Our Team
Kelly Irons
President/CEO
Make-Believe-Should-Have Job Title: Chief Goal Setter and Getter
Responsibilities: Lead the team and the business to provide extraordinary results for our customers.
Value that you add to our Customers: Landing a 30k ft strategy in the specific zip code it needs to be in. Give me a call – I’ll explain more…
Value that you add to our Team: I allow people be authentic, and at the same time help them grow into who they want to be.
Favorite quote: “Feedback is a gift, and every day is your birthday!”
What’s one thing on your bucket list: Running a half-marathon
The one thing you plan to do to change the world, even just a little bit: Most important, raise my kids to be good citizens in the world and great leaders, so they can change the world a lot.
The thing you did as a kid that was the best predictor of who you would be as an adult: I used to stand at the bottom of the stairs and scream, “Bed! Now!” I still feel that way some days, and I still love a good night sleep!
Harvey Watson
Director of Business Development
Make-Believe-Should-Have Job Title: Chief Relationship Officer
Responsibilities: Sharing vast Fortune 500 corporate knowledge, experience and relationships with clients that are interested in becoming better leaders and strengthening their teams.
Value that you add to our Customers: Successful +30 year corporate leadership training and experience leads to a thorough knowledge of what it takes for our clients to experience success through leadership and organizational development.
Value that you add to our Team: Mentoring high potential members of the team is how I have added value in past leadership roles. That is easy here because every member of the developUs team is high potential.
Favorite quote: “Control your own destiny or someone else will.” - Jack Welch
What’s one thing on your bucket list: Visit Australia and New Zealand
The one thing you plan to do to change the world, even just a little bit: Instead of asking how I can help a person in need, do something proactive that shows I care.
The thing you did as a kid that was the best predictor of who you would be as an adult: As captain of my high school football team, I stayed after a grueling practice to run extra laps with a teammate that was mad that the coaching staff was disciplining him for poor effort. I didn’t plan to do it, I just did it and that teammate never was disciplined again.
Kelly DeMario
Experience Manager
Role: To ensure that each team member & client has positive connections/experiences with developUs.
Make-Believe-Should-Have Job Title: The Fairy Godmother: special touches are my favorite way to serve!
Responsibilities: Uhhhh, at this company there are no titles and with that no job boundaries. We await the challenges of each day and go to bed knowing that we tried to supply and answer and surpass expectations. In all of that though…my goal is to make us look pretty doing it!
Value that you add to our Customers: I love to learn, I enjoy scouring all of the content that I can get my hands on. With that, we are able to add value and spot solutions that occasionally surprise even their subject matter experts.
Value that you add to our Team: Perpetuating a culture that makes it comfortable to show up as your best self and #beonpurpose.
Favorite quote: I’m a legit quote curator so this is impossible! I’ll just go with this:
“Without ice cream there would be darkness & chaos.”
What’s one thing on your bucket list: The Amalfi Coast
The one thing you plan to do to change the world, even just a little bit: Raise accountable kids.
The thing you did as a kid that was the best predictor of who you would be as an adult: Pulled every single item out of the pantry, sanitized it, and put everything back in “OCD” order.
Robin Sargent
E-Learning Designer / Developer
Role: eLearning Developer and Instructional Designer.
Make-Believe-Should-Have Job Title: Learning Extraordinaire
Responsibilities: Graphics, Training Design, eLearning development and design.
Value that you add to our Customers: I am a vision maker and a training transfer moneymaker.
Value that you add to our Team: Creativity, Vision, Expertise in Education and Instructional Design, Expert in Educational Technologies.
Favorite quote: “All I know is that I know nothing.” - Socrates
What’s one thing on your bucket list: Take my children to view the Seven Wonders of the World!
The one thing you plan to do to change the world, even just a little bit: I want to teach young people business skills and I also want to teach content that helps to fill in our current skills gaps (IT, engineering, manufacturing).
The thing you did as a kid that was the best predictor of who you would be as an adult: I was always drawing cartoons and comic strips.
Damian Johnson
Leadership Trainer and Coach
Make-Believe-Should-Have Job Title: CFO - Chief Fun-Ologist - I believe everything gets better when everyone is having fun! Engagement is higher, turnover is lower, individuals learn faster, communicate better, trust is increases and teamwork is great.
Responsibilities: Create and facilitate engaging and interactive learning & development environments and team building experiences.
Value that you add to our Customers: My focus is always on exceeding the client’s expectations by customizing training or coaching content according to the desired outcomes for their leaders and teams. By asking the right questions and challenging limiting beliefs, I help my clients achieve real breakthroughs. Along with this, I have years of experience organizing and managing leadership development events and personal growth experiences for clients that connect my clients with other like-minded leaders across multiple sectors.
Value that you add to our Team: I bring positive energy, strategic thinking and a high level of adaptability to the team. I remain calm in stressful situations and continuously seek out options that will help the team win when faced with roadblocks and challenges. I quickly adapt in unpredictable environments and help bring clarity to the team in the midst of uncertainty.
Favorite quote:“Men are anxious to change their circumstances but are unwilling to change themselves, they therefore remain bound.” – James Allen
“I want to make a difference with people who want to make a difference doing something that makes a difference.” - John C. Maxwell
What’s one thing on your bucket list: Skydiving
The one thing you plan to do to change the world, even just a little bit: Build boarding schools in Jamaica for impoverished and homeless youth.
The thing you did as a kid that was the best predictor of who you would be as an adult: Organized a boycott of the school tuck shop (kind of like a take out version of a school cafeteria) to force them to stop preparing food with MSG.
Joann Patton
Quality Control Specialist
Make-Believe-Should-Have Job Title: Resident Grammar Geek and Word Nerd
Responsibilities: Proofread documents for errors and inconsistencies in typing, spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, and form.
Value that you add to our Customers: Written materials are part of a business' public face. I make sure our materials are polished, professional, and clearly communicate ideas to the audience.
Value that you add to our Team: Aside from my mastery of the English language and keen eye for errors in print, I offer freshness of perspective for our content masters and an insatiable appetite for learning.
Favorite quote: "Never make a decision on an empty stomach.”
What’s one thing on your bucket list: NASCAR driving experience!
The one thing you plan to do to change the world, even just a little bit: Raise my 2 little boys to be outstanding men.
The thing you did as a kid that was the best predictor of who you would be as an adult: At 14, I worked my way up from cashier at a candy store to having my own set of keys to the store and opening it on the weekends. To this day, every time I start a new endeavor, I learn as much as I can and always find new ways to add value to the team.
Nina Harrison
Facilitator/Coach
Make-Believe-Should-Have Job Title: Client Happiness Measurer
Responsibilities: Ensure that we are delivering high quality services to our clients.
Value that you add to our Customers: Able to see the big picture when you give me just a “View-Master” snapshot.
Value that you add to our Team: An inclusive family that works hard mentality for myself and everyone else.
Favorite quote: “Do one thing every day that scares you.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
What’s one thing on your bucket list: Don’t know if making a “hole-in-one” qualifies as a bucket list. Let’s say I’d like to play enough golf in my lifetime so that the chances of making a hole in one are in slightly my favor.
The one thing you plan to do to change the world, even just a little bit: My sphere of influence will always know that pay it forward is a lifestyle that I purposefully choose to live and teach my children.
The thing you did as a kid that was the best predictor of who you would be as an adult: Playtime was more “conflict resolution” roll call. Frequently lining toys up and telling them we should all play nice together even though everyone was on a different TV show. Plus it allowed me to play with my brother’s toys!
Patrick Vaca
Consultant and Coach
Make-Believe-Should-Have Job Title: Shape Shifter. It’s all about fit. The goal is to figure out how you fit into the bigger picture so the shapes eventually shift in unison. Learning how to dance in that energy is what creates the strongest joy imaginable.
Responsibilities: Provide a space for teams and individuals to explore all the possibilities that can create positive outcomes in their environments. I help create an environment of effective communication, improved understanding, and a heightened level of trust.
Value that you add to our Customers: My work is to assist others in recognizing and working through barriers to their visions. Barriers can be both internal and/or external. It is in the work that we explore, remove, and replace old habits with appropriate interventions to facilitate growth. More simply put, you have one life. Be conscious of what you want to accomplish and make the appropriate decisions to create it. Sometimes our biggest barriers are the fears of simply doing.
Value that you add to our Team: I challenge and inspire at the same time. My work with team dynamics, clarity of vision, influence, and habits complement the work that the group at DevelopUs already masters
Favorite quote: “I’m not a prophet or a stone age man. Just a mortal with potential of a Superman.” - David Bowie
What’s one thing on your bucket list: Spending time with my grandchildren…when they arrive
The one thing you plan to do to change the world, even just a little bit: Pass on wisdom to others so that they can pass it on to their children. Any child gaining wisdom at a young age will be better off as adults.
The thing you did as a kid that was the best predictor of who you would be as an adult: I used to lead spiritual retreats as a teenager. Helping peers appreciate life from a different vantage point was pretty darn cool.