Training
and research are the capstones of the Cornerstone Leadership Institute (CLI), founded
in 2017 as a placeholder and repository for the extant research of Ken Gërhart –
who at the time was pursuing a Master of Strategic Leadership. Whether you are an
entrepreneur or executive seeking to improve your personal leadership quotient
through our individual coaching program or a manager looking for leadership
development of your team, the CLI has the leadership program
for you. Non-profits can equally benefit from our training programs. Due to
their modular format, these leadership programs can be tailored to meet the
needs and budget of each individual client or organization.
Leadership
Training. The CLI offers leadership training for groups
as well as on the individual coaching level. The topics include the leadership
basics of vision casting, critical thinking, strategy development, team
dynamics, work-life balance, and effective communication. Other more focused
programs explore leading innovation, developing talent and empowering people,
inspiring collaboration, mastering the distinction between management and
leadership, and leveraging an improved leadership quotient for better decision
making. Local, regional, national, and global economic development are
overarching conduits through which much of this leadership training flows.
Leadership
Research. The CLI is engaged on the cutting edge of
academic research through the extant effort of the staff. Each of our senior
fellows and research fellows are pursuing their respective research interests
both in praxis and theoretical research. Many of our staff are affiliated with universities
and other academic institutions around the global as professors and adjunct professors.
Follow the links after each staff member bio to learn more about their specific
research interests.
Editing & Writing
Coaches. Many of the CLI executive team
and other senior leadership are engaged as editors for hire for any number of
projects - including but not limited to, doctoral dissertations, peer-reviewed
journal articles, popular press publications, book chapters, and books. Our coaches
typically use a three-tiered editing model whereby the heavy lift is accomplished
in the first tier, a lighter review is done in the second tier, and a final punch-list
is completed in the third tier. This
model ensures a thorough review process and tightens the editing task over an
iterative process.
Team Members. The CLI team
members are among the best and brightest rising stars in the leadership
industry, academics, and international consulting ranks. With seasoned
leadership at the helm, the CLI is actively recruiting Senior
Fellows, Research Fellows, and Interns with the goal of creating a fully
staffed stable of academic racehorses who can respond to and deploy on short
notice to opportunities at any point on the globe. Our vision is to have 200 doctoral
level or otherwise terminal degreed staff on board by 2030, setting a vigorous on-boarding pace of more than two per month for the next decade.
executive team
Ken Gërhart, MSL. Ken Gërhart is the co-founder - along with his wife, Barbara, and executive director of the CLI,
a unit of The Cornerstone Group international, which he founded in
1990. His responsibilities include vision casting and alignment, strategic
planning and execution, and building bridges to other resources across the
globe. Mr. Gërhart is a Christ-follower, ordained minister of the
Gospel, AmPro Certified Racquetball Instructor and International Official, serial
entrepreneur, and a PhD student in Organizational Leadership with a focus in Theology
at Regent University. After 38 years as an investment banker specializing in
strategic planning and corporate finance, Mr. Gërhart is now transitioning to a
teaching and writing second career. With
two-years of national championship football at Texas A&I University, a 1976
European Tour, and a two-time induction into the Javelina Hall of fame behind
him, he earned his BA in Political Science and Sociology from Texas Tech
University; multiple certifications, including: (a) Public/Private Partnerships
in Real Estate Development Finance from the Wharton School of the University of
Pennsylvania, (b) Advanced Negotiation Training from the city of Dallas Legal
Department, (c) Advanced Financial Statement Analysis from the American Bankers
Association, and (d) Excel for the Advanced User: Level III from the KISD
continuing Education Department; as well as his MSL in Strategic Leadership
from LeTourneau University - graduating with highest honors. Originally from
Houston, Mr. Gërhart and his wife – who are empty- nesters, now live on and
operate the Broken Tree Ranch, a working cow-calf operation in Caldwell County
Texas. Mr. Gërhart is a 6th generation Texan and his grandchildren are 4th generation legacy students and graduates of Klein High School in the greater Houston Metro Area.
Mr.
Gërhart has presented at numerous international academic conferences, published
eight academic articles in his master’s program, currently has two peer-reviewed
articles in press, and two dozen or so more in the queue. His particular
research interest is developing an overarching theology of leadership under
which a metal-model is emerging where a comprehensive 12-point taxonomy can be
codified. Click here for more information about this emerging area of
leadership research and an anthology of Ken’s publications. Contact Ken at: kgerhart@cornerstonefmc.com
Debra J. Dean, PhD. – Senior Fellow. Dr. Dean joined
the CLI in July 2019 and serves in a key role in the
institute. Her experience as a consultant and executive coach is invaluable.
She is also an adjunct professor with Regent University where she teaches
Quantitative Research Methods, Descriptive Analytics, and Leadership Analytics.
In November 2018 she departed from her 20+ years in corporate America where her
most recent position was Director of Business Transformation.
Dr.
Dean’s latest notable conference participation includes OPEX Week: Business
Transformation World Summit, The Faith at Work Summit, Academy of Management
MSR Consortium Planning, Academic Oasis, and the Regent University Roundtable.
Dr. Dean’s most recent research efforts include the following: (a) Integration
of Christian Values in the Workplace: An examination of employee engagement,
job satisfaction, and organizational commitment, (b) Religion and
Spirituality in the Workplace: A quantitative evaluation of job satisfaction
and organizational commitment, and (c) A Correlation Study of
Employee Engagement and Servant Leadership. She also contributed to
the Routledge Companion to Management and Workplace Spirituality.
Consequent
to her exceptional performance, Dr. Dean received the 2018 Outstanding Reviewer
award for the Management, Spirituality, and Religion (MSR) community; she was
also nominated both as one of three top operational excellence leaders with
OPEX, and as a top female leader within her previous global workplace. Her
efforts also raised employee engagement in a multinational organization to some
of the highest in the company.
Dr.
Dean earned a BA in Business Administration and an MS in Business Communication
from Spalding University, and a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Regent
University. She also holds a number of designations and certifications,
including a Certificate of Management from the University of Louisville.
Dr. Dean was born and
raised in Kentucky, spent nine years in Iowa, and currently resides in Colorado
with her husband, Steve, and their youngest son, Gavin. In total, they have six
amazing children and three wonderful granddaughters. Click here for more
information about Dr. Dean’s leadership research and an anthology of his
publications. Contact Dr. Dean at: drdebra@drdebradean.com
Color Key: On-boarded; Target Recruit
Team Leaders & Associates
Secondary Education Unit – Dr. Larry Gërhart, Team Leader
Larry Gërhart, Ed.D. - Senior Fellow
Linda Gray Gërhart,
Ed.D. - Senior Fellow
Fred Jonas, M.Ed – Research Fellow
Nicole “Niki” B. Munoz, – Research Fellow
Church
Consulting Unit - Dr. John Mrazek, Team Leader
John Mrazek, PhD. - Senior Fellow Military
& Prison Chaplain Unit - Team Leader
Maurice “Mo” Buford,
D.Min.; PhD - Senior Fellow
Grady Summers, M.Min - Senior Fellow
Corporate
Training Unit – Team Leader
Fredrick “Fred” Barber,
DSL - Senior Fellow
International
Trade & Entrepreneur Studies Unit – Jay Styles, Team Leader
Warren Matthews, PhD - Senior Fellow
Jason “Jay” K.N.
Styles, MSBM - research fellow.
Higher Education Team - Professor Jake Aguas, Team Leader
Jake Aguas, MOL - research fellow. Professor Aguas joined
the CLI in September 2018. With over 25 years of experience in
the banking and market research industries. Jake has held leadership positions
with two Fortune 100 companies and one of the country's top polling firms. He
spent 15 years with JPMorgan Chase as a leader in its retail bank division and specialized in strategy, training,
talent acquisition, workforce planning, performance management, and leadership
development, serving as the Human Resources Manager for the Western United States, and Regional
Sales Manager. Jake
was actively involved in the JPMorgan Chase and Washington Mutual Bank
conversion in Southern California, the largest merger in US financial services
history at the time. He has been recognized by the California State Assembly
and the City of Los Angeles for his contributions in business and
organizational leadership.
Jake
is an Associate Professor of Management at Biola University and teaches
management, organizational behavior, and human resources at both the MBA and
undergraduate levels. Jake speaks regularly on emotional intelligence,
cross-cultural leadership, change management, and current topics impacting
organizations. His areas of interest include the mega-trends impacting the
global business environment, specifically regarding a multi-generational and
changing workforce. As a consultant, Jake assists domestic and international
organizations with leadership strategy, team building, training, coaching, and
the design and implementation of human resource management functions.
Jake
is bilingual in Spanish and holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from UCLA, a
Master's degree in Organizational Leadership from Biola University, and is
currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University.
Jake also earned a certificate in market research from Notre Dame University, sponsored
by the American Marketing Association. Contact Professor Aguas at: jake.aguas@biola.edu
Brian Moore, MPA - RESEARCH FELLOW. Chad Newton, PhD - RESEARCH FELLOW.
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