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An Overview of our Leadership Team

At its core, Oratium is a team of communicators who’ve learned through hard thinking and doing that there’s a better approach to improving communications than focusing on the superficial issues of eye contact and body language.

Instead, we’re passionate about helping others to understand and embody world-class communication, by using the principles and processes incorporated in Oratium’s leadership and communication training.

Our Leadership:

Tim Pollard

Chief Executive Officer

Tim founded Oratium in 2011. As CEO, he leads the ongoing development of Oratium’s intellectual property, as well as leading all major client relationships.

Tim has had a lifelong obsession with the underlying science of communication. Over a long career (at companies including Unilever, Barclays, and the Corporate Executive Board) Tim has developed a remarkable set of insights, tools and processes surrounding the practice of designing and delivering extraordinary messaging, and his passion is teaching these insights to others, helping them to become world class communicators. He is the author of two best-selling books, The Compelling Communicator: Mastering the Art and Science of Exceptional Presentation Design and Mastering the Moment: Perfecting the Skills and Processes of Exceptional Presentation Delivery. The Oratium messaging model is in active use, and the preferred messaging solution of companies as diverse as Cisco, Disney, IBM, Siemens, Schneider, LinkedIn and Salesforce.

timpollard@oratium.com

Jenn Callaway

Executive Director

Jenn Callaway is Executive Director at Oratium.

She has 20+ years of experience as a teacher, advisor, and consultant. Her career spans the education, high tech, manufacturing, consulting, and non-profit industries where she has held roles in sales, marketing, account management, research, advisory services, and corporate leadership.

Jenn is passionate about the power of effective communication and firmly believes it is the key to unlocking leadership potential. Whether it was as a teacher or an advisor to C-level executives, Jenn has seen first-hand the power of effective communication and the disappointing results from getting it wrong.

Jenn has a Bachelor’s in English from Queen’s University and lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two young daughters.

jenn@oratium.com

Mark Bourgeois

Executive Director

Mark Bourgeois is Executive Director at Oratium.

Mark has designed and given thousands of presentations across his career, developing methods and techniques that he has taught to colleagues and clients.

His written and oral communications background includes working as a legislative aide in the United States Senate, a reporter with The Tampa Bay Times, a management consultant with Booz-Allen, and head of Asia for DebtX. Additionally, he worked in Content Delivery within the Financial Services practice of the Corporate Executive Board, where he created new research and presentations, and trained others in presentation design and delivery.

A husband and father of three, Mark has a Master’s in Public and Private Management from Yale University and a Bachelor’s from Tulane University.

mark@oratium.com

Bryce Leverich

Chief Marketing Officer

Bryce Leverich is the Head of Operations and Marketing at Oratium. He has over twenty years of experience producing video content and managing marketing campaigns for organizations of all sizes.

Bryce is incredibly passionate about his role at Oratium and has been involved with the company since 2013. If you have taken any of Oratium’s e-learning courses, you will be familiar with Bryce’s work. From light board technology to animations to message role-play videos, Bryce digs into it all.

bryce@oratium.com

Sean Thom

Chief Financial Officer

Sean Thom is the Chief Financial Officer of Oratium.

Sean has a Master’s degree in Accounting from Walden University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity Western University. Prior to joining Oratium, he worked in the nonprofit world for several years.

Outside of work, Sean is passionate about his faith, his family, and football (go Broncos!). He and his wife live in Montana with their three young children.

sean@oratium.com

Chris Gardier

Chief Sales Officer

Chris Gardier is the Chief Sales Officer at Oratium. Chris has developed a remarkable track record of
driving category growth for well-known retailers such as Walmart, Target, Kroger, Whole Foods and
Amazon. Most recently, Chris was the Senior Vice President of Sales at John
B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. (JBSS), the largest processor of nut and trail mix
products in the USA, where he transformed their business performance
delivering +23% CAGR in shareholder value the past 12 years.
Before joining JBSS, Chris spent his career leading and developing sales teams
for well recognized consumer brand companies such as Kraft Foods, Frito Lay,
Pepperidge Farm and Hain Celestial. Chris received an BSBA from The Ohio
State University, and currently resides in Indianapolis with his wife Mary.
When he’s not teaching and consulting, Chris can be found competing in USGA golf events, traveling
internationally and supporting his two daughters’ careers.

Christopher and his wife Mary but now reside in Indianapolis. When he’s not teaching and consulting,
Christopher can be found competing in State and USGA golf events and supporting his two daughter’s
careers.

chris@oratium.com

Our Consultants:

Jonathan Dietrich (JD)

Senior Director

JD is a Senior Director at Oratium. He works primarily with companies and business executives to improve their communication skills across a wide range of industries and business functions – including Sales, Strategy, Market Insights and Internal Communications, as well as TED speaker coaching. To span such a diverse terrain, JD focuses on becoming a student of the client’s business and their key outcomes in order to best advise them on how to apply Oratium’s doctrine to achieve their desired results.

With over 20 years of experience advising Fortune 500 companies globally–including a three-year stint in Sydney, Australia working with Asia Pacific organizations–JD brings the balance of business savvy and youthful passion to all of his client engagements.

The most critical of those engagements are with his wife, Jennifer, who is a communications consultant and a total Oratium convert. From Washington, D.C. to Sydney and back to D.C. again, they now live in Saint Michaels, Maryland-on the Chesapeake Bay’s Eastern Shore. They’ve enjoyed a life well-travelled. Adventure, both personal and professional, is often just a plane (or car) ride away. Just the way they like it.

jd@oratium.com

Michael Hubble

Managing Director

Michael Hubble is Managing Director at Oratium. He has spent the past 20 years creating and presenting best-practice research for senior executives of health systems and corporations.

Most recently, Michael was a Managing Director and national spokesperson for The Advisory Board, a health care consultancy serving 2,400 of America’s hospitals and health systems. His areas of focus were health system strategy, health system economics, and health policy.

Before joining the Advisory Board, Michael spent 11 years with the Corporate Executive Board, a leading management consultancy. At CEB, he worked with over 500 clients, including more than half of the Fortune 100, advising executive teams and boards of directors on organizational strategy, change management, and marketing strategy.

Michael received an MBA from the University of North Carolina and a BA from the University of Georgia, and lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, their two children, and various Basset Hounds.

michael@oratium.com

Sebastian Mathews

Senior Director

Sebastian Mathews is Senior Director at Oratium, advising clients on message design. He draws from strategy, finance, and program experience across numerous industry sectors within the private sector, as well as to government and non-profit entities, advising executives and boards on growth strategies to scale impact.

Previously in Seattle as senior director at an international non-profit, he developed strategic partnerships and also co-founded and is board director of a global environmental alliance, now the world’s largest of its kind, and president of its US chapter. Prior to that he was senior manager at an international accounting firm and strategy manager at a top 10 US airport. In New York City, he advised and co-founded international startups and in Atlanta, as program director for economic development on a joint initiative with the United Nations Institute for Training & Research (UNITAR) and the City of Atlanta, he guided city leaders from over 50 countries worldwide to action the UN development goals. In South Africa, as principal at a management consultancy, he led teams on enterprise transformations, as economic advisor to a global strategy consultancy he supported a presidential initiative, and as vice-president at a corporate advisory firm, he advised corporations on strategic transactions in emerging markets. He started his career in technology with a global resources firm.

Sebastian is currently US country ambassador of the Global Corporate Finance Society and was previously adjunct lecturer of strategy with the Open University, UK and social entrepreneurship with the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He facilitated community development in South Africa as country associate of the Coady International Institute at St Francis Xavier University, Canada and board chair of South Africa’s first community foundation and was board director of various non-profits. In between, he also taught for a year at a high school in South Africa.

A husband and father of three, Sebastian holds an MBA from Heriot-Watt University, a Master’s in International Business from Georgia State University, and Bachelor’s in Finance and Engineering from the University of Witwatersrand.

sebastian@oratium.com

Our Relationship Managers:

Sarah Bolyard

Lead Client Relationship Manager

As the Account Coordinator for Oratium, I’m fortunate to be in a position where I can support the team, provide excellent customer service, and grow my professional skills.

Growing up outside of Coulee City, WA, I never thought much about what lay beyond the rolling wheat fields and sagebrush strewn hills. I never would have guessed I would be where I am now!

I attended Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA, as one of the four year colleges closest to my hometown. As I neared graduation with my degree in Anthropology, I started working for Suncadia Resort in the nearby Cascade Mountains. I found the soaring pine trees and sweeping mountain lines a welcome change from the desert landscape I grew up in, but still able to enjoy those sunny summer days.

After five years with Suncadia, I decided to pursue a change of scenery and moved to Billings. The wide open sky and sprawling horizon speak to me and it’s where I see my future.

sarah@oratium.com

Our Oratium Benelux Team:

Marieke van Dijk

Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Oratium Benelux

Marieke van Dijk, PhD is CEO of Oratium Benelux. She is a keynote speaker, message architect and senior trainer for the company.

With a background as a TEDx speaker coach, entrepreneur, trainer and (online) facilitator, Marieke is particularly excited to explore how we can leverage the power online learning and application to spread the Oratium communications principles to all corners of the world.

Before starting Oratium Benelux, she worked as an executive advisor with the Corporate Executive Board (CEB, now Gartner) in Washington DC where she delivered hundreds of research presentations to businesses around the globe; teaching their executives how to tackle the most critical challenges they face in the areas of HR Strategy, Leadership Development and Communication.

With a Ph.D. in Human Resource Development, Master’s degree in Cognitive Psychology and extensive experience coaching businesspeople around the world, she brings a unique combination of intellectual rigor and practical business experience to every (sales) message she builds and to each class that she teaches.

After having lived in the USA or 10 years (Colorado, DC and Minnesota), Marieke currently lives near the Hague, the Netherlands with her husband and two bilingual kids: Ella & Axel. She enjoys hiking (10.000 steps a day), learning, and singing.

marieke@oratium.com

Joost van Roijen

Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Director, Oratium Benelux

Joost leads the commercial side of Oratium Benelux and works as a senior trainer for the company.

He has held roles in sales, marketing, change consultancy, and leadership.
Joost is powered by his enthusiasm and positive energy to change sales organizations. He’s passionate about developing and empowering people to then improve their sales results and the growth of their company.

Before starting at Oratium Benelux, he led sales and account management teams for a training company serving the automotive industry.

The combination of optimism and tenacity combined with his genuine interest in people makes that Joost creates a company culture that inspires our clients and builds a strong team within Oratium Benelux.

Joost has a Bachelor’s in Commercial Economics from the University of Applied Sciences in Utrecht and a Master of Marketing Communication from Radboud University in Nijmegen. He lives near Utrecht (in the center of the Netherlands) with his wife, son, and daughter.

joost@oratium.com

Renate Hezemans

Message Architect & Senior Trainer

Renate is a message architect and senior trainer. She also a driving force behind our product proposition in the Benelux and brings expertise in sales enablement, training design and coaching.

She has over 20 years of experience in a variety of (international) leadership roles in sales, HR and consultancy spanning a variety of industries. During her career at CEB (now, Gartner) she has experienced the power of great sales communication in the B2B market. In her role as Global Head of Commercial Enablement at SHL she enabled hundreds of sales professionals to transform their approach to B2B sales communication through training, consultancy, and coaching.

Renate holds a bachelor’s degree in Commercial Economics, and 2 master’s degrees in Business Psychology and Business Sociology. Although her approach is pragmatic and results focused; she combines it with a personal touch and genuine interest in the people she works with.

Renate lives with her two daughters in Zeist, Netherlands and loves to play tennis.

renate@oratium.com

Dick van Engelen

Marketing Director, Project Manager & Message Architect

Dick serves many roles at Oratium Benelux. From marketing and project manager to message architect and handout design consultant.

He is passionate about getting the best results out of teams, organizations and its people.

Before joining Oratium, he spent his career focused on the commercial side of IT – always with a focus on what value IT delivers from the customer’s point of view. In partnership with big IT vendors like Microsoft, Cisco and Hewlett Packard he brought value to to Retail, Healthcare, Manufacturing and Education segments.

As manager of both Sales and Marketing, he has experienced “the best of both worlds”. However, he also saw that there is a gap in the message to the customer. A gap that he is looks forward to solving together using the Oratium methodology.

Dick holds a bachelors degree in Economics and received spelialized training in ‘Result Oriented Organization and Management’. He lives in Vlijmen, the Netherlands with his wife, daughter and son.

dick@oratium.com

Daphne Lodewijk

VP Sales, Oratium Benelux

Daphne has been in the sales profession for more than 20 years; always in business to business environment. She is an all-rounder working who loves working with professionals in technology/IT and professional services.

Before she started at Oratium Benelux, she helped a brain science organisation grown their revenue. Looking for a new challenge, the match with Oratium’s brain-aligned communication was a natural one that she is very excited about bringing to our (prospective) clients.

Daphne is responsible for sales and is therefore also the direct and first point of contact for future customers of Oratium Benelux. She has a strong process and project management focus . Every day she experiences great joy and inspiration from the collaboration between Oratium Benelux and its customers.

Daphne’s domicile is in a small town near Utrecht, the Netherlandss

Daphne@oratium.com

Our Support Staff:

Ruth Conder

Montana Office Manager

Ruth Conder is the Montana Office Manager for Oratium. In this role, she organizes all staff events, is the head of procurement, and manages the Montana office day-to-day.

After graduating with a degree in Early Childhood Education, Ruth stayed home for 25 years to raise her family. During this time, she has engaged with many different volunteering roles in the community. Her current passion is to represent children who are in the foster care system as a CASA volunteer. She finds managing the Montana office much like managing her large family. Note the acronym of her job title.

Ruth lives in Billings, Montana with her husband, enjoying life now that her children have moved out. She loves to quilt, hike, run with her dog, and travel as much as she can.

ruth@oratium.com

Kristin Jacobs

Chief of Staff, East Coast

Kristin Jacobs is the Chief of Staff for the Oratium East Coast team.

She has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Information Systems from George Mason University and worked in corporate communications for a non-profit, marketing for an association and systems analysis for a consulting firm before coming home to raise and homeschool her four children. Back in the workforce, her most recent experience has been in support roles in the financial advisory industry and government contracting field. Kristin is passionate about the Oratium methodology and assisting the Oratium consultants so they can give our clients this extraordinary message.

Kristin resides in Northern Virginia with her husband and family. She enjoys reading, walking, cooking, and event planning.

kristin@oratium.com

Grace Smith

Communications and Logistics Manager

Grace Smith is the Communications and Logistics Manager at Oratium. She received her undergraduate degree in Biblical Leadership and her Master’s degree in English Education at Grand Canyon University.

Grace is passionate about connecting with people, both professionally and personally.  As part of her position, Grace has the opportunity to speak with many of Oratium’s contacts, and she enjoys building those relationships.

Grace lives in Billings, Montana with her dog, Indie. She enjoys camping, swimming, reading, and cooking, and spending time with her dog and her fiancé. Grace loves to travel and hopes to explore more of the world in the future.

grace@oratium.com

Jerry Wall

Senior Product Manager

Jerry Wall is the Senior Product Manager at Oratium. In this role, he oversees Oratium’s Product Management and Product Development functions, helping to design and refine products that will equip our customers to design and deliver world-class messaging.

Jerry has a Bachelor’s degree from Crown College and Master’s from Bethel Theological Seminary. At home he can be found mowing the grass, shoveling the driveway, or tucked into a good historical biography.

jerry@oratium.com

Start the Conversation

Talk with one of our Oratium team members to see how we can help your business build and deliver a better message. To reach our Office directly, call (406) 272-4368.

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