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Joe Day

Professional Experience
Joe spent eight years as a professional hockey player in the National Hockey League, American Hockey League, and International Hockey League. During that time he captained four different teams, served as an Executive Committee Member of the Professional Hockey Players’ Association, and won numerous awards including Team MVP, Most Inspirational, and Unsung Hero.

Joe transitioned from the work of professional hockey into the business world working in sales and consulting in sports marketing, corporate real estate, and education. Building upon this experience, Joe co-founded Pondera with Rob Elliott and John Belaski in 2006.

Consulting Experience
Joe’s consulting expertise includes Strategic Planning, Executive Coaching, Team Effectiveness, Leadership Development with use of 360° Feedback Assessment and Development Plans, Organizational Change Consulting and Leadership Training.

Education
Joe received his B.A. from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York and his M.A. in Management and Organizational Development at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Additionally, Joe is certified to administer Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessments.

Personal Information
Joe lives in East Grand Rapids, Michigan with his wife and two sons, and enjoys reading, fishing and spending time with his family.

Office: 616.956.3410 | Cell: 616.366.5591
E-mail: [email protected]

Rob Elliott

Professional Experience
Rob began his career in public education, serving as a high school business teacher & coach, then school business manager and finally superintendent of schools. After 17 years in education, Rob switched to the business world to work for public corporations as well as privately-held family businesses, serving in leadership positions as Director of Training & Development, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, and Chief Operating Officer. Rob co-founded Pondera with Joe Day and John Belaski in April, 2006.

Consulting Experience
At Pondera, Rob’s primary client service areas are Team Effectiveness, Executive Coaching, Succession Planning, Leadership Development, and Strategic Planning. Further, Rob’s varied background gives him invaluable skills as a consultant in Business Development, Change Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Organizational Development & Effectiveness.

Education and Training
Rob received his Bachelor’s Degree from Michigan State University in Business & Coaching, and a Master’s Degree from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in Business Management. He is certified to administer Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessments.

Personal Information
Rob and his wife, Roberta (Bert), live on Big Pine Island Lake in Grattan, Michigan with their dogs, Alice and Jersey. They have two adult sons: Robert and Tony. Rob enjoys boating & water skiing, cross country skiing & snowshoeing, duck hunting, gardening, golf, MSU Athletics, and skeet shooting. Rob serves as a school board member for Grand Rapids University Prep Academy and is active in St. Patrick’s Parish.

Office: 616.956.3410 | Cell: 616.634.1963
E-mail: [email protected]

Calli Scheele

Calli joined the Pondera Team in August 2015 as the Office Coordinator. She brings with her 10 years of experience in office administration, event planning and coordination, and customer service.

Calli graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2012 with a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management, with an emphasis in meeting and event planning. While attending GVSU, she was an active member of hospitality-related clubs on campus, and also completed the Disney College Program in the fall of 2011.  She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree at Grand Valley in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership.

Outside of work, Calli is a team photographer and marketing coordinator for Grand City Show Skiers, a local water show ski team. In addition to photography, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, cooking and baking, volunteering for local organizations, reading, scrapbooking, and crafting.

Office: 616.956.3410
E-mail: [email protected]

Kurt Kimball

Professional Experience
Kurt began his professional career with the City of Grand Rapids as an Administrative Assistant in the Systems and Fiscal Management Department. Over the next 13 years, he was promoted to several positions of increasing responsibility within the City organization, culminating in his appointment as City Manager in 1987 at the age of 36. For the next 22 years, Kurt worked as the City’s top executive, providing exceptional leadership to an organization with 1700 employees and an annual budget of $350 million. During his tenure, Kurt received numerous awards and accolades for his distinguished service and leadership.

Consulting Experience
Kurt has significant credentials as a gifted administrator and executive. As a consultant, Kurt offers extensive experience in Strategic Planning, Team Effectiveness, Leadership Coaching, and Mentoring. He also is an adept advisor in organizational development, team management of public-private partnerships, complex financial management, and budgeting.

Education and Training
Kurt received a B.A. in Contemporary Diplomatic Studies from the University of Michigan and an M.P.P. in Public Policy at U of M’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. Kurt is a graduate of Leadership Michigan and has taken coursework at the Menninger Foundation and Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He also is certified to administer Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessments.

Personal
Kurt lives in the City of Grand Rapids with his wife, Randy. They have two grown daughters and four grandchildren. Kurt and Randy are active at First United Methodist Church in downtown Grand Rapids and have a rich history of service on various volunteer boards in West Michigan. Kurt consulted with the team that brought ArtPrize to Grand Rapids in 2009-2011. He enjoys golf and maintains an interest in public policy issues and governmental affairs.

Office: 616.956.3410 | Cell: 616.401.5100
E-mail: [email protected]

Farid Fritz

Farid is an accomplished consultant, psychologist, teacher, and leader. Farid is fluent in Spanish and English and has helped business leaders be more effective in cross-cultural communication. He is also skilled in customer service, sales, marketing, training, counseling, and translating.

Farid has worked for multinational firms, including Ford Motor Company, and in academics, hospitality, and retail. He is a skilled consultant/trainer and translator/interpreter, specializing in product knowledge and customer loyalty. Farid’s command of four languages positions him well to provide training and facilitation services in multiple languages and countries, adding another level of service to Pondera’s repertoire.

Farid received a Bachelor of Arts in French with a minor in Spanish at Grand Valley State University. He also holds a Master of Science and a Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education Counseling from Grand Valley State University. Additionally, he has a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Western Michigan University.

Farid currently lives in Miami, Florida, where he is in close proximity to his second home on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Office: 616.956.3410 Cell: 305.332.4603
Email: [email protected]

Greg Kehr

Greg works closely with Pondera’s consultants and clients by managing projects and delivering services. He has amassed a wealth of experience throughout his tenure with Pondera in the key service areas of Team Effectiveness, Coaching, Candidate Selection, and Planning Facilitation. Consultants and clients alike know they can count on him to take care of matters.

Greg received a Bachelor of Science from Grand Valley State University and is certified in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Instrument. He is currently in the Masters of Social Work program at Western Michigan University.

Greg lives in Grand Rapids with his wife, Rachael, their two kids, Zoey and Simon, and their dog, Hermione. They enjoy spending time walking their neighborhood, visiting with family and friends, working on their house, and attending University of Michigan football games. Greg has played hockey since he was 4 and continues to play with his friends weekly.

Office: 616.956.3410 | Cell: 616.881.2532
E-mail: [email protected]

Jacqueline Taylor, Ph.D.

“Jackie” is a talented executive, board member, consultant, and entrepreneur. She has served the education community for over 25 years including positions of VP for College and Community Relations, a Provost, a Chief Operating Officer, a VP of Diversity and Cultural Affairs, a VP of Development, and as a President. Jackie’s work as an executive was with the following colleges and universities: Davenport University, Community College of Alleghany County (PA), Fulton- Montgomery Community College (NY), and Lansing Community College. Prior to joining Pondera, Jackie founded and operated her own consulting firm.

Jackie obtained her Master’s degree and Ph.D. in College & University Administration from Michigan State University. She is certified to administer Myers Briggs Type Assessments and has published articles and made presentations on Leadership Development, Organizational Change, Total Quality Management, Diversity, and Multicultural topics. She has received numerous awards for leadership, excellence and achievement, including Distinguished Alumna Awards from Lansing Community College, Aquinas College, and MSU.

Jackie lives in the Greater Grand Rapids area where she demonstrates her passion for building strong communities through her work as past president of the Downtown Rotary Club of Grand Rapids and by current and past service on the boards of YMCA of Grand Rapids, ATHENA International, the Michigan Women’s Foundation, Michigan Habitat for Humanity, the Heritage Hill Board, Michigan Nonprofit Association and Michigan Campus Compact among others. Jackie is an ardent supporter of Michigan State University and its academic and athletic programs.

Office: 616.956.3410 | Cell: 616.446.8060
E-mail: [email protected]

Keith Williams

Keith enjoyed a distinguished career as an executive in Higher Education with leadership positions at University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Michigan State University, where he most recently served thirteen years as Executive Director of the MSU Alumni Association. He possesses a wealth of experience in group dynamics, gained serving on boards of directors of several local, regional, and international organizations. Pondera’s clients benefit from Keith’s passion to advance the effectiveness of leaders and the teams they lead.

Keith is a native of the British territory of Bermuda, and ventured to Michigan to complete undergraduate and graduate work at Michigan State University. Keith is certified to administer Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessments and brings a unique perspective to Pondera with his fluency in several languages and extensive international experience from worldwide work and travel. Keith holds an extensive list of special honors and professional memberships.

Keith is enjoying life with his wife Nicole, and their three children, Jonathan, Mckenzie, and Brooklyn. He is actively involved in the community through membership on boards of directors of several organizations. He proudly serves as a mentor for Kids Hope USA representing Oneida Church to mentor a young student in the Grand Ledge School System.

Office: 616.956.3410 | Cell: 517.290.5684
E-mail: [email protected]

Larry Burns

Larry is a professor at Grand Valley State University, where he has worked for over 15 years. He has extensive academic and business acumen that enables him to assist Pondera on special projects. His extensive knowledge of psychology, especially personality theory including neurological and environmental aspects, brings insight and experience to the table. He has also published widely in the area of perfectionism.

Larry received a B.A. in Nautical Industrial Technology from the California Maritime Academy, a Non-matriculated Minor in Psychology from Rutgers University, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from SUNY Stony Brook.

Larry and his wife, Laura, live in Grand Haven with their son. In his free time Larry enjoys hiking and running.