Darlene M. Van Tiem, Ph.D., CPT, Associate Professor Emeritus, was coordinator of the graduate Performance Improvement and Instructional Design program, School of Education, University of Michigan – Dearborn. She was on the faculty of Capella University, primarily chairing and mentoring doctoral dissertations and grading comprehensive examinations. Previously, she was the Human Resources Training Director, at AT&T (Ameritech) Yellow Pages (responsible for Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin); and Curriculum Manager for the entire General Motors Technical Curriculum, including training General Motors suppliers. Darlene is an international Past-President of the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) and on the international Board of Directors from 2006-2011. She was lead author, with James Moseley and Joan Dessinger, of three ISPI award winning books: Fundamentals of Performance Improvement: Optimizing Results through People, Process, and Organizations (third edition, 2012); Fundamentals of Performance Technology: A Guide to Improving People, Process, and Performance (second edition 2004) and Performance Improvement Interventions: Enhancing People and Performance through Performance Technology (2001). She was selected for the Thomas Gilbert Award (the highest scholarly award) and the Lifetime Service Award for international ISPI and three Michigan Chapter publishing awards. Darlene has published over 50 journal articles and presented over 50 juried and 45 invited presentations for professional associations. She has a Ph.D. Wayne State University in Higher Education, Post-Secondary Administration, M.S.A. in Business Administration from Central Michigan University; M.Ed. Marygrove College; M.A. Michigan State University; and Certificate in Integrated Resource Management (including Manufacturing and Production Management), Oakland University, Graduate School of Business.
Nancy Crain Burns, Ph.D., CPT is the President of Crain Burns Associates, LLC and is dedicated to serving others and helping organizations enhance success and productivity. As a Certified Performance Technologist, she approaches each situation with a systematic view of appreciation and opportunity. She is currently servicing as President of the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI). Nancy is a member of several other professional organizations, including: Crossville Rotary, ISPI Tennessee, Capella Virtual Chapter, PMI (Project Management Institute) and PMI East Tennessee, Director of University and Academic Outreach. Nancy also served as VP of Programs for ISPI MI, President of ISPI Capella and Program Chair for ISPI-TN. She is the Steering Committee Chair for the Crossville-Cumberland Horizon Initiative. While working full-time in a financial services organization, Nancy completed her doctorate in Business: Organization and Management from Capella University. She also earned her MBA from Northwood University, after completing a dual BBA in Business/Computer Information Management. Her areas of industry expertise include education, leadership, business planning and strategy, human resources, business information systems and project management. Nancy has led strategic and vision planning sessions for organizations, including the Youth Achievement Foundation of Crossville. She created and led leadership/planning and volunteer engagement workshops for the Fairfield Glade Art Guild. In addition, she coached individuals through career transition. Nancy worked as Manager/Project Manager: North American Operations - New Development Program Office and as a strategic planning liaison to five business departments, including Human Resources and Communications. Nancy served as the lead coach for the Cumberland Business Incubator’s Springboard Your Business to Success Entrepreneurship Workshops. Nancy’s heart for small business stems from working in her family’s New Orleans perfume shop. The business remained in her family for over 60 years. Nancy and her husband invested their family’s savings in a tire and auto repair shop located in rural Oklahoma. She understands the challenges of one spouse supporting another’s dream. Her dissertation topic was the “Impact of personal influence on the success of entrepreneurial women.” The focus was leadership, communication and influence. Dr. Burns has served as an adjunct professor for five colleges and a Teaching and Learning Coordinator for Davenport University. She has taught Leadership, Organizational Behavior, Business Management, Entrepreneurship/Business Planning, Philosophy of American Enterprise and Project Management courses. In addition, she is certified to assess prior experiential learning and recommend college credit.