KNIGHT LEADERSHIP SOLUTIONS - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Owner and Chief Influencer

Marie has spent over 35 years in the Community Services, Parks and Recreation, Youth Development, and Municipal Government profession. She has worked for the cities of Garden Grove, Newport Beach, Orange, Long Beach, and Huntington Beach, all in California. She recently retired from the City of Huntington Beach as the Director of Organizational Learning and Engagement. In addition, she spent several years in the non-profit industry as the Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Orange County Alliance. Within every agency she has worked, she has been a leader in the training and development of the organization's team. During her municipal government career, she has lead teams in excess of 1,000 people, managed annual operational budgets over $56 million dollars, and had oversight of over $100 million dollars in capital improvement projects. Through the years she has created several award-winning Team and Culture Improvement programs and services and is a recipient of the California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) Coveted Leadership Award, and a five-time CPRS Presidents Award recipient for her contributions to the profession and to raising future leaders. Marie has served her profession, multiple municipal government agencies, many area non-profit organizations, and various professional associations for the past 25 years as a highly sought-out speaker, facilitator, consultant, and trainer. Her expertise in the areas of Customer Service, Employee Development, Team Building, Board Development, Leadership, Job Coaching, Culture Change, and Organizational Development has changed lives and transformed organizations. She has conducted over 100 workshops, training sessions, and keynote speeches for California Parks and Recreation Society and various government and non-profit agencies throughout the state of California as well as for the Parks and Recreation Associations in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Florida, Missouri, and Illinois. With prior background in the hotel industry, Marie has been able to translate the service concepts of the hospitality industry into the municipal arena and has been a tireless advocate for her profession and the development of future leaders. Marie is a proud mother of two dynamic, independent and amazing daughters, is an active volunteer in her community and a Ministry Leader at Saddleback Church.