Dr. GLORIA J. BURGESS
Gloria J. Burgess, PhD is Principal of Jazz, Inc., her consulting and coaching firm. Gloria works with established and emerging organizations to lead whole-system change, develop talent, increase their impact, and sustain their competitive edge. Her work is grounded in a values-driven approach to change, and building and sustaining healthy, productive teams and organizations. She promotes a systems focus, advocacy on tough issues, and intercultural intelligence.
Gloria is sought out to offer expertise in the areas of leadership, creating healthy, resilient organizations, and work-life balance. Jazz’s clients include community, state, and national colleges and universities, Valley Medical Center, University of Washington Medical Center, Department of Family and Child Protective Services (multiple states and tribes), Washington Department of Child Care and Early Learning, Galef Institute, Microsoft, MSNBC, Qwest, Boeing, Adobe Systems, Providence Health Systems, Swedish Medical Center, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., Girl Scouts of America, Health Care for the Homeless Network, Women’s International Network, Attachmate, Helene Fuld Trust, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Cingular, Casey Family Programs, Noel House, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Leadership Institute of Seattle (LIOS), Northwest Care Management, Bastyr Clinic, and International Coach Federation.
Gloria has held executive and senior leadership positions in organizational change and development, learning and talent development, human resources, education administration, program and product development, and computer technology at Casey Family Programs, Aldus Corporation (now Adobe Systems), Citibank (now Citigroup), Bank of America, Honeywell, Xerox, The Lift Every Voice Foundation, and Bastyr University/LIOS. She has served on the faculty of the University of Washington, University of California, and University of Southern California.
Former Consulting and Lead Faculty for Leadership Tomorrow and LIOS, Gloria is an Associate Professor at Saybrook Graduate and Research Center and an Affiliate Professor at the University of Washington. She holds graduate degrees (PhD and MBA) in Organizational Behavior, Information Systems, and Performance Studies from the University of Southern California, a graduate degree in Leadership and Consulting from Bastyr University/LIOS, and graduate and undergraduate degrees in Education, Communication, and Theater from the University of Michigan. Her board experience includes Antioch University, First Place School, Alliance for Education, Washington Digital Alliance, and Leadership Tomorrow.
Gloria has written a children’s book about her father’s life-changing relationship with Nobel Prize winning author William Faulkner. She has also written several books of poetry and produced and recorded a spoken-word and music CD. Her poetry and commentary have been featured on NPR and British Public Radio. Gloria’s new book, Dare to Wear Your Soul on the Outside (Jossey-Bass/Wiley, 2008), builds on the themes in her best-selling book, Legacy Living. Both books focus on values-based qualities for transforming our lives as 21st–century citizens in our complex, evolving global village.
VERA A. MCEWEN
Vera A. McEwen “…was born to heal and nourish those in need.” A Licensed CranioSacral Practitioner, she offers workshops, seminars, master classes, and private consultations through Be Well CST, LLC, her CranioSacral Therapy practice, located in Vancouver, Washington. Prior to becoming a specialist in this area, Vera was a Systems Engineer and Project Manager for a global computer-services company—EDS (Electronic Data Systems).
One of Vera’s mentors and former co-workers says this about her work: “I have worked with Vera in the technology industry for seven years. Throughout this period, I have witnessed her empathy for others, her intuitive ability to identify a teammate who is suffering, and her selfless and subtle approach to suggesting well-researched, remedial behaviors or lifestyle changes. Vera pursued an education in the healing arts while excelling in a professional position and raising her beautiful daughter. She is now doing what she was put on this earth to do through the application of her non-invasive cranial-sacral therapy skills. I have been soothed physically and mended spiritually by Vera’s God-given talents. ‘Be Well’ is Vera’s mantra.”
Assisting others to teach them the body’s natural rhythms and ability to self regulate is, indeed, Vera life’s work.