Passion > Experience > Knowledge

As President, Jeff’s mission is to empower companies to make data-driven decisions and execute on corporate strategies that positively impact business outcomes.

Jeff is responsible for Evolve’s strategic direction, the high-level program design, and validation of each project Evolve takes on. The remainder of Jeff’s time is spent consulting directly with organizations to help them leverage their human capital through applied behavioral economics. He devotes his time, expertise and unique approach to architect solutions that drive improved workplace conditions, reduced turnover, employee engagement, strengthened customer relationships, and sustainable financial performance.

His passion for improving employee and customer relationships drove him to start his own company focused on curriculum design, development, and facilitation to support companies in their effort to improve the employee/customer experience. When the company Mr. Tobaben founded was acquired by Gallup Consulting, he joined the Texas office to act as Managing Partner. Gallup charged Jeff with the task of helping the company “operationalize” Employee Engagement and Strengths for their large corporate clients in the automotive, manufacturing, oil and gas, and financial services industries.

Gallup closed the Houston office in 2010and Jeff then formed Evolve Performance Group. Since that time, Jeff has worked both domestically and internationally delivering successful Employee & Client Engagement initiatives with a diverse collection of Fortune 500 and smaller companies including clients in the Automotive, Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Technology, Distribution, and Financial Services industries. His team has delivered programs ranging from the C-Suite to Front Line Managers. 

Jay’s career spans 40 years with a focus on achieving business results by converting the Human Resources function from cost center to corporate asset. As a business partner to CEOs and senior leadership teams, he provided the strategy to acquire, develop, retain, organize and manage world-class human capital for competitive advantage. He is a hands-on engaged leader who measures results and rewards performance improvement. 

Jay has been the CHRO for several Fortune 500 companies including Waste Management, Owens & Minor and Hughes Supply (since acquired by Home Depot). His responsibilities included operations in the United States, Japan, China, Latin America and Europe.

As CHRO, he provided guidance to Boards of Directors on the design and execution of executive leadership assessment and development. He worked with external providers to deliver a comprehensive and motivating path for individual learning and development. Executive leadership development reviews became a standard item at each Board meeting. 

Earlier in his career, Jay headed company-wide leadership development and training for Amoco Oil and Becton Dickinson and led executive development at Firestone. At Hughes Supply and at Waste Management, he created an internal corporate “university” using company resources and outside vendors to provide learning and development at all levels. 

Jay also founded and ran a successful consulting business focused on creating high-engagement, high-performance organizations. He has extensive experience implementing engagement surveys and developing action plans to increase engagement and performance.

Jay holds an M.S. in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M and is a graduate of the Harvard Executive Development Program. He is on the editorial board of Strategic HR Review.

Dwight is a highly recognized Consultant, Facilitator and Trainer. His achievements in automotive sales earned consistent high marks for customer satisfaction. He consistently exceeded his goals which afforded him the opportunity to participate in dealership management at various levels.

Dwight has focused his efforts on improving Customer and Employee engagement. He has coached, facilitated and has been a subject matter expert on various initiatives. He has comfortable relationships throughout dealerships including Dealer Principals and all team members.

He has participated on multiple high-profile initiatives for various manufactures. This includes Lead Facilitator for the University of Toyota, Fixed Operations workshops, Toyota’s Scion launch, Mercedes Benz e-learning, Financial Services and Leasing courses. His experience also includes product introductions for Honda, Toyota and Acura. Dwight is also knowledgeable with electric and hybrid technology. Other clients include JD Power and Associates, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, Ford Blue Oval CSI program and Ryan CSI for Chrysler.

Dwight’s knowledge of Customer and Employee Engagement allows him to assist Executives and Managers in the key areas regarding People, Processes and Productivity. They appreciate his focus on today’s business environment and his consistent energy.

Dwight has attended the NADA General Manager Academy, Certified in Predictive Index, and Gallup Strengths Finder.

As a Leader, Trainer, and Motivational Speaker, Shaun has spent the last 22 years owning and operating his own business, advising Fortune 500 Organizations on how to achieve World Class Performance through an Engaged World Class Team of People working together to deliver a World Class Experience and/or Product.

He has spoken to tens of thousands of people from different stages around the world including as a featured speaker at NYU’s Leadership Conference in New York City, at NADA’s (National Auto Dealer Association) National Convention in New Orleans, at LINE-X’s Global Conference in Savannah, as well as at Toyota’s World Convention in Tokyo, just to name a few.

Shaun is also Certified in Gallup’s Strengths Theory and StrengthsFinder Instrument, designed to help people identify, understand, and positively apply their Signature Themes of Talent, as well as their Q12 and CE11 Instruments which are designed to measure both Associate as well as Client Engagement.

In addition to being an Evolve Team Member, Shaun operates Life Giving Resources - a specialty healthcare organization that assists in organ transplants for critical patients.

Shaun was raised in the rural and majestic mountains of western Montana where he learned the value and reward of hard work and discipline. Shaun is an Eagle Scout, he attended Brigham Young University, and is fluent in Spanish after having served a two-year mission in Argentina for his Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) at the age of 19. Today Shaun resides in Utah with his Beautiful Wife Melissa, and their three Wonderful Children, Jordan, Tyson, and Payton… All boys.

Bruce Barkis brings extensive learning and development experience as a graduate business school adjunct professor, consultant, and facilitator. Facilitation experience includes diverse subjects, for diverse sets of participants, in diverse environments, using diverse learning methodologies, and for various cultures. Career experience includes extensive marketing, management, entrepreneurship, learning development, facilitation, teaching, and consulting (see LinkedIn profile – especially my “About” statement – for specifics).

FACILITATION AND TEACHING

· Topics and Subjects include blockchain, crypt assets, leadership, management, organizational change, customer experience, sales, service, financial services, marketing, technical, retail process and systems, and facilitation and coaching skills.

· Participants include academic (full-time and fully employed graduate students), corporate, retail, and senior management. U.S. and International (on four continents), emphasizing Asian students.

· Methodologies include live, online (Zoom), hybrid, simulations, Education-to-Business projects (E2B), meetings, public speaking, and pre-recorded sessions. I’ve taught over 450 hours on Zoom since the start of the pandemic.

COURSES, CONTENT, AND RESOURCES

· Instructional Design and Writing. Over 50 courses including one-hour to multi-day corporate live, multi-week graduate school, eLearning including AI-enabled, Zoom (using its expanded capabilities), webinars, workshops, experiential events, consulting interventions, etc.

· Innovative Learning Resources. Over the years, Bruce has applied design thinking to course development, reduced documentation, and designed innovative resources to transfer and sustain learning.

LEARNER-CENTERED FACILITATIVE APPROACH

Bruce brings extensive, practical career experience and applies adult learning theory and experiential learning models to enhance knowledge transfer and develop the skills to apply that knowledge. While working for Dale Carnegie Systems, he formed his learner-centered, strengths-centered approach through near-continuous facilitation skill development. In addition, active involvement and leadership in the American Society for Training & Development cultivated an understanding of the principles he applies. 

PRACTICAL APPLICATION | REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS

J.D. Power & Associates (U.S. & Asia Pacific), Hyundai Global University (Seoul, Korea), Lyon International Club (Lyon, France), Shanxi North China Media Group (Datong, China), and Blacksheep Social Media (Santiago, Chile)

DIVERSE INDUSTRIES: LPL Financial, Pepperdine Graziadio School of Management, Hilton Hotels, Microtel, New York Port Authority, Special Investigative University, and luxury Automotive clients.

ACHIEVEMENTS

· MS in Organization Development from Pepperdine Graziadio School of Business and Management

· ASTD National Conference Speaker. The session was rated a “classic.” 

· It featured a conference speaker at the BMW World Trainer Forum in Salzburg, Austria. 

· B.A. from The Citadel, Charleston, SC. 

Co-authored a peer-reviewed article that was featured in the Pepperdine Graziadio Business Review: https://gbr.pepperdine.edu/2021/03/conspiracies-in-the-workplace/ 

LEARNING PHILOSOPHY

“We serve best as educators, collaborators, and trusted advisors to transfer knowledge and skills with a growth mindset to build productivity, well-being, and independence.”

Bill Diggins is a Brand and Customer Experience Consultant with years of demonstrated expertise in aligning brand strategy, processes and employees to achieve organizational peak performance and deliver powerful customer experiences for clients across multiple industries in both the B2C and B2B spheres. Exceptional analytical skills allow him to diagnose core issues and create interventions, as well as to execute and sustain new brand, product and customer experience strategies.

Prior to joining the Evolve team, he spent 25 years as a Senior Brand Consultant at Gallup. There, he consulted with Gallup’s major clients in the areas of brand loyalty, customer and employee engagement and change management, where he focused on identifying optimal strategies for customer acquisition and strengthening of existing customer relationships.

From 1987 to 1992, he was Senior Vice President of Strategic and Economic Research at the National Dairy Promotion Board, a dairy farmer funded promotion and research organization. He was responsible for program management and execution of research and consulting intended to increase sales of dairy products.

From 1983-1987, he was a Senior Account Executive at Mapes and Ross, a firm that tested television and print advertising for memorability and persuasiveness. He was responsible for sales and program execution for clients in the Northeast and Western regions.

From 1981-1983, he was a Project Director at Gallup. From 1979-1981, he was an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Tulane University, where he taught courses in research methods and statistics.

He received his Master’s and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and his B.A. from Rider College. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1968-1972.