ISPI Board of Directors
Click Here to See Past ISPI Officers
Yvon Dalat
President
Yvon is a Certified Performance Technologist and Director of Technology at VPS Learning. Some of his career highlights include receiving four Raytheon CEO/President awards and ten industry Awards for Excellence for programs he managed. Recently, he led VPS to secure second place in the US Navy's Learning-AI prize challenge.
Starting his journey with VPS in Europe, Yvon managed a team of over 200 employees before relocating to the US to spearhead the transformation of large-scale training programs. Elected to ISPI’s Board of Directors in 2021, he has since driven a 95% increase in membership.
Yvon's dedication to improving the lives of others earned him the White House Volunteer Service Award. He is also an accomplished author, having published numerous articles in ISPI's Performance Improvement Journal and three books on self-management and work-life balance, which have been translated into multiple languages. Yvon holds a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering from Germany and an MBA from the UK.
George Limin Gu
Past President
George is a seasoned management innovator with over thirty years of experience, specializing in management innovation, performance improvement, and talent strategy. He has worked with top companies like IBM and Ericsson. Since 2011, he co-developed the GPS-IE® Management System with Mr. Hui Ding, leading to certifications like IPP and CID. George has authored books on GPS-IE® and produced the Training Masters Series, interviewing global industry leaders. He is a Certified Performance Technologist and has served on the ISPI board since 2017, becoming President-Elect in 2021. George has also received Distinguished Alumni Awards from St. Cloud State University and Nankai University.
Dr. Rose Baker
Treasurer
Dr. Rose Baker, Assistant Professor at the University of North Texas, researches open learning, management techniques, and statistical applications. She holds a Ph.D. in Instructional Systems, an M.Ed. in Adult Education, and a B.A. in Mathematics and Chemistry. Certified as a PMP®, she is an associate editor of Performance Improvement Quarterly and ISPI Treasurer. Active in ISPI conferences, she rejoined ISPI in 2011 and has served as VP for Community Service in ISPI Texas since 2016.
Dr. Stephanie Johnson
Secretary
Dr. Stephanie Johnson, Corporate Master Black Belt at PACCAR, oversees global continuous improvement and Six Sigma training programs. Previously, she served as Continuous Improvement Instructional Designer and National Dealer Training Manager at PACCAR Parts. Her career includes roles at the State of Washington, SABIC Innovative Plastics, General Dynamics Land Systems, and O/E Learning. Stephanie holds a Bachelor's in Education from Central Michigan University, a Master's in Teaching from Saginaw Valley State University, and a PhD in Instructional Technology from Wayne State University.
New Executive Director
Coming Soon
Dr. Sue Czeropski
Director of Events
Dr. Czeropski, CPT, is a Learning and Development Executive with over 40 years of experience. She currently serves as faculty in Capella University's advanced doctoral program. Dr. Czeropski combines e-learning, education, management, training, and organizational development expertise to design impactful business process programs. She excels at identifying development needs, fostering collaboration, and leading high-performing teams, both virtually and in-person, to deliver critical business performance improvements.
Dr. Carlos Viera
Director of Publications
Dr. Viera, a scholar-practitioner with over 30 years of experience, currently serves as Associate Professor and Program Manager for the Master’s Program in Industrial and Organizational (IO) Psychology for Albizu University. Previously, he served as a Manager in Management Consulting at Accenture and as Director for Planning, Policy Analysis, and Grant Program Support at Miami Dade College prior to that. He has also served as District Director for the Office of Performance Improvement at Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS), earning a Certificate of Commendation for strategic planning. Dr. Viera has also consulted for various public and nonprofit organizations and held roles such as executive director, director, district chair, educational specialist, and classroom teacher.
Dr. Frank Fu
Director of Accreditation
Dr. Fu, Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, holds a Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Houston and an MBA from the University of Rochester. His research and teaching focus on sales and marketing performance improvement. He received the Anheuser-Busch Excellence in Teaching Award in 2010, the 2006 AMA Sales SIG Award for best doctoral dissertation, and the 2005 AMA Sales SIG/DSEF Sales Dissertation Research Grant. He also won the Firooz Hekmat Award for best paper at the 2004 Marketing Management Association conference.
Kevin Theos
Director of Partnership
Kevin Theos, an instructional designer and consultant, owns Theos Consulting. Originally from Chicago, he earned a law degree from Northwestern University and pivoted to education, becoming the first Executive Director of "Learning Excellence through Tennis," expanding programs to serve over 2,500 children. At the USTA, he created the largest USTA Flex League and a successful family tennis program. He also led the USPTA Southern Division, winning the 2020 President’s Paul Waldman Award. Kevin holds an MS in Instructional Design and Development from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and now focuses on educational experiences for athletes and neuro-literacy content with NEXT. He serves on the ISPI Wild West Chapter board and as the ISPI Chapter Affiliation Committee Chair.
Dr. Patti Phillips
Director of Membership
Dr. Phillips is the CEO of ROI Institute, Inc., a global consulting firm specializing in measurement, evaluation, and human capital analytics. Recognized as a leader in her field, Patti has authored over 50 books and contributes to numerous journals. She has received multiple awards, including the 2024 ISA Thought Leader Award. Dr. Phillips serves on several boards, including UNITAR and ISPI, and holds a Ph.D. in International Development. She frequently speaks at international conferences and collaborates with her husband, Dr. Jack J. Phillips, in advancing the ROI Methodology worldwide.
Dr. Deri Amason
Director of Technology and Communication
Dr. Amason is a leader in Performance Improvement with a Ph.D. in Instructional Systems. She has revolutionized organizational development through innovative models and supports organizations during transitions. Her contributions to Instructional Design and Online Education are notable for creating interactive, outcome-based learning.
Dr. Amason advocates for Communities of Practice and informal learning, emphasizing their role in knowledge management and innovation. Her influential works on instructional strategies and training effectiveness models are widely adopted. Recognized for her expertise, she frequently speaks at global conferences and advises organizations. She continues to develop methodologies offering insights into high-performing organizations.
Dr. Kasi Guillot
Director of Academic Programs
Dr. Guillot, Director of Academics and Performance Improvement Initiatives for Community Outreach, has a Master of Education in Instructional Technology with a specialization in Human Performance Technology from the University of West Florida and a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership at Franklin University. With over 20 years of experience in higher education, her focus involves utilizing technology to drive performance improvement to address performance and organizational issues in education programs.
Dr. Lynne MacBain
Director of Innovation
Dr. MacBain, Director of Innovation at ISPI, transforms organizations through evidence-based performance improvement strategies and advanced AI integration. Her award-winning work has revitalized organizations across nonprofit, corporate, and religious sectors, consistently delivering exceptional results. With an EdD in Instructional and Performance Technology, she expertly combines advanced learning science with performance methodologies to help leaders navigate change and overcome complex challenges. Her extensive board service has strengthened her understanding of organizational governance and strategic alignment. Dr. MacBain's approach emphasizes collaborative partnerships, data-driven solutions, and sustainable capability building—empowering organizations to achieve lasting transformation rather than quick fixes.
