Elevating individual and organizational growth

Matt is a native Northern Californian who loves the outdoors and grew up hiking, biking, skiing, and hunting. Matt is a no excuses, get it done kind of guy. He believes in survival of the fittest—mind and body—through hard work, discipline, and focus.

With 15+ years of experience in corporate sales at Learnit, Matt has successfully driven profits and created lifelong corporate partnerships. His mantra is Listen, Learn, Grow, Share, and Repeat.

When not in Learnit mode, Matt is either enjoying a well-brewed cup of coffee while burying his nose in the latest influential business book or he's exploring the great outdoors with his beautiful wife, rambunctious two boys, and dog.

Darren is a Bay Area native and UC Berkeley alum whose first professional career was spent performing on regional stages in lead roles and in films and TV in decidedly supporting roles as a full-time, working actor. Since then, he has become a communications and leadership trainer and consultant.Prior to joining Learnit, Darren served on the executive team of a top professional skills development company where he designed and delivered programs for Fortune 100 organizations around the world, managed key customer accounts and served internally as the Head of Faculty Development.When not at work, Darren enjoys spending time with his family, getting outdoors as much as possible to bike, play tennis and backpack with his 16 lb. beast of a chihuahua terrier sidekick, Tecate, in the High Sierras.

Courtney Ritchie is a seasoned executive learning professional with over 15 years of experience in driving learning and development initiatives within organizations. As an integral member of the team at Learnit, she is passionate about collaborating with businesses to build and grow effective learning programs and foster a culture of continuous learning. Her expertise in the field of corporate learning and development makes her a valuable asset in creating impactful learning solutions that drive business success.

Sean York is a Kansas City-based business leader who enjoys helping organizations turn strategy into meaningful results. He holds both a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Arts in School Leadership (MASL), giving him a background that blends business strategy with a people-centered leadership approach.

Most recently, Sean worked with a firm partnering with community financial institutions, helping them navigate challenges, clarify their strategy, and achieve their long-term goals. He is passionate about supporting organizations as they grow, adapt, and serve their stakeholders more effectively.

While not working, you’ll find Sean spending time with his family. He and his wife are raising four kids in the Kansas City area, where life is busy, rewarding, exhausting, and full of activity.

The child of two college professors, Skyler grew up in an environment of scholarship and academic rigor, so naturally, she dropped out of high school to be a ballerina. She has a master’s degree in theater and work experience in education and advertising. She’s won awards as a stage director, published six novels, and appeared on reality TV—and if you can spot a “career path” in that, you have a better eye for pattern than she does.

She spent a half-dozen years as a ghostwriter and book coach for a full-service publishing company, working with consultants, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders on narrative strategy and market positioning. As one of the company’s two title experts, she collaborated with authors to crystallize even highly technical books into juicy, memorable titles that piqued curiosity and drove sales.  

Before that, as the head of advertising for a small acoustics firm, she was responsible for defining the company’s brand, building sales collateral, and helping prepare senior executives for high-stakes presentations, interviews, and industry conferences.

She has a hobbyists’ interest in behavioral economics and design thinking and developed a lifelong fascination with how the creative process works and breaks into a web-based choose‐your‐own‐adventure game for getting unstuck in collaboration with Write or Die wizard Jeff Printy. She’s a mom, a writer, a dancer (yes, still), and lives in Austin, Texas.

Caitie is Learnit’s Chief of Staff and the Producer of The Learn-It-All Podcast. She holds both an MBA and a BA from Saint Mary’s College of California. Before joining Learnit, she spent 10+ years in the retail industry, leading teams in operations and customer service to drive efficiency and enhance customer experience.

Now based in Bozeman, Montana, Caitie enjoys traveling with her husband and young daughter, running with her dog, watching Formula 1, and discovering new restaurants.

With over a decade of experience in strategic business management, talent development, and project leadership, Garrett is a seasoned professional dedicated to driving growth and fostering inclusive workplace cultures. His expertise lies in creating comprehensive onboarding plans, career development roadmaps, and training structures to align with employee feedback and business objectives, resulting in optimized operational efficiency and significant cost savings. Additionally, his background as an instructor and strategic content creator demonstrates his ability to lead large group settings, develop innovative learning methods, and promote cohesive organizational goal achievement. With a track record of success in corporate and entrepreneurial ventures, he brings a unique blend of leadership, creativity, and strategic thinking to any learning and development initiative.

When Garrett is not providing the best possible outcomes for clients, you can find him chasing his two boys or attempting to play golf.

Aaron Johnson brings over 15 years of experience in technology, operations, and client-focused problem solving. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for combining practical expertise with a collaborative relationship first approach to delivering results.

Aaron is passionate about helping teams work smarter and building systems that improve efficiency and communication. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, music, movies and books, exploring new technology, and continuous learning.

Edward is a California native that has brought his operational experience to many different industries; gaming, veterinary, and of course training. He has 18 years of experience working in the training industry covering various operational, managerial, and sales roles.

Edward transferred to Learnit in March of 2020 and since then has joined the operations team while also assisting in many other projects. You might hear from him in email, through chat, or on the phone as he excels at customer engagement and responsiveness.

In his spare time, you will find Edward with his children, playing games and exploring nature. He is an avid traveler and lover of learning and music.

Elizabeth holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of West Alabama. Prior to joining Learnit, she spent 11 years in upper leadership roles within the retail industry, which is where she honed her expertise in training and development, emphasizing the significance of fostering strong relationships with her team and customers.

With a passion for continuous learning, Elizabeth is committed to creating impactful learning experiences that empower individuals and drive organizational growth. She currently resides in beautiful Durango, CO and in her free time you can find her hiking, practicing yoga, playing with her dog and 3 cats, or traveling in her camper van with her partner.

After studying business administration and marketing management at the university level, Kareen went on to work as a marketing assistant in Thailand, Vietnam, and in the Philippines before becoming a part of the Learnit team. Outside of work, Kareen enjoys hiking, reading books and travelling locally and internationally.

Sammy works with the marketing team to keep clients up to date on the emerging landscape of learning and development. Before joining Learnit, Sammy was a professional baker and cake decorator.

Kandis Porter is a senior management consultant and facilitator who works with executive teams, PMOs, and operations leaders to bring clarity to complex environments and strengthen how organizations make decisions, execute work, and operate daily.

With more than 25 years of experience leading people and delivering projects, Kandis has worked across industries including healthcare, medical devices, construction, defense, aviation, utilities, nonprofit, and learning & development. Through her work with Learnit, she has led large-scale initiatives and partnered with organizations such as Sony, TikTok, and Zoom. She is known for facilitating DiSC teambuilding workshops, strategic planning sessions, and customized project management or change management trainings. She leads structured sessions designed to improve how decisions are made and ensure they lead to real progress. Her approach focuses on helping leaders move from discussion to clear direction, aligned priorities, and actionable next steps that teams can execute and sustain.

Kandis holds an MS in Project Management from The George Washington University and an MBA in Human Resources. She is PMP and PMI-PMO certified, a Six Sigma Green Belt, and a certified facilitator for DiSC and Myers-Briggs.

A U.S. Air Force veteran, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Veterans Guest House in Reno and remains committed to supporting veterans and their families.

Brian Lanier is a leadership facilitator and executive coach who helps leaders strengthen communication, build trust, and create cultures where people can thrive.

His path to this work began early. Raised as the son of a Colonel in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps, Brian moved 11 times before finishing high school. Living in constant transition taught him how to adapt, connect quickly, and work across differences - skills that still shape his facilitation today.

Before founding The Leaders Circle, a leadership consultancy, Brian served as Regional VP of Operations for Starbucks. Earlier in his career, after being hired by PepsiCo following its acquisition of KFC Canada, he rose through the ranks to lead more than 50 KFCs in Atlantic Canada and more than 80 in Western Canada. He has also owned and operated a restaurant, giving him practical insight into leadership, service, and performance under pressure.

Today, he coaches and facilitates for organizations ranging from 10 employees to 15,000. A dual citizen of Canada and the U.S., Brian also serves on the boards of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and Heritage Park Historical Village.

Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD (she/her) is a human skills facilitator and coach who helps leaders and managers build real belief in their own capability, not just perform it.

Her path started somewhere unexpected. As a teenage bass fishing phenom, she became the youngest professional bass fisherman in the country. The skills that drove her success, reading water conditions, staying patient, and knowing what strategy to apply when, now show up in how she guides leaders and individual contributors through behavior change, especially when confidence wavers.

Her career spans over two decades across higher education, edtech, and learning and development. She rose from frontline roles to the C-suite, then moved into SaaS implementation and evaluation at the intersection of learning design and organizational change. Today, she brings that perspective to her work as a facilitator, coach, and strategic partner.

She earned her PhD in Leadership in 2019, studying how leaders shape and organizations reinforce belief in one’s capability. That work shows up daily in how she teaches, coaches, and designs learning experiences.

Mickey hosts The Learnit Lounge podcast, leads virtual events for Learnit, and speaks at conferences and team sessions for organizations strengthening manager capability.

For nearly 30 years, James Jeffley has helped individuals, leaders, and organizations think differently, see more clearly, and solve the real problems that block growth — through training, facilitation, coaching, and speaking. His work spans technology, biotech, healthcare, retail, government, non-profits, and transportation, with clients including Sony, Cisco, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Kaiser Permanente, Sephora, County of Alameda, and BART.

At Learnit, James facilitates professional development programming across leadership, communication, and workplace effectiveness, along with Microsoft Office courses.

He is a two-time finalist in the Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking and the author of thirteen books focused on leadership, organizational behavior, and human performance.

Outside the classroom, James is an accomplished musician and ordained minister.

Joe is an accomplished professional and avid world traveler, having resided in diverse locations including Ukraine, Russia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, London, and China. Currently based in New York, he brings a wealth of global experience to his role.

As an End User Instructor at Learnit, Joe is passionate about delivering high-quality training and firmly believes in the value Learnit provides to its clients. His enthusiasm for education and technology is evident in his dedication to empowering users with essential skills.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Joe is actively engaged in his community through volunteering efforts. He also nurtures his creative side through singing and acting. Joe values work-life balance and cherishes time spent with his wife and son.

With his unique blend of international experience, technical expertise, and commitment to excellence, Joe is a valuable asset to the Learnit team and its mission.

A former New Yorker, Sheila enjoyed a first career in finance, from financial writer and editor to Wall Street analyst and portfolio manager. She did a 10-year stint as an entrepreneur and currently coaches business owners in profitability and management. The real-world business experience furnishes her with stories and examples for Professional Development workshops in Leadership, Work Relationships, and Change Management. She has a degree in economics from Bryn Mawr College and an MBA from NYU. Outside of work, Sheila’s enthusiasms include reading, ballroom dancing, hiking and bird watching with her husband and serving on the Board of an historic SF cultural Institute.

Mo is a resident of Atlanta, GA. Originally from New York, he graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in Computer Information Systems.
He has a passion for technology and has served at Adelphi University and Georgia Tech as a computer engineer.

Three years ago, Mo answered the call to serve as a computer instructor at a new, small school in the Republic of Panama. In that role, he discovered his passion for teaching and completed his Master of Education. Mo believes teaching and technology are a great fit and is committed to lifelong learning.

During leisure time, you can find Mo enjoying the great outdoors with his family of four.

Christian Durso is a Human Skills Facilitator with over a decade of experience designing and leading learning experiences across a wide range of industries — from pharmaceutical and healthcare to banking, finance, cybersecurity, and IT.

Christian partners with L&D departments, People teams, and HR organizations to build facilitated experiences around presentation skills, emotional intelligence, communication, negotiation, creative problem solving, and cross-cultural collaboration. His engagement-first approach means participants learn by doing, in an environment where diverse ideas are welcomed and risk-taking feels safe. Clients walk away inspired, empowered, activated, and ready to show up differently at work and in life.

Before specializing in human skills development, Christian honed his ability to navigate complex organizations as a corporate trainer in hospitality and as a manager of international teams across three time zones and two continents at Netflix. He is also a trained crisis counselor, which grounds his facilitation in clear, empathetic communication.

Christian is an accomplished playwright, screenwriter, and founder of a non-profit arts organization in his hometown of Los Angeles.

Madison is a Human Skills Facilitator and Coach at Learnit, where she designs and delivers learning experiences that build confidence, improve communication, and strengthen connection.

Her facilitation style draws from a rich background in the performing arts.

After earning her BFA at the University of Michigan's highly selective Musical Theater program, she spent a decade performing in plays and musicals across the United States and on Broadway.

Today, she channels her passion and creativity into her facilitation practice—using storytelling skills and emotional attunement to create learning experiences that are engaging, immediate, and practical.

Having worked with organizations across biotech, education, healthcare, nonprofit, and government, she is known for adapting her approach to meet the unique needs of every group she serves.

Madison also holds certifications as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and Emotional Agility Coach, expanding her capacity to support both high performance and personal wellbeing.

If you can't find her, search the nearest beach.

Bindi is originally from Australia, currently residing in sunny San Diego, CA. She graduated from the University of Sydney with a Master of Teaching, and Wollongong University with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science.

Bindi has a wealth of experience in education, health, and wellness both here in the USA and in Australia. She has been a teacher, a coach, an instructor, and course developer - leading the creation of professional development education courses in previous roles.

Bindi believes that education and fun are the keys to help people develop a lifelong relationship with health and wellness. Outside of teaching, you'll find Bindi skiing, biking, swimming, hiking, and taking on outdoor adventures!

David Bencomo brings more than twenty years of corporate experience to Learnit as a learning & engagement leader who has helped organizations establish a learning culture that advances proficiency, boosts employee engagement, and promotes professional development. ​

His expertise is helping individuals and organizations flourish in uncertain times. He enjoys delivering programs focused on building personal resilience, developing inspirational leaders, and fostering team unity and engagement.

Joe Little - Joe is a professional facilitator and corporate trainer, a certified executive presentations coach, and an entertaining, energetic, dynamic presenter who keeps live & virtual global audiences engaged...in multiple languages​

He is a specialist in workplace communication and leadership skills, including public speaking, listening, virtual communication, business writing, cross-cultural fluency; and relational skills like empathy, influence, persuasion, emotional intelligence, conflict management.

Dale Barnes practiced law for over 40 years, focusing on litigation and mediation, with extensive experience in persuasion, team management, mentoring and team development, and real-world problem solving. Dale is also a certified mindfulness and meditation instructor with an interest in helping others to develop and grow both professionally and personally. In his spare time, Dale enjoys golf and the art of bonsai.

Bindi is originally from Australia, currently residing in sunny San Diego, CA. She graduated from the University of Sydney with a Master of Teaching, and Wollongong University with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science.

Bindi has a wealth of experience in education, health, and wellness both here in the USA and in Australia. She has been a teacher, a coach, an instructor, and course developer - leading the creation of professional development education courses in previous roles.

Bindi believes that education and fun are the keys to help people develop a lifelong relationship with health and wellness. Outside of teaching, you'll find Bindi skiing, biking, swimming, hiking, and taking on outdoor adventures!

Christian Durso is a Human Skills Facilitator with over a decade of experience designing and leading learning experiences across a wide range of industries — from pharmaceutical and healthcare to banking, finance, cybersecurity, and IT.

Christian partners with L&D departments, People teams, and HR organizations to build facilitated experiences around presentation skills, emotional intelligence, communication, negotiation, creative problem solving, and cross-cultural collaboration. His engagement-first approach means participants learn by doing, in an environment where diverse ideas are welcomed and risk-taking feels safe. Clients walk away inspired, empowered, activated, and ready to show up differently at work and in life.

Before specializing in human skills development, Christian honed his ability to navigate complex organizations as a corporate trainer in hospitality and as a manager of international teams across three time zones and two continents at Netflix. He is also a trained crisis counselor, which grounds his facilitation in clear, empathetic communication.

Christian is an accomplished playwright, screenwriter, and founder of a non-profit arts organization in his hometown of Los Angeles.

Dale Barnes practiced law for over 40 years, focusing on litigation and mediation, with extensive experience in persuasion, team management, mentoring and team development, and real-world problem solving. Dale is also a certified mindfulness and meditation instructor with an interest in helping others to develop and grow both professionally and personally. In his spare time, Dale enjoys golf and the art of bonsai.

David Bencomo brings more than twenty years of corporate experience to Learnit as a learning & engagement leader who has helped organizations establish a learning culture that advances proficiency, boosts employee engagement, and promotes professional development. ​

His expertise is helping individuals and organizations flourish in uncertain times. He enjoys delivering programs focused on building personal resilience, developing inspirational leaders, and fostering team unity and engagement.

For nearly 30 years, James Jeffley has helped individuals, leaders, and organizations think differently, see more clearly, and solve the real problems that block growth — through training, facilitation, coaching, and speaking. His work spans technology, biotech, healthcare, retail, government, non-profits, and transportation, with clients including Sony, Cisco, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Kaiser Permanente, Sephora, County of Alameda, and BART.

At Learnit, James facilitates professional development programming across leadership, communication, and workplace effectiveness, along with Microsoft Office courses.

He is a two-time finalist in the Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking and the author of thirteen books focused on leadership, organizational behavior, and human performance.

Outside the classroom, James is an accomplished musician and ordained minister.

Joe Little - Joe is a professional facilitator and corporate trainer, a certified executive presentations coach, and an entertaining, energetic, dynamic presenter who keeps live & virtual global audiences engaged...in multiple languages​

He is a specialist in workplace communication and leadership skills, including public speaking, listening, virtual communication, business writing, cross-cultural fluency; and relational skills like empathy, influence, persuasion, emotional intelligence, conflict management.

Joe is an accomplished professional and avid world traveler, having resided in diverse locations including Ukraine, Russia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, London, and China. Currently based in New York, he brings a wealth of global experience to his role.

As an End User Instructor at Learnit, Joe is passionate about delivering high-quality training and firmly believes in the value Learnit provides to its clients. His enthusiasm for education and technology is evident in his dedication to empowering users with essential skills.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Joe is actively engaged in his community through volunteering efforts. He also nurtures his creative side through singing and acting. Joe values work-life balance and cherishes time spent with his wife and son.

With his unique blend of international experience, technical expertise, and commitment to excellence, Joe is a valuable asset to the Learnit team and its mission.

Madison is a Human Skills Facilitator and Coach at Learnit, where she designs and delivers learning experiences that build confidence, improve communication, and strengthen connection.

Her facilitation style draws from a rich background in the performing arts.

After earning her BFA at the University of Michigan's highly selective Musical Theater program, she spent a decade performing in plays and musicals across the United States and on Broadway.

Today, she channels her passion and creativity into her facilitation practice—using storytelling skills and emotional attunement to create learning experiences that are engaging, immediate, and practical.

Having worked with organizations across biotech, education, healthcare, nonprofit, and government, she is known for adapting her approach to meet the unique needs of every group she serves.

Madison also holds certifications as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and Emotional Agility Coach, expanding her capacity to support both high performance and personal wellbeing.

If you can't find her, search the nearest beach.

Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD (she/her) is a human skills facilitator and coach who helps leaders and managers build real belief in their own capability, not just perform it.

Her path started somewhere unexpected. As a teenage bass fishing phenom, she became the youngest professional bass fisherman in the country. The skills that drove her success, reading water conditions, staying patient, and knowing what strategy to apply when, now show up in how she guides leaders and individual contributors through behavior change, especially when confidence wavers.

Her career spans over two decades across higher education, edtech, and learning and development. She rose from frontline roles to the C-suite, then moved into SaaS implementation and evaluation at the intersection of learning design and organizational change. Today, she brings that perspective to her work as a facilitator, coach, and strategic partner.

She earned her PhD in Leadership in 2019, studying how leaders shape and organizations reinforce belief in one’s capability. That work shows up daily in how she teaches, coaches, and designs learning experiences.

Mickey hosts The Learnit Lounge podcast, leads virtual events for Learnit, and speaks at conferences and team sessions for organizations strengthening manager capability.

Mo is a resident of Atlanta, GA. Originally from New York, he graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in Computer Information Systems.
He has a passion for technology and has served at Adelphi University and Georgia Tech as a computer engineer.

Three years ago, Mo answered the call to serve as a computer instructor at a new, small school in the Republic of Panama. In that role, he discovered his passion for teaching and completed his Master of Education. Mo believes teaching and technology are a great fit and is committed to lifelong learning.

During leisure time, you can find Mo enjoying the great outdoors with his family of four.

A former New Yorker, Sheila enjoyed a first career in finance, from financial writer and editor to Wall Street analyst and portfolio manager. She did a 10-year stint as an entrepreneur and currently coaches business owners in profitability and management. The real-world business experience furnishes her with stories and examples for Professional Development workshops in Leadership, Work Relationships, and Change Management. She has a degree in economics from Bryn Mawr College and an MBA from NYU. Outside of work, Sheila’s enthusiasms include reading, ballroom dancing, hiking and bird watching with her husband and serving on the Board of an historic SF cultural Institute.