Meet the SynerVision Teams
Board of Directors
Norah Jones is the owner of Fluency Consulting LLC. She is dedicated to bringing hope to the world by helping people find their own voice, no matter the language. As the daughter of a Croatian immigrant, She has used languages to connect with her family far and wide. The realization of the power of language and culture to form who we are, and what we perceive and believe, has energized and focused her from earliest years. Studying and living languages and cultures have given her a career in education as a teacher, supervisor, and organization leader, and in world language educational publishing as an author, trainer, and director of professional development. She provides workshops, presentations, and talks that inspire and engage through powerful language insights, and she pairs those insights with practical applications for the lives of educators, learners, businesses, and faith-centered organizations.
Hugh Ballou is a Transformational Leadership Strategist and the President of SynerVision Leadership Foundation and SynerVision International, Inc. After forty years of musical conducting experience, he now works as executive coach, process facilitator, trainer, and motivational speaker teaching leaders in many diverse fields the fine-tuned skills employed every day by musical conductors. Hugh is the author of ten books on Transformational Leadership and is a recognized expert in working with leaders in religious organizations, and businesses, and nonprofits.
David Dunworth is the Founder and Chief Experiences Officer of Marketing Partners, a Direct Response Marketing Advisory Services firm with 29 years’ experience in serving entrepreneurs, dental and medical professionals, nonprofit organizations, and NGOs. As a matter of “giving back,” David volunteers his time, talent, and treasure in the marketing matters and business administration support requirements to those organizations performing servant leadership.
Mark S A Smith is the author of 13 popular books and sales guides and has authored more than 400 magazine articles. He is a genuine Guerrilla Marketing guru, co-authoring three books with Jay Conrad Levinson, and is a certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach. A renaissance man with many talents, Mark is passionate about leadership, team building, teamwork, sales, and marketing. For over twenty years Mark has served as a strategic advisor to corporate leaders and executives all over the world who must develop the best way to bring in the right strategies for successful growth and sustainability. What makes him different is he brings a holistic view of the business instead of solely focusing on one aspect and ignoring the impact of decisions on the rest of the organization.
WayFinders
Hugh Ballou is a Transformational Leadership Strategist and the President of SynerVision International, Inc. After forty years of musical conducting experience, he now works as executive coach, process facilitator, trainer, and motivational speaker teaching leaders in many diverse fields the fine-tuned skills employed every day by orchestral conductors. Hugh is the author of eight books on Transformational Leadership and is a recognized expert in working with leaders in churches, religious organizations, and business and non-profit communities.
Russell David Dennis is a SynerVision WayFinder assisting leaders of nonprofits in running high-performing charities generating enough income to achieve their missions. When you decide to make a difference in the world on your own terms, it is worthwhile to have a conversation with Russell Dennis before you start. His unique blend of experiences, coupled with the business and personal challenges he has overcome, can help you avoid pitfalls that set you back. Focusing on nonprofit difference makers, he provides tools that are easy to access, understand, and implement, that get you results and move you and your organization in the direction you want to go.
Dr. David S. Gruder, PhD, DCEP, has been hailed by Radio & Television Interview Reports as America’s Integrity Expert: the clinical and organizational psychologist who is today’s preeminent thought leader on practical ways to bring integrity back into daily life, relationships, business, politics, the media, eduction, and religion. As Integrity Revolution’s CEO & Founder, he passionately embodies its mission statement (described above) through writing, keynotes, training, mentoring, and media interviews on various aspects of integrity-centered living, working, loving and serving. An international speaker, trainer and TheraCoach for over three decades, Dr. Gruder has also given hundreds of interviews on many radio talk shows throughout North America and is a recurring guest for many of them. Dr. Gruder’s masters and doctorate are in clinical psychology with a secondary emphasis in organizational development and conflict resolution. His bachelor’s degree was in psychology and music, magna cum laude. He is also an ordained interfaith clergy and spiritual director.
Jeffrey Fulgham, CFRE, is an experienced Charitable-Sector Leader and Development Officer with a demonstrated history of servant leadership and strong relationship-building outcomes. Skilled in Major Gifts, Capital Campaigns, Planned Giving, Nonprofit Organization Leadership, and Special Event Orchestration. Graduated from Florida Atlantic University.
Advisors
Ray Buchanan is a United Methodist minister, author, and former Marine. He founded Rise Against Hunger (formerly Stop Hunger Now), an international hunger relief organization that distributes food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable, mobilizing the necessary resources to end hunger by 2030 through the collaboration of volunteers and organizations with a commitment to both domestic and international crisis response including relief from famine, natural and manmade disasters and health epidemics. Ray embodies the ideal of a servant leader, and he understands that volunteers and organizations working together can build a global movement. Ray teaches in the Nonprofit Leadership Program at Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Virginia, and is active with several local and international nonprofit boards.
Dr. Thyonne Gordon is an accomplished organizational and human development expert, producer, ghostwriter, and story genius. Her work with small businesses has created growth-oriented platforms using her proven technique of the S.T.O.R.Y. Accelerator, and empowered hundreds of organizations nationwide, bringing stories of significance to light and enhancing organizations for success. She has also raised millions of dollars for causes and is committed to positive, strategic, and sustainable growth in the social profit sector, encouraging youth and adults alike to “bloom where you’re planted.” Thyonne is most proud of her service in board leadership.
Andy Morikawa served for thirteen years as the Executive Director of the Community Foundation of the New River Valley, a nonprofit foundation that provides full service assistance to donors who are seeking to maximize the benefit of their charitable giving and makes grants to charitable organizations that address community needs. He is now Executive Director Emeritus. Andy does coaching and facilitation work for community groups in governance and board development. His interest in nonprofit governance began in the 1970s when he first started working with and for trustee boards. He has served on numerous community, national, and international boards. At the Community Foundation of the New River Valley, Andy works to build group and team effectiveness, leadership development, board and trustee development, and grant making as fund raising, all of which he brings to SynerVision as an expert on nonprofit organizations.
Sherita Herring is the Founder and President of the Kreative Images Foundation (K.I.), established in 2004. Operating by her motto “You Are Your Only Limitation (YAYOL)”, Sherita is a motivating speaker, radio personality, best-selling author, and business strategist. She has structured and coached nonprofits throughout the United States and the world, and serves as a speaker, grant writing workshop facilitator and community strategist. She has aided in securing millions of dollars in funding, while helping to develop more than 600 businesses. Her extensive experience in grant procurement and facilitation, and economic development are key pieces in her service to the SynerVision Leadership Foundation.
