Our Team
Rick Thomas
President & CEO
Rick Thomas graduated in 1985 from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) with a degree in Finance. He spent 10 years in the banking and insurance industries, but his true passion is Sociology - fascinated by why people do what they do and how populations respond.
An entrepreneur at heart, Thomas opened The Chariot Group, Inc., in 1999, an enterprise that is globally recognized for its expertise in videoconferencing system design, installation and integration. In December 2016, he launched the STRIVE Group to address a growing market need for a variety of consulting services focusing on leadership, workforce investments and business sustainability. Thomas is a respected industry leader and torchbearer of digital transformation, using a platform of innovation to connect people with ideas and solutions.
An entrepreneur at heart, Thomas opened The Chariot Group, Inc., in 1999, an enterprise that is globally recognized for its expertise in videoconferencing system design, installation and integration. In December 2016, he launched the STRIVE Group to address a growing market need for a variety of consulting services focusing on leadership, workforce investments and business sustainability. Thomas is a respected industry leader and torchbearer of digital transformation, using a platform of innovation to connect people with ideas and solutions.
Heather Kinzie
Chief Operating Officer
Heather Kinzie serves as the Chief Operating Officer for The STRIVE Group. With more than 20 years of organizational and workforce performance experience, Kinzie offers consultation; facilitation and mediation; content development and training; and coaching to clients around the country. She oversees a team of experts who utilize a broad, systematic and collaborative approach to analysis, problem solving and consultation.
Recognizing the critical importance of leadership, communication and effective engagement among teams, Kinzie has spent years learning, applying, evaluating and refining her theories on group dynamics, relationships, problem solving and motivation. Kinzie's clients appreciate her authenticity and creative, pragmatic insights and ideas to improve their leadership abilities, their teams and ultimately their organizations.
Kinzie is a sought-after national keynote speaker, noted for bringing humor, genuineness and practical perspectives to her presentations. Her relevant and inspiring content resonates with audiences, engaging participants to step into new spaces.
Recognizing the critical importance of leadership, communication and effective engagement among teams, Kinzie has spent years learning, applying, evaluating and refining her theories on group dynamics, relationships, problem solving and motivation. Kinzie's clients appreciate her authenticity and creative, pragmatic insights and ideas to improve their leadership abilities, their teams and ultimately their organizations.
Kinzie is a sought-after national keynote speaker, noted for bringing humor, genuineness and practical perspectives to her presentations. Her relevant and inspiring content resonates with audiences, engaging participants to step into new spaces.
Kelsey Richardson
Supervisor, Integrated Marketing
Kelsey Richardson joined The STRIVE Group in March of 2019 after moving to Alaska from Washington State. She has more than 10 years of sales and event management experience in the hospitality and non-profit industries. With an eye for detail and passion for cultivating relationships, Richardson supports The STRIVE Group’s marketing efforts and manages the organization's special events.
Affiliates
Jim Bates
Jim Bates’ vast career spans more than 30 years with proficiencies in business and project management and information technology. Well versed in quality improvement and outcome-based learning, he offers consultation and training on infrastructure, management and leadership. His passion for efficiency and continual learning serves as a catalyst for organization improvement in a variety of industries.
Woodrie Burich
Woodrie Burich is an award-winning thought leader, published author, and TEDx speaker known for her proprietary approach to setting boundaries and addressing burnout in fast-paced and high-demand work environments. She brings over 20 years of senior leadership and change management expertise working with Fortune 500 companies on global tech projects and billion-dollar merger & acquisition work. Her mission is to empower professionals to create sustainable and thriving work lives that enable them to enjoy more, stress less and connect with their communities in positive and meaningful ways. Woodrie is a member of the Forbes Coaches Council, recipient of a gold Stevie Award for her Achievement in Thought Leadership and a bronze Stevie award winner for Female Thought Leader of the Year.
Beth Chapman
Beth Chapman has 30 years of HR experience working with all levels of management to improve organizational performance and leadership. Passionate about helping leaders and employees, Chapman designs and delivers trainings and mentoring programs, and coaches individuals and teams to improve their professional competencies. Chapman’s expertise and experience includes meeting facilitation, organizational development, talent management, onboarding and performance management, conflict resolution, labor relations, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development.
Diane Decker
Diane Decker grew up in Human Resources and she drew upon that experience to begin her consultancy. From there, she developed expertise in strategic planning, quality improvement, and leadership. While she is never far from her roots, a full host of training, facilitation and coaching services compliment her HR offerings. She believes that simplicity and commitment are key drivers of success and ensures her advice and counsel are straightforward and likely to produce sustainable positive results.
Pamela Ellsworth
Pamela Ellsworth, PHR, Certified Mediator, helps businesses navigate their people processes. Ellsworth has over 12 years of Human Resources experience with a focus on recruitment and onboarding, employee relations, and performance management coaching. Ever curious, she works with both small and large clients across all industries. Ellsworth’s passion for communication and collaboration plays nicely into her mediation, coaching, and professional development services. Her dedication to the Human Resources profession ensures she remains active in multiple professional groups while enabling continued learning in her trade.
Mike Green
Mike Green, MCC is an Author, Global Keynote Speaker, Facilitator, Outdoor Guide/Instructor, and International Coaching Federation Master Certified Coach with over 30 years and over 11,000 hours of international human performance experience. He has traveled and worked with people in over 63 countries on all seven continents in a multicultural array of top corporations and outfits. It’s from this experience that he is able to help his clients bridge the gap from where they currently are and where they want to be. Green specializes in coaching high potential or emerging leaders, executives, and leadership teams discover their leadership truths.
Kristin Helvey
Kristin Helvey has more than 10 years of experience in such areas as multicultural communications and community partnership development. She consults with and assists organizations across community sectors in improving communications strategy and execution. Her insights boost leaders’ understanding of communication as it relates to business priorities and sustainability.
Amit Kataby
Amit Kataby is a self-realization guide, a powerhouse speaker and a maverick storyteller. She guides people through the journey of self-discovery so they can meet their authentic self and live a powerful life beyond their ego, name and form. Creating a safe space for people to be themselves and share authentically without the fear of being judged is her art.
Jonathan King
Jonathan King draws upon more than 20 years of experience working in economics and leadership to ensure his consultation and coaching is practical and valuable. His expertise in business and data management, teamed with his keen intuition on leadership philosophy serve to enlighten clients of all industries. He values integrity, accountability, personal growth and humor and these values serve as the foundation for his consultation and coaching.
Karen Kirk
Karen Kirk has more than 25 years of experience advising leaders and their teams in a plethora of industries. She develops and presents energetic training programs, facilitates engaging planning and performance sessions, and provides counsel and assistance in improving processes and protocols. Her expertise in change management, communication and healthy work relationships ensure her advice and counsel is pragmatic and immediately useful.
Ben Leonard
Ben Leonard has more than eight years of experience in Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) roles in various industries, most recently serving as an HSE director at an oil and gas company. Leonard is an active trainer for both PEC and the American Red Cross. He is also certified to teach PEC SafeLand Basic, PEC Basic Pipeline, PEC SafeGulf, PEC Core Compliance, and American Red Cross Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED classes.
Greg McCully
Greg McCully is a board-certified safety professional with 19 years of health and safety experience in various industries. Previously, McCully served in a director-level role where he championed a risk-based approach to health and safety across both upstream and midstream businesses. This role required an analysis against risk to people, business and community, as well as regulatory compliance needs, industry best practices and good engineering practices. McCully utilizes his vast experience to help companies achieve best in class Health, Safety and Environment (HSE).
Tracy Stewart
For more than 30 years, Tracy Stewart has been guiding individuals and organizations to transformative “ah-ha” moments. A skilled listener with an uncanny ability to discern the core of a concern or reveal the hidden opportunity in a challenge, she utilizes coaching, training, education and facilitation to foster growth and change. Her extensive career includes a range of roles from entrepreneur/founder to vice president. Her expertise lies in the areas of strategic planning, leadership development and organization development, as well as diversity, civility and inclusion. She is a compelling and engaging speaker, who distills complex concepts into narratives that touch the heart and inspire the mind.
Brian Walch
Brian Walch is a coach, consultant, and speaker helping managers grow in self-awareness and leadership. Walch has worked with employees and leaders across HR, IT, finance, and operations. Using his extensive experience in recruiting, retention, and employee development Walch led HR as a partner in a national consulting firm. He has also been the technical lead for projects that have transformed small businesses, modernized government agencies, and improved enterprise-wide processes. Walch combined his experience with people and systems to create the Integrated Life Framework. As a coach and consultant, he helps professionals improve themselves by living life integrated and bringing their whole selves to all they do.
Mykal White
Mykal White is a change maker with more than two decades of experience in sales, training and leadership development. White's "Sweet Spot" is helping organizations take concrete steps to ensure that continuous learning is in place to build strong cultures. She works with people and organizations committed to taking action and seeing lasting and measurable change. Her roster of clients includes Infor, Yelp, LinkedIn, Microsoft, ClassPass, Raymond Jams and New York Life.
Bobbie Sue Wolk
Bobbie Sue Wolk, MS, PCC, BCC, is a certified executive coach, mentor coach, health and well-being coach, industrial-organizational psychologist, accountant, business consultant, adjunct professor and author. As a 27-year entrepreneur, Wolk is an experienced businessperson, who helps organizations achieve success operating with integrity, ethics and professionalism; she helps you help yourself.