the National War College (NWC), National Defense University. During her 20 years of service at NWC, Dr. Kass educated several generations of senior-most strategic leaders. Her former students currently serve as service chiefs, combatant commanders, defense chiefs in allied capitals, ambassadors, agency directors, and senior intelligence officers.
Dr. Kass has authored two books and 30 scholarly articles. She developed, directed, and taught graduate-level courses on a wide variety of national security subjects. She received a doctorate from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Kaplan School of Economics and Political Science and Columbia University’s School of International Affairs. In 2014, Dr. Kass was elected to the Board of Women in Aerospace. In 2016, she was sworn in as a member of the Air University Board of Visitors’ Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) Subcommittee. In 2019, Dr Kass was elected to join the prestigious Washington Institute of Foreign Affairs (WIFA) and the Board of Directors of Women in Defense.
Dr. Kass is a highly sought speaker in areas such as: Russia, the Middle East, China, terrorism/counter-terrorism, cyber, national security policy, and military strategy.
Sarah Kile
Director, Community and Partner Engagement, Michigan 211
Sarah Kile is the Director of Community and Partner Engagement at Michigan 211 where she proudly serves all of Michigan to make 211 more accessible to the most vulnerable among us. Having led a 23 county 211 center in Northeast Michigan, she is known for her ability to collaborate and bring people together; currently she uses her talent on the leadership team for the National 211 Steering Committee and represents Michigan on the National 211 Council of States.
Sarah has spent her entire career focusing on public health promotion and activism. She is a lifetime certified trainer and consultant for Bridges Out of Poverty where she takes pride in promoting respect and equality for those who are struggling with poverty.
As of November of 2022, Sarah was elected the Mayor of the City of Gladwin where she had previously spent five years as a Councilperson. She is also the Treasurer of the Clare-Gladwin RESD Board of Education where she has served for over a decade. One of her favorite nonprofit boards is Mid Michigan Big Brothers Big Sisters where she also gets to volunteer as a "Big Sister."
Sarah is a graduate of Central Michigan University, the Community Coalition Leadership program through The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Michigan's Political Leadership Program.
Mary Kushion
Health Officer, Central Michigan District Health Department (retired)
Mary Kushion has been in public health since 1988 and has been the health officer for the Central Michigan District Health Department since 1993. She has a master of science in administration degree from Central Michigan University and a bachelorof arts degree from Alma College.
Ms Kushion serves on the Michigan Public Health Institute’s board of directors. She has served as president of the Michigan Association for Local Public Health and is a recipient of the Roy R. Manty Award for distinguished service in support of Michigan’s local public health departments. In May 2010, under Ms. Kushion’s leadership, the Together We Can Health Improvement Council was formed to address the findings in the University of Wisconsin’s annual County Health Rankings and to create a community health improvement plan for the six counties within her health department’s jurisdiction.
Ms. Kushion is a member of the national Public Health Accreditation Board’s Standards Development Workgroup. She also served on the Research and Evaluation Workgroup for the CDC’s and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Exploring Accreditation Project. She is the chairperson of the National Association of County and City Health Officials’ Accreditation Preparation and Quality Improvement Team.
She has just recently retired as health officer (September 2013) and continues to work towards the improvement of health of Michiganders through her work as a health consultant.
Sara O'Neil-Manion
Design and Construction Industry
Sara O’Neil-Manion has had a fifty-year career in the design and construction industry, with forty years as a licensed architectural firm principal, and is currently emeritus status. Projects encompassed a range of types, many recognized with awards. Experience included a concentration in research laboratories and medical facilities. O’Neil-Manion also has teaching experience at both graduate and undergraduate levels, participated in art exhibits and has written for a number of publications. Pro Bono service includes participation on boards, board of visitors and advisory boards.
Frédéric Patricelli, MSc
Human Resources, International Advisor
At Telecom Italia’s Corporate University since 1986 teaching Information Systems and Database Technology applied to Telecommunications. In 1997 he joined Motorola Satellite Communication Division (Phoenix, USA) and in 2000 he was appointed head of the International Education Strategic Business Unit at Telecom Italia Learning Services (TILS). During the period 2000 – 2005, Frédéric served also as Telecom Italia’s representative in Euroteam, an association grouping the most important European Telecommunication operators. In 2007, he joined in quality of Learning & Development (L&D) Manager, MTC/Vodafone a Kuwaiti leading mobile telecom operating in Middle East and Africa. In 2013, Frédéric joined Zain Bahrain and served as L&D Manager formerly and Organization Development (OD) Manager successively.
Frédéric has been a visiting lecturer at several European universities, an author of numerous papers and co-author of 4 books. He was an invited speaker at Academy of Sciences (Moscow), Ecole Supérieure des Télécommunications (Paris), and VTT Electronics/Nokia (Helsinki). Frédéric is certified professional by Zenger & Folkman (Extraordinary Leader and Extraordinary Performer), USA, by ILM (Level 7 Executive coach), UK and by ROI Institute, USA.
Peter Marek Pikinski, BSc
Master Mariner (Ret)
Peter Marek Pikinski, BSc, is a distinguished 1974 alumnus of the Maritime University in Gdynia, Poland, presently a retired Master Mariner and captain of several ocean going bulk cargo vessels, offshore support ships, super-takers (VLCC), and master of a number of FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading). Peter’s numerous international certificates qualify him as a master of ultra-large ships with unusual maneuvering characteristics. In addition to his seafaring experience, Peter’s career encompassed supervision of ship construction and the quality control of newly commissioned or refitted vessels. Moreover, Peter is also a certified expert in bridge resource ad team management, firefighting operations and medical services at sea. Peter’s wide ranging expertise and practical experience made him into an international maritime consultant whose services are actively sought worldwide.
LTC Mike Prevou, PhD, USA (Ret)
President, Strategic Knowledge Solutions
Dr. Mike Prevou retired from the U.S. Army in 2005 after 24 years of service in various command and joint staff assignments. He has operational experience in Afghanistan, Macedonia, and Bosnia, and has taught at the Armor School, Army Command and General Staff College and the School for Command Preparation. He has been involved in developing the current Leader Development training strategy and the implementation strategies for the Army Learning Concept for 2015. Dr. Prevou specializes in tacit knowledge transfer and learning solutions that improve learning and performance outcomes. His recent work focuses on individual, team, and organizational learning strategies, in both formal and informal learning environments, required to develop expertise and decision-making skills. He has conducted Teams of Leaders workshops for a Joint Combatant Command, US Army Service Component Command, a Brigade Combat Team, Universities, a Fortune 500 company and rural healthcare organizations seeking to improve cross boundary teaming. He holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Kansas; a Master’s degree in Organizational Behavior from Golden Gate University, California; a Master’s in Military Arts and Science from the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Tennessee. He is an Adjunct Professor at California State University, Northridge and at the Army Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, where he teaches a graduate program in Knowledge Management and Interagency teaming. Dr. Prevou has published numerous articles in the field of adult education, knowledge transfer, knowledge management and expertise development methods. He is currently President and a Principal Consultant at Strategic Knowledge Solutions.
Simon Richir, PhD
Simon Richir, M.Eng, Ph.D., one of the pioneers and the most recognized leaders in French VR research and its practical application. Professor at ENSAM (Arts et Metiers), the renowned French School of Engineering, Simon Richir is also the head of “Laval Arts et Metiers Institute” and ”Presence & innovation” research team (LAMPA Lab, EA1427). His research and teaching activities concentrate on technological innovation, engineering design process, ideation, innovative projects, training, management and innovative uses of new advanced technologies such as Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality. In addition to these activities, he is also the co-founder and the present scientific chair of one of the world’s most prestigious international events in Virtual Reality: the annual Laval Virtual International Conference.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonrichir/
Gerard H. Seijts, PhD
Professor of Organizational Behavior, Richard Ivey School of Business
Executive Director, Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute Chair in Leadership
Gerard Seijts received his PhD from the University of Toronto in 1998. Prior to joining Ivey Business School in 2000, he was on the faculty at the I.H. Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba. Gerard is teaching in several leadership programs; he has worked with organizations including Aecon, Intact Financial Corporation, OMERS, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Porter Airlines, Canadian Space Agency, Business Development Bank of Canada, Maple Leaf Foods, J.D. Irving Limited, EY Canada, Hutchison Ports, Deloitte, Hilti, A.S. Watson, and many others. He has also worked with government agencies in Canada, Hong Kong, Africa, and the Middle East on issues such as leadership and change. Gerard has taught EMBA, MBA and undergraduate courses in leadership, leading change, organizational behavior, performance management and staffing.
His research activities, spanning journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers, cover a wide range of topics including leadership, leader character, change, goal setting, training and development, teams, organizational justice, and performance management. He also enjoys writing practitioner-oriented articles.
Gerard has written many cases on topics including but not limited to leadership, leader character, leading change, organizational turnarounds, crisis management, organizational culture and alignment, teams and managing conflict in teams. He has authored or co-authored four books: Leadership on Trial: A Manifesto for Leadership Development; Good Leaders Learn: Lessons from Lifetimes of Leadership; Developing Leadership Character; and Leadership in Practice: Theory and Cases in Leadership Character.
He is the recipient of awards for research, innovation in teaching and outreach activities.
Anne Snowdon, RN, BScN, MSc, PhD
Professor, Strategy and Entrepreneurship
Scientific Director & CEO, Supply Chain Advancement Network in Health
Academic Chair, World Health Innovation Network (WIN), Odette School of Business
Dr. Anne Snowdon is a Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the Odette School of Business, University of Windsor. Snowdon holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Western Ontario, a Master of Science from McGill University, and a PhD in Nursing from the University of Michigan. She was a Fulbright Scholar and was awarded the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Fellowship for her research on parenting during childhood hospitalization. As the Theme Coordinator for Automotive Health and Safety for Canada’s automotive research program, AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence, she has commercialized innovative new safety seat products for vehicle occupants.
As Professor and academic chair of the World Health Innovation Network, at the University of Windsor’s Odette School of Business, Snowdon leads the work of the first Canadian health innovation center with formal ties to the United States. She works to build collaborative partnerships between the two countries to advance the health of populations, accelerate health system innovation in both countries to achieve sustainability, economic value, and productivity by providing support for innovators and entrepreneurs to successfully bring their discoveries to the Canadian, U.S., and world markets. Dr. Snowdon is leading a national research program focused on the capacity of health supply chain to enable health system responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in seven Canadian provinces. This research builds on her well-established program of research focused on healthcare supply chain, digital health and health system innovation, collectively focused on advancing sustainability of global health systems. She has published more than 150 research articles, papers and cases.
Currently, Dr. Snowdon is the Vice Chair of the Board of the Directors for Alberta Innovates, and member of the Health Futures Council of Arizona State University (ASU), and the Chief Scientific Research Officer for HIMSS. She is an Adjunct Faculty at the Department of Computer Science at the University of Windsor, the School of Nursing at Dalhousie University and the Centre for Innovative Medical Technology (CIMT), at the University of Southern Denmark.
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