Center For Executive Development

Since 1998, Melanie Anne Taylor has served as President of the Center for Executive Development, an executive consulting firm specializing in leadership development training, corporate change management, strategy building among senior teams and executive coaching. Dr. Taylor has an extensive background in organizational learning, systems thinking, leadership development and strategic leadership.

Throughout her career she has been the recipient of several research grants and academic fellowships. She has served on the staffs of several noteworthy Members of Congress, including Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Congressman Don Edwards. She has also served on the faculty of the Center for Creative Leadership, the National Leadership Institute, the Hartford Graduate Center and the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

At CED, Dr. Taylor specializes in designing large and small-scale leadership development programs that are customized to meet the specific needs of client organizations. She conducts and supervises executive leadership programs worldwide and serves as an executive coach in diverse client organizations. Dr. Taylor has provided coaching to several hundreds of executives including senior level executives of fortune 100 corporations, government agencies, educational and community organizations. Her clients are located in Africa, Asia and across Central and North America. Recent and past clients include the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, Pan American Health Organization, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), CareFirst Blue Cross Bule Shield, Citi-Handlowy Bank, Queensland Treasury Corporation, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Standard Chartered Bank, Genentech, Inc., Kaleida Health, various US Federal Agencies including, the National Security Agency, Office of Personnel Management and the Social Security Administration.

Dr. Taylor is a seasoned small and large group facilitator. She works with senior executive teams that are developing strategic plans, stimulating innovation, building high performance teams, and managing organizational change in a culturally diverse workforce. She balances these activities with the conduct of action research with long-term clients.

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica W.I., Dr. Taylor migrated to the United States and received a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Williams College, and Masters and Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Virginia.

Michael O. Black is dedicated to leadership development training, coaching and consulting in the Federal Government. As a licensed psychologist with an MBA, Dr. Black applies both business savvy and compassion in deftly guiding leaders toward achieving powerful results with and through people. Michael’s clients achieve unprecedented results by transforming mental paradigms and embracing new behaviors. As a trusted advisor who understands both business operations and human dynamics, he helps leaders identify and distill organizational issues into actionable steps. His impact is born of a powerful combination of interpersonal warmth, incisive analytical focus and his keen ability to select action that will drive results.

In his 20 years of consulting some of his clients have included Wells Fargo, Genentech, Social Security Administration, National Security Agency, Internal Revenue Service, HCA Healthcare, Merck and General Electric.

Michael is also an adjunct faculty member with the Center for Creative Leadership and the Office of Personnel Management. Through his 15-year affiliation with the Office of Personnel Management, he designed over a dozen different courses, delivered over 10,000 hours of training and coaching, and served over 5000 leaders hailing from nearly every federal government agency. Michael was formerly the Director for Outward Bound Professional in Denver, Colorado, where he led a staff of 35 trainers and oversaw leadership and team development programs for over 3000 participants in 70 different companies across America, Europe, and the Middle East. Prior to that he was an organizational psychologist with Somerville and Company, Inc., a Denver-based consulting firm, specializing in executive coaching and selection. He holds Doctorate and Masters degrees in Counseling Psychology from the University of Utah, an MBA from the Daniels School of Business at the University of Denver, and a Bachelors degree in Psychology from St. Bonaventure University.

Originally from upstate New York, he migrated to the western United States about 30 years ago. He is an accomplished rock-climber, mountaineer, and white-water raft guide. For kicks he travels around the world climbing big mountains, including a successful ascent of Denali in Alaska, the highest mountain in North America at 20,320′, and a summit bid on Aconcagua. He lives in Colorado with his wife and two young children.

Dr. Wood has extensive experience working in, consulting with, and leading large, action-oriented organizations with over 30 years of conducting or supervising management/leadership development programs in a variety of prestigious organizations in both the public and the private sectors including: the Air Force Academy, the Center for Creative Leadership, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, the National War College, the U.S. Postal Service Management Academy, the University of Maryland National Leadership Institute, the Eckerd College Management Development Institute, Disney University, the Foreign Service Institute, the Federal Executive Institute, and the Naval Postgraduate School.

Consulting focuses on: developing managers, management teams and intact work teams; strategic planning; culture assessments; managing organizational change and a culturally diverse work force; and stimulating innovation in organizations. Over the course of his career, Dr. Wood has assumed numerous roles and responsibilities including: Sr. Lecturer in Management & Director of Assessment, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of National Strategic Studies, Director of Executive Leadership Programs & Development for senior executives in the Federal Government attending the National War College or the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Internal Dept. of Defense Consultant Clients included: Secretary of the Air Force, USAF Chief of Staff, Defense Intelligence Agency, U.S. Army Material Command, The Air Force Inspector General, Faculty, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Associate Professor & Director of Leadership Programs & Studies, U.S. Air Force Academy, Military Pilot & Operations Staff Officer with experience in five different aircraft and six major commands Some of his recent and past clients include Nestle Food Corporation, Ralston Purina, Beech Nut Nutrition Corp., PMI Food Equipment, Southern Air Transport, HydroGro Landscaping, NASA, the Huntington National Bank, the Federal Aviation Agency, the State Department, the Air Force

Some of his recent and past clients include Nestle Food Corporation, Ralston Purina, Beech Nut Nutrition Corp., PMI Food Equipment, Southern Air Transport, HydroGro Landscaping, NASA, the Huntington National Bank, the Federal Aviation Agency, the State Department, the Air Force Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Service Advanced Management Program, the CIA, the FBI, the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, City of Frederick (MD), MCI, the Center for Creative Leadership, the Foreign Service Institute, the Federal Executive Institute, UST, Ryland Homes, Doctors Hospital, Washington Public Power Supply System, Omaha Public Power, FMC Corp., the International Monetary Fund, Cooper Nuclear Station, Discovery Channel Enterprises Worldwide, Smith & Nephew, Aetna Health Plans, USAA (insurance & financial planning), the Williams Companies, Walt Disney World, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lockheed-Martin, Genentech, CITI Group (Poland), Kaleida Health, and Synaptics.

He is the author of The Military: More Than Just a Job? Pergamon Brassey, 1988. (Third Printing), “Factors Affecting Career Decisions of the First Women Graduates of the Air Force Academy”, Air Force Human Resources Lab, 1989. “Behavioral Considerations for Space Station Design”, NASA, 1985, “Influential Associations in Organizations”, Academy of Management, 1982, “Air Force Junior Officers: Changing Prestige & Civilianization”, Armed Forces & Society, 1980.,1980.

Dr. Wood received his Ph.D., Sociology (Organizations), and Masters in Sociology (Military & Society), from Northwestern University and a BS, Business Admin / Engineering Management, from the U.S. Air Force Academy

Dr. Barbara Pate Glacel is seasoned trainer and an executive coach with thirty years of experience coaching executives around the world in industry and government. She specializes in working with senior executives, executive teams and boards in order to facilitate alignment, synergy, communication and change. Over the course of her career, she has coached individuals from over sixty nations in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Her experience covers multiple industries, to include high-tech aerospace, telecommunications, biotechnology, banking, manufacturing and consulting, as well as non-governmental organizations and international organizations. She has been an associate of the Center for Creative Leadership since 1985, working in CCL campuses worldwide. She was the CEO of VIMA International — The Leadership Group for twelve years where she was responsible for all line functions of staffing, finances, marketing, customer service, as well as delivery of leadership programs and simulations worldwide. Previously, Dr. Glacel was a university professor of business and political science. She worked as a manager at the Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) in Alaska and for the Hay Consultants in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Glacel’s experience inside corporations provides her with a clear understanding of organizational politics and business dynamics, while her academic background provides the theoretical underpinnings for her work. Her coaching expertise includes leadership, communication skills, relationship building, influence, strategic leadership and team dynamics. Dr. Glacel is the author of a business bestseller, Light Bulbs for Leaders: A Guide Book for Team Learning (Wiley: 1996). She has written three books and numerous chapters and articles, published in periodicals throughout the English-speaking world. She has given professional speeches and appeared on radio and television on four continents.

Dr. Glacel is recognized for challenging individuals and teams to reflect on the impact of their own behavior while influencing the behavior of others. Through her training and coaching experiences, she has observed the ability of individuals to recognize the impact of their behavior and to make changes that directly impact the success and profitability of their teams and organizations. She begins with an expanded self-awareness from which an executive can explore one’s impact on others, develop options for behavior change, and assess the cost-benefit results of personal behaviors. She has guided executives to make good decisions through her style of questioning and challenging assumptions, mental models and behavior.

Dr. Glacel worked with leaders in government agencies in the United States, Canada and Europe, to include the Departments of Army, Navy, Air Force, Agriculture, NASA, and NATO. She was a part of the Army and diplomatic communities for forty years as a paid consultant and a volunteer. She served on the U.S. Army Science Board under Secretary John Marsh, the U.S. Defense Science Board Quality of Life Task Force under Secretary William Perry, and the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services under Secretary William Cohen. She has been recognized for her professional service to the U.S. government with several awards..

Dr. Glacel received a Ph. D. in political science and an MA in human relations from the University of Oklahoma (USA). She is a Master Certified Coach, International Coach Federation, Chair, Advisory Board of Reves Center for International Studies, College of William and Mary (USA), Vice President and Board of Directors, Chesapeake Broadcasting Corporation, Maryland (USA) and sits on the Board of Directors, Pamela Harriman Foreign Service Fellowships, Washington, D.C.

Dr. Doug Frost specializes in executive coaching and organizational consulting, with a primary focus on senior leaders and their teams. Doug has worked in leadership development with corporate executives, hospital executives, as well as federal government leaders, for over two decades. He has assisted hundreds of executives and their Boards in successfully addressing the challenges of leading in rapidly changing, complex organizations. He is particularly passionate about helping healthcare leaders create organizations that are healthy in both human and financial terms.

Most senior leaders have sufficient intelligence, drive, and talent. However, the fullest use of these attributes requires leaders to be mindful about their relationships. Doug begins with a fundamental premise: the most crucial competitive advantage of leaders and their teams resides in the quality of their relationships. He has created a straightforward set of tools and processes to help leaders and their teams build this crucial advantage.

In particular, Doug’s methods are process-oriented, nonlinear, and draw upon insights from the new science of complexity, as well as the wisdom of ancient traditions. He is an action-oriented facilitator committed to high quality leadership, powerful communication, and high performance teamwork. Doug brings a wealth of experience, excellent listening skills, a trained eye, and the ability to ask powerful questions that aid individuals and teams in unleashing their full potential.

Doug regularly works with executives, physicians, and nurses in medical provider organizations, as well as with pharmaceutical industry leaders. He has also been a partner in a group clinical psychology practice specializing in Behavioral Medicine and as co-founder of a consulting psychology firm in Colorado Springs, CO for ten years.

Doug was also an adjunct staff member at the Center for Creative Leadership for 15 years. Serving senior executives from across the globe, he facilitated experiential learning activities and in-depth coaching sessions. These coaching dialogues integrate an extensive battery of assessment tools including psychological tests, 360-degree evaluations, and management/leadership skill measures.

Doug has wrestled with complex decisions in business planning, sales, marketing, budgeting, and employee relations. He has prior experience as vice president of a metropolitan medical center and as the chief operating officer of a national health promotion organization. These roles have enhanced his understanding of organizational issues, including working with Boards of Directors, from an executive’s perspective.

In addition, Doug was assistant administrator for a major defense contractor’s employee assistance program. He received a Q level security clearance in order to work at this nuclear facility. While on site, he provided psychological services and training seminars to an employee population of 5,000 and directed initiatives to overcome employee health, stress, and work performance issues.

He has taught highly regarded MBA courses concerning human behavior in the workplace through programs at the University of Phoenix in Denver. Doug has also taught psychology courses at the University of Massachusetts

Doug received his Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Colorado Psychological Association. He is a past president of the El Paso County Psychological Society and former chairperson of the El Paso County Interdisciplinary Committee.

Nur is an organizational psychologist, a leadership development specialist and an executive coach bringing the depth and breadth of her corporate, consulting and academic experiences to her global coaching practice. Her experience in delivering services worldwide to Fortune 100 companies, partnership and professional services firms, government and international agency clients spans over 30 years. Nur has been working solely as an executive coach since 1999. She is an executive coach at the Center for Creative Leadership, the World Bank and the United Nations Secretariat. She is affiliated with Duke Corporate Education, Encompass, Peakinsight and Global Coach.

Nur’s approach to coaching is built on her experience and knowledge in the fields of leadership development, adult learning, psychology, organizational development, and business. Her tenure as a professor in the business school at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro provides the theoretical underpinnings for her work. Her forte is coaching professionals who are transitioning into leadership roles with expanded responsibilities in global organizations and multicultural settings. Her thorough understanding of complex challenges in the global professional milieu helps Nur support her clients in achieving mutually identified goals through development plans and action assignments that accelerate their learning during transition. She quickly builds rapport with her direct, honest, empathetic and professional style that enables her to deliver constructive feedback candidly, assisting her clients to achieve their vision of success in their current or future roles by translating strategic goals to specific tactical steps. With the right balance of support and challenge and tactful approach to accountability, Nur keeps her clients focused on the work that is most impactful for them, for their teams and for their organizations with long lasting positive effects.

Education and Professional Affiliations

PhD, Organizational Psychology, Birkbeck College, University of London, U.K.

Higher License (MSc and BSc) in Psychology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

Licensed Applied Psychologist, North Carolina and Commonwealth of Virginia

Professional Certified Coach (PCC), International Coach Federation

Board Certified Coach (BCC), Center for Credentialing and Education

  amian Goldvarg has thirty years of experience in executive assessment and coaching, leadership development, talent management, facilitation, strategic planning, and team building services. Originally from Argentina, he has extensive experience working with people from different cultures and social backgrounds. He has worked with individuals and organizations in over sixty countries, including the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia, offering services in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. 

He is a Master Certified Coach (MCC) and received his Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from Alliant University in California. He is also a Professional Certified Speaker (CSP) and an Accredited Coach Supervisor (ESIA). and facilitates certifications on Professional Coaching, Mentor Coaching, and Coaching Supervision. He was the 2013-2014 International Coaching Federation Global President and received the 2018 ICF Circle of Distinction Award for his contribution to professional coaching worldwide.

Through his work with multinational Fortune 100 companies, governments and community-based organizations, Damian’s coaching and consulting services have realized extraordinary results for his clients. These results enhance productivity and communication, impact the quality of leadership present within these organizations and improve the quality of the work and personal lives of those individuals he coaches and consults. He wrote five books on coaching and personal development.

Damian has a background in business and mental health with areas of expertise in emotional intelligence, communication, delegation, conflict resolution, behavioral interviewing, 360 feedback, and time management.