Course Listing - by Instructor

Name	Biography
Jennifer Baltes
Lance Coffman	Lance Coffman serves as Senior Program Manager for Strategic Initiatives with efactory and the Missouri SBDC at Missouri State University, where he develops and implements innovative programs designed to help organizations thrive. His current portfolio includes the Elevate program for sustaining growth in mid-size Missouri companies, an experiential learning initiative that connects local business owners with MSU students for semester-long applied projects, and LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® based programs for leadership development, team building, and strategic planning. Additionally, he leads process improvement and innovation engagements with both businesses and academic units across the university. With over 20 years of experience in marketing and management, Lance brings a unique blend of academic rigor and entrepreneurial insight to his role. As a serial entrepreneur and former Online Marketing Director serving companies nationally, he understands the challenges facing growing businesses firsthand. He holds a PhD in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University, with research focused on employee attraction and customer experience, along with an MBA and Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management from Missouri State University. His expertise as a trained Executive/Transformational Coach and Dale Carnegie trained presenter has made him a sought-after speaker at national, state, and local events. In 2025, he was recognized as the Missouri SBDC State Star for his outstanding contributions to small business development. When he's not helping businesses grow or developing the next generation of business leaders, Lance enjoys life on his wife's family farm in rural Missouri with his wife and two boys. His passion for learning new things and gaining new experiences extends beyond the office, whether he's hiking, camping, kayaking, playing music, or tinkering with hobby electronics projects.
CIT Council	CIT Council instructors are experienced professionals actively practicing the techniques taught in this course. This ensures that students receive the most current, relevant content, along with real-world context to enhance this training.
Heidi Culbertson
Darren Dake	Darren Dake is a law enforcement professional with over 30 years' experience in criminal and medicolegal death investigation. Darren has worked in both the law enforcement realm of investigations as well as in the role of senior investigator with the Coroner's office for over 20 years. This combined investigative experience has uniquely established Darren as an expert in investigations which allows him to consult and teach internationally on investigation practices and procedures. Darren holds national certification as a Medicolegal Death Investigator through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI), as well as being a nationally certified criminal investigator and certified criminal investigations instructor. Other accomplishments include the founding of the Death Investigation Academy as well as other investigator focused resources such as the Death Investigator Magazine and the Coroner Talk Podcast. Darren has also published several books related to investigations; Investigating Suicide and Self-Harm Deaths, Interviews and Interrogations- getting the information you want, and Autoerotic Fatalities - a guide to investigating and interpreting the scene. Darren also co-authored the book CODE-Living healthy, happy, and whole submerged in tragedy, trauma, and death.
National De-escalation Training Center
John Fleming	John Fleming is the founder of Enterprise Productivity Consulting. He has been involved in the design and implementation of lean enterprise solutions for the past 22 years. He received his training in lean, in the U.S. and Japan, as a result of learning through the GM/Toyota Joint Venture in Fremont, California and by working with the founders of Shingijutsu, experts in the Toyota Production System. John started at General Motors where he was part of the GM Production System team and led the first GM plant team to incorporate Toyota’s lean principles. John held numerous positions for General Motors and has spent the last 17 years with United Technologies Corporation, in the Pratt & Whitney, Transport Air Conditioning Carrier and Otis Elevators. Holding various operations and management positions with UTC, he provided lean training and workshops in all seven divisions of UTC worldwide. John holds a BGS from Wayne State University, Industrial Engineering/Work Methods-GMI and his MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Jeffrey Foster	Dr. Jeff Foster is an Assistant Professor at Missouri State University and Independent Consultant specializing in employee assessments for selection and development.  He has consulted for numerous organizations throughout the world, ranging from I/O organizations, to Fortune 500 companies, to small specialty firms.  Jeff has conducted or led teams responsible for over 800 validation studies, has authored over 200 technical reports and white-papers, and has participated in dozens of professional presentations and publications.  He has also coached hundreds of consultants around the world on practices and techniques for using assessments with both individuals and teams.  Jeff holds a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
John Gambon	John Gambon has been a Professor with Ozarks Technical and Community College since 1991. He holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology and a master’s degree in industrial psychology. In addition to teaching, he has worked as a consultant with area businesses for the last 18 years. His consulting has included the development of training programs, employee policy manuals, conducted job analysis, performance assessment implementation and assisted companies with Federal Medical Leave Act (FMLA) issues. Dr. Gambon has consulted with manufacturing firms, food service organizations, a gaming corporation, and non-profit organizations. He has even been called upon as an expert witness in criminal trials.
Tom Gorsline	Detective Gorsline has been in law enforcement for 12 years and has spent the last five years as a detective with the Osage Beach Police Department. Prior to serving in law enforcement, Detective Gorsline owned and operated group homes for mentally handicapped adults for 10 years. After serving for 6 years in the U.S. Air Force, Detective Gorsline worked with troubled teens. Tom is married and between them, they have a total of 8 children and 5 grandkids. Tom is a crisis negotiator and peer support person. Tom teaches for Missouri State University, MPCA, the K-9 Association, and the Missouri Coalition for Mental Health.
Brian Hilke	Lieutenant Brian M. Hilke, M.A. (Ret.), is a career law enforcement professional with 29 years of service as Jail Administrator, Police Officer, Detective, Sergeant, Certified Forensic Law Enforcement Polygraph Examiner, Detective Sergeant, Deputy Report Officer and Deputy Commander for the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, Patrol Lieutenant, and certified Missouri POST Generalist and Specialist Instructor. Brian received multiple commendations for investigative excellence, including Police Officer of the Year and four Chief Commendation awards. He has attended over 4,900 hours of law enforcement training. During his career, he investigated and supervised major criminal investigations, authored numerous departmental policies, and led report-writing training for detectives and officers. Brian currently serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and as President for Vista Law Enforcement Training and Consulting, LLC, where he continues to train first responders across the country. This includes instruction at the Missouri Police Chiefs' Association (MPCA) Charitable Foundation Command College and other MPCA courses, MPCA conferences, Missouri Sheriff's Association conferences, Missouri Coroners and Medical Examiners Association conferences, and the Marston Polygraph Academy in San Bernardino, California. Brian's expertise in investigations, courtroom testimony, and documentation ensures officers understand the critical role of clear, accurate reports in effective law enforcement.
Derek Hill	Derek Hill is a law enforcement professional with 20 years of law enforcement experience, beginning his law enforcement career with the Ozark Police Department in 2006. Derek has held assignments as Patrolman, K9 handler, Patrol Supervisor, Detective, Criminal Investigations Unit Supervisor, Division Commander and now Deputy Chief of Police. As the Deputy Chief of Police, Derek oversees all daily operations of the Ozark Police Department's three divisions; Field Services, Support, and Special Operations. Derek is a certified Field Training Officer, Missouri P.O.S.T Generalist Instructor and also manages the Ozark Police Department's accreditation status. He is also a graduate of the 9th Session of the Missouri Police Chief's Command College. Derek is an adjunct instructor for Evangel University and the Drury University Law Enforcement Academy. Derek received a B.S. in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Homeland Security, as well as a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Public Administration from Liberty University.
Caleb Hine
Kevin Holle	Kevin is a law enforcement professional with 30 years' experience in civilian and military law enforcement. He began his career with the Monett Police Department as a patrol officer, and retired from the Springfield Police Department in 2016 after assignments in patrol, vice/gang investigations, community policing, and the training division/range operations. He previously served as the chief ranger for the Springfield-Greene County Park Ranger unit and taught basic military/leadership studies at Missouri State with the ROTC Bear Battalion. He is a retired Military Police Corps first sergeant with varying overseas deployments. He received a B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration from Missouri Southern State University and holds a Masters's Degree in Criminology from Drury University where he continues to teach as an adjunct instructor within the Law Enforcement Academy.
Amy Jackson	Amy Jackson is an experienced, versatile small business developer and service provider. She excels in collaborating with clients to establish tailored, effective and efficient business processes. Amy has demonstrated her versatility by working across a wide spectrum of industries, including marketing and promotion, information technology, sales, manufacturing and legal fields. Her adaptability and problem-solving skills have made her an invaluable asset to organizations seeking growth and optimization. Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Drury University, where she cultivated her critical thinking abilities and the power of creativity. These skills have been instrumental in her professional journey, allowing her to approach challenges with innovation and insight. Beyond her professional endeavors, Amy finds joy in travel, embracing lake life and capturing the world through the lens of her camera. Amy approaches each day with an adventurous spirit and a thirst for knowledge. Amy’s unique blend of professional and personal interests make for an individual capable of contributing meaningfully across a wide range of topics and endeavors.
Vista Law Enforcement Training
Dennis Lewis	Dennis Lewis is the President of Edu-Safe LLC, a school safety training and consulting organization founded in 1999. His primary focus is developing "Best Practice" strategies for enhancing student and staff safety. Dennis provides cutting edge training, safety and readiness assessments, and consults with attorneys as an expert defense witness on school safety litigation. He is a published author on a number of safety and security topics and is the Past President of the National Association of School Safety and Law Enforcement Officers. From 1990 to 2006 Dennis was the Director of Public Safety for the largest school district in Missouri, overseeing 54 educational sites and 26,000 students.
Dale McCoy	DALE MCCOY IS A TRAINING & ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT PRACTITIONER, specializing in human performance improvement and leadership cultivation through learning and development strategies that yield measurable, data-driven, client-specific business results. After managing a multi-million-dollar retail sales operation in Los Angeles, CA, for eight years, Dale gained extensive experience as a Human Resources Development Specialist with MCI Telecommunications, and as Manager of Training & Development with UnitedHealthcare Operations. Before launching his independent practice in July, 2001, Dale was Professional Services Manager of Training Development for Ineto, Inc., a web-based customer relations technology solution company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Dale is a certified Zenger-Miller (now AchieveGlobal) Master Trainer and a certified facilitator of Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. He is a graduate of Drury University in Springfield, MO, and holds a Master of Science degree in Education & Online Teaching and Learning from California State University East Bay.  Dale has taught online through the University of Nevada, Reno, on behalf of the National Juvenile Court Services Association, and at Drury University in the Educational Technology and Leadership & Management Development degree programs. He has also been a popular guest lecturer on the topic of Performance Management in Missouri State University’s highly rated Techno-MBA graduate program. Dale has delivered hundreds of presentations, training sessions, and keynote addresses for a wide variety of organizations across the nation. Dale has been an active member of the American Society of Training & Development, as well as the Society of Human Resources Management and the Organization Development Network for most of two decades.  He lives in Springfield, Missouri.
Robert Paul
John E. Reid and Associates, Inc.
Carrie Richardson	Carrie Richardson is Executive Director of Leadership Springfield. Prior to joining the nonprofit, she spent a decade in health care administration as Chief Operating Officer for a rural tri-state health system and several years in nonprofit development and grant writing. Carrie is a graduate of Leadership Springfield Signature Class 25 and currently serves on the Prosper Springfield Cabinet. She is a mentor with the efactory and Missouri Small Business Development Center at MSU Mentorship Program. She has a master’s in nonprofit and civic leadership and bachelor’s in communications, both from Drury University. She and her husband Ben have a son in high school and identical twin boys who are fifth graders. When she’s not working, you’ll find Carrie shuttling kids to soccer, swimming, or school & church activities. She enjoys spending time with her family, staying active outdoors, and recharges with a good book or traveling somewhere near water and sunshine. Carrie began as the first Executive Director of Leadership Springfield in July 2018. Carrie was named one of Springfield Business Journal’s 12 People to Know and was honored as one of Springfield Business Journal’s Most Influential Women in 2019. In 2020, Leadership Springfield was awarded the Business Advocate Award by Springfield Business Journal. In 2021, Carrie was featured as one of Biz417’s Women Who Mean Business.
Marti Ross
Christina Ryder	Christina is the CEO of The Grantwell, LLC and is a former social worker, a current sociologist, and expert in federal and foundation funding requests, program development, and social science evaluation research. She graduated from Vanguard University of Southern California with a degree in Sociology and then from the University of California, Irvine with a Masters in Social Science with a concentration in demography and social analysis and course focus on social inequality. Throughout her professional career she has participated in various federal grant evaluations including program evaluations on behalf of the USDA, FEMA, SAMHSA, HHS, and the DOJ. As a Certified Sociology Practitioner (CSP) and federally recognized statistician, she has also participated in, or authored, over 40 various social science research studies endeavors, journal articles, and community based reports.
Scot Scobee	Scot Scobee is a seasoned professional in business administration and human resources. He has over 30 years of experience in performance management, conflict resolution, strategic planning, customer service, compensation strategies, and training and development. Scot has held upper management positions with profit and non-profit organizations in manufacturing, hospitality, and charitable giving. He has developed comprehensive training programs for organizations affecting all levels of employment including orientation programs, performance management, effective interviewing, employment law and supervision. Scot has a special aptitude in synthesizing complex situations and implementing effective strategies that work. Scot holds a B.S. degree in Management from Missouri State University.
Larry Stock	The Instructor: Facilitated by John Maxwell Certified and GiANT Worldwide Certified Executive Coach Larry Stock with Peak Influence, this three part workshop series will include educational sessions, interactive learning and practical application of key insights. Participants will walk away with a resource guide to reference as well as countless tangible tools to put the content into action immediately.
ALERRT TRAINERS	ALERRT instructors are experienced professionals actively practicing the techniques taught in this course. This ensures that students receive the most current, relevant content, along with real-world context to enhance this training.
Dean Thompson	Brig. Gen. Dean Thompson Dean Thompson has over 39 years of leadership and management experience gained from working in multiple sectors including construction, education, energy, finance, legal, military, public administration, real estate and utilities. He joined City Utilities of Springfield, Missouri in 2007 and served as the Vice President – Chief Economic Development Officer until June 2023 when he started his tenure as an Executive in Residence for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce as their Executive Director-Regionalism and Economic Development. He completed his time with the Chamber in October 2024 and is now the interim Executive Director of Leaders for Ozarks Region Evolvement. Dean joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 1985 and in 1990 was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant through Army ROTC at Missouri State University (MSU). He currently holds the rank of Brigadier General and Commands the 76th Operational Response Command consisting of over 7,600 Soldiers and Civilians located in 48 states and three continents. He is the managing member of Teaghlach Partners, LLC; President of Strategos Consulting; and a leadership instructor for the Small Business Development Center at MSU. Dean has a Master of Public Administration and bachelor’s degrees from MSU; and a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the US Army War College. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute and a certified Economic Development Finance Professional.
Skyler Viebrock	Skyler Viebrock has been in law enforcement for over 10 years where he served as the Sergeant over the jail in Morgan County and the training coordinator. He has reserved with Stover Police Department the last 4 and a half years and recently taken employment at Moniteau County Sheriff's Office as a Lieutenant and training coordinator. He is a Missouri POST Generalist instructor along with a Specialist in firearms, use of force, report writing. Skyler is a nationally certified as an active threat instructor through Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and also Active Shooter instructor through Louisiana State University. He is a certified instructor to teach ALICE, TASER, LASER, ASP, OC, and Glock Armorer.
Don Weaver