Mark Sundby, MDiv, PhD, LP
CO-Director

Mark has served as a consultant, teacher, and counselor in the field of psychology for over twenty years. For the past nineteen years, as executive director of LeaderWise/North Central Development Center, he has specialized in personality and leadership assessment, with an emphasis on health and wholeness, leadership development, and conflict skills training. The center contracts with over fifteen businesses, denominations, and seminaries to provide leadership assessments, and meets with about 750 individuals each year.

Mark and his wife have been married more than thirty years and have two adult sons. For fun, Mark spends time with family and friends, cooks, reads mystery novels, cross country skis, and bicycles.

Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Counseling Psychology; M.Div., University of Chicago Divinity School; B.A., St. Olaf College

Licensed Psychologist; Member, American Psychological Association

Executive Director, LeaderWise/North Central Development Center, 2000 – Present

Visiting Professor, St. Olaf College, 1993 – Present

Mary Kay DuChene, MA
CO-Director

Mary Kay is a leadership coach and consultant, facilitator, teacher, and strategist with over 30 years of experience in management, leadership development, marketing, and business management and development. She is also a deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

A leadership consultant at LeaderWise, Mary Kay is committed to developing leadership excellence in faith communities. In addition to coaching, consulting with, and teaching individual leaders, she also develops teams toward achieving high performance and offers vision and strategy facilitation to leadership teams.

Combining business leadership expertise with her deep faith, in 2010, Mary Kay designed and developed a cohort-model leadership development program for high potential clergy. This program brings faith leaders together for a year-long exploration of leadership, with the vision to help them lead their communities through deep change effectively and enthusiastically into the 21st century. Since this time, the program has expanded into retreats and seminars in a variety of forms.

Mary Kay holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota, Business Coach Training from Coach U, and a Masters of Arts in Congregational Mission and Leadership from Luther Seminary. An expert in Adaptive Leadership, Mary Kay has studied under Ron Heifetz at the Harvard Kennedy School. She is also certified to facilitate many assessments used in leadership development.

When not working or in the throes of life’s duties, Mary Kay loves to spend time with her husband, adult children, granddaughter, and golden retriever; read; and commune with nature in the Twin Cities or at the family retreat near the North Shore of Lake Superior.

DREW BENSON, PhD, LP
CO-Director

Drew is a licensed psychologist who joins LeaderWise with over 14 years of experience providing assessment and counseling to individuals across the lifespan in a variety of settings. He also has experience providing clinical supervision, leading workshops and trainings and consulting with congregations.

Drew approaches psychological assessments from a strengths-based perspective. At LeaderWise, he conducts assessments for those going through the candidacy process for ordained ministry, for those interested in pursuing missions work, and for individuals who are interested in using a psychological assessment as part of their personal growth and professional development. He also has extensive experience conducting comprehensive psychological evaluations with adults and children.

As a therapist, Drew works collaboratively with clients to explore questions related to meaning and purpose in life and in work, as well as personal and professional identity development. He approaches counseling from a relational and client-centered paradigm that encourages individuals to utilize their own emotional, social and spiritual resources to promote healing and growth. His areas of expertise include: depression, anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, relationship concerns, spiritual concerns, trauma, personal growth, LGBTQ Issues, children/adolescents, young adults, career/vocational concerns. Drew has worked in community mental health and college counseling settings.

Drew also enjoys the opportunity to provide consultation and training to leaders in service-oriented organizations. As a consultant, he has utilized a systems-based approach to help guide congregations through transition and conflict. Drew enjoys teaching and leading workshops on a variety of topics related to resilience. In addition, Drew has been a registered yoga instructor since 2011 and has helped lead or co-lead a number of yoga teacher trainings.

In his time outside of work, Drew enjoys traveling, playing golf and spending time with his partner, family and friends.

PhD, University of Minnesota - Minneapolis; M.A., University of Minnesota, Counseling Psychology - Minneapolis; M.A., Luther Seminary, Islamic Studies; B.A., St. Olaf College

To book a therapy appointment online, click here.

Ali Kenny, PsyD, LP
Staff Psychologist

Alexis (Ali) C. Kenny earned her PsyD from James Madison University’s (JMU) Combined-Integrated School and Clinical Doctoral Psychology Program. Prior to this, she received her Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Catholic Theological Union. Between her first and second year of graduate school, Ali and her husband worked as primary caretakers of groups of children living at an orphanage in rural Honduras for over a year. Upon her return to the United States, Ali wrote a book titled Married in Mission: A Handbook for Couples in Cross-Cultural Service as a resource for those in partnerships who are engaged in global-oriented processes. Ali has a long-standing interest in international volunteerism and has done mission work in El Salvador, Ecuador, and Mexico. Speaking Spanish and continuing to enhance her linguistic skills is an important aspect of Ali’s personal and professional development.

Ali’s doctoral dissertation research focused on a unique approach to Therapeutic / Collaborative Assessment with couples. Her academic experience has helped to inform her methodologies regarding evaluative processes. Ali works to use assessment to assist clients in better understanding life meanings and facilitating transformative change. More specifically Ali assesses clients with an attitude of mutuality and respect, adopts a relational and process-based stance vis-à-vis psychological evaluation, and emphasizes compassion and curiosity over judgment and classification. At LeaderWise, Ali conducts assessments with those going through the candidacy process for ordained ministry and persons interested in pursuing missions work.

Ali’s current and past clinical experience includes vocational coaching for Christian volunteers serving abroad, multicultural counseling and assessment across the lifespan with the Twin Cities’ urban, Indigenous population through Indian Health Board’s Counseling Center, and leading partial hospitalization program groups, conducting comprehensive adult and children evaluations, and providing individual counseling and couples therapy at several community clinics and a college counseling center in Virginia. In terms of other professional affiliations, Ali holds the position of Trainee Representative for the Families in Psychology Project. She also served as Co-Chair for Division 52’s (International Psychology) Membership Committee and was a founding member of the JMU Summit Series’ Youth Leadership Committee.

Ali and her husband are parents to their 4-year-old daughter. In her spare time, she likes to dabble in a variety of arts, crafts, and musical pursuits (piano and ukulele). Being born and raised in Montana, Ali has a penchant for all things outdoors and tall, tall mountains.

Caroline Burke, PhD, LP
Staff Psychologist

All of us encounter periods in life that are confusing and overwhelming. Caroline strongly believes that counseling/therapy assists clients in finding new ways to navigate experiences of helplessness and hopelessness. For over 20 years she has been working with clients on the challenges that life brings to them. She has witnessed clients find their internal courage which helps them lean into a life that is more meaningful, fulfilling, and less stressful.

From 2006 to 2016 Caroline was on the faculty at the University of Minnesota, where she taught and trained MA and PhD level Counseling Psychology graduate students. She has been a part of LeaderWise since 2011.

Caroline received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Auburn University and her B.A. in Theology from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul.

Rev. Cindy Halvorson, MDiv, DMin
Staff Associate

Cindy is a church consultant, workshop facilitator, retreat leader, clergy coach, leadership coach, teacher, and gifted speaker, with a lifetime of experience in faith-based organizations, all-things-church, and leadership development. She knows church life from years of experience as volunteer-extraordinaire to paid staff to solo pastor.

Committed to helping leaders be their best selves, Cindy also encourages faith communities to become emotionally and spiritually healthy. She has journeyed with churches in conflict, as well as churches in crisis. She has a passion for preaching, which she has utilized as an adjunct instructor at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN, as well as a guest preacher at various churches, events, and retreats.

Cindy did her undergraduate work at Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN. She holds a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Pastoral Care from Bethel Seminary and a Doctorate of Ministry in Biblical Preaching from Luther Seminary. She is ICF trained in coaching for leadership & transformation.

Cindy’s life is wonder-FULL due to the time she spends with her husband, her adult children, and her grandchildren. She considers herself fortunate for being able to participate in meaningful work and delightful play.

Dan Nelson, PhD, LP
Staff Psychologist

Dan is a psychologist who has worked as an educator, administrator, and consultant in higher education. As a psychology professor, he studies the development of college students as well as ways of improving student learning in college classrooms. He has taught undergraduate and graduate psychology and education courses at religiously affiliated institutions (Catholic and Protestant), and currently teaches psychology courses at St. Olaf College (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). The many courses he has taught include personality, statistics, psychological testing, research methods, and church-psychology integration. He served an educational institution as coordinator of assessment for eleven years, monitoring and promoting student growth in areas such as general and domain-specific content knowledge, student investment and involvement, critical thinking, moral judgment development, and Bible content knowledge. This research assisted the institution in identifying characteristics of students most likely to graduate and most likely to need remedial assistance, and helped improve the institution’s retention rates. Dan has consulted and served on the thesis and dissertation committees of many young scholars, especially focusing on the elements of research methodology and statistics. In his consulting work with other agencies, he has developed and implemented measures of customer satisfaction and importance, and utilization-focused feedback from multiple constituent groups.

Dan earned his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota (U of M), and his M.A. in Counseling Psychology at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. His doctoral coursework emphasized the areas of personality, learning and cognition, and statistics. While at the U of M, Dan conducted research with James Rest and the Center for the Study of Ethical Development’s Defining Issues Test (DIT), a leading inventory for measuring moral judgment development. His research and publications helped document the development of more sensitive and effective scales for measuring moral judgment growth, and modeled multiple methods for investigating this growth. His research in this area documented longitudinal growth in students at Christian colleges as well as the association between higher stages of moral judgment and greater knowledge of Biblical content.

Dan’s work at LeaderWise primarily involves candidate assessment, with expertise in using multiple inventories. His research with clergy MMPI-2 data provides agency-specific norms that are used alongside existing norms for seminary students. His utilization-focused research at LeaderWise has helped develop practices for interpreting clergy-specific profiles, including understanding elevated scores, addictive/compulsive behaviors, sexual misconduct, under-reporting, and validity configurations. Dan also implemented a cross-denominational inventory measuring the loneliness levels of more than 500 clergy, and the LeaderWise team is using the results to develop specific intervention approaches for those clergy who are most likely to report experiencing its effects.

Dan was raised in a religiously centered family — a pastor’s home. He demonstrates a lifelong commitment to integrating psychological and spiritual health and a commitment to the wellbeing of clergy and their families. Dan and his wife are parents to two adult children and a grandson. He enjoys time with his family, working in nature, home remodeling, and reading.

Danny Elenz, PsyD, LP
STAFF PSYCHOLOGIST

As human beings, we all interested in living a life of meaning and fulfillment. Danny is motivated to help individuals identify sources of meaning in their life and committed to helping clients strive toward fulfillment through personal growth. Taking a client-centered approach, Danny reflects with clients on their values, strengths, and goals. He utilizes psychological assessment data to help clients know themselves more deeply so that they may make decisions to support their development and growth.

In his own process of growth and meaning, Danny pursued graduate training in psychology. He earned his Doctor of Psychology degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of St. Thomas; Masters in Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology from the University of Minnesota; and Bachelors in Psychology from St. John’s University. Danny completed his doctoral internship in Bozeman, Montana, providing individual and group psychotherapy, assessment, and outreach to students at Montana State University. He also has experience supervising graduate trainees in psychology and enjoys working with individuals across the lifespan.

Danny lives in Minneapolis with his spouse and enjoys watching baseball, running, and learning to play the guitar

Fue Yang, MS, LPCC, LICSW
Staff Associate

Fue is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) who has been practicing for the past seven years. Fue offers counseling to adults and has a specialty working with the Southeast Asian and immigrant/refugee communities. Fue is bilingual in Hmong and English. His approach is to support you in identifying your inner strengths and areas that need further development/guidance. He has a person-centered approach in supporting you with your mental health and struggles you may be experiencing at a time of need. Fue has worked in community mental health clinics, corrections, and individuals who have serious and persistent mental illness.

Fue has a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Indiana State University. He’s licensed as a Professional Clinical Counselor and as an Independent Clinical Social Worker in Minnesota.

In addition to his work with LeaderWise, Fue holds a full-time position with Cigna Health Insurance where he supports customers and clients with crisis triage and utilization management. Outside of work he spends much of his time with his family and children; in addition to a family business making French Macarons.

Graham Hart, MDiv
Staff Associate

Graham has served congregations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Illinois, and Florida as a pastor and mid-council leader. His energetic and thoughtful leadership resulted in transformation across multiple contexts. As an International Coaching Federation (ICF)–trained coach, Graham asks insightful questions that foster renewal of community and church. Having served on local, regional, and national levels within the church, Graham understands the complexity of 21st century leadership. His passion is to equip leaders to reclaim the call to be salt, light, and leaven for communities.

Graham completed his undergraduate degree in Philosophy at Wheaton College and earned his M.Div and Th.M at Princeton Theological Seminary. Achievement of additional training and certification contributed to Graham’s expertise in conflict resolution, congregational development, family systems theory, and Theory U. As an accomplished professional, Graham has consulted with congregations across the U.S. and provided leadership coaching for pastors and mid-council leaders, as well as to congregations and individuals undergoing transitions.

Graham and his wife Linda, who is a nurse educator, live in Sarasota, Florida. Working with his hands, whether in a garden or in the garage, finding time to spend with his children and grandchildren in Chicago and Sarasota, watching a sunrise, talking a long walk with Linda, or seeing people grow in transformative ways are what brings joy into his life and puts a smile on his face.

Joanna Quanbeck, Ph.D., LP
Staff Psychologist

As a Staff Psychologist at LeaderWise, Dr. Joanna Quanbeck works primarily in the realm of vocational assessment, meeting with individuals about their strengths, areas for continued growth, and vocational identity at various stages in their professional life. In the assessment process, she integrates the psychological inventory data with exploration of how one's lived experiences, relationships, and cultural communities influence one's vocational well-being. She brings a strengths-based and collaborative approach to her work, building on the wisdom and resources one has already cultivated, and exploring the places and patterns for which one seeks change and growth.

Joanna earned her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, and has worked in university counseling centers, community and career counseling settings, and private practice. In addition to her training as a psychologist, Joanna brings an interdisciplinary educational background in literature, theology, and international studies. Early vocational experiences assisting with refugee resettlement and providing emotional-spiritual support in a hospital setting deepened her appreciation of the complexity of life and the power of resilience. While she has deep roots in the Twin Cities, Joanna values formative experiences living and studying overseas and on both coasts of the U.S. Having lived in various contexts, she respects the array of cultural experiences and communities that shape us. 

Julica Hermann de la Fuente, mA, MSW
Staff Associate

Julica Hermann de la Fuente is a coach, trainer and facilitator for liberation, transformation and justice, and is currently completing her path toward ordination in Unitarian Universalism. Born and raised in Mexico City, she first became committed to social justice when she came to the United States for college. Since then, Julica has been an anti-racism/anti-oppression educator and trainer in a variety of capacities over the past three decades. In addition to a Lay Community Ministry degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School, she also holds an MSW from the University of Michigan and is certified as a master life coach.  Julica stubbornly believes that liberation is found at the intersection of joy and justice. When not on shift for the resistance, you will find her playing with fabric, planning her week-long costume extravaganza for Halloween, looking for more excuses to frost fancy cakes, and reading optimistic sci-fi and fantasy possibilities of a just and equitable universe.

Kathleen Talvacchia, ED.D.
Staff Consultant

Kathleen T. Talvacchia (she/her) is an educator, scholar, conflict mediator and spiritual director trained in the contemplative tradition. She is a contextual theologian with interest in practical theology, Christian practices of marginalized communities, and Queer theology. Kathy is passionate about partnering with others through the work of learning, spiritual discernment, and relationship building in diverse context. Both in the classroom and in community settings she is energized when dialogue, engagement across differences, and learning provide a formative experience for creating a more just inclusivity.

Rooted in the ministry of scholarship and teaching for over 25 years, Kathy was previously on the faculty of Union Theological Seminary, where she worked in the area of ministerial formation and vocational discernment.  Kathy also served as Associate Dean at New York University Graduate School of Arts and Science, which honed her conflict management skills and widened her understanding of the many ways to educate students to serve the common good.

Kathy is thoroughly grounded in Jesuit education and spirituality and finds its wisdom to be centering. She did her undergraduate work at Saint Joseph’s University and a master’s degree in religious education from Boston College. Her doctoral work was completed in Religion and Education in the joint doctoral program at Teachers College Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary. 

Kathy identifies as a queer, cis-gender, Italian American progressive Catholic woman. She loves sports, as well as opera, walking along the beach, and with her partner, playing with their grandchildren and grand-puppy.

Kelly Jordan, PhD, LP
Staff Psychologist

As a staff psychologist at LeaderWise, Kelly offers responsive and integrated assessment services to assist individuals in identification of strengths and areas for development, ongoing career discernment, remediation of problematic patterns in the workplace, leadership and identity development, and successful onboarding to new roles. Given her doctoral level training in psychology and assessment background, Kelly prides herself on communicating clear information about test results while considering contextual, cultural, and individual factors that make these results applicable and actionable. Kelly enjoys guiding people in setting and achieving goals related to their ongoing development, and providing appropriate resources as needed.

Kelly earned her Master of Arts in Educational Psychology and her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on vocational identity development and interest measurement in leisure, volunteerism, and career areas. While in the Psychology Department, Kelly coordinated the Career Counseling and Assessment Clinic, overseeing career assessment and coaching services for early- and mid-career professionals across a variety of fields.

Kelly’s experience in coaching, counseling, and assessment spans a range of settings and clientele over more than a decade. She counseled undergraduate and graduate students in career exploration and job search strategies while at Hamline University. She has provided career and personal counseling in hospital, outpatient clinic, and college counseling centers, and received training in clinical hypnosis and neuropsychological assessment. She has served as an HR consultant in the corporate setting, supporting leadership development, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness initiatives.

When she is not working, Kelly enjoys good conversation and food with friends, going on local adventures and staying active with her husband and two young kids, baking, and taking advantage of the beauty and cultural events of the Twin Cities.

Krista Redlinger-Grosse, Phd, LP, SCM, LGC
Staff Psychologist

Krista joined the staff of LeaderWise after doing part-time assessment work for the past two years at LeaderWise/North Central Ministry Development Center. In her counseling and coaching, Krista uses a strength-based, relational approach that encourages individuals to grow fully into their personal and professional potential. She has a background in genetic counseling and college/university mental health with specific interests in the role of religion and spirituality in personal development and resiliency through life transitions and changes.

Krista lives in Roseville, Minnesota with her husband and three children, who are her greatest joys and "hobby," especially given the amount of shuttling them to numerous extra-curricular events. She loves running, attempting yoga, and playing the piano.

Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Counseling Psychology; ScM, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health/National Human Genome Research Institute, Genetic Counseling; BA, St. Olaf College

Mary Stieber Reynhout, MA
Staff Associate

An insightful coach and consultant, Mary specializes in career management strategies, executive and leadership development, women’s professional growth and achievement, and personal life transitions. She coaches clients to navigate life and career crossroads with confidence and skill and chart a path forward to achieve their goals. She is a diversely skilled HR consultant, educator, and facilitator with extensive experience leading talent development departments in nonprofit, higher education, and corporate settings. She also led diversity and inclusion education and managed mentoring programs for women and professionals of color. 

Mary is honored to coach clients as they wrestle with complex and consequential questions, and then accompany them as they gain clarity and make desired change in their lives, relationships, and organizations. She customizes coaching engagements to meet the unique needs of clients, leveraging appropriate models, methods, and tools. She seeks to bring out the best in people and guide them toward accessing what they need to make wise decisions and implement effective plans. A great outcome for Mary is seeing people live more courageously with a greater sense of purpose, wholeness, and joy.

An expert coach in career planning and job search strategies for leaders who desire to make a career transition, Mary has strong coaching abilities in building psychological fitness, leadership agility and adaptability, resilience, increasing emotional intelligence, aligning teams, influence and negotiation, advancing diversity, inclusion, and equity in organizations, and leading organizational change.

Mary has an MA in Counseling Psychology & Education and a Mini-MBA in Nonprofit Leadership. She also earned numerous assessment certifications, including the EQ-i 2.0, Hogan Leadership Suite, California Psychological Inventory, CareerLeader, and CliftonStrengths. She completed her coaching coursework with the College for Executive Coaching to become an ICF-Certified Coach and has received training in spiritual direction, mindful leadership, grief-informed coaching, and the neuroscience of leadership. She has been active on several nonprofit boards, including the International Coaching Federation – Minnesota Chapter, and taught numerous courses at St. Catherine University.

Okokon Udo, PhD, PCC, CPCC
Staff Associate

Okokon Udo is a business owner, an international change management and leadership consultant, a certified executive coach, process facilitator, public speaker, instructional designer and master trainer with over thirty years of experience in organizational effectiveness, intercultural effectiveness, diversity & inclusion, leadership and team development. He is also a strategist and educator.

Okokon works within organizations and businesses to design and implement people and process solutions that achieve results. He is an Assistant Professor in the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership program at Saint Mary’s University and has served on the faculty of the Coaches Training Institute, delivering their ten month-long cohort-based transformational leadership program in North America, Europe and Asia. He is a partner, corporate consultant and executive coach with the Atlanta and Nigeria-based SolidHire LLC and CxO Global LLC.

Okokon served as lead consultant with the Northwest Minnesota Foundation in developing their cohort and competency-based leadership program called LeaderImpact. LeaderImpact was piloted for a year and offered for 7 years, attracting 20-24 participants in each cohort with as many as two cohorts per year. LeaderImpact was eventually offered in Canada, Spain and Turkey. Okokon was the program administrator and lead facilitator, and responsible for developing facilitators from within the region. Okokon also partnered with Kellogg Foundation to design and deliver their experiential and residential cohort-based community leadership program called LeaderQuest.

Okokon holds a Ph.D. in Counseling, with a focus on chemical dependency, from Luther Seminary and holds a Master’s degree in Psychology with focus on Conflict Facilitation and Organizational Change from the Process Work Institute in Portland, Oregon. He also holds certificates in Coaching and Transformational Leadership from the Coaches Training Institute, a coaching certification from the International Coach Federation and in Organizational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas.

Okokon is the former executive director of the Center for Cross-Cultural Health. He is an associate consultant at LeaderWise and has participated in delivering assessments, consultation and coaching services for the past seven years.

Okokon volunteers his time on different community boards, is a mentor to young professionals and immigrants, and is a sports enthusiast, an avid photographer, actor and world traveler.

Rev. Rebecca Fletcher, MDiv, BCC, MINT
Staff Associate

Becca is a chaplain, consultant, teacher, mentor, and companion with over 10 years of experience in the healthcare field, with a particular focus on mental health and addiction. She is passionate about working with others to help them realize their best selves.

Becca earned her MDiv through United Theological Seminary and is ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA). She is a board-certified professional chaplain and a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers. She brings an attitude of curiosity and a wealth of personal and professional experience to each encounter, always watching and listening for the “sparkling moment.” Becca enjoys accompanying people and organizations on their journeys of growth, conflict resolution, and discernment.

Navigating various transitions in life has made Becca deeply aware of and grateful for the personal spiritual practices of rest and renewal, which for her include reading, fishing, traveling, art, and especially time with friends and family.

Ryan Dulkin, PhD
Staff Consultant

Ryan is a rabbi, educator, transformational leader, and scholar. He was ordained in 2004 and received a doctorate in Midrash and Scriptural Interpretation in 2011 from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. Ryan's teaching career includes several prestigious universities and seminaries, including the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Washington University in St. Louis, Franklin & Marshall College, Eden Theological Seminary, and the University of Minnesota. In the spring of 2020 Ryan will join the department of religion at St. Olaf College. He has also served as the campus rabbi at Minnesota Hillel, affiliated with the University of Minnesota.

As a rabbi, Ryan focus on developing and nurturing the talent within communities and individuals. He helps people transform themselves into leaders and helps leaders become better versions of themselves.

As a teacher, he loves to help people discover Judaism, religion, history, literature, and values.

As an academic scholar and public intellectual, Ryan writes and speaks about the intersection of religion and culture, with a specialty in classical Judaic literature. Ryan believes that religious literacy is a crucial skill in navigating the world around us no matter our religious or non-religious identity.

Rev. Sarah Ciavarri, M.Div., BCC, PCC, CDTLF

Sarah loves seeing people get excited about their lives and futures. Sarah is a Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator, a Board Certified Chaplain, a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation and a pastorpreneur seeking new adventures in service. For ten years Sarah has traveled nationally keynoting and facilitating workshops on resilience, vulnerability, and shame. Sarah is a faculty member with Coaching4Today’s Leaders and trains coaches. She’s received numerous grants recognizing her work exploring shame and vulnerability in church contexts. Sarah is the author of Find Our Way to Truth: Seven Lies Leaders Believe and How to Let Them Go. Sarah is the Director of Spiritual Care at Apple Valley Village Health and Senior Living, Apple Valley, MN and is a graduate of Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN where she was a Presidential Scholar.

Sarah Moore-Nokes, M.DIV, ACC
Staff Consultant

Sarah Moore-Nokes is a Presbyterian pastor, coach and consultant who works with people from all walks of life. She brings to her clients two decades of experience in judicatory leadership plus skills in creating change; facilitating difficult conversations; planning and strategy; teaching; developing leaders; public speaking; and motivating and inspiring people to make things happen!

As a coach, she creates space for clients to explore, process, experiment and move toward the goals they've set for themselves. She recognizes that this is sometimes messy, sometimes sacred, nearly never linear work and is committed to walking alongside no matter what the journey.

Sarah holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and a Master of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary, and has completed her ACC International Coaching Federation (ICF) credential.

In her spare time she is a runner, a gardener, a parent (to teenagers), a voracious reader and a knitter. She and her family live in Wisconsin.

Tom Allen, PhD, LP
Staff Psychologist

Professionally and personally there are moments that call for a pause, reflection, or discernment. In these moments it may be advantageous to explore and take stock. Together, we can take stock during these moments by using a portfolio of assessments as well as integrating your own lived experience, with the end goal to be fully engaged on your quest.

Tom joined LeaderWise as a Staff Associate in 2018. Professionally, his background is in higher education mental health. He recently completed an APA-accredited internship at the University of Maine in Orono, ME. Having grown-up in rural Minnesota, Tom takes a keen interest in rural issues including both the rewards and challenges of rural living.

His approach to counseling is integrative and emphasizes the interpersonal process. Combining his interests in somatic awareness, mindfulness, and strengths-based perspective, he encourages individuals to grow fully into their personal and professional selves.

Tom lives in Mankato, Minnesota with his partner, their son, and their chocolate lab. He enjoys running as a hobby.

Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Counseling Psychology; BA, St. John’s University.

Victor Thompson
Staff Consultant

Victor is a leadership coach and consultant, HR Leader, strategy facilitator and classroom instructor who believes that highly engaged teams make leaders great and produce sustained success throughout their organization. He operates from the notion that when embraced, change presents tremendous opportunities for personal reflection, insight and growth.

Victor has over 20 years of human resources, change management, diversity, inclusion & belonging, executive coaching and professional development experience focused on helping leaders and teams navigate and transform roadblocks that obstruct their pathways to success. His clients identify him as a big picture thinker who listens to and understands what his clients need. He builds trusting relationships that allow him to meaningfully challenge others to expand their way of thinking and empower their future.

Victor’s broad experience ranges from start-ups to Fortune 500 corporations and includes time spent in educational, government, not-for-profit and corporate environments. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Business Administration from Simon Business School at the University of Rochester. He has completed his doctoral coursework in Organization Development at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota and holds executive coaching certifications in the Bridges Coaching method, the Leader Coach model and Leadership Effectiveness Training (LET) process. Additionally, Victor is trained and certified to facilitate numerous assessments and a variety of coaching and change models used in leadership development.

When he’s not coaching leaders in the workplace, he’s often found coaching young leaders on the basketball court, softball fields and in the classroom. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and four daughters, volunteering with Crossroads Career Network, working out, watching movies, writing and playing/watching sports.