ABOUT US
OUR STORY
In the last quarter-century, the concept of “teamwork” at work has exploded as a business phenomenon. Businesses everywhere have climbed aboard the “build great teams” bandwagon. Unfortunately, at the core of this thinking is an underlying assumption that each of us automatically knows what to do and how to act in our team roles. In reality, however, most of us don’t fully understand our impact on the team, or the impact the team has on us.
A deeper understanding of the roles each of us plays on the team, alongside a laser-focus on business priorities and goals creates an “interconnected independence”, the key to today’s high performing teams and sustainable business success.
At Authentic Impact, we have been helping companies achieve interconnected independence for years. Our mission is to help professionals get clear on business priorities, as well as get a handle on their strengths and how to best deploy them for themselves and the team. Through a customized, affordable and simple process, we help shed light on what’s truly important and what can be left behind. As trusted partners, we listen, coach and lead individuals and teams toward achieving their greatest potential, unlocking higher levels of growth and success. We help cut through the noise and distractions that mire down performance and zero in on the right things, so team members feel stronger, more confident, more engaged, more resourceful and, ultimately, more productive. Team leaders feel empowered to manage less and achieve more.
Co-Founders
Helen Kain, Co-Founder
HELEN KAIN is the co-founder of Authentic Impact. and the Founder and CEO of The Coaching House, a Toronto based executive coaching firm. She is an evidence-based coach whose approach is deeply rooted in Positive Psychology, Appreciative Inquiry and brain science.
Helen’s interest in coaching began during her extensive career as an investment professional. A passion for uncovering and understanding her clients’ relationship to money fueled her research into motivation, effective change and human excellence. This focus resulted in long-standing relationships of mutual trust and confirmed her interest in the human side of the investment business. Read More
Gordon Parry, Co-Founder
GORDON PARRY is the co-founder of Authentic Impact. He has over 20 years experience working for global organizations in a senior executive capacity. He is also the founder of Aristotle Group, a firm dedicated to leveraging human capital at the individual, group, and organization level.
His corporate experience includes leading the human side of growth through innovation, acquisitions, mergers, spin-offs, and IPOs. Included among his clients and past employers are: First Data Corporation (formerly NYSE: FDC), Western Union, the American Red Cross, and American Express. Read More
Our Team
WENDY BENEDICT
1-402.609.7030 Ext. 506
Wendy Benedict's Bio
WENDY BENEDICT has over 20 years of experience leading human resources for large public companies. She has also served as a human capital consultant to companies of all sizes, in a variety of industries. The combination of corporate leadership and consulting has given Wendy an exceptionally strong expertise in all areas of human capital management.
Employers and clients have recognized Wendy’s ability to deliver human resource programs and services that are aligned with business goals.
With a focus on leadership effectiveness, organization performance, talent management, executive compensation and transition management, Wendy has held executive level HR roles for Alliance Data Systems, EBI Companies, and First Data Corporation. While at First Data, she was responsible for the transformation of human resource programs and practices to support the company’s long term strategy and priorities.
Wendy is experienced in a range of executive and team development techniques and tools, including a certification in the use of Emergenetics®.
Wendy lives in Dallas, Texas.
GLENN BRYANT
1-402.609.7030 Ext. 507
Glenn Bryant's Bio
GLENN BRYANT draws on over 25 years of experience in his legal career, where he gained a reputation as a common sense, practical lawyer, always focused on the best possible outcome for his clients. His primary areas of practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations and shareholder issues and agreements. His approach resulted in long-established client relationships of mutual respect and trust. This approach has yielded the same results in his executive coaching and business consulting career that began in 2006
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Glenn is a Certified Coach (ACC) and a Certified Mentor Coach (CMC) through the Mentor Coach program. He has attended The Coaches Training Institute as well as Crucial Conversations® training. Prior to his coaching career, Glenn was a partner with Beach Hepburn LLP in Toronto and Martin Hillyer Bryant in Burlington. Although his professional pursuits have shifted to coaching, he remains a member in good standing of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
Glenn divides his time between Ancaster, Ontario and Cape Cod.
JULIA HERNANDEZ
1-402.609.7030 Ext. 512
Julia Hernandez's Bio
Julia has nearly 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. She has worked cross functionally as a leader in merchant processing, human resources, treasury services, information technology, wealth management and deposit pricing. She been part of the executive leadership team and has also led a national sales team working with Fortune 500 clients and has coordinated communications and execution the areas of project management. She is currently the Chief Operating Officer of fin-tech company serving clients in 20 states.
Julia is a Gallup certified strengths coach and is certified in numerous other personality inventories. She has served as an instructor at the University of Nebraska- Omaha and has frequently spoken at conferences and seminars and executive symposiums. She also earned the Certified Treasury Professional (CTP), and completed the Lean/Six Sigma program from Villanova University.
Julia has been active in non-profits as a board member for youth mentoring organizations, young professional organizations as well as the church she attends
Julia grew up working in a family-owned business, which was in her family for 100 years. Learning business from the ground up provided Julia with sense of the scope of projects and prioritization required to successfully keep a business profitable and current.
She received a BA in Psychology from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and an MA from University of Nebraska – Lincoln in Human Resource Development with an emphasis in Organizational Design.
GLENN PARRY
1-402.609.7030 Ext. 510
Glenn Parry's Bio
For more than 20 years, GLENN PARRY has helped business leaders develop human capital strategies and organizational structures that help companies prosper. A seasoned HR executive, Glenn has considerable expertise managing organizational design and development, employee relations, compensation and benefits for corporations in the insurance and financial services industries. He has also served as an instructor in compensation, benefits, and human resources.
Glenn has consistently earned recognition from employers and clients for his mastery of delivering direct, honest feedback in a way that builds trust, promotes sustainable positive change, and measurably improves individual and company performance.
Glenn has an MA in Counseling, Guidance and Personnel Management from the University of South Dakota. He earned his BA degree at the University of Arizona, where he majored in Personnel Administration. His professional certifications include Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) and Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS).
Glenn lives in Beloit, Wisconsin.
KARI TOUCHETTE
1-402.609.7030 Ext. 512
Kari Touchette's Bio
Kari currently works as a Virtual Assistant with Time ETC. Her career began with joining the family business and working with every department from customer service, shipping, receiving, to accounting. She decided to expand her experience and joined a Financial Advisor Firm where she was able to manage multiple advisors and onboarding for new clients. Kari is now with Time Etc as a virtual assistant and works with her husband who owns a metal fabrication business. Kari and her husband Louis recently moved to the family farm where they raise crops and cattle. They both share the passion of farming and bringing the family farm back to life.
Kari is an active member in her local church and enjoys helping the community as much as she can. Most days you will find her tending to her chickens, in the garden, or in her kitchen baking up delicious treats.
Kari lives in Corydon, Indiana
MONIKA WALASEK
1-402.609.7030 Ext. 505
Monika Walasek's Bio
MONIKA WALASEK has 14 years of experience in the financial services industry. She spent the early part of her career with a retail foreign exchange company; three years as a senior advisor specialist, administering accounts for a major global custodian. Most recently, Monika was on a High Net Worth Client servicing team at RBC Phillips Hager & North Investment Counsel, assisting the Investment Counsellors in providing daily portfolio maintenance, administration and client service. There she received a Performance Award for superior client service in 2011. Monika’s long career on Toronto’s Bay Street has taught her that while she is good with numbers, she is even better with people. B.A. Honours in Economics and Psychology, York University (2002).Monika lives in Mississauga, Ontario.
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Learn about Hesey Center, a beautifully renovated barn converted to an Executive Retreat venue for exclusive use by Authentic Impact and our clients.
