Joel BarkerJoel Barker has always believed that the future is something you create, not something that happens to you. Joel is an independent scholar and futurist. Because he was the first person to popularize the concept of paradigm shifts, he is known around the world as the "Paradigm Man."
He began his work in 1975 and pioneered the concept of paradigm shifts to explain profound change and the importance of vision to drive change within organizations. The prestigious Library Journal listed his book, Future Edge, published in 1992, as one of the most influential business books of that year.
Joel’s training programs about the future have been translated into 14 languages and have been international best sellers for over a decade. Additionally, he has worked with various organizations around the world, as well as with nations including Singapore, Venezuela, Canada, and Peru.
His honors include an honorary Doctorate in Visionary Leadership from St. Marys University in Minnesota in 1999; the Excellence in Education Award from the International Education Association, Pi Lambda Theta in 1993; and the Doris Carpenter Education Award in 1997 from the City of Chattanooga for his part in supporting educational innovation.
Formerly director of the Futures Studies Department of the Science Museum of Minnesota from 1974 to 1978, he has spoken to more than 1 million people around the world and his films have been seen by more than 250 million people around the world.
His two most quoted phrases:
"You can and should shape your own future; because if you don't someone else surely will."
And for leaders,
"No one will thank you for taking care of the present if you have neglected the future."
If you are tired of all the bad news in today’s press and news accounts, Joel has the solution in his good news blog. His goal is to highlight five to ten stories each week about something that he considers good news: www.globaldialoguecenter.blogs.com/jbgoodnews
Many of us have used Joel’s training videos with great success. His latest, a 2009 release entitled Innovation at the Verge, illustrates how to create your own future by finding your next innovation. Through stories and examples, you will learn how to combine your ideas with the ideas of others as you meet at the Verge. Joel’s videos will be available for you to preview at our inactive exhibit hall. His blog about innovation will be especially of use to us as trainers: http://www.globaldialoguecenter.blogs.com/jbverges/
Jermaine Davis came highly recommended from members who answered our survey at the 2008 conference. Jermaine is the son of Carolyn “Charmaine” Davis, single mother of four children. He grew up on the west side of Chicago in the housing projects. After the unfortunate loss of six family members to street violence, Jermaine enrolled in college and began studying success and motivational principles to change the direction of his life.
Jermaine completed college, earning a BA in Speech Communication and continued his education to complete an MA in Speech Communication and an MA in Education. His first professional career was in corporate America as a snack food sales representative. After holding several corporate positions, he decided to honor his calling and follow his passion of teaching individuals and organizations to communicate appropriately and effectively: Jermaine became a college professor.
Jermaine has been actively teaching college for more than ten years, during which he received the prestigious student-nominated College Instructor of the Year Award. Jermaine is CEO, founder and president of two companies: Seminars & Workshops, Inc. and Snack Attack Vending of Minnesota. He is currently a professor of Communication Studies at Century College in Minnesota.
Jermaine has worked with hundreds of organizations across the United States. Managers, executives, frontline employees, students, educators and other workshop participants describe Jermaine as entertaining, enthusiastic, engaging, knowledgeable, passionate, motivational, inspirational, content-driven, professionally fun and a little silly at times. He’s described as “an authentic and real person” who understands the obstacles and frustrations individuals can encounter on their journey throughout life. Participants regularly comment on the clarity of purpose he ignites in his audiences.
Jermaine has written six books that may be useful to have in your training library, including:
Be Diversity Competent – Highlights: Confidently address racist, sexist and homophobic attitudes and behaviors; Create diversity-friendly, inclusive and welcoming environments; Effectively lead and manage diverse teams to increase organizational synergy and productivity; Communicate appropriately with non-native speakers of English; Facilitate healthy and safe discussions and much more.
Leading with Greatness! – Highlights: Build and cultivate team trust to increase team motivation and improve team morale; Build credibility as a relationship-based leader; Recognize the root causes of team and workplace conflict; Resolve team conflict using 2 effective methods; Motivate the unmotivated using the DALO Approach; Communicate and work collaboratively with 3 kinds of leaders; Identify the 5 reasons people lose direction and momentum in the workplace, among other topics.
Get Up Off Your Butt & Do It NOW! – Highlights: Overcome the fears that kill people’s dreams, goals and aspirations; Identify the barriers that block success and how to prevent them from happening to you; Eliminate procrastination using a 5 step process; Get more done using the “Power of the 168 Philosophy”; Sustain motivation; Accomplish any goal you want using an 8 step process and more.
The North American Council for Staff, Program and Organizational Development is an affiliate council of the American Association of Community.
