“Excellent tool! Our leadership was excellent, clearly outstanding.”
“Excellent workshop. Excellent skill set to interview applicants and help narrow the pool of applicants.”
“I enjoyed every minute of these workshops. I will definitely encourage other colleagues to participate.”
“This is excellent, relevant training with long term impact both personally and for the district.”
“Thank you. This was a wonderful experience. This process works!”
“ This is a great workshop. It is fun, hands-on and allows you to develop some great relationships with other participants. As a learner, you are very involved.”
| Great Lakes | 100 W. Michigan Avenue Suite 200 Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (269) 492-6880 |
| Midwest | 2900 S. 70th Street Suite 100 Lincoln, NE 68506 (402) 486-1102 |
| Mideast | 101 W. Ohio Street Suite 2000 Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 454-8040 |
| Reach Us |
Ventures for Excellence is comprised of highly talented, trained and experienced professionals who have many years of experience in the area of personnel selection and development. Our associates are located all across the country and can assist clients in the areas of education, business, and human services.
Click on an associate's name below to read more about the individual.
- Founder of Ventures for Excellence located in Lincoln, NE
Dr. Vic Cottrell began his work in personnel selection in 1972. Through his efforts, he has distinguished himself as one of the top human resource specialists in the county. In 1978, Vic founded Ventures for Excellence in order to extend his mission. Vic has been awarded many honors during his career which spans in excess of forty years. In 1965, he was named “Nebraska Teacher of the Year," and in 1988 was described as one of the nation's top six consultants in education by the Executive Educator. Vic is best known for the assessment instruments he developed to select teachers, administrators and other school employees. His training skills and insights about highly effective people enable him to be actively sought out as an outstanding resource person.
- Based in Sunset Beach, North Carolina
Prior to becoming an associate with Ventures for Excellence, Judith served as Director of Personnel for the Newark (Ohio) City Schools and as Executive Director of Personnel for the Gahanna-Jefferson Schools in Gahanna, Ohio. Judith has over a decade of experience in the extensive use of the Ventures for Excellence interviews. She has interviewed and selected hundreds of teachers in all subject areas, principals, and central office personnel. In addition to her work in human resources, Judith served as a high school teacher and as a high school principal. She also worked as a consultant for the Ohio Department of Education providing leadership on the State's High Schools That Work initiative as well as on State and Federal programs. She is one of the founders of the Ohio REAP consortium - an on-line application and applicant management system.
- Based in Northbrook, Illinois
Prior to becoming an associate with Ventures for Excellence, Marlene served in six varied public school systems in Illinois including River Forest, East Prairie, Lake Forest, Tinley Park, Evanston, and Waukegan. She has served in a variety of educational positions including superintendent, assistant superintendent, interim principal, interim superintendent, Director of Bilingual Education and Staff Development Programs, teacher, swim coach, coordinator, supervisor, director, and has been an adjunct faculty member of the University of Illinois-Chicago, National-Louis University and Concordia University. She has had extensive experience in the field of Administration and Supervision, including Human Resources, Curriculum and Instruction and Staff Development. She recently retired as the Superintendent of River Forest District # 90, River Forest, Illinois. Marlene holds memberships and positions in various professional organizations and related organizations of personal interests.
- Based in Orlando, Florida
Prior to joining Ventures for Excellence, Deborah was Deputy Superintendent for Instruction and Curriculum for Orange County Public Schools, Orlando, Florida. During her 33 years in public education, Deborah implemented the Beginning Teacher Program and the Preparing New Principals Program, both based on highly effective teaching and leadership characteristics. Deborah also served as an elementary teacher, principal, adult staff developer, elementary director, supervising principals, and associate superintendent for exceptional education. She is a certified principal interviewer for Ventures for Excellence, Inc. and has been a certified interviewer for both teachers and principals for over two decades.
- Based in St. Charles, Illinois
Prior to joining Ventures for Excellence, Linda was the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel in Elmhurst Community Unit School District, Elmhurst, Illinois and Community High School District #94 in West Chicago, Illinois. In these positions, Linda interviewed hundreds of teacher and administrator candidates at all levels pre-K through grade 12 and in all subject areas. During her 33 years in education, Linda was, also, a middle school English and social studies teacher, a middle school counselor, a middle school assistant principal, and elementary principal. In addition to her work in school districts, Linda served on the board of a statewide personnel organization as well as being active in a local personnel organization.
- Based in Rochester, Indiana
Prior to joining Ventures for Excellence, Bob served for 28 years as an Indiana superintendent retiring in June of 2005. He is also Senior Associate for From L to J Consulting Group, Inc. and a certified trainer for McGrath Training Systems. In 2000, Bob began his journey to become an expert in continuous improvement in the classroom and school district. He studied, learned and led. Bob also pursued excellence in personnel practices. He met Dr. Vic Cottrell and studied dominate theme patterns of excellence for teachers, administrators, and support staff. All applicants in his district became candidates for employment based upon a hiring sequence prescribed by Ventures for Excellence. Communication to build a culture of trust, respect, cooperation and growth became his next priority. He is certified by Mary Jo McGrath to teach SUCCEED – a process that puts legally fit and ethical principles to work to develop people and to impact their performance.
- Based in Oregon House, California
Prior to joining Ventures for Excellence, Pete had a variety of experiences in education which include teaching third through eighth grades, teaching principals and assistant superintendent for educational services. As a superintendent, he was highly successful in leading the poorest economic district in California by selecting excellent teachers and providing growth opportunities for them through the establishment of a learning academy for teachers. Pete also focuses on the selection and development of principals. He is the author of Cocoon to Butterfly, a story of the metamorphosis of a school.
- Based in Turlock, California
Prior to joining Ventures for Excellence, Bob had 30 years of administrative experience in California public schools, the last 17 as the assistant superintendent of personnel services for the Turlock School District. He has overseen the hiring of hundreds of classroom teachers and dozens of administrators. Bob also has considerable experience and expertise in interest based negotiations and the documentation of employee performance. Bob has also designed a number of web sites, including the site for the Turlock School District and several of its individual schools.
- Based in Denison, Texas
Prior to joining Ventures for Excellence, Betty served as an elementary teacher, principal, director of elementary personnel, executive director of personnel services, and assistant superintendent of human resources with the Richardson Independent School District in Richardson, Texas. In this district of over 35,000 students, which is recognized as one of the outstanding districts in the country, Betty directed a department responsible for the recruitment and hiring of more than 300 professional positions a year as well as the hiring of hundreds of paraprofessional and auxiliary employees. Ventures for Excellence processes were used extensively in her work with the district. Betty developed and implemented procedures to ensure the employment of a highly qualified, diverse, and committed workforce. Betty's goals have always been to hire the best, serve the customers, and always be responsive. As a Ventures for Excellence trainer, Betty consistently receives high marks from participants in workshops.
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