Mark Christensen

Founder and CEO

Mark is founder and president of Learning Point Group. He draws on over 30 years of experience in the field of management, leadership, and organizational development. He is especially known for developing “leadership in the trenches” and giving managers and supervisors the tools to excel in very challenging roles. He has a passion for workplace learning and a gift for creating targeted learning solutions that address relevant business needs. [ more info ]

Kevin Jones

Director of Operations and Public Workshops

Kevin comes to Learning Point with over a decade’s experience working with both large and small corporations across a variety of industries, helping each achieve excellent operational efficiencies and top-notch customer experience levels. He has a passion for organizational strategy and strives to help team members and clients find the most effective ways to reach their goals through strategy, data-analytics, implementation, training, and process performance.

Kevin has led teams across all generational groups, created, managed and sold multi-million dollar programs and deals, and was instrumental in the cost transformation at one of the tech industry’s largest smart home companies, helping set and reach their cash flow goals, and breaking the billion-dollar revenue milestone.

Kevin earned his MBA from the University of Utah’s Eccles School of Business and his Bachelor in Entrepreneurship from BYU Idaho. He’s an avid hiker, lover of cars, and former pilot. When not helping his clients transform their organizations, you will find him in the great Utah outdoors with his wife and three young daughters.

John Park

Regional Director – Wasatch Region
City and County Government Practice Leader

John Park has over thirty years of doing great and innovative things in municipal government in the State of Utah. He served in many capacities in city government, including police officer, fire fighter, building official, assistant city manager, public works director, as well as city manager. He is and has been a driving force in many public/private partnerships, mentored many cities and counties in these partnerships, and co-created the largest municipal open infrastructure fiber optic network in the United States.  He has worked with both public and private sector organizations in association with the Arbinger Institute’s Developing an Outward Mindset as well as Franklin Covey’s Speed of Trust.

John has a BS degree from Utah State University in Business Administration and a MPA from Brigham Young University.

John and his wife reside on the foot hills of the Wasatch Mountains, where they enjoy picturesque views and frequent visits from kids and grandkids.

Paul Johnson

Regional Director – Rockies Region
Oil and Gas Practice Leader

Team leadership, people management, and the ability to implement new ideas across an organization are Paul’s strongest talents. He developed these skills over 31 years in the energy industry. Paul believes in excellence through teamwork and encouraging people to challenge the status quo. He strives to ensure involvement and contribution from all levels to drive business and/or organizational change. Paul is a master at teaching the principle that leaders lead best through action and example. They thrive by living to their personal set of ethics, promoting fairness, and fostering creativity.

Although Paul’s experience was developed in the oil and gas industry, the roles he has held through the years have focused more on management and leadership of businesses and people, business development, process design and implementation. Applicable in any industry.

Paul holds an Engineering degree from Texas A&M. He and his wife reside just outside of Rapid City, South Dakota.

Molly Davis

Master Facilitator and Client Services Leader

Molly has played an essential role in Learning Point’s success for over 18 years. She is a consummate trainer, thought leader, facilitator, and presenter. She has more than 30 years of experience helping individuals and organizations thrive. This includes management, customer service, human resources, training, coaching, public speaking, and writing. In her current role at Learning Point, Molly leads and coaches other trainers and facilitators, develops training curriculum, facilitates training workshops, and maintains strong, positive relationships with clients.

Prior to joining Learning Point, Molly spent 15 years at Nordstrom holding various positions, including, human resources manager. She also coauthored “Letters to Our Daughters: Mothers’ Words of Love,” a collection of photos and letters written by mothers for their daughters, sharing valuable lessons from their life experience.

Heather Calhoun

Business Manager

Heather is excellent at covering the details. The numbers add up, the “Ts” get crossed, the materials look great, the logistics happen smoothly, and the bills get paid because Heather is on top of it. This translates to higher value for our clients, associates, and partners. No small task. She also does an excellent job of leading to our values every day. And she is a superb concert pianist. Just sayin…

Sandra Hamilton

Office Manager

Sandra brings decades of administrative, multitasking, “get things done” experience to our team. Simply put, she is in charge. She has a talent for turning complexity into clarity, possibility into practicality, and conflict into collaboration. All parts and pieces Learning Point are held together by Sandra and her influence. She is a true professional with integrity, dedication, grace, and focus. Her first priority is to ensure that all clients, partners, colleagues, and friends, love their experience with Learning Point! We feel very fortunate to have her on our team.

Jake Dold

Media and Technology Leader

Jake handles all of Learning Point’s media and technology needs. In short, his job is to not only make us look great, but also help us create powerful “mojo” in all of our interactions and solutions. He is that good. We fully believe that success in today’s workplace still requires healthy relationships fully supported by smart technology and practical tools. Therefore, Jake.

Jake holds a BS degree in Communications and Advertising from BYU-Idaho and an MBA from Washington State University. He resides in Vancouver, Washington with his wife and three children. Jake keeps pretty busy making us look great. But in his spare time he also owns and operates Dold Advertising.

Paula Allen

Strategic Partner – Northwest Region and Tribal Organizations

Paula Allen has practical experience in both operational leadership and service excellence. She is also an extremely effective teacher, facilitator, and coach. She continues to serve as the Director of Tribal Customer Service with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. She has extensive experience working at all organizational levels creating, promoting, and delivering training solutions designed to support the organization’s goals, business plan, and mission. Paula is passionate about creating an interactive and enjoyable business environment that supports learning. She is dedicated to giving Supervisors and Managers everything they need to create a coaching environment, where front line employees feel completely supported by their leaders.

As an enrolled Tribal citizen of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, she feels a responsibility to formulate programs for the Tribe that focus more on relationships than on mechanics. She has worked for 7 Cedars Resort for the last 21 years. There, she successfully set the strategic training direction for more than 450 employees.  She also initiated and implemented Learning Point’s Strategic Supervision process with the Tribe’s Jamestown Medical Center, helping them set up a Leadership and Patient Care Program as it pertains to the medical field.

Paul Johnson

Strategic Partner – Rockies Region

Team leadership, people management, and the ability to implement new ideas across an organization are Paul’s strongest talents. He developed these skills over 31 years in the energy industry. Paul believes in excellence through teamwork and encouraging people to challenge the status quo. He strives to ensure involvement and contribution from all levels to drive business and/or organizational change. Paul is a master at teaching the principle that leaders lead best through action and example. They thrive by living to their personal set of ethics, promoting fairness, and fostering creativity.

Although Paul’s experience was developed in the oil and gas industry, the roles he has held through the years have focused more on management and leadership of businesses and people, business development, process design and implementation. Applicable in any industry.

Paul holds an Engineering degree from Texas A&M. He and his wife reside just outside of Rapid City, South Dakota.

John Park

Strategic Partner – Wasatch Region

John Park has over thirty years of doing great and innovative things in municipal government in the State of Utah. He served in many capacities in city government, including police officer, fire fighter, building official, assistant city manager, public works director, as well as city manager. He is and has been a driving force in many public/private partnerships, mentored many cities and counties in these partnerships, and co-created the largest municipal open infrastructure fiber optic network in the United States.  He has worked with both public and private sector organizations in association with the Arbinger Institute’s Developing an Outward Mindset as well as Franklin Covey’s Speed of Trust.

John has a BS degree from Utah State University in Business Administration and a MPA from Brigham Young University.

John and his wife reside on the foot hills of the Wasatch Mountains, where they enjoy picturesque views and frequent visits from kids and grandkids.

Jeff Swanson

Senior Facilitator

Jeff has over 20 years of experience working in the public and private sectors, nonprofits, and in academia. He is principal and managing director of EXIGY LLC, a consulting practice serving public and private sector clients. Most recently he was city manager of Battle Ground, WA, prior to which he was director of economic development for Clark County, WA. He has held numerous management and executive positions in heavy manufacturing, logistics, and transportation industries.

An economist, Jeff is frequently sought after to work on complex economic development, land use, environmental, and public policy issues for clients. He holds a Ph.D. (ABD status) in systems science/economics, MS in systems science (systems theory/complexity), MS in economics, two graduate certificates (environmental and resource economics; computer modeling and simulation), and a BS in economics all from Portland State University.

Jeff is an accomplished leadership coach, facilitator, and presenter. In addition, he is sought after as a research collaborator, strategist, and speaker. He and his wife, daughters, and dogs reside in Vancouver, WA.

Barry Rellaford

Advisor / Senior Facilitator

Barry Rellaford is uniquely qualified to train and coach business leaders. His experience as a business practitioner, advisor, facilitator, and leader within multiple organizations, gives Barry the informed, practical experience that sets him apart.

For several years, Barry led FranklinCovey’s Learning Expedition Center, a corporate university focused on the development of FranklinCovey salespeople and consultants. He also served as the Vice President of Organizational Development for Metatec Corporation and as a performance consultant at CompuServe, Inc.

Barry regularly presents internationally, having led programs in 15 countries with participants representing over 50 different nations. His audiences have included Procter & Gamble, Microsoft Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Honeywell, Coinstar, Toyota, Foodmakers, Intel, Nike, University of Texas Medical Branch, and the U.S. Army.

Working closely with Stephen M. R. Covey, Barry had a hand in developing the Leading at the Speed of Trust training program, the organizational assessment, and the Speed of Trust™ individual assessment.

Barry and Mark met in college and have been close friends and associates ever since. Learning Point is a brighter and better place because of Barry’s influence.

Susan Yirku

Senior Facilitator

Susan brings over 25 years of leadership experience in training and organizational change to the Learning Point team. Her areas of expertise include workforce training, leadership coaching, strategic planning, educational development and organizational planning. She is passionate about working with organizations to execute their vision for success.

Her work with educational institutions, for-profit, and nonprofit organizations have earned many awards and recognitions. She has held a series of leadership positions in health education; including Associate Vice President College Relations at NCNM, President Institute for Natural Medicine, founding Executive Director American Association of Naturopathic Medical Colleges, and Executive Director of Naturopathic Medical Student Association. Sue studied Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Collaborative Leadership at Marylhurst University in Portland, Oregon.

Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Sue has lived in Portland, Oregon since 1989, where she resides with her husband, and a phantom cat. She has particular interest in leadership development and dedicates time to coaching young professionals and advancing leadership and empowerment in the community – through presenting as part of the Dress For Success HOPE program which focuses on empowering women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support and training to develop professional skills.

Saundra Stroope

Senior Facilitator

Saundra Stroope is a facilitator, consultant and coach. Her passion for development, drive for results, and over 15 years of experience—in a variety of industries at award-winning global and Fortune 500 companies—allow her to bring creative ideas and practical development solutions to the people and organizations she works with. She is the author of over a dozen works including a chapter in a book on developing high potential leaders in Integrated Talent Management Scorecards (ATD).

Saundra has expertise in leadership development, team development, succession planning, culture change, employee engagement, career development, curriculum design, human resources, and coaching individuals at all leadership levels. Saundra holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in human resources management from Texas A&M University. She is certified in the use of many leadership development programs and coaching assessments. [ more info ]

Beth Nelson

Senior Facilitator

Beth is extremely artful at combining her deep administrative expertise, genuine people skills, and health and wellness wisdom into a learning experience that inspires and mobilizes workplace leaders. She brings an innovative systems view approach to the classroom that enhances learning and engages leaders.

In addition to her facilitation work with Learning Point, Beth is founder and president of Wellness Vision, LLC, a provider of Advanced Wellness Technologies from Germany/Switzerland and Japan including – Water, air, light, nutrition, sleep systems including magnetic, pulsing electromagnetic forces (pemf), far infrared and other energy technologies.

She also just happens to be one of the nicest and smartest people on the planet. Truth. We feel very fortunate to have her on our team.

Keri Krout

Senior Facilitator

Keri is a consummate relationship builder, an excellent communicator, and a polished presenter. Keri brings 25 years of experience managing and training professionals as a business owner and administrator. She has provided numerous training sessions and seminars nationally. Her facilitation style is a perfect fit with Learning Point’s interactive and application oriented approach to learning. Keri loves the learning value that can be extracted from daily work challenges. She is passionate about personal and professional growth. Her enthusiasm is contagious. We can attest to that.

Alejandra Cerqueda

Senior Facilitator, Spanish Language, Learning Technology

Alejandra facilitated Learning Point’s first ever workshop in Spanish, in the heart of Mexico City. She is precise and energetic. Her focus is always on helping the learner apply the learning on the job – where it matters the most. Ale has advanced degrees from Oklahoma State University in technology and application development. She is extremely talented at leveraging technology to achieve learning goals. For that we are abundantly grateful. Ale also understands the importance of culture as an essential element to an organization’s success. She is exceptional at helping clients understand the impact of culture across borders. Ale Cerqueda es buena gente.

Kyle Christensen

Senior Facilitator and Media Advisor

Kyle is an excellent and engaging facilitator, teacher, and coach. He also provides invaluable leadership to Learning Point’s creative and media development efforts. From web design to video production, Kyle and his team of wizards, not only make our learning solutions look great, but also help them sink deep into the hearts and minds of our valued learners.