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About Us - Meet the coaching team at Leadership Forward

About

About leadershipForward

leadershipForward is a leadership performance organization focused on equipping leaders and leadership teams with the tools to enact real and lasting change in their organizations. We base our methods on the latest research as well as decades of our own real-world experience. In that time, we’ve helped thousands of leaders to connect, communicate, and inspire to their full potential. At leadershipForward, the greatest satisfaction we get is seeing an organization thrive under effective leadership after we’re gone. We serve Fortune 500 corporations, leading healthcare institutions and medium-sized businesses throughout the United States. leadershipForward was founded by professional development consultants Paul Litten and Greg Hiebert in 2002.

Meet Our Team

Greg Hiebert

Founding Partner
Greg’s commitment to profound change in people and organizations comes from long service as a leader and mentor. His eclectic experience includes West Point, the United States Army, Harvard Business School, Egon Zehnder International, BellSouth and McKinsey & Company. His coaching approach incorporates deeper levels of authentic and courageous dialogue to create conditions for personal and organizational transformation.

Paul Litten

Founding Partner
Sadly, Paul passed away from a valiant fight with complications from double pneumonia on October 28, 2023. While Paul won’t be with us physically to provide extraordinary coaching and leader education to clients; his zest for life, his dedication to excellence, and his courage to challenge others to be their best selves, will be greatly remembered. We honor Paul’s legacy and his vision for what authentic and courageous leadership looks like.

Dennis O’Neil, PhD

Principal
Dr. Dennis O’Neil is a prominent thought leader and subject matter expert on executive coaching and leadership development. He has over 25 years of practical leadership experience at the highest levels of Fortune 500 Companies, the White House, the military, and as a Professor of Strategic Leadership. He has been a trusted executive and advisor providing strategic and analytical guidance to public and non-profit boards, CEOs, senior government and military officials, and multi-national operations. An accomplished executive coach and leadership development expert, Dennis’ training methods inspire individuals and teams to deliver top-tier performances through one-on-one coaching and team engagements.

Russell West, Ph.D.

Executive Coach & Consultant
For more than 25 years, Dr. West has been helping executives and work managers align their best work to achieve their best result. By profession, Russell is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) executive coach, organizational developer, professor of leadership, humanitarian and author. He has enjoyed a career working at the intersection of empathic leadership effectiveness and thoughtful social involvement. In practice he is a mentor, analyst, teacher, author that believes unexplored capacity exists in every person and organization with whom he works. He is gifted at identifying, training, coaching, and equipping leaders. He specializes in understanding complex networks and identifying immanent workflows and strategies within the system. He has helped hundreds of executives and volunteers lead highly successful organizations.

Justin N. Fennell

Adjunct Executive Coach & Consultant
Justin’s invaluable insights into leadership challenges make him a reliable partner in preparing a wide range of clients to generate sustainable breakthrough performance. His engaging manner and innovative results-minded approach has helped leaders drive transformative change in organizations and institutions as diverse at the U.S. Air Force, Southeastern University, Advent Health, Mission of Mercy, the Christian Comedy Association, and the Salvation Army. Justin has provided thought leadership, management training, and organizational development advising on issues related to institutional advancement. A master communicator, he is also a well-known communication consultant and coach having worked with known national speakers, executives and entertainers.

Michael Montelongo

Senior Advisor
The Honorable Michael Montelongo, is a Senior Advisor at leadershipForward. A Council on Foreign Relations lifetime member and an experienced C-level executive who has led for-profit, public sector, and non-profit organizations, Michael is a former Presidential appointee and Senate-confirmed official. He served as the 19th assistant secretary and CFO of the US Air Force, managing a $120 billion budget and financing two major combat operations. Formerly a soldier, educator, and congressional aide, he completed senior corporate and military assignments across numerous industries.

Jennifer Daniels

Adjunct Executive Coach & Consultant
Jennifer is a bold and inspiring strategic leader, entrepreneurial growth adviser and ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC). She helps business leaders accelerate growth and innovation by infusing entrepreneurial principles into leadership development, strategic planning, operations, marketing and sales. Jennifer serves as President at Flying Laboratories®, a growth strategy consulting and leadership coaching company whose name was inspired by Amelia Earhart’s plane, dubbed "The Flying Laboratory," which she commissioned to advance aeronautical innovation. That same commitment to experimentation, continuous learning and entrepreneurial growth is what fuels Jennifer’s passion for ennobling and empowering leaders to create, grow and lead on the fly every day.

Michelle Ruiz

Client Support Manager
Michelle has served as a Client Support Manager for leadershipForward since 2004. She assists clients by administering assessments, scheduling coaching dates, and handling project planning details. Michelle supports the leadershipForward team by handling a multitude of administrative tasks, including data analysis, metrics reporting, and meeting planning.Michelle has served as a Client Support Manager for leadershipForward since 2004. She assists clients by administering assessments, scheduling coaching dates, and handling project planning details. Michelle supports the leadershipForward team by handling a multitude of administrative tasks, including data analysis, metrics reporting, and meeting planning.

Carole Moran

Executive Assistant
Carole is a seasoned executive assistant with Fortune 100 experience. She supports key members of our team in managing calendars, work product, communication and strategic executive relationships. Since 2018 she has supported our team, managing the complexity and engagement or our work. She works closely with Michelle Ruiz managing our interactions with clients, instruments and metrics.
At leadershipForward, we know that you want to be a confident leader who can navigate through any challenge. In order to do that, you need a proven path to becoming the most effective leader possible. The problem is that change is happening at an unprecedented rate in our world today, which can leave you feeling overwhelmed and stressed dealing with it on your own. We believe you have what it takes. We understand the struggles you’re up against because we’ve worked with thousands of leaders since 2002 to become more successful.

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