Biographies

Mary Butler

Co-Founder & Vice President

I spend most of my work time ...
Seems like, answering emails! the BIG jobs are client/potential client interviews, designing & facilitating programs, coaching facilitators.

Most frequently used quotes:
"Awareness does not mean instant behavior change."
Mary Butler

Closely followed by,

"It's easier to behave your way into a new way of thinking than to think your way into a new way of behaving."
Mary Butler

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Quiet time with God.

Favorites:
Leisure family times: playing with grandchildren - (we have 16!), gardening, Saturday mornings with my husband Paul. Just me: reading a book that speaks to my soul, silent retreats, service work. Work: deep conversations with coworkers, keep eyes lighting up with new understanding.

I enjoy the perspective that comes from 20+ years in the field - a "silver-hair!" It has been exciting to be part of experiential training & development "growing up" - and to learn from the young energy as they make the field their own.

Mike Todd

Partner & President

I spend most of my work time ...
Ensuring that we delight our clients. Exploring and discussing needs and solutions with our clients face-to-face, via the phone and email.

Most frequently used quote(s):
"A snake can live in the grass only so long before he gets hit by the lawnmower"
-Unknown

"To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it."
-G. K. Chesterton

"God has placed obvious limitations on our intelligence but none whatsoever on our stupidity"
-Fr. Coropi

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Pray and explore my faith, Family time, Exercise...RUN, competitive racquetball, read, cook, discover good beer, take a shower, learn something new, think in Spanish.

Favorites:
My darling daughters, super son, and wonderful wife; being a father, thinking up pranks and practical jokes (but not always employing them), Learning Unlimited, Pittsburgh Steelers, University of Tulsa (TU) Football and Basketball.

Mike also comes to Learning Unlimited Corporation from Kinko's where he was employed 1990-1999. Most recently, Mike served as one of Kinko's top-ranked corporate account managers. A graduate of the Colorado Outward Bound School, Covey Leadership Training, and the Original Dale Carnegie Course and Sales Course, Mike is an eager life-long learner.

Glen Olson

Senior Facilitator / Consultant

I spend most of my work time ...
Designing and facilitating customized training programs. Focusing on customer relationships.

Most frequently used quote:
"Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm." -Winston Churchill

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Family time, Exercise... Basketball junkie, golf, running, doing outside household chores.

Favorites:
The color green, Pork BBQ, Auburn Tigers, Basketball, Muscle Cars, Blues music.

With four years of corporate training experience as a Regional Training Manager with Kinko's Inc., Glen has trained a variety of topics such as; leadership development, technical training, customer service training, team building and conflict resolution to a variety of executive and front line groups. He has incorporated experiential processes into these diverse training sessions. Glen holds a BA in History from Auburn University and a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech. Glen brings high energy and enthusiasm to all programs and processes.

Sam Sikes

Co- Founder, Chief Mousetrap Officer, Author, Keynote Speaker, & Creative Guru

I spend most of my work time ...
Presenting workshops, facilitating team building, developing new activities/products, and writing books.

Most frequently used quote:
"Don't do the crime if you can't do the time."

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
I create new activities and work on my computer. If I ever did go on vacation, it would be outdoors where few people go.

Favorites:
The color green, HagenDaz ice cream, unusual music and musical instruments, mousetraps.

Sam holds a Master's Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Tulsa, and a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Texas Tech University in Lubbock. His published materials include Raptor, his most recent release, Feeding the Zircon Gorilla, Executive Marbles, Virtual World, 50 Ways To Use Your Noodle, The Equestrian Knights Of Uma, 50 MORE Ways To Use You Noodle, S.T.A.T.S., and Indoor Games for college students and the extremely bored.

In 2000, Sam was honored with the Karl Rohnke Creativity Award from AEE at their international conference.

Brock Fisher

CEO

I spend most of my work time...
divided between the design and delivery of our unique training programs and steering Learning Unlimited through an unprecedented period of growth, opportunity, and challenges.

Most frequently used quote:
"Do or do not, there is no try." -Yoda

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Family time on our houseboat. Playing and listening to music. Reading. Writing. Running, swimming, and bicycling.

Favorites:
Kierkegaard, Chopin, Dali, Faulkner, Miro, Solzhenitsyn, Sting, Stegener, Hesse, Mallorca, Ibiza, Shastakovich, Tolkien, Schopenhauer, Ambrose, Woodford Reserve, Black and Tan.

Following an eleven year stint as a professional composer and musician, Brock relinquished his education at the University of Tulsa to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors. Brock went on to establish, grow, and sustain a multi-million dollar business employing over 100 coworkers for over a decade before joining Learning Unlimited.

Cheri Wallace Lindle

Senior Facilitator / Consultant

I spend most of my work time ...
reviewing and preparing for upcoming programs. Teaching psychology/sociology as an adjunct at a local Community College. Following up on previously facilitated programs, networking with people in the field of experiential training and development.

Most frequently used quote:
"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are." -Anais Nin

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Becoming still and listening to my inner voice, assessing where I am in all areas of my life; physically, socially, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. Visiting with close friends to get reality checks, gaining perspective and finding time to laugh.

Favorites:
Holding babies and serving as Coordinator of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Cuddler volunteer program, at Peggy V. Helmerich Women's Center in Tulsa. Previous board member of ThyCa; Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association, and current active volunteer. www.thyca.org Traveling with my husband on our Kawasaki Concours, and spending time with our grown children.

Cheri holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology, from Oklahoma State University, and a Master's Degree in Experiential Education, from Minnesota State University. She has worked in the field of experiential training and development for twenty one years.

Jesus Arteaga

Senior Facilitator / Consultant

I spend most of my work time ...
Designing and facilitating experiential training programs. Developing strong relationships with customers, providing significant feedback and coaching.

Most frequently used quote(s):
“Success is the certain knowledge that you have become yourself, the person you were meant to be from all time” - George Sheehan

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Having fun with my family, running, reading, watching really good movies, working on my ’57 Chevy Truck, deep thinking about me and the way I impact those around me. Playing Guitar Hero with my son, a Wii Junkie in the making!

Favorites:
Any X Files episode, a blue shirt, denim pants and running shoes junkie. Dr. Sheehan “Running & Being”, any Alan Watts book, Matrix, Lord of The Rings, Shawshank and The Crow, anytime, any day. Grilling some nice steaks, Sonora style, while drinking a fine, cold Mexican Beer...or two.

Jesus holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Instituto Tecnologico de Sonora, and a Master's Degree in Guestalt Therapy from Instituto de Terapia Guestalt Region Occidente. He is certified as an NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) Practitioner by Delozier Associates. He has worked in the Experiential Learning field for more than 15 years, working for different industries: corporate, education, heavy industry, soccer teams, and manufacturing. Jesus brings a great sense of commitment and responsibility. He can be counted on to go that extra mile, doing whatever it takes to get the job done, for our customers and team.

Martin Anguiano

Senior Facilitator - South America

I spend most of my work time ...
...facilitating behavior awareness and change through sensitivity and ability to connect; Finding new ways to facilitate and deliver programs; Avoiding boredom and routine.

Most frequently used quote:
“Life is movement, Movement is life, so...Move!!” - Martin Anguiano

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
A cup of good coffee, a cold beer, reading, running, visiting art galleries.

Favorites:
Running junkie, watching movies, painting ceramic figures.

Martin holds a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education by Universidad de Guadalajara, a MD in Gestalt Therapy by INTEGRO, and a diploma in Dance and Movement Therapy, by INTEGRO. He has experience as a PE teacher in high school education, and a dance & movement therapy teacher for more than 6 years; he has worked as a drug addiction recovery therapist and a group facilitator for almost 10 years, where he combines his PE skills, his psychotherapy background and his experiential learning education, to connect in a very unique way with many kinds of groups and participants. He is affectionately called "The Participant Whisperer" at Learning Unlimited, for his subtle and gentle way of getting people actively involved in every single program that he delivers. His main role within Learning Unlimited is to facilitate in Spanish for our programs in South America.

Steve Wilson

Senior Facilitator / Consultant

Most frequently used quotes:
"Easy Day"
unknown

"If the shoe fits, wear it."
unknown

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
I spend time with my wife, who just happens to be my best friend, at the lake.

Favorites:
The color blue, golf, boating, fishing, skiing (snow), four wheeling, a big juicy steak, and I enjoy listening to old rock and roll and country while reading Tom Clancy books.

Steve retired in 1996 after a 26 year career in the United States Marine Corps. Prior to coming to Learning Unlimited, he was the Director of the Skilled Trades Department at North West Arkansas Community College.

Terry Lasater

Facilitator / Consultant

I spend most of my time...
Delivering our customized leadership and teambuilding sessions, improving my skills, and continually learning from our participants and the dedicated team here at LUC.

Most frequently used quotes:
"It is what it is."
unknown

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of it's sorrow, it empties today of it's strength."
Corrie Ten Boom

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Spend time with my wife, throw darts, play with grandchildren, enjoy nature, contemplate successes, failures, and enjoy the day as it is.

Favorites:
Being with our kids and grandkids. Quietly watching the sunrise or sunset. Fishing 24/7 (if I had time!). Seeing people learn and discover new things. 'Older' rock music.

Terry spent over 25 years in 'corporate' America, with 15+ years focused on organizational learning and leadership development. A positive attitude, consultative approach, and the belief that everyone has something to offer are the internal drivers that have allowed so much enjoyment from the 'work' he continues to pursue.

Jimmie Hefner

Facilitator / Consultant

I spend most of my time...
Preparing for the participants we will have in each customized course. I read books and articles that will help me prepare and grow as a leader.

Most frequently used quote:
"He who thinks he leadeth and has no one following...is only taking a walk."
John Maxwell

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Time with my wife and kids. Working in the yard. Listening to good music.

Favorites:
Playing table/board games with friends and family. Listening to / playing music - Old rock and slow jazz.

Jimmie holds a Master's Degree in Education from Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX. Jimmie has spent the past 25 years facilitating leadership and team development with several companies in the corporate world as well as non-profit organizations. Jimmie brings a passion to see others grow in leadership and team development that is demonstrated by his high energy (that needs to be toned down often) in his facilitation.

Ben Dumonceaux

Facilitator / Consultant

I spend most of my time...
Facilitating customized training programs. Focusing on customer relationships.

Most frequently used quote:
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Edmund Burke

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Family time, exercise...walk, hike, read inspirational books, read biographies of successful people, meditate, doing outside household chores.

Favorites:
The color blue, Oriental and spicy foods, classical and soft rock music, being involved with inspirational people.

Ben has 30 years of experience in creating and leading the strategic training initiatives of national companies and organizations. He has led the strategic planning efforts in the development of training programs for several national organizations. He has experience in design, development, implementation, and evaluation of professional development programs for organizations specializing in communications, leadership, management development, time management, sales, negotiating, stress reduction and team development. His outstanding speaking style and real-world experience make him a highly effective seminar leader and facilitator. He is an adjunct instructor with several colleges and universities where he teaches courses in business communication, management and leadership skills.

Ben attained a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from St. John's University and a Masters Degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California. he has completed doctoral studies in Adult Education through the University of Missouri. Ben is a certified facilitator of Achieve Global, Development Dimensions International, Associated General Contractors, and DiSC assessment programs.

Dan Dean

Facilitator / Consultant

I spend most of my time...
Improving my skills, learning from and with top-level training professionals, and delivering our customized leadership workshops.

Most frequently used quote:
"Do right and bear the consequences."
Sam Houston

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Spending time with family and friends, getting outdoors, camping, and walking with my dog.

Favorites:
Grilling in the backyard, most types of music, aviation, the Rocky Mountains, good Kentucky bourbon, and an occasional hand rolled cigar.

Dan holds a Master's Degree in Quality Systems Management from The National Graduate School in Falmouth, Massachusetts and a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas. He has over 30 years of leadership experience in both the military as a brigade command sergeant major and in the semiconductor industry as a director of staff development. He is also an active volunteer in his community having served on several boards and steering committees in the central Texas area. Following the philosophy of servant leadership, Dan brings a sincere interest for helping individuals and organizations achieve excellence in their chosen field and in life.

Jina Daigle

Senior Facilitator / Consultant

I spend most of my work time...
I spend my time designing and facilitating indoor and outdoor experiential programs, class room training, and team retreats. I also facilitate women's retreats and do life coaching work. My focus is to help people expand their potential and also to journey more smoothly through life and work transitions.

Most frequently used quotes...
"In order to succeed, your desire for success must be greater than your fear of failure." -Bill Cosby

"Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the belief that there is something more important than our fear." -Ambrose Redmoon

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Downtime and unstructured fun really recharge me. Nothing like a spontaneous flag football game with friends. Laughter from the belly, long talks with cherished friends, prayer and connecting with the soul in others are all powerful energy sources for me too.

Favorites:
Fuzzy blankets and a book on rainy days, sharing old memories, giving homes a decorating face lift, the sense of flying when skiing, observing someone experiencing a change of heart or mind, artwork, treasure hunting at flea markets, and puppies

Jina is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Masters degree in applied behavioral studies from Oklahoma State University. She first used the experiential model with youth challenge programs, multi-family ropes course events and community programs.

For the last five years she has worked primarily with corporations doing management training classes, teambuilding, corporate adventures, retreats, and meeting facilitation. Interested in continuing work with individuals as well, she also has a practice as a personal and professional life coach.

Vicki Anderson

Senior Facilitator/Consultant

Most frequently used quotes...
"The grass is always greener where you water it." -Rev. Jim Eller

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Travel with my husband in our streetrod to car shows in the summer, travel by airplane to anywhere, quilting, social time with my friends and family, relaxing with my cat on my lap

Favorites:
Cats, warm sunny weather, making a new quilt, spending time with my daughter and grandchildren, movies, doing anything that makes a difference in someone's life

Vicki is a former human resource manager, turned human resource development specialist. She has been in the training field for about sixteen years and received some of her original mentoring from the Learning Unlimited crew. She has written large training programs for companies such as Federal Express, SABRE, and Sprint PCS. However, her passion is about facilitating the leadership development processes. One of her early clients was The NORDAM Group. After five years of working with them, they asked her to come onboard to develop and direct their corporate university, which she did for three years. Her specialties are performance management, leadership development and presentation skills.

Vicki has a Bachelors Degree in Speech from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a Masters Degree in Human Resource Development from Oklahoma State University. She is certified to facilitate the Integro Leadership Institute's Senior Team Alignment Process and Leadership Development Process.

Mark Rose

Facilitator / Consultant

Most frequently used quote:
"Live is hard but life is harder for stupid people."
unknown

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Spend time with my wife, two daughters and play golf

Favorites: Taking pictures; helping athletic teams focus on teamwork and attitude; traveling to new places; watching daughters grow up way too fast

Mark is a certified challenge course instructor who has worked in the experiential learning field with clients in non-profit companies, government agencies and corporations. He is a skilled facilitator, and excels in his ability to enable clients to relate challenge course behaviors to actual work and home behaviors. He has co-authored two books and his main focus is equipping teams with the skills and tools to become more effective. He received his B.A. in Public Relations and his Master's of Human Relations degree from The University of Oklahoma.

Donna Tate

Marketing Director

Most frequently used quotes:
"Tomorrow is history at Learning Unlimited."
Donna Tate

"Pain is weakness leaving the body!"
from the 1995 movie Major Payne

Favorites:
The color blue, butterflies, humming birds, sunflowers, strawberries, pineapple, jalapeno peppers, boutique beer, homemade wine, NPR, musicians: Kasey Chambers, Mozart, instruments: banjo, cello, flute.

Donna has a background in legal, newspaper, and small business management (20 + years). Self taught after the manner of Benjamin Franklin, she continues a never-ending quest for knowledge of the scientific, historical, biblical, and teaching worlds, and exploring how it is that humans (and animals!) "Learn to Learn".

Donna has recently completed Marcum and Smith's Workshops entitled Team Egonomics and The Ultimate Team Player, and DiSC assessment certification programs, including "Go Deep With DISC", and "DISC Approach to Managing Strengths". She has been instrumental in developing and designing Learning Unlimited's newest website: www.DiscUnlimited.com.

Stephanie Trevett

Office Manager

I spend most of my work time...
Speaking with our numerous customers, bookkeeping, handling orders and daily business. Keeping up with the many changes and challenges of small business, wouldn't change it for anything!

Most frequently used quote:
"Bring it on!"
Unknown

"You are unique...just like everyone else."
Unknown

"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should!"
Unknown

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Spend as much quality time with my husband and two beautiful daughters as I can. Reading, visiting with friends, swimming with the girls, turning up the stereo in my car and singing loudly when I'm driving alone (admit it, you do it too! You know who you are...)

Favorites:
Witnessing sunrises, COFFEE, the laughter of children, contemplating and appreciating anything artistically rendered (music, body style of vehicles, paintings, landscaping, etc.), road trips, enjoying all our earthly splendors. OH! - Disney World!

Nicole Millikan

Product Manager

Most frequently used quotes:
"If you're not yourself, who else will be?"
Nicole Millikan

"If you're alive you've got to flap your arms and legs, you've got to jump around a lot, for life is the very opposite of death, and therefore you must at the very least think noisy and colorfully, or you're not alive."
Mel Brooks

What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Spend time with friends and family. Play with my dog and cat. Watch old movies and read.

Favorites: Going to live performances of any kind (music, theatre...), listening to ALL kinds of music, going to Oklahoma State Football / Basketball games, doing makeup and hair, visiting museums, reading, traveling to pretty much anywhere.