Elaine Biech, CPTD fellow, believes excellence isn’t optional. Her passion is helping others achieve their passion. She specializes in maximizing individual, team, and organizational effectiveness using her expertise in OD, training, and consulting. She has designed and delivered thousands of training courses and apps. Highlights of her career include designing and implementing the first process improvement programs for The Newport News Shipbuilding Company and McDonalds; the first creativity program for Hershey Chocolate; and one of the world’s first virtual training sessions in 1985 for NASA.

Elaine’s been called a titan of the training industry, with 89 published books including the Washington Post #1 Best Seller, The Art & Science of Training. She has presented 37 consecutive years at ATD’s International Conference and EXPO and has been featured in dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Management Update, Washington Post, and Fortune Magazine.

Elaine has been active in ATD/ASTD, since 1982, served on the National Board of Directors and designed ATD’s first training certificate program. She is ATD’s inaugural CPTD Fellow designee and most recently was the principal author of ATD’s Body of Knowledge. A talent development thought leader, Elaine is the recipient of ATD’s 1992 Torch Award, 2004 Volunteer-Staff Partnership Award, 2006 Bliss Memorial Award, and the 2020 Distinguished Contribution to Talent Development Award. She is the recipient of ISA’s 2001 Spirit Award, 2012 Outstanding Contributor Award, and 2022 Thought Leader Award. She is also the recipient of Wisconsin’s Women’s Mentor Award; and sponsors several scholarship funds. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for ISA – The Association of Learning Providers and the Board of Governors for the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL).

She currently stays busy mentoring new consultants, coaching individuals about publishing their first books, and searching for the next book she wants to write.

VICKI ESCUDÉ, M.A., BCC, MCC. Board Certified Coach, Master Certified Coach. is CEO of Executive Leadership Coaching, LLC, and has over 20 years experience in executive coaching, business ownership, writing, management and counseling. She was awarded the highest coaching certification offered by the International Coach Federation. She is a Founding Member and Coach Trainer for SECA, and is also a Coach Trainer for Success Unlimited Network, LLC. She was elected to the Board of Directors of the International Coach Federation for 2005-2007. Escudé is also on the faculty of the University of Texas-Dallas School of Management for Coaching Certification.

Escudé graduated from Vanderbilt University, and received her Master's Degree from the University of West Florida in psychology and counseling. My Life Purpose is: “To inspire personal and spiritual growth, to share creative ideas, and to connect meaningfully from the heart.” I enjoy weaving this “Life Purpose” throughout my activities and work, like the intricate patterns in a beautiful and rich tapestry. The threads in my life have taken me on a journey through several occupations: owner of a retail business, corporate management, mental health counselor, author of several books, and now personal and executive Master Certified Coach, as well as coach trainer-educator for accredited schools and a university. I have been active in the development of executive and personal coaching as an established profession through involvement with the International Coach Federation as an elected Board Member for three years, as well as by serving on several committees.

With gratitude and delight, I love helping others to make meaningful connections, engaging the heart so they, too, can build bridges of transition. A perennial symbol for me is the Chambered Nautilus, both visually in the image of the expanding spiral of the seaside shell, and in the poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes, encouraging us to “build thee more stately mansions O my Soul.” My invitation to you is to play with me through this upward spiral toward freedom of spirit.