By Brian McDermott 

and Donald Luce

By Brian McDermott

and Gerry Sexton

Brian McDermott

Brian is co-author of Time Out for Leaders: Daily Inspiration for Maximum Impact (NovaVista, February 2006), and  Leading Innovation: Creating Workplaces Where People Excel So Organizations Thrive (NovaVista 2004). He is also Chief Storyteller and a Senior Partner with GrowthWorks Inc.

He brings a unique mix of experience to his work as a facilitator, trainer, consultant and writer. He has worked with organizations throughout the US, and internationally, dealing with issues ranging from strategic planning to leadership, negotiations, teamwork, sales, communication, personal development and more. Clients include Microsoft, Caterpillar, AstraZeneca, American Express (now Ameriprise), Allianz Life, Textron Financial, Schwan’s Food Co., Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, Imation, Novell, the University of Minnesota, and the YMCA. He has spoken at numerous national and international conferences, including those sponsored by VNU Learning, Training Directors' Forum, The Association for Quality and Participation, Innovation Network, Meeting Professionals International, the International Management Council, the American Society for Training and Development, the Midwest Society of Association Executives, and Minnesota International Society for Performance Improvement. 

With a degree in journalism from Marquette University, Brian has worked for newspapers, magazines, in corporate communications, and for one of the leading U.S. publishers in the training, human resources and general management areas. He worked as a business journalist, conference designer, editor, and video producer. He has published hundreds of articles on management, quality, innovation, customer service, and training, as well as organization development and all-around best business practices. He also was instrumental in developing a successful series of international conferences dealing with training, service, quality and other management issues, and served as the Executive Director of the Positive Employee Practices Institute.

He also was the primary writer with book teams that published, Versatile Selling  and The Social Styles Handbook (NovaVista, Wilson Learning Library Series).