ITP Board of Trustees
Chairman of the Board
Director, Symantec, Inc.
Chris obtained his Masters in Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration from the Technical University in Berlin, Germany. He is currently holding a director-level position at Symantec, the leader in Internet Security. His previous work experience on a leadership level includes Cisco, Gap and Arthur Andersen.
Chris has a lifelong interest in all aspects of spirituality and psychology. The Germanic countries have a long history in psychology, which is a key element of the German humanistic education. Chris had the benefits of being exposed to the teachings of Freud and Jung at an early age and his study of the subject has continued into his adult life. In fact, it was the teachings of Roberto Assagioli, which lead him to ITP.
Vice-Chair
B.A. Psychology, University of Puerto Rico
Ed.M., Harvard University
J.D., Boston College Law School
Conchita Franco Serri, a Management Consultant specializing in employment practices. She has over sixteen years of Human Resources experience in employee and labor relations, human resources management, AB 1825 sexual harassment prevention training, HR Management training and diversity consulting and training.
Conchita is President of Serri Compliance Training. In her capacity as consultant, trainer and coach, she partners with business executives seeking solutions to complex issues of gender, race, ethics and leadership in the workplace. In her investigative capacity, she successfully investigated over two hundred charges of unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation which resulted in no litigation. She is a mediator of employment disputes and provides HR support to start-ups and small businesses in the areas of HR policy development. She works with counsel in investigations of discrimination and harassment.
She is the former Director of Affirmative Action and disabilities compliance officer at Santa Clara University for 15 years where she was the principal investigator and mediator of civil rights violations and Officer for disabilities compliance, reasonable accommodations and disability policy development.
Conchita is a graduate of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education where she obtained her Masters Degree and Boston College Law School. Her most recent peer-reviewed article is entitled: “Self-Compassion and the Dynamics of Investigating Sexual Harassment”, which was published in the Business Communication Quarterly, December 2006. She is a public speaker and presenter.
She is a published author and the recipient of CHOICE Outstanding Academic Book of the Year, 1997 for “Notable Latino Americans: A Biographical Dictionary”, a Greenwood Press publication. She enjoys reading poetry, dancing Argentine tango and watching foreign films. Conchita lives in Palo Alto.
She can be reached at: conchita@serricompliance.com.
Dean of the Ageno School of Business
Terry Connelly was selected in 2004 as the new Dean of the Ageno School of Business of Golden Gate University after a 35-year career as a lawyer and senior executive in professional and financial services in the US and abroad.
After practicing corporate and antitrust law from 1968 to 1977 at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York and London, Mr. Connelly joined Salomon Brothers, where he became a Managing Director and Chief of Staff of Global Investment Banking. In 1995, he was named Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking at Cowen & Company, a technology, communications and life sciences boutique with a major presence in San Francisco.
After the sale of Cowen to Societe Generale in 1998, Mr. Connelly relocated to Australia in connection with his wife’s family business interests. While there, he served as Director of Strategic Advisory Services for Ernst & Young Australia, and as an Adjunct at the Graduate School of Business of Queensland University of Technology, where he lectured on strategy, professional services management, corporate governance and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
During his career, he has been engaged in numerous pro bono activities, including Chair of the Corporate Finance Committee of The Securities Industry Association, Fellow of The Aspen Institute, President and Trustee of The Burden Center for the Aging in New York, Chair of the Program Council of The Center for International Studies and the Liberal Arts at Connecticut College and more.
Mr. Connelly and his wife, Jennifer live in Palo Alto with their two daughters.
Trustee, East Side Union High School District
J. Manuel Herrera, an elected official in San Jose/Silicon Valley, has a public policy career with city managers, elected officials, and nonprofit agencies. Currently he is a Program Executive with the National Conference for Community & Justice, a national human relations organization. First elected to office in 1990, Manuel is writing a book about integrating principles of the spiritual quest with public leadership, politics, and the public process. Titled "The Reconciliation of Love & Power: Spirit In The Public Square, Spirit In Our Lives", Manuel’s book unveils conflict, power, and compromise as alchemical pathways for spiritual evolution.
Ph.D., MFT
Dr. Jassy has been a psychotherapist and workshop leader for the past 30 years. He maintains a private practice in Soquel and Los Gatos, Ca. counseling individuals, couples and families. Dr. Jassy is a pioneer in somatic psychotherapy specializing in the therapeutic use of transformational breathwork. He was a Director of the Hendricks Institute for eight years and trained hundreds of therapists in body centered psychotherapy. He has facilitated many men’s retreats, couple’s retreats, and a variety of personal growth workshops and seminars. Dr. Jassy has taught at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Esalen Institute, The Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, Cabrillo College and numerous other venues.
M.A., CFP®
After graduating with a BSEE, Jeff spent five years in high technology product sales and marketing. He then moved into the investment field. Stimulated by his observation that business problems invariably stem from people problems, in 1977 he earned a Master of Arts in Business Psychology from the University of San Francisco. His studies had an emphasis on the Transactional Analysis psychological model. Eventually his investment work became focused on personal financial planning and he earned the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) designation in 1987.
He is now a Vice President with Stanford Investment Group, Inc., where he provides financial planning advice and portfolio management services to individual clients, primarily from Silicon Valley companies. He has served as a member of the ITP Board of Trustees since 2005. During the last seven years, he has made an intensive study of the Enneagram and has arranged educational workshops at ITP on that psychological model. He is a past-president of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Peninsula, a past president of the Peninsula Kiwanis Club, founder of the Peninsula Kiwanis Charitable Foundation and a current member of the Palo Alto Kiwanis Club. He and his wife Marcia live in Portola Valley.
Prior to ITP, Mr. Mancini was Personal Chief of Staff, working
in the State Capitol for one of California’s most influential
legislators, working with or as Director of many committees
including the Select Committee on Ethics, the National and
International Self Esteem and Personal Responsibility Task
Force, and the California Leadership Program. Prior to his
governmental career, he was President and CEO of the Bank
of Beverly Hills Qualified Plans. He was founder, President
and CEO of Franklin Bank and Trust, and earlier founded and
served as President and CEO of the Trust Company of California.
Mr. Mancini served as Senior Vice-President, Director of
Trust for North America for Hong King and Shanghai Bank.
He has served as Officer and Director of various non-profit
and professional organizations including the American Humanistic
Psychological Association, and the California State Psychological
Association. He has been
a guest lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
He is a long time member and trustee of the WBA, Rhinex Institute,
and the Founder of the Academic President’ group of
Northern California. He has an Honorary Ph.D. from ITP, a
degree in Industrial Relations and Business Management from
San Jose State University and some graduate work at UC Berkeley.
He has been a guest lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School
of Business.
Ph.D.
International Speaker
Conflict Mediator
Trainer and Author
Marilyn Manning, who earned her Ph.D. from ITP, is an international author, speaker, and certified management consultant who has been helping organizations such as Hewlett-Packard, AT&T, General Electric, VISA, General Motors, United Airlines, Apple Computer, and government and non-profit organizations, solve difficult organizational and people problems for over twenty years. Through meeting facilitation, strategic planning, and
one-on-one coaching, she shows people how to become more effective at resolving
conflict, developing leadership, and implementing change.
Dr. Manning is the author of seven business books, published in eight languages, and has written over fifty articles. Her latest book, Developing as a Professional: 50 Tips for Getting Ahead, was published in 2004. She is one of only 17 people internationally who hold both the Certified Management Consultant (CMC) and Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designations.
Dr. Marilyn Manning, CSP, CMC, resolves difficult people problems. She specializes in Leadership, Teamwork, Conflict Mediation, Change, Strategic Planning & Communications.
Ph.D.
Ms. Myhal’s 14 years' experience in the federal government included leading individuals and teams, as well as executive coaching, consulting and training for managers. Her training is in biology, organization development, and integral coaching. She presently consults as principal of The Myhal Group, providing executive coaching, leadership training, and OD services to corporate, public and nonprofit clients. She is also an adjunct professor at JFK U., where she teaches elements of personal effectiveness coaching.
Ph.D.
President
Thomas Potterfield was awarded a Ph.D. in Psychology, with distinction, from Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center in 1997 where he studied Critical Theory and Engaged Spirituality He has had an active spiritual life for many years and has practiced transpersonal values in his past corporate leadership roles. Dr. Potterfield has extensive corporate experience, serving in senior executive positions at several firms. His most recent executive position was as President of Velcro USA Inc., where he enjoyed a 13 year career involving a number of domestic and international leadership positions.
Dr. Potterfield has been actively involved in a number of charitable and educational institutions, including serving as a board member of Heritage United Way, Lutheran Social Services, and Saybrook Graduate School. He and his wife Donna are passionate supporters of two specific charities: the Zambian Children’s Fund, an orphanage and school for AIDS orphans in Zambia, and St. Michael’s Guatemala Project, an NGO serving the displaced Mayan population in Guatemala.
Dr. Potterfield is a published author and a teacher of organizational theories and practices. His written work integrates critical social theory and certain contemporary business practices, such an employee empowerment. Dr. Potterfield also maintains a keen interest in engaged spirituality, participatory forms of management, and leadership effectiveness. He has taught Organizational Leadership at Southern New Hampshire University, and has consulted with numerous firms on areas related to organizational development, strategic planning, and growth.
M.A.
Business Area Manager (Ret.)
SBC, formerly Pacific Bell
Elaine Schmitz graduated from University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and received a Masters degree in Human Resources Organization Development from University of San Francisco. Mrs. Schmitz is a retired business manager for SBC, formerly Pacific Bell. In twelve of her twenty years of management she was a Quality Manager, specializing in teamwork, process improvement, and strategic planning. In her retirement, besides serving on several boards, Mrs. Schmitz is pursuing creative goals in textile arts and writing.
Barbara Butts Williams
PhD, Human and Organizational Systems, Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California
MA, Organizational Development, Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California
MALS, Leadership and Business, Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota
Dr. Barbara Butts Williams is the Interim Dean in the School of Business and Technology, Capella University. Since joining Capella in 2002, she has served the School as Associate Dean, Director of Graduate Programs, Director and Faculty Director of the MBA Program. Her professional experience includes: President of Growth Partners Consulting, a firm she founded to provide strategic planning, talent and change management, and organizational development to small and medium sized organizations among many other positions. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees, Institute for Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, California and is a Trustee Emeritus of Metropolitan State University’s Foundation Board, St. Paul, Minnesota.
