Lisa’s coaching was invaluable for my entire leadership team, helping us identify barriers and key performance issues. She asked tough questions and always offered insightful input delivered in a patient and understanding manner. I continue to use her techniques today.
– John Viera, Global Director of Sustainability, Ford Motor Company
John Viera
Carol Rivchun
The sessions Mike led were outstanding. He helped us strengthen our written and oral communication, particularly when handling tough situations, like evaluation sessions. We are still using the key principles and discussion guidelines that he provided to us. They are possibly our most valuable management tools.
– Carol Rivchun, President, Youth Opportunities Unlimited
Captain, Law Enforcement Agency
…is doing quite well and I have observed a significant difference in his behavior since he has worked with you. He is quite fond of the time he spent with you and will usually laugh and state, “I wonder what Mike would have me do,” when difficult issues arise. I appreciate your assistance in guiding us to help him maintain and forge ahead with his successful career.
– Captain, Law Enforcement Agency
Steve Binkowski
When I was Purchasing Manager in Product Development at Ford Motor Company, Lisa coached our management group, representing ten functional areas, to become a high performing product development team.
– Steve Binkowski, VP of Purchasing and Sales, Toyota Boshoku America
Angela Brown
creativechange.biz was instrumental in piloting our organization through a sea of massive change which involved staff at all levels. Lisa and Mike helped us understand the impact of change, and the emotional and physical feelings that accompany change. creativechange.biz helped our group view organizational change as positive, instead of a personal affront against individuals. Although the change was still hard, the training and support we received helped to ease much of the stress.
– Angela Brown, Director of Auxiliary Resources, Michigan State University
Mike Gaynier
Mike Gaynier is a former Fortune 100 Company Sales Management Executive, with insight and experience influencing and managing people and organizations. With over 30 years in business leadership roles, a good sense of humor and strong relationship building skills, he has been very successful helping individuals and organizations achieve their goals and objectives
At SYSCO Corporation, he coached and developed high potential individuals, improved underperforming areas in the company and led change efforts from a variety of management positions, working with up-and-coming managers and leaders for SYSCO’s operating companies around the country. He is an outstanding facilitator, and skilled at managing focus groups and large business meetings.
Mike’s consulting clients include business leaders and small business owners, along with government, law enforcement, healthcare, education, community and non-profit leaders and organizations. Mike provides executive coaching and guidance on leadership development, communication and relationship building, cultural competence, diversity and inclusion, performance management and change management. Mike is an experienced transitional leader for organizations looking to grow or seeking stability, and recently served as Interim Executive Director of the Baseball Heritage Museum at historic League Park in Cleveland, in addition to serving other clients.
Mike is Vice-Chair of the Cleveland Heights Planning Commission, and recently served on the city’s Charter Review Commission.
Lisa Tong (唐) Parola Gaynier, M.A.
Throughout an entrepreneurial career, Lisa Gaynier has developed expertise in organizational effectiveness, and leadership development. She has 30+ years experience as a business owner, leadership coach and consultant. Her special areas of practice are leadership development, building culturally competent organizations, and executive coaching. Clients include business and organizational leaders, educators, engineers, managers and human resource professionals at Eaton, Ford Motor Co., Honeywell, Sysco Food Service, Michigan State University, The University of Michigan, the Northern Ohio Minority Supplier Diversity Council, PNC Bank and various non-profit and community organizations.
Gaynier worked as a survey manager for the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research in the early 1990s, managing longitudinal studies such as the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, Monitoring the Future, and the Women’s Health Study, in addition to the monthly Survey of Consumer Attitudes, a component of the Index of Leading Economic Indicators. In 1997, Gaynier integrated her business experience with the field of organizational development and founded creativechange.biz. From 2006 to 2017 she directed of the Master’s Program in Diversity Management, an organizational leadership program for mid-career adults at Cleveland State University, where they develop culturally competent leaders who can lead and sustain change.
Gaynier has an MA in Psychology and a B.A. in Social Science and extensive post-graduate training. Her multicultural background serves her well in assisting sub-cultures of her client systems to more effectively recognize and leverage their differences to enhance innovation and competitiveness. She is certified to administer the Myers Briggs Type Indicator and the Emotional Intelligence Inventory. Gaynier serves on the Board of the Northern Ohio Voter Advocates and has served on the Northern Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council and is a former Board Chair of the Cleveland Mediation Center.
Gaynier has also published journal articles on Gestalt methodology, mediation, and global leadership, including “Global Leadership Competence: A Cultural Intelligence Perspective,” winner of the AIB Best Paper award. Gaynier has been a featured panelist on culturally competent leadership for the Association of International Business, SE Chapter Conference and at the U.S. State Department to discuss cultural competence in U.S. foreign affairs. She is also the co-author of the award-winning Remembering Diamond Head, Remembering Hawai’i, A Cookbook Memoir of Hawai’i and its Foods.
