Team of Experts
KMA's expert team has worked for more than 20 years teaching individuals and organizations how to deal with social and cultural diversity in ways that value and respect differences. Our experts have assisted Fortune 500 companies, governmental agencies, school systems, healthcare companies and many others.
Made up of anthropologists, psychologists, and social scientists, our team offers new conceptual frameworks to deal with cultural diversity. Simply said, we make workplaces that work for everyone.
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Jean Mavrelis
KMA Chief Executive Officer | jean.mavrelis@kmadiversity.com
Jean Mavrelis is Chief Executive Officer of Kochman Mavrelis Associates and co-author (with Thomas Kochman) of Corporate Tribalism: White Men, White Women and Cultural Diversity at Work (2009). She has served on the Illinois Sex Equity Task Force and is nationally recognized as an expert in the field of cultural Information: diversity research and management with special expertise in the area of Gender and Culture. She also developed Managing Social and Cultural Diversity in the Schools which she has delivered to the school systems of Boston, Englewood, Colorado, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Rockford, Illinois and Chicago. She presently acts as a consultant internationally (Pacific Rim) and with clients doing business in Mexico and serves on the Board of Mujeres Latinas en Acción an organization whose mission is to empower Latina women.
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Thomas Kochman
KMA Chief Operating Officer | thomas.kochman@kmadiversity.com
Thomas Kochman is Chief Operating Officer of Kochman Mavrelis Associates, Professor Emeritus of Communication, University of Illinois at Chicago and co-author (with Jean Mavrelis) of Corporate Tribalism: White Men, White Women and Cultural Diversity at Work (2009). He is also author of Black and White Styles in Conflict (1981) and editor of Rappin and Stylin’ Out: Communication in Urban Black America (1972). Like Jean Mavrelis, Dr. Kochman is nationally recognized as a leader in the field of cultural Information: diversity research and management. His special focus is on the impact of cultural differences on interpersonal communication and organizational culture.
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Kenneth Addison
African American Program | kenneth.addison@kmadiversity.com
Kenneth Addison is Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and Educational Administration at Northeastern Illinois University, President of Human Development Systems, and Vice President and lead facilitator of the African American program for Kochman Mavrelis Associates. He is the author of the book We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident: An Interdisciplinary Analysis of the Roots of Racism and Slavery in America (due out January 2009). He is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, American Psychological Association and National Alliance of Black School Educators. Dr. Addison is a recognized expert in the field of African American History, Language and Culture. As a clinical psychologist he has worked as a private practicing psychotherapist. As a management and organizational development consultant he specializes in organization restructuring and renewal.
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Adrian Chan
Asian & Pacific Rim Program | adrian.chan@kmadiversity.com
Adrian Chan is Vice President and Head of Asian Pacific Operations for Kochman Mavrelis Associates and author of The Education of the Chinese and Indo-Chinese in America (1981). A counseling psychologist and a practitioner of mindfulness meditation, tai chi, aikido and tui na, he is also Emeritus Professor, Dept. of Educational Psychology, Univ. of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, former Assistant Vice Chancellor, and former Director of the University of Wisconsin System Institute for Race & Ethnicity.
As a professor, he taught graduate courses in Multicultural Counseling & Therapy.
Dr. Chan also served as a member of the Wisconsin Governor’s Asian Advisory Council and is a current member of the Organization of Chinese Americans in Wisconsin. He also served on the Planning Committee of the City of Milwaukee’s Work Force Diversity Institute, sponsored by the Milwaukee Association of Commerce. Funded by USIA (1994–96), he and others traveled to South Africa as it was undergoing a transformation from apartheid to democracy to provide training in conflict resolution, negotiation and strategic planning to Black university student leaders and administrators.
Dr. Chan currently coaches and mentors Asians (born in the USA and born in their native countries) and non-Asians as they deal with leadership & management issues domestically and globally.
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Tatyana Fertelmeyster
Russian/American (U.S.) Program | tatyana.fertelmeyster@kmadiversity.com
Tatyana Fertelmeyster is the head and principal developer and facilitator of the Russian-American (U.S.) program for Kochman Mavrelis Associates, Inc., and an expert in Russian/American (U.S.) cross-cultural issues. A Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Ms. Fertelmeyster is also an expert in psychological aspects of cultural adjustment. She serves as a Director of Cultural Competency Programs with Jewish Child and Family Services. In addition, Ms. Fertelmeyster maintains her own training and consulting business, Connecting Differences, in which she concentrates on addressing intercultural and adjustment issues with individuals and groups. She has also worked as a Reporter and Columnist for Moskovsky Komsomolets (Moscow Youth Daily) in Moscow, Russia. She is a Past President of SIETAR-USA (Society for Intercultural Education, Training & Research) and is a member of the Chicago Chapter of the American Society for Training & Development.
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Gurvrinder (Gudy) Grewal, MA, MSW
South Asian Program | gudy.grewal@kmadiversity.com
As a Consultant and Trainer, Ms. Grewal has worked as an associate with Kochman Mavrelis Associates (KMA) since 1997. She is the co-writer and lead facilitator/trainer of the South Asian Cultural Patterns and Behaviors training program for KMA. In her training, Ms. Grewal covers all social and cultural aspects of the South Asian populations including history, caste, race, language, ethnicity, religion and the institute of South Asian family, as well as their impact on South Asian communication styles and business practices. She has provided Training Workshops, Train the Trainer Workshops, Departure Preparedness, Executive Coaching and Consulting in this field to many clients from prominent companies and organizations
Ms. Grewal is certified to administer and interpret Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). As a clinician she is highly qualified to interpret and analyze the results of IDI for groups as well as individuals. She continues her learning in the areas of cultural diversity and intercultural communication through attending courses and trainings at the Summer Institute for Intercultural Communication (SIIC), Asia Society in Portland, Cultural Detective in Houston and CDR Associates in Boulder, Colorado. She has co-written and taught a continuing education course for teachers in British Imperialism at Denver University, Colorado.
Ms. Grewal is a member of Society of Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR), USA as well as British Columbia (BC), Canada. She is also a member of Social and Ethnic organizations in Colorado.
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Wageh Saad
Middle Eastern Program | wageh.saad@kmadiversity.com
Wageh Saad is Associate Superintendent and former Director of Elementary Education, Special Programs and Student Services for Dearborn Public Schools, Dearborn, Michigan and Head of the Middle Eastern program for Kochman Mavrelis Associates. He also served as Supervisor/Consultant in charge of Bilingual Education and Elementary Bilingual Teacher. Before that he was Principal of Mashgara Public School in Lebanon. Dr. Saad is presently Central Regional Representative for the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) and President of the Michigan Association of Bilingual Education Administrators and Member of the Advisory Council of ACCESS (The Arab Center for Economics and Social Services). He developed an Exemplary Bilingual Education Program Model, wrote a Living in Dearborn pamphlet (used as a textbook by teachers in Adult Education) and is Field Office Manager/School Liaison for the Arabic Language Materials Development Center at the University of Michigan. He was also subcontracted by DATEX to evaluate an elementary education development project funded by US-AID (Agency for International Development) and the Ministry of Education in Yemen (1993).
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Tess Arenas
Hispanic-Latino Anglo Program | tess.arenas@kmadiversity.com
Andrea-Teresa “Tess” Arenas, of Arenas and Associates, has been a consultant to universities, non profits, and corporations on race/ethnic/gender/alliance building for 30 years. As emeritus Associate Vice President of a Big 10 Univesrity System, Arenas created systemwide diversity strategic plans. Arenas is a KMA consultant who addresses the Latino and Women's issues. An award winning Chicana poet, senior university officer, TV host, curriculum developer, and writer, Arenas bring humor, laughter and passion to her work with KMA.
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Leah M. Arndt
American Indian Program | leah.arndt@kmadiversity.com
Leah Arndt is Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Department of Educational Psychology and a principal developer and facilitator of the American Indian program for KMA. Her clinical experience has been with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and Milwaukee Police Department. Dr. Arndt’s research projects and publications include American Indians and Alaska Natives: Implications for Educational Psychology, Soul Wound, Warrior Spirit: Exploring the Vocational Choice of Urban American Indian Peacekeepers, and Diversity Behind the Badge: Gay and Lesbian Law Enforcement Officers: Facilitating and Constraining Factors of Being “Out” on the Job. She also presents at numerous conferences on such themes as Post-colonial Psychological Coping in Urban American Indian Communities, Negotiating Identity as an American Indian Professional and Ethical Service Delivery with American Indians/Alaska Natives. She is affiliated with the Takini Network for Healing Indigenous Peoples, National Native American Law Enforcement, the Milwaukee Area Indian Resource Network and the American Psychological Association. She also works with the Great Lakes Intertribal Council, and the Native American Research Council on Health, Lac du Service: Flambeau, WI, mentoring Native American college students.
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Angela Byars-Winston
African American Program | angela.winston@kmadiversity.com
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Victor Chacon
Hispanic-Latino Anglo Program | victor.chacon@kmadiversity.com
Dr. Victor Chacon is a Diversity administrator and consultant on issues of Equity and Cultural Competence for higher education, business organizations, and health and social service agencies. He holds advanced degrees in the arts from the University of Texas and the University of Washington. His background includes administering Diversity programs, training on leadership, and consulting with community organizations and health agencies on issues of changing populations in the workplace and in community.
Having taught at universities in Washington, California, Idaho, and Texas, Dr. Chacon has served on the Governor's Commission of Hispanic Affairs for Washington State. Currently he is the Director of Multicultural Services at Walla Walla Community College where he has developed multicultural curricula for Humanities, Nursing, and Workforce Leadership areas of study. His many conference presentations include: An Historical Overview of Chicanismo in the Southwest, Multicultural Perspectives on Leadership, and Intercultural Issues in Community Leadership Programs. An upcoming memoir, This Side of the River, details his cross-cultural experiences in Texas and California in the 1960s. In addition to serving as consultant with Kochman Mavrelis, Dr. Chacon heads Floriman Associates, a Cross-Cultural training and consulting firm committed to issues of Diversity and Organizational Leadership.
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Marin Webster Denning
American Indian Program | marin.webster-denning@kmadiversity.com
Marin Webster Denning is enrolled in the Oneida tribe of Wisconsin Indians. His ancestry includes Menominee, Mille Lacs Ojibwe, Stockbridge-Munsee, French and English. He founded and, for fourteen years, served as Executive Director of Southeastern Oneida Tribal Services, a full-spectrum social service provider for Oneida tribal members. He is also (with Dr. Leah Arndt) a principal developer and facilitator of the American Indian program for KMA. Denning is nationally recognized as a leading educator, lecturer and curriculum specialist in American Indian history and culture, and he was instrumental in passing Act 31, legislation mandating the teaching of tribal history and treaty rights to all public school students in the State of Wisconsin. Currently, Denning serves on the Board of Directors of Milwaukee’s Indian Community School, a flagship institution of Urban American Indian education and a recent recipient of the National Indian School Board Association Award. He has also served as an advisor of the Gates Millenium Educational Foundation for the past three years, and is a board member of the Indian Summer Festival in Milwaukee, Americas largest American Indian celebration in the United States.
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Bossi Fornarini
Italian Program | bossi.fornarini@kmadiversity.com
Mrs. Bossi Fornarini is a professor of Intercultural Management at MBA and EMBA programs at Mip, Politecnico di Milano, Italy’s top school of Management.
Mrs. Bossi Fornarini earned her Ph.D. in Foreign Languages and Literatures at Università degli Studi di Milano and attended management courses at Kepner & Trigoe, CMOE and DDI.
She completed her Intercultural experience studying at the Universitá Bocconi, at Portland Summer Institute and London Regent’s College.
With over 20 years’ experience working at the management level of Italian and US corporations, Mrs. Bossi Fornarini is ideally suited for providing management training for companies involved in those two markets.
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Yuri Shishido
Global Marketing/Asia Pacific Rim Program | yuri.shishido@kmadiversity.com
Yuri Shishido is a team member of KMA's Global Marketing/Asia Pacific Rim Program. She is an international business executive with 16 years of experience in the distribution and manufacturing industries worldwide. Ms. Shishido is skilled in strategy development and execution, high-level negotiations, start-up and turn-around of operations with significant experience in global procurement, business development and sales management. She is also highly effective in building partnerships and strategic alliances with international partners at executive level. Ms. Shishido has knowledge and relationships with the US and Asian industrial OEM's, distribution, government and financial institutions. She also has the ability to operate as in insider in both the US and Asia markets, because she is bi-cultural and bi-lingual. Ms. Shishido earned a Bachlor of Arts degree with a major in Political Science from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Chuo University.
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Luis Vazquez
Hispanic-Latino Program | luis.vazquez@kmadiversity.com
Luis Vazquez is Associate Dean of the Graduate School, Regents Professor (Endowed Chair) and Professor in Counseling/Educational Psychology of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico, as well as a presenter/facilitator of the Hispanic-Latino cultural program module for KMA. Dr. Vazquez’ workshops at various Colleges and Universities include Latino Psychology: From History to Practice and Multiculturalism and Diversity Development on a University Campus. He has created with several of his colleagues Instructional Workbooks and Videos such as Counseling Latino/Latina Adolescents and Children: Brief Interventions and Multiculturalism: Issues in Counseling and Education. He is currently working on a book entitled Teaching the Psychology of Multiculturalism. He has served as Court Interpreter for the Spanish Speaking Community in Sterling/Rock Falls, Illinois and is recipient of a Presidential Citation from the American Psychological Association and a Hispanic-Serving Institutions Faculty Fellow Recipient from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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Stephen Wester
Gender Program | stephen.wester@kmadiversity.com
Dr. Wester is a team member of KMA's Gender program. His expertise includes psychotherapy with men, masculinity issues, and the impact of male socialization on men's interpersonal functioning in a variety of contexts. Dr. Wester is currently working to understand the intersection of culture and masculinity, as well as the impact of traditional male ideology on men's likelihood of seeking counseling services. Dr. Wester also researches gender differences in emotionality, the degree to which counselors reinforce stereotyped gender behaviors, and the ethical and professional issues involved in the training of counseling psychologists. Dr. Wester teaches at both the M.S. and Ph.D. levels in the areas of counseling theories, psychometric assessment, theories of personality, abnormal psychology, and the psychology of men.
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Rita Wuebbeler
German and LGBT Programs | rita.wuebbeler@kmadiversity.com
Rita Wuebbeler is president and founder of INTERGLOBE Cross-Cultural Business Services, Inc. an international training and consulting firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Rita is the principal developer and facilitator of the program on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) culture at KMA. She is the founder and chair of the Special Interest Section “Pride Across Cultures” at the Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR) and facilitates diversity and inclusion workshops for a variety of client organizations. Rita is one of the co-authors of “Cultural Detective LGBT Culture”, an online educational tool.
A native German with a Master’s Degree in Applied Linguistics from Mainz University, Germany, Rita also designs and conducts cultural awareness workshops focusing on German culture including for KMA’s German program. Rita spent the first two and a half decades of her life in Europe before moving to North America. After living in the Southern US for over twenty years, she now resides in Atlantic Canada.
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Barry Mar
Asian and Pacific Rim Program
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Peter Fordos
Eastern European Program | peter.fordos@kmadiversity.com
Peter Fordos, Intercultural Consultant and Trainer, was born in Slovakia (former Czechoslovakia) and presently resides in Los Angeles, California. He delivers cultural trainings for American companies working with different cultures around the world, and in addition gives specialized training on Central & Eastern European cultures including: Russia, Poland, Romania, The Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
Over the past 6 years, Peter has consulted for the US Navy Seals, Dell, Honeywell, Carmeuse, 3M, Bombardier, General Motors, Nestle and many other Global organizations. Peter is known for his expertise in Global Leadership Development, Intercultural Communication as well as Cultural Leadership Development for executives & international teams.
Prior becoming an Intercultural Trainer, Peter worked in Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, UK, and the United States in the travel industry and in the environmental industry. Peter speaks fluent Hungarian, Slovak, Czech and English as well as basic Russian and Polish, and has lived, worked and traveled to six continents and over 50 countries in the past 15 years.
Peter has a BA in International Studies and two Masters Degrees from the Monterey Institute of International Studies, one in International Trade Policy with a specialization in business, and a second in International Negotiations and Conflict Resolution. Peter has lived in the United States for the past nine years and is a member of Society of Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR).
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Donna Bostic
African American Program | donna.bostic@kmadiversity.com
Donna C. Bostic is a business consultant who offers a variety of services to meet the challenging business needs of organizations seeking to create and maintain their competitive advantage. She consults with clients on management development, organizational effectiveness, and human capital development.
Donna C. Bostic specializes in:
- Leadership and Management Development
- Performance Management Coaching
- Business Assessments, Development and Change Interventions
- Training and Development Program Design
- Program and Project Management
- Train-the-Trainer Program Design and Implementation
She is able to transfer a breadth and depth of knowledge based on both practical real world experience and extensive acquired expertise. She models and demonstrates strategic business alliances by effectively collaborating to provide clients with powerful leading edge interventions and implementations with a specific focus on training and development. Ms. Bostic is also maintains partnership with other independent consultants who bring additional skills and expertise.
Ms. Bostic holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara. She received her Master of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. She is also a certified MBTI facilitator.
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Gretchen Neels
Generational Program | Gretchen.Neels@kmadiversity.com
Gretchen Neels is founder and President of Washington, DC based Neels & Company, Inc., the leading provider of soft skills training to professional services firms, covering all business communication, including generational differences in the workplace.
She is the author of “The New Professional’s Guide to Success,” a program designed for recent graduates that takes the mystery out of what it means to be a professional, and “Cultural Detective – Generational Harmony,” part of the acclaimed Cultural Detective training series of tools that develop intercultural and global business competence in individuals and organizations.
A speaker, executive coach, and workshop facilitator, Gretchen also has produced and delivered over 50 Core Skills Thursday webcast programs for WestLegalEd Center (a division of Thomson Reuters), the world’s largest source of legal education, providing listeners from the legal community information, advice and strategies to enhance the softer side of their careers.
Her client list includes many top law firms, Fortune 500 companies, national associations and a number of distinguished institutions of higher learning, including Harvard Business School, The Fuqua Business School at Duke University, The George Washington University, Babson College and Northeastern University.
Neels & Company has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Boston Herald, Forbes.com, FOXBusiness.com, and ALA’s Legal Management magazine.
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Kate Wildrick
Generational Program | Kate.Wildrick@kmadiversity.com
Kate Wildrick, intergenerational and strategic workforce planning consultant and trainer, is the principal developer and facilitator of the generational program for KMA. With eleven years as a Human Capital Development Specialist, Ms. Wildrick has held strategic positions in a variety of small and large company environments, including high tech, business services, manufacturing and hospitality. Ms. Wildrick brings a wide array of knowledge and insight to the inner workings of business and human resource management in both union and non-union settings.
As a Gen X’er, she began conducting generational research over five years ago. Her work on generational and workplace/safety trends has been presented to audiences at several sold-out seminars across the country, including a national Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) diversity convention and the Northwest Human Resources Management Association (NHRMA) conferences. In addition, Ms. Wildrick has authored multiple articles which have appeared in the International Public Management Association Human Resource Newsletter, Monster.com, Association for Financial Professionals and a variety of industry magazines and newspapers.
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Houeida Saad
Middle Eastern Program | Houeida.Saad@kmadiversity.com
Houeida Saad is a health law attorney with a background in negotiation and litigation experience in immigration, employment law, civil rights and administrative law. Ms. Saad practices in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and presents KMA's Middle Eastern program with a focus on women and Arab American issues. She is an Adjunct Professor of Law at The Washington College of Law, American University. As a private attorney, she represented and counseled individuals in airline profiling cases and the use of secret evidence in judicial proceedings. For her work in the area of secret evidence, she received the Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award for the District of Columbia Bar (2000) and Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award for The National Law Journal (2000). Ms. Saad has a J.D. from Washington College of Law of American University and a M.A. in Law and International Affairs from the School of International Service of the American University. She is a Registered Nurse with experience in international relief work. She has conducted Diversity Training post-9/11 with KMA and advised on women and Arab American issues.
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Lobna "Luby" Ismail
Middle Eastern / Diverse Ability Programs | Lobna.Ismail@kmadiversity.com
Lobna "Luby" Ismail, founder and president of Connecting Cultures, LLC, www.connecting-cultures.net is a training specialist with over twenty years of experience in the areas of cross-cultural communication, cultural competence, Arab and American cultures, Islamic awareness and religious diversity.
Luby helped develop two initiatives to breakdown barriers across cultures and faiths. www.20,000dialogues.org and www.groundzerodialogue.org, a nationwide campaign to stimulate discussion between people of different faiths through films. Also www.changethestory.net offering an interactive experience can learn about Islam and Muslims.
Since her diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis, she speaks on the parallels of living with a disability and being a Muslim woman in the USA along with lessons learned.
Luby has conducted training for Federal and State agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations and private corporations including Walt Disney World, U.S. Department of Justice, Campbell Soup Company, CVS, King Abdullah University for Science and Technology, Foreign Service Institute, Shell Chemicals, National Council for International Visitors, ARMY, Michigan National Guard, Air Force Academy and Culture and Language Center, Exxon Mobil, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Transportation Security Administration and NIKE.
She holds a Master’s degree in Intercultural Relations and a B.A. in International Service from The American University. She has traveled throughout the world, including Singapore, Mexico, England, Switzerland, Bosnia and Croatia, and the Middle East, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Jordan, Palestine, Jerusalem and Israel.
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Soumaya Khalifa
Middle Eastern Program | soumaya.khalifa@kmadiversity.com
Soumaya Khalifa is a seasoned intercultural consultant specializing in the Arab and Muslim cultures. She is the author of Diversophy Egypt - an online cultural game teaching about the culture of Egypt. Ms. Khalifa is adjunct faculty at Emory University Center for Lifelong Learning and Professional Development teaching courses on Arab Culture and Certification Program for the Society for Human Resources Management. Ms. Khalifa holds a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and a Masters of Business Administration with an area of concentration in Human Resources. She began her career in Fortune 100 companies where she first saw the need for greater inter-cultural training in the workplace. With her background in Human Resources, she’s worked for the last 15 years with government, non-profit organizations, and corporations, helping them with everything from developing human resources infrastructure and employee handbooks to providing leadership training and diversity management.
Since September 11, 2001, Soumaya has worked with law enforcement officials, giving them the cultural knowledge they need to build ties with Arab and Muslim American communities in the United States. Similarly, defense contractors operating in the Middle East have tapped her to train their employees. With American businesses branching out to new markets in the Arab world, Soumaya has helped corporations and non-profits strategize on how to develop their operations abroad and develop effective methods to manage non-American staff.
Ms. Khalifa's work has been featured in the New York Times. She has been interviewed by CNN, Fox, CBS, ABC, NBC, AlJazeera, Womentics, Swiss TV and The Christian Science Monitor. Her life story will be in an upcoming book "50 Green Card Stories". She is a member of SIETAR, SHRM and ADMAG.
