Marilyn Darling founded Signet in 1989 to conduct research and consulting in strategies for corporate learning. Beginning in 1997, Marilyn partnered with Charles Parry to conduct research on highly successful organizational learning and leadership practices, focused particularly on the After Action Review (AAR) as it is applied at the U.S. Army’s National Training Center, where it was created. The principles and tools of Emergent Learning spring from that research. Prior to founding Signet, Marilyn was president of Learning to Learn, Inc., which provided critical thinking skills programs to corporate and university clients. She serves on the Board of Visitors of James Madison College, a highly regarded college of public affairs at Michigan State University.

Charles Parry maps the tacit strategies of top performing teams and individuals, and leverages these insights for the benefit of clients. His success in translating research into practical applications began with pioneering work on skill development and peak performance strategies of elite athletes. It continues today in research on the leadership and accountability structures that allow agile organizations to thrive in the face of dynamic conditions and world-class competition. Charles co-developed Emergent Learning with Marilyn Darling. He has developed courses on topics such as Difficult Conversations and Influence Skills, taught Change strategies to Six Sigma Black Belts and developed the skills of many hundreds of facilitators.

Colonel (Retired) Joseph A. Moore, Jr. commanded the 3,000 soldiers of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, the unit serving as the OPFOR (Opposing Force) at the National Training Center. All other Army brigades must fight against OPFOR in order to prove–and improve–their readiness. Joe led the OPFOR through an historic transition from replicating Soviet-style forces into flexible forces capable of winning in the fluid environments of Iraq and Afghanistan. His depth at the NTC included being an Observer/Controller on two tours, and Chief of Plans and Operations, developing and supervising the execution of the intense battle scenarios through which every visiting unit is tested and developed.

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Mark Pires is an expert on the Army’s After Action Review methods for shaping teams into learning organizations. Mark has extensive expertise in mentoring up and coming junior leaders to achieve their maximum potential. A 20-year veteran of the United States Army and West Point graduate. Mark commanded an armor battalion consisting of 58 M1A1 tanks, 550 soldiers, 160 support vehicles, and equipment valued over $150 million. His earlier postings included being Chief of Plans for an entire Army division. Mark's many awards and decorations included the Legion of Merit and five Meritorious Service Medals.

Dave Flanigan offers clients 36 years of global business experience. As President of Ford Credit International, Dave led 9,500 employees and developed highly profitable financial services businesses in 38 countries with assets of $40 billion and profit of $500 million. He has extensive experience leading mergers, acquisitions, start-ups, turn-arounds and transformational change projects. Since retiring from Ford, he brings his unique blend of leadership and strategic coaching, results orientation and business experience to senior executives. Dave advises private capital start-up businesses, is a trustee for the Society of Organizational Learning and is Chairman of the Detroit Institute for Children.

Heidi Sparkes Guber has specialized in the application of vision and purpose to achieve strategic focus and breakthrough results for over 25 years. Heidi developed the Breakthrough Leadership Process™ at Citibank, Bank One and Ford Motor Company. She and Dave Flanigan led cross-divisional integration and strategic breakthrough programs for Ford that delivered over $300 million in incremental corporate profits. In addition to coaching executives and delivering leadership programs, she is a trustee for the Society for Organizational Learning, where she facilitates ongoing action research in leadership development and large-scale change among member organizations in a range of sectors. Heidi is a charter investor and activist for The Hunger Project.

Bruce Boggs helps teams develop robust strategies, gauge the effectiveness of strategy implementation, and adapt as needed. As Director of Conservation Learning at The Nature Conservancy, he designed and facilitated knowledge building workshops and conferences worldwide, through which practitioner networks and senior managers improved their strategies and documented good practice. He developed standards for design and management of strategy networks which created and distributed solutions to widespread challenges. With 25 years of management experience in the nonprofit sector, Bruce has extensive expertise in leadership development and coaching, designing and managing collaborative initiatives, and learning from results.