Our People

Who are some of the people who make up Exemplary Performance?

Paul Elliott, Ph.D. – President and Founder

Paul H. Elliott is the President of Exemplary Performance, LLC based in Annapolis, Maryland. Dr. Elliott’s expertise is in the analysis of human performance, the design of interventions that optimize human performance in support of business goals, and strategies for transitioning from training to performance models. Dr. Elliott assists organizations in performance analysis, instructional design, product and process launch support, design of advanced training systems, and the design and implementation of integrated performance interventions.

Dr. Elliott received his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Illinois. He received his M.S. in Instructional Technology from Syracuse University and a B.A. in Psychology from Rutgers University. Dr. Elliott frequently presents at various national and international conferences. He delivered a keynote presentation, entitled Moving from Wants-based to Results-based Performance, at ASTD’s first Performance Summit in 2004. He has published multiple articles in journals, including one entitled “Power-Charging People’s Performance” which appeared in the December 1996 issue of Training and Development. Recent publications include a chapter on ‘Assessment’ in Moving From Training to Performance, edited by Dana Gaines Robinson & James C. Robinson (ASTD & Berrett Koehler, May 1998), ‘Job Aids’ in the Handbook of Human Performance Technology, edited by Harold Stolovitch and Erica Keeps (ISPI & Jossey-Bass, March 1999) and ‘Job Aids’ in Performance Intervention Maps, edited by Ethan S. Sanders and Sivasailam “Thiagi” Thiagarajan (ASTD and ISPI, September 2001).

Al Folsom, Ph.D. – Chief Performance Officer

Alfred C. Folsom is Vice President of Operations and Chief Performance Officer at Exemplary Performance, LLC., based in Annapolis, MD where he brings over 20 years of experience in the field of Human Performance Technology (HPT). His most recent work has been helping define new roles in the Petro-Chemical industry that support the latest in reliability engineering and lowering overall maintenance costs. Other industry-related work includes developing qualification programs that are performance-based and speed time to qualification with greater confidence in people’s ability to perform.

Dr. Folsom’s expertise is in the area of HPT and its specific application throughout the United States Coast Guard, where he recently retired as a Captain (O-6) after twenty-four years of commissioned service. He is a 1984 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, in New London, Connecticut and served his last tour as Chief of the Office of Training, Workforce Performance and Development at Coast Guard Headquarters. In that role, he was the program manager for Coast Guard Training including responsibility for 6 Training Centers, two Training Support Commands and more than 24,000 students annually. Additionally he served as a board member of the ISPI Advocates, and on the steering committee for the Interservice Training Review Organization (DOD) and on various committees with the annual Interservice and Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference. He and his wife Vanessa reside in Alexandria, VA and have a daughter Julia who is in the 12th grade and a son George who is three years old.

His previous assignments included Training Director at the Coast Guard’s largest West Coast Training Center in Petaluma, CA where he was responsible for the training of more than 5,000 students per year, in 8 schools offering some 40 courses of instruction.  His staff included 200 military and civilian government employees, and 85 contract personnel. In 2004-05, three of his schools in Petaluma received the prestigious ISPI Award of Excellence for Outstanding Instructional Product.  This designation recognizes significant contributions to the profession and is considered the most prestigious award in the field of Human Performance Technology.  Dr. Folsom has also presented at National and International Conferences on Human Performance and Training and has been published in periodicals such as Training and Development and Performance Improvement Quarterly.

In addition to his bachelor’s degree, Dr. Folsom holds an MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Instructional Systems from Penn State.  Following graduate school, Dr. Folsom was part of the stand-up of the Coast Guard’s Performance Technology Center in Yorktown, VA.  He was also the lead Human Performance Technologist on the Coast Guard’s Joint Rating Review – which resulted in the largest workforce restructuring since WWII.  He later served as the Implementation Planning Team leader for the project at Coast Guard Headquarters.  His operational assignments included fisheries enforcement along Alaska’s vast coastline and throughout the Bering Sea.

Dr. Folsom joined Exemplary Performance in April of 2008 and was recently presented with the first inaugural award of the ISPI Potomac Chapter for Outstanding Contributions to the field of Human Performance Technology.

Elena F. Galbraith, CPT – Vice President of Performance Improvement

Elena Galbraith is Vice President, Performance Improvement for Exemplary Performance, LLC. Elena heads up the company’s Western Region office located in Redmond, Washington. With over 20 years experience in the human performance business, she holds a Certified Performance Technologist (CPT) designation and has been a practitioner in the field of human performance improvement since the early 1990s. Her primary focus areas have been in the manufacturing industry with the Boeing Company and in technology with Microsoft Corporation.

Elena is a certified instructor of Joe Harless’ ABCD toolset and has certifications in Front End Analysis, Job Aids Workshop, and Expert OJT, better known as On-the-Job-Training. She is actively involved with the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) and served two terms as President of the Seattle chapter. In addition, Elena has acted as the ISPI Advocate representative for Microsoft. Elena is a frequent speaker on performance improvement at local and international events, including co-presenting a keynote presentation with Dr. Elliott, Moving from Wants-based to Results-based Performance, at ASTD’s first Performance Summit in 2004. Elena has published multiple articles, including Making the Exemplary Normal, which appeared in the June 2005 issue of ASTD’s T&D Magazine.

Monica Drakes Lane – Principal Consultant

Monica Drakes Lane is Principal Consultant – Performance Improvement and Change Execution for Exemplary Performance, LLC (EP). Monica lives in Seattle and is responsible for leading Performance Improvement and Change initiatives for clients in the Western Region office located in Redmond, Washington.

Monica has over 15 years experience in the human performance business, with concentrations in learning, leadership development and change management. Her primary focus has been within the technology sector with Microsoft, Nintendo and ADP.

Before coming to EP, Monica led several large-scale change initiatives within Microsoft, overseeing all aspects of the change management and performance improvement efforts. Also, while with Microsoft, Monica was a leader and co-founder of the Microsoft Learning Community (MSLC,) a grass-roots effort to exchange information and best practices amongst those who affect learning at Microsoft.

While with Nintendo Monica oversaw performance improvement for the Manufacturing Ops team introducing Lean process improvements, Skill Gap Analysis and OJT Training as well as developing the division’s Management Training Program.

Monica holds a degree in Finance from Stetson University, with a minor degree in Spanish. She is active in the American Society for Training and Development and served as a judge for the ASTD’s 2009 Excellence in Practice Awards.

Christian Hartman – Manager, Financial and Business Operations

Christian Hartman is the Manager of Financial and Business Operations at Exemplary Performance, LLC., based in Annapolis, MD.  Mr. Hartman’s expertise resides in the effective management of company Finances, Operations and HR. Since joining the team as Manager of Financial and Business Operations, Christian has developed and implemented many systems, processes and policies for Exemplary Performance in the arenas of HR, Accounting, Finance, Project Management and IT.  Most recently, Christian has built tools to forecast Cash Flow, track financial KPI’s and capture project reporting for Company Principals, Project Managers and Individual Contributors. His attention to detail and ability to report essential data points enables decision makers at all levels of the enterprise to make financially prudent decisions.

In addition to Christian’s operational and financial responsibilities, he often contributes his analysis skill set on client projects. He is a MS Excel expert and frequently uses this tool to produce relevant statistical and graphical analysis of client data.

Mr. Hartman joined Exemplary Performance in August of 2005. His scope and contributions have steadily increased since them, beginning with IT and broadening into HR and Finance.

Before joining EP, Christian earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Frostburg State University with a double concentration in Management and Human Resources. He is currently preparing to pursue a MBA, which he will likely begin in 2011.

On a personal note, Christian enjoys reading classic literature (particularly Jack London), gardening and fine cigars.”

Sandy Lukasik – Operations Leader, Strategic Partnering

Sandy joined EP as the Operations Leader, Strategic Partnering in June 2009.  She is responsible for project planning and management as well as marketing and client development activities.  Sandy collaborates with the Director, Strategic Partnering in many facets of the business from administration to public relations.

While Sandy is primarily dedicated to EP’s Strategic Partnering service line, she also leads client communication and marketing projects, including publication of our newsletter, The Exemplar.

Sandy has also served as the Executive Director of the Richter Scholarship Program at the R. Gene and Nancy D. Richter Foundation since its inception in 2004.  The scholarship program identifies outstanding scholars pursuing a career in supply management.  Sandy oversees all aspects of the scholarship program including application and selection process, event coordination, public relations and IT.  In her Richter Foundation role, Sandy also partners with the Institute for Supply Management in the execution of the Executive and Junior mentoring programs.  In addition, she has managed her own personal finance management business for over 10 years.

Sandy has a BBA in Strategic Management from Eastern Michigan University and a Masters in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Detroit – Mercy.

David Crowley – Principal Consultant

David Crowley is Principal Consultant for Exemplary Performance, LLC based in Annapolis, MD. David has over 15 years of experience in the field of Human Performance Technology (HPT), and is certified in Dr. Joe Harless’ ABCD toolset including Front End Analysis (FEA) and Job Aids.

A 1988 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, David recently retired from the  U. S. Coast Guard as a Captain (O-6).  His last assignment was Deputy Assistant Director of Maritime Missions at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Domestic Nuclear Detection Office where he facilitated the performance capabilities of thousands of state and local law enforcement and first responder personnel in radiological detection for national security.

David has conducted several noteworthy FEAs including the operational performance and maintenance requirements for the Coast Guard’s acquisition of the 47-foot Motor Lifeboat with over 150 vessels placed in service across the country.  Additionally, he was Commanding Officer of a major operational training center responsible for ensuring the operational readiness of response units throughout the Pacific theatre, and was Deputy Director of the agency’s Leadership Development Center where more than 6000 agency personnel were trained annually in more than 30 course offerings.  Operationally, David has extensive federal law enforcement and search and rescue operations experience which included command of a patrol boat in the Gulf of Mexico and Deputy Sector Commander in Los Angeles, CA.

In addition to his bachelor’s degree, David holds an MPA and an MSEd  from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA.

Doug Mead – Principal Consultant

Doug is a seasoned Consultant dedicated to helping clients design performance solutions that enable average performers to excel. His experience in front-end analysis spans twenty-five years ago has extensive performance improvement experience.

His specialty is in the analysis of human performance and the design of cost-effective interventions that support client business goals and strategies. He is a certified instructor of Joe Harless’ ABCD toolset and has certifications in Front-End Analysis, Job Aids Workshop, and Expert OJT (On-the-Job-Training). He is a member of the International Society for Performance Improvement and the American Society for Training and Development.

  

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