Current Projects

Kansas brings Kolbe to middle school students more..

University Engineering students see the impact of conation on teams more..

Board of Trustees

Kathy Kolbe (2684)

Kathy Kolbe founded a highly innovative corporation 34 years ago that has achieved great marketplace success. She has been named the Arizona Small Business person of the Year, was honored at the White House as one of America's Can Do People, and was featured in a Time Magazine's Person of the Year cover article as one of seven people representing the American Spirit of Achievement.

In addition, Kolbe has:

  • been an advisor to hundreds of business leaders, including CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, and leaders in government, law, education, religion, sports and the military (e.g. NASA, Kodak, State Farm, Macy's, Banner Health, Honeywell, Intel, Coca Cola, US Army).
  • advised many of America's best selling authors and management consultants, including Dr. Ken Blanchard, Robert Kyosaki, Dr. Martha Beck, Dan Sullivan, Dr. Edward Hollowell, Dr. Jerry Porras.
  • developed and wrote best selling books about her theories of human instincts, and is engaged in research with brain scientists that is now proving her theories not only work in practice, but also are evidenced in the workings of the brain.
  • spoken to audiences in 17 nations (including keynoting Management Centre Europe, the Global Leadership Conference, the State of the World Conference, The Hague Chamber of Commerce ); and been interviewed on over 300 radio and TV shows.
  • been selected as an Entrepreneurial Fellow at the University of Arizona, taught as an adjunct professor at Arizona State University and at Stanford's Business School Executive programs, and trained the faculty at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
  • trained hundreds of professionals in coaching and consulting methods that have proven to increase efficiency and productivity in a wide variety of organizations.
  • chaired for 30 years (and still chairs) the not-for-profit Center for Conative Abilities through which she donates her time to work with families and children in distress, and advises top educators such as the Kansas State Director of Education in unique ways of bringing out the best in youngsters.

Kolbe graduated with honors from Northwestern University, which has named her one of its 100 Outstanding graduates.

She has served on numerous boards and commissions in her community, including the Governor's Advisory Council, co-chair of the city of Phoenix Economic Growth Commission, board member of the Arizona Law Advisory Board, and an officer of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce.

Kolbe has lived within four miles of Waterfront Residences for 36 years, and has five children and eight grandchildren, all of whom love to visit her, and her husband Will Rapp at their home here.

back to top

Elizabeth Berry, Ph.D. (7752)

An accomplished teacher and administrator, Dr. Elizabeth Berry has worked throughout her 33 years at California State University Northridge (CSUN) with a keen sense of humor and a profound commitment to our educational mission. Dr. Berry took the lead in the creation of what is now the Women's Studies Department at CSUN. As the CFA faculty rights chair for the past 12 years, she has been an advocate of academic freedom and due process for faculty. She has mentored students to achieve their goals and has inspired faculty, staff and administrators with her optimistic and forward-looking vision. Her knowledge and wisdom is surpassed only by her skills in facilitating change, enabling faculty to develop support systems, and negotiating equitable and responsible resolution of conflicts. Dr. Berry has a B.S. from Northwestern University and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Speech Communication from California State University, Los Angeles. Over the years she has assisted Kolbe Corp in many ways such as serving at one time as Director of Research.

back to top

Amy K. Bruske (3583)

Amy Bruske is a Principal of Kolbe Corp and its Chief Productivity Officer. As head of Training & Development, Operations, and Sales, she guides companies worldwide through the Kolbe processes like the Kolbe Certification® program and Kolbe TeamSuccess® seminars. Amy's exceptional skills as a trainer have also been used by many organizations around the world, who seek her out to help them leverage the talents of their personnel and improve their level of overall performance. Amy has certified teachers and administrators at all levels and has worked with parents and educators through the Perfectly Capable Kids program. She has also conducted Kolbe Team Success Seminars with groups of educators. Before becoming involved in utilizing Kolbe Wisdom, Amy set out on a career that involved supervising the training and operations of clients in a variety of settings. She has been divisional supervisor and trainer for the entire East Coast with a major franchiser. One of her specialties is teaching business owners to maximize productivity and increase sales while maintaining quality controls, which she has done with spectacular success.

back to top

Katharine Auchincloss Corbin, CLU, ChFC (9452)

Kay Corbin's academic training includes a B.A., Magna Cum Laude, from Harvard University, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She has had twenty-eight years of experience in the financial services field, specializing in retirement and estate planning; executive compensation and business succession solutions. She received her Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant degrees from the American College, Bryn Mawr, PA. Kay is a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table and a recipient of the insurance industry's National Quality Award. She is a principal in the firm of Corbin Financial, Inc.

Kay is the case designer for Corbin Financial, Inc. Advisory Services Division, which creates and implements lifetime investment strategies for selected clients.

Kay has been a speaker for the Million Dollar Round Table twice, for the Arizona Chapter of the CPA Society and the Arizona Association of Life Underwriters. She is a registered investment advisor representative of Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc., a full service broker dealer.

Kay is past president of the Phoenix Art Museum League, the Golden Gate Settlement Guild, the Osborn School District Board of Trustees, the Phoenix Mid-Town Rotary Club and the Arizona School for the Arts Governing Board. She is a past member of the board of the Museum of Northern Arizona. Kay is a member of Valley Leadership, Class V. She is currently a member of the board of the Arizona Science Center, and Chair of the Schools and Scholarships Committee for the Harvard Club of Phoenix.

Kay is a ferocious tennis player and horseperson. She enjoys sailing, especially off the coast of Maine. She is an instrument-rated private pilot.

back to top

Diane DeBacker, Ph.D. (7762)

Dr. Diane DeBacker was appointed Kansas Commissioner of Education in September of 2010 after serving nearly a year as Interim Commissioner of Education for the Kansas State Department of Education. During her appointment as Interim she also served as the Deputy Commissioner of Education for the Learning Services Division. Dr. DeBacker provides leadership for the Kansas State Department of Education to carry out the policies and programs prescribed by state law and the State Board, ensuring Department personnel are providing the necessary oversight and support for all schools, educators and students to meet their academic goals. Leadership and supervision for an educational system that includes 475,000 students in public and private accredited K-12 schools is an utmost priority. Through her role, Dr. DeBacker promotes many initiatives including increasing academic standards, improving literacy skills, bringing technology to the classroom and making schools safer. She provides oversight of the department's teams consisting of state and federal programs, student support services, teacher education and licensure, research and planning, school accreditation, fiscal services, communication and recognitions programs, fiscal services and operations, information technology, fiscal auditing, school finance, human resources, and child nutrition and wellness.

Dr. DeBacker has also served as Deputy Commissioner of Education for the Learning Services Division and Director of School Improvement and Accreditation for KSDE. She served as Associate Superintendent of Schools for Shawnee Heights USD 450; principal of Washburn Rural Alternative High School in the Auburn-Washburn USD 437 school district and also high school assistant principal and district curriculum facilitator for Auburn-Washburn. Dr. DeBacker served as the first director of a statewide curriculum center housed at Washburn University. She began her career as a high school business education teacher at Luckey High School in Manhattan in 1982. Additionally, Dr. DeBacker served on the Kaw Valley USD 321 school board from 1999-2003, including the offices of president and vice president. Dr. DeBacker has a bachelor's degree in Business Education from Emporia State University, a master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Washburn University, and a doctorate in Educational Administration and Leadership from Kansas State University.

back to top

Gladys Styles Johnston, Ph.D. (9722)

Gladys Styles Johnson became the Chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Kearney in August, 1993. She retired in 2002 as a Chancellor Emerita. She brought to the chancellorship a significant range of experience in higher education. Before joining the University of Nebraska at Kearney, she was Provost and then Executive Vice President at DePaul University in Chicago. Prior to her appointment at DePaul, she was Dean and Professor of Education in the College at Arizona State University. Chancellor Johnston became Dean at Arizona Statue University after serving as Chair of the Department of Management in the School of Business at Rutgers University. Her first administrative appointment at Rutgers was Chair of the Department of Educational Administration.

Chancellor Johnston's scholarly recognition includes her appointment as the Distinguished Commonwealth Visiting Professor in the School of Education at the College of William and Mary. During her active years as a faculty member, she published two books, authored numerous research articles, was the preceptor to over twenty Ph.D. students and served on the editorial boards of several research journals in her field.

Chancellor Johnston served on numerous civic, educational and commercial Boards of Directors. She was the Chair of the Omaha Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City; she served on the Executive Committee of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and was Chair of Division II; a member and Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and the Board of Directors of the American Council on Education. Her recent board memberships included the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce; The Museum of Nebraska Art; The Nebraska Economic Development Council; The Educational Television Consortium for Higher Education; and the Overland Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America. In 1995, Chancellor Johnston received the Western Heritage Museum-Mutual of Omaha African-American Achievement Award. She is listed on World Who's Who of Women and is a member of the International Women's Forum, an organization that fosters association of pre-eminent women throughout the world. While at DePaul, Chancellor Johnston was honored with the Chicago Outstanding Leadership Award from the Y.W.C.A. She has served as a national advisor for the Kellogg Foundation National Fellowship Program.

Chancellor Johnston's educational credentials include a bachelor's degree in Social Science from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, a master's degree in Educational Administration from Temple University and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration, Rural Sociology and Curriculum Development from Cornell University.

back to top

David Kolbe, J.D. (8273)

David Kolbe is a Principal of Kolbe Corp and its Chief Executive Officer. He joined the company in 1997 as General Counsel, was promoted to President in 2001, and to his present position in 2004. His current role includes primary responsibility for strategic planning, corporate development and finance, as well as direct oversight of operational, technical and legal efforts. David has led the company's efforts in research collaborations with the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. In addition, he consults with and leads seminars for a broad spectrum of clients. After receiving a B.S. in Economics, David joined the legislative staff of Congressman Lamar Smith in Washington, D.C. He subsequently became Congressman Smith's Legislative Director, a position he held until he pursued his law degree. Upon receiving his J.D., David went to work for a Phoenix law firm, where he specialized in land use and commercial litigation.

back to top

Ed Oxford, Ed. D. (5384)

Ed Oxford joined Banner Health in July 2007 as senior vice president/chief talent officer. His focus is on leading the development and implementation of key strategies that position Banner Health as an employer of choice. 

Prior to joining Banner Health, Oxford worked for Motorola, Inc. in Schaumburg, Ill., where he held a number of leadership positions in Organizational Development, Human Resources and Learning. While at Motorola, he ran Motorola University that provided learning opportunities for 65,000 employees, established a global Human Resources strategy and Organizational Development function to support business-wide initiatives.

Before working at Motorola, Oxford was a prinicipal at PricewaterhouseCoopers focused on organization transformation in the management-consulting business. He was responsible for building the revenues of his practice in the technology and entertainment industries and provided coaching to firm partners and executive clients. As the second member of this practice, he assisted growing revenues from nothing to $34 million in less than a year.

Oxford holds a Doctorate from Columbia University in Organization and Leadership. He also holds a master's degree in education and an undergraduate degree in business. Additional graduate studies include management science at the University of Southern California and counseling psychology at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

back to top

Lieutenant General John F. Regni (7733)

Lt. Gen. John F. Regni is recently retired as Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Academy provides a highly structured four-year regimen of military training, academics, athletic and character development programs leading to a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant.

General Regni is a 1973 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. His career has encompassed a wide range of personnel, training and command assignments. His command tours included Base Commander and 8th Combat Support Group Commander, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea; Commander, Second Air Force; and Commander, Air University. Among his staff assignments are Director of Manpower, Personnel and Support, U.S. Pacific Command; Director of Personnel at Air Mobility Command; and Director of Military Personnel Policy, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He also served on the Reserve Forces Policy Board from 1996 to 1998.

back to top

Anne Tobey (4294)

Anne Tobey, a former Vice President and Professional Outplacement Counselor at a large Chicago-based human resources firm, founded Coulter Consulting Group in 1989 to provide an alternative 'inplacement' service to companies in the process of realigning talented employees and searching for highly qualified candidates to fill new positions. Some current and past clients include Harris Trust & Savings Bank, MacArthur Foundation, Technology Consulting Corp (TCC), Baxter Career Center, Guernsey Dell, and Dexter Corp. Anne is an accredited Myers-Briggs? consultant and is licensed to use the Kolbe Concept?. In addition to her background as a career consultant, Anne has more than 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. She held a succession of posts at Harris Trust and Savings Bank, Chicago, including positions in marketing/sales of institutional trust services, communications, and human resources development.

back to top

Copyright © 2013 Kathy Kolbe

background