Susan Beck

I am currently the President of the Western Institute for Lifelong learning. My previous work was as a facilitator, speaker, mediator, executive coach and consultant with broad expertise in strategic leadership and building, motivating and leading highly-effective organizations. I bring wide-ranging experience, along with an element of vision and adventure, into my work within organizations. As Chief Culture Officer of Cohen-Esrey LLC (formerly Chief Operations Officer) and a member of its executive team, I led development of a new culture and strategy for a family of companies that acquires, develops and manages multi-family housing and creates rewarding investment opportunities for organizations and individuals. Before joining Cohen-Esrey, I was the founder and president of a consultancy focused on cultural, organizational and personnel development through the Barrett Values Centre's Cultural Transformation Tools and several other methods listed below. Previously, I gained extensive experience in negotiating and implementing international agreements while on active duty in the US Air Force (USAF). I also executed and managed complex multi-billion dollar advanced technology development programs and defense system development and production programs for the Air Force, the Department of Defense (DOD), and other military forces internationally. I was a key adviser to high-level DOD leaders, including two Secretaries of the Air Force, and a trusted USAF spokesperson for several major DOD programs to the Congress and the Departments of State, Transportation and Commerce. Later, I worked as a defense consultant, advising the DOD and its defense contractors and then as a consultant and coach for businesses, non-profits, and entrepreneurs. I was a senior executive in a large regional home building company and founder and executive director of its global non-profit foundation. I also served as Chief Operating Officer for another large international non-profit. Everywhere I go, I strive to make a difference!