Gary Rush, IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator (CPF), Founder and President of MGR Consulting, Inc., has been in leadership training since 1972 when he entered the U.S. Naval Academy. He has managed projects since 1980, been facilitating since 1983, and providing Facilitator training since 1985. He is a recognized leader in the field of Facilitation and Facilitator Training, and continues to be the leading edge in the industry by continuing as a practicing Facilitator. As a Facilitator, Gary has facilitated many types of workshops involving a wide variety of issues and number of participants. He improves client business performance through effective application of exceptional facilitation processes. He is highly skilled at engaging participants and guiding them to consensus. His primary goal is to get a group of individuals to form as a team, learn to communicate, and achieve a goal or accomplish a task.

As a Trainer, Gary is amongst the most successful and influential Facilitator Trainers in the world. He teaches The FoCuSeD™ Facilitator Academy, FoCuSeD™ Business Facilitator, and FoCuSeD™ On... He teaches specific “how to” with an understanding of the "why" to perform as an effective Facilitator; he provides detailed facilitator and process tools and, as an IAF CPF Assessor, he covers the IAF Core Facilitator Competencies. His alumni are amongst the most successful and influential leaders. They often tell us how much Gary has changed their lives. In 1985, Gary created FAST. In 2007, Gary created FoCuSeD™ - a revolution from FAST. It is the most complete, most comprehensive, and most effective Facilitator class available, providing detailed training on the concepts of Holistic Facilitation. Gary has implemented his facilitation technique in some of the largest companies and government agencies. His clients are many of the Fortune 500 companies. His facilitation technique is used widely around the world.   Gary has written numerous "how to" books, including The FoCuSeD™ Facilitator Guide – a comprehensive reference manual. He shares his step-by-step process so that students can replicate his practices.   Gary updates MGR Consulting's materials periodically and delivers The FoCuSeD™ Advanced Class. He incorporates new topics, ideas, tools, and concepts in facilitation. In 2006, the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) awarded Gary the IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator (CPF) designation. In 2007, he became an IAF CPF Assessor, was nominated the IAF Incoming Chair, and from April 2008 through December 2010, he was Chair of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF).   In 2011, Gary became a Thiagi Certified Trainer, to enhance his FoCuSeD™ training through effective learning activities. Besides his family, Gary's passions are cooking (see Chef Gary's Recipes) and making a difference in the world by encouraging collaboration through facilitation, leadership, and diversity. He envisions a collaborative society that respects individualism and embraces diversity.

Synopsis

In 2011, Gary became a Thiagi Certified Trainer. In 2007, Gary created FoCuSeD™ - a revolution from FAST - 1st Holistic Facilitation Technique. In 2006, Gary was awarded the IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator (CPF) designation. In 2007, he became an IAF CPF Assessor, was nominated the IAF Incoming Chair, and in April 2008, Gary became the IAF Chair. In 2005, after a one year absence, Gary returned to consulting services reinstating his corporation MG Rush Systems, Inc. and renaming it MGR Consulting, Inc. In June 2004, Gary ceased operations of MG Rush Systems, Inc., to pursue his dream of becoming a restaurateur. In 1985, Gary created FAST. Gary implemented his facilitation technique at numerous companies, including some of the largest in the world. In 1985, Gary founded MG Rush Systems, Inc.

Accomplishments

• Becoming the leading trainer for structured facilitation and having his facilitation technique used widely around the world. (See Our Clients.)

• Creating alumni who are amongst the most successful and influential Facilitators in the world. The successful growth of facilitation in Northern Europe is directly related to his alumni.

• Gary influenced thousands of companies because of the consulting firms that he trained who use Facilitators with their clients.

• Writing and publishing numerous "how to" books, including The FoCuSeD™ Facilitator Guide.

• Developing and delivering many different classes plus numerous one- off classes for refresher training and user group training.

• Successfully trained numerous Facilitators to teach The FAST Session Leader Workshop class.

Selected Facilitation Experience

• A 20-year strategic plan for the Veterans Benefits Administration. Developed vision, mission, goals, objectives, critical success factors, and strategies.

• A 5-year strategic plan for Rand McNally's map division and a 5-year information systems plan for the forms production division.

• The Corporate Information Management (CIM) strategic planning sessions for the combined EDS and General Motors organization. These sessions defined this new organization (after their merger), its entire strategic plan and organizational structure.

• Ameritech Corporation IT department global and departmental strategic plans. One workshop with the CIO and staff after the announcement of the SBC merger. The second with one of the IT divisions of the newly merged SBC to develop their strategic plan and organizational design.

• Y2K Contingency planning session for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

• Product strategy for Mobility Products – high technology products for customers – of the Star Alliance (SAS, Lufthansa, United Airlines, etc.).

• 7-workshops to re-engineer contract management for the DFW Airport Board.

• The project plan for implementing INTEL's global general ledger system.

• 15-workshops for the U.S. Treasury Department Financial Management Services (FMS) System 90 project. Developed all requirements for a complete re-engineering of the payment and claim system.

• Workshops with Cisco Systems to define Customer Data Warehouse data models.

• Analysis sessions for United Health Care Diversified Pharmaceuticals. Developed both process and data models in sessions to define new Pharmaceutical Claim System.

• Software selection workshop with AirTouch to select a billing system for Wireless Management Corporation.

Education

US Naval Academy | Annapolis

Work History

• 1985 to present – President | Owner of MGR Consulting, Inc. (previously known as MG Rush Systems, Inc.)
• 2004 to 2005 – Chef | Owner of MG Rush dba Mirácles Restaurant in San Juan, Puerto Rico (read "Pursuing Dreams")
• 1984 to 1985 – Internal Consultant | Exxon Corporation
• 1976 to 1984 – Business Analyst | Project Manager | CNA Insurance, Chicago, Il

Professional Association Memberships

• International Association of Facilitators (IAF)
  • IAF Chair-Elect 2007
  • IAF Chair 2008 to 2010

• IAF Chicago Chapter
• Project Management Institute (PMI) Registered Education Provider
• International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) Endorsed Education Provider

Certifications

• International Association of Facilitators (IAF)
  • IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator (CPF)
  • IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator Assessor
• Thiagi Certified Trainer

Skills

• Spanish - moderate
• Computers - proficient in communication and publication software
• Excellent presentation and communication skills
• Facilitation – teaching, facilitating, and consulting
• Strategic Planning - teaching and consulting
• Business Process Re-engineering - teaching and consulting
• Organizational Design - teaching and consulting
• Data Modeling - teaching and consulting
• Leadership - teaching and consulting

Other Interests

• Cooking
• Gardening
• Art
• Clarinet
• Ballroom Dancing
• Architecture
• Taijiquan (Tai-Chi)