AMY S. TOLBERT develops multicultural organizations and individuals by bringing her clients cutting-edge topics, such as multicultural and diversity initiatives, leadership competency development, managing to style, and creating breakthrough teams. She is a principal of Effecting Creative Change in Organizations (ECCO International), which specializes in increasing individuals’ productivity and organizations’ profitability through e-learning, technology and facilitated learning. Addressing multicultural and diversity issues, Tolbert has authored Reversing the Ostrich Approach to Diversity: Pulling Your Head Out of the Sand. She has also co-authored the “Discovering Diversity Profile,” a top-selling self-assessment tool, and many other electronic tools for both individual and organizational assessment. Tolbert consults and trains nationally in the areas of multicultural competency development, increasing influence in organizations, managing within a diverse workforce, motivation, and leadership skills. She is one of 196 women worldwide to hold the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation, the speaking profession’s international measure of experience and skill earned through the International Federation for Professional Speakers and the National Speakers Association. Tolbert earned a PhD in International Human Resource Development from the University of Minnesota, an MEd from Bowling Green State University (OH), and a BA from Geneseo State University of New York. She is also a Fellow for Executive Education at the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota.

LINDSAY STRAND is president and owner of Lindsay Strand Associates, Inc., a communications consulting and executive training firm that she founded in 1989. LSA, Inc. provides clients nationwide with the ability to obtain fair and favorable news coverage and helps to arm spokespeople and business leaders with the proper skills to be effective communicators. Lindsay Strand draws upon her extensive experience as an award-winning television journalist at network affiliates in Illinois and Minnesota, as well as her background in public affairs as a staff member for a United States Senator in Washington, D.C. Her consulting practice has included the development and implementation of media policies for national retailers, as well as strategic counsel and preparation for corporations for annual meetings, crisis situations and mergers and acquisitions. Strand managed media relations efforts for the Minnesota Super Bowl Task Force for Super Bowl XXVI in 1992, provided press advance for the 1990 Minnesota visit of former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, and has provided press assistance to The White House. She holds a Master's Degree in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois.