Jeff Gaines, Program Leader

Jeff Gaines has been a speaker and consultant in the field of corporate and personal development since 1995. In that time he has worked with hundreds of companies all over the country in a wide variety of fields. His witty and relaxed approach to addressing complex or uncomfortable issues keeps the audience engaged, entertained and informed. A veteran leader of all 3 courses of The Excellence Series, he also has extensive experience in management, leadership, communication, motivation and emotional intelligence.

Lorraine Jensen, Program Leader

Lorraine is a highly energetic leader who has worked with people in many capacities over the span of her diverse career.  She has a background as a facilitator, has worked in sales and training and has worked with people dealing with addictions.  Lorraine has provided counseling and has coordinated Centers that support people struggling with both drug and alcohol problems as well as food addictions.  Lorraine's personal life experiences and challenges, coupled with her sense of humor, genuine enthusiasm and love for life, provide hope and inspiration for others.  Lorraine and her husband Shawn live with their family in Nanaimo.

Pam Lewis, Director & Program Leader

From an early age, Pam has generated opportunities for people to create excellence in their lives and in their area of passion. At 15, she began coaching synchronized swimming and by 20 was rated in the top 10 coaches in the world. Compelled to make a social contribution, she completed her education, worked in non-profit organizations and in 1983 began teaching communication, leadership and organizational skills in post-secondary education. As a lifelong learner, she took the Excellence Series in 1989, started leading programs in 1998 and became the Director of Excellence Seminars International in 1999. Pam lives with her family on Long Lake in Nanaimo.

Kim Nonis, Program Leader

Kim has been attending and assisting programs in the Excellence Series since 1996. Kim leads the Advancement of Excellence and is continuing her development to lead additional courses. By living her life to the fullest, Kim inspires others to become clear about what is most important to them and really go after it! Passionate about making a difference in the world, she founded and chairs W.I.N.G.S. - a pay-forward foundation committed to nurturing goodwill globally. Her enthusiasm, humor and passion for learning are evident. Kim and her husband Mark also own and operate Nonis Electrical Services. They live in Belcarra , BC , along with daughter Sarah and dog Mocha.

Carol Peringer, Program Leader

Carol is a highly regarded educator in the field of personal and professional development. She began to lead courses in the Excellence Series in 1986 and she has worked successfully with thousands of people in her role as a Senior Facilitator. Carol's life work is in assisting people in gaining clarity about what has meaning for them. Her masterful skills and insight, combined with humor and compassion create a phenomenal sense of safety in the training room. Carol has developed and taught many other courses, most recently including "Inside Passage" and "Lighting the Path". Carol lives in Washington with her husband Stephen, an accomplished artist.

Larry Reymore, Program Leader

For more than 24 years as a seminar leader and group process facilitator, Larry has had one core mission:  “Making a heart-felt difference by contributing in significant, measurable ways to the life satisfaction of individuals and the effectiveness of organizations.”  Expressing that mission, he has conducted countless corporate trainings and public seminars throughout the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong and the former Soviet Union to groups numbering 5 to 2,000.  Larry has been a highly respected leader of the Excellence Series seminars since 1983.  His engaging style, humor and sincerity, help participants to create personal breakthroughs in newly discovered strengths, abilities, and an expanded vision for their future.

Michelle Richardson , Program Leader

As Head Coach of Momentum Works, Michelle coaches entrepreneurs, corporate managers, individuals, groups and teams; she also leads the Radical Happiness Community for CoachVille, a worldwide leader in coach training.  A firm believer in continuous growth and skills development, she is passionate about working with people to support their success both professionally and personally.  Her strong business development background includes 10 successful years with Microsoft and 2 with Dominion Information Services. Michelle's Vision is to have a profoundly positive impact in the world and, as evidenced by her nomination for the 2005 YWCA of Vancouver Women of Distinction Award, she is doing just that. 

Mardig Sheridan, Program Leader

Mardig is acclaimed for his facilitation of Personal Development and Effectiveness seminars throughout North America and the Pacific Rim. He is known for creating personalized and compelling seminars and for his outstanding contribution to thousands of people, leading the Pursuit of Excellence for the last 15 years. Mardig fosters dramatic change in participants' inner thinking, inspires them to overcome self-limiting attitudes and habits, master immediately useful skills and expand their vision of what is possible. Mardig is the co-author of "Winning the Human Race" and resides in Seattle with his wife Stacey.

Jim Sorensen, Program Leader

For 23 years, Jim has educated and enlivened the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals who have attended his presentations. Whether speaking to corporate audiences or the general public, he presents topics interestingly and humorously, consistently receiving rave reviews from companies from coast to coast and around the world. In addition to leading The Pursuit of Excellence for over 20 years, Jim custom designs and develops a range of relationship-building topics. Jim Sorensen is also an accomplished artist and illustrator, with seven books to his credit. He lives in Seattle with his wife Brenda and daughter Katelyn.

Brent Stewart, Program Leader

An experienced seminar leader and executive coach, Brent has worked with thousands of individuals across Canada and internationally since 1992. He serves as a member of the associate faculty for Royal Roads University , teaching personal leadership, ethics, coaching and teamwork, and is a seasoned facilitator of the Pursuit of Excellence and The Wall. Known for his humour and clarity, Brent combines an understanding of business with tremendous skill in individual and group learning processes.

Robyn Unwin, Program Leader

With an education in both marketing management and broadcast journalism, Robyn brings more than 20 years of corporate experience in strategic communications, media training and executive coaching.  She receives stellar reviews for her humorous and engaging corporate presentations, demonstrating a keen understanding of the strategic issues impacting executive level leaders.  Robyn is an accomplished business writer, ghostwriting for numerous executive clients, and an emerging documentary filmmaker.  She completed the Excellence Series over 20 years ago and largely credits Context Associated programs for her success as a young adult.  Robyn lives in Victoria, BC with her husband Mark and their dog, Peggy.

Nadia Wnuk, Program Leader

Involved with Excellence Seminars for over 10 years, first as a Service Representative, and then as a Program Leader, Nadia delivers each program as if it were her first.  Combining a quirky sense of humour, her own personal life stories and rich, diverse background with the program materials, participants are fully engaged in each step.  Nadia, in partnership with her husband Brian, runs three large businesses in British Columbia and uses those life experiences to fully illustrate different dimensions of the courses she facilitates.  With compassionate courage she embraces whatever participants are willing to share and stands with them in the fire as they move forward to make the necessary changes to improve the quality of their own lives.

Kathleen Carie, General Manager & Program Leader

Kathleen has comprehensive experience in the training industry, is a polished, persuasive communicator and expert presenter. As Chief Operating Officer for Context Associated, an international training company, Kathleen worked directly with the founder, Randy Revell and opened up 8 new profit centers across the United States and Canada .  Randy described Kathleen as an outrageously well-loved personality who brings new meaning to the words, "fun" and "great results."  Kathleen is also Vice President of Leadership Development for Merriweather Trainings based out of the U.K. Kathleen resides in Mercer Island , Washington with her two Bichon Frise dogs who currently allow her to live in the house with them.

Carmel Bodle, Operations Manager

Carmel has worked in Operations and has provided administrative and technical support to company presidents and key executives over the last 20 years. She brings great organizational skill and the ability to handle a variety of multiple tasks efficiently. After completing The Excellence Series in 1991, she realized that making a difference was her key strategy for success and enjoys supporting others to achieve success. Carmel lives in Federal Way, WA with her husband,Rich, and also her youngest of 4 children who leaves for college in the Fall.

Roxanne Richardson, Volunteer Coordinator

Roxanne is committed to lifelong learning and is passionate about assisting others in achieving their full potential. She has been involved in education and training for over 25 years with focuses on communication and personal development. Since 1994, when she completed the Excellence Series, Roxanne has contributed to the fabric of goodwill through her involvement in all the courses offered. Known for her compassionate honesty, her organizational excellence, and her absolute commitment to growth, Roxanne lives in Seattle and leads the Assisting Workshop.

Carolyn Soucie, Service Representative - Vancouver Island

Carolyn Soucie was born in Ottawa Ontario, and has made beautiful Vancouver Island her home since 1996. She lives in Nanaimo, with her spouse, 2 international students, 1 dog, and 1 cat. After completing business management courses at Malaspina University, Carolyn dabbled in various fields on Vancouver Island including co-owning a floral evergreens exporting business;  administrative support in real estate; and most recently 5 years in research and administration for Tourism Vancouver Island. So what kind of person is Carolyn? Well...she’s travelled to places like Russia, Spain, and Finland. She’s lived on a boat, throws an awesome Halloween party, and is a cancer survivor. Carolyn describes herself as a person who likes to have fun, is determined and well organized. She credits The Excellence Series and the graduate courses as “giving me new insights as to what really matters to me, moving forward with my dreams, and most importantly making strong connections with new supportive friends on a level I didn't know was possible until now.”  

Jill Badger-Caldwell, Service Representative - Vancouver & Lower Mainland

Jill completed the Excellence Series in 1999 and ever since has wanted to "give back". She enjoys being involved with others uncovering their true potential and is committed to expanding the Vancouver market with individual and corporate programs. Living part-time in Hawaii , Jill's goal is also to have Excellence Seminars International deliver programs in Hawaii . Jill is also the Vice President of Volterre Wellness Corporation which provides new and innovative solutions to the wellness industry and was a flight attendant and a Union President for twenty years. She enjoys living the sporting life with her husband and well humored teenaged son and has two great step sons who are both attending College.

Margot Bowes, Service Representative - Vancouver & Lower Mainland

Margot first took The Pursuit of Excellence while in high school in 1981 and several years later attended The Wall and The Advancement of Excellence in 1990. She loved the course so much that she went to work for the company doing reception and volunteer coordinating from 1991 to 1993. She has thirteen years experience teaching meditation which allows her to be very present and grounded in life. Margot has raised two daughters and strengthened the fabric of goodwill by volunteering at her girls schools. She loves cross country skiing in the winter and plays beach volley ball in the summer. Margot has a joy for life, is filled with enthusiasm and is very excited to be part of The Excellence Seminars team again.

Matt Leibsohn, PhD, Service Representative - Seattle

Matt Leibsohn has been a licensed psychologist in the Seattle area since 1992, working passionately with adults, adolescents, and couples. In addition, to being an accomplished entrepreneur, Matt has taught courses and led seminars with a dynamic, engaging, and compassionate style. He is committed to promoting healing and intimacy by teaching people solutions for living. Matt's goal as a Service Representative with Excellence Seminars International is to greatly expand the Seattle market. He is also preparing to lead programs in the Excellence Series. Matt lives in the Seattle area with his wife Jackie, a professor at Seattle University , and his two teenage boys, Alec and Jake.