Helping good humans do great things.
Three things we believe make all the difference in helping people grow.
Lead with love.
Keep it real.
Find the fun.
Say hello to your new favorite humans.
Executive Team
Mark
Mark Strong
CEO
Mark spent 25 years working at boutique and global ad agencies such as Fallon and McCann in many roles ranging from EVP, Chief of Staff, Director of Business Development, Director of Account Management and Director of Learning. In 2004, he started Strong Training & Coaching to fully step into his joy space of helping other people learn and grow.
Mark’s favorite quote is “Always be learning.” In another life, Mark is a comedic actor. In this life, Mark calls Minneapolis home.
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Certified Professional Coach (CPC) from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)
Coaching Clinic Licensed Facilitator (CCLF), Corporate Coaching from Corporate CoachU
Certificate of Coaching from The Institute of Coaching at McLean/Harvard Medical School
Certified DiSC Practitioner
Jurene
Jurene Fremstad
Partner
Jurene has more than 20 years of experience as a strategic professional – coaching strategists, creatives and clients to do great work. She has held strategic leadership positions at top creative agencies like Deutsch, Mother, and MONO.
Jurene truly believes “you bring about what you think about” – so while not training she focuses her thinking on having a farm full of Boston Terriers. Though geographically she calls Minneapolis home, spiritually she remains a New Yorker.
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BA in International/Intercultural Communication // University of Minnesota
MA in Speech Communication and Mass Communication // University of Minnesota
Certified DiSC Practitioner
Certified Genos Practitioner
Facilitators / Coaches
Maureen
Maureen Falvey
Lead Coach // Trainer
Maureen brings 25+ years of leadership experience with clients like P&G, General Mills, and United Airlines at top agencies including Grey, Saatchi & Saatchi, and mcgarrybowen.
Some people say it’s easier said than done; Maureen feels it’s easier done than said, and she helps clients act on that truth inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson every day.
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BA in Marketing and Communication from The University of Dayton
(CPC) from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)
Certified Energy Leadership practitioner (ELI-MP)
Certified DiSC Practitioner
Elyssa
Elyssa Gray
Trainer // Coach
Elyssa has over 25 years of leadership experience in advertising and marketing, having worked with global brands like BBDO, Visa, Citi, and Betterment. Her deep understanding of workplace dynamics shapes her practical, no-fluff approach to coaching and training.
Elyssa firmly believes we should lead with intention, stay present, and create a lasting impact–on yourself and those around you.
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BS in Consumer Studies // University of Vermont
Associate Coaching Certification (ACC) from the International Coach Federation (ICF)
Certificate in Coaching from New York University
Certified DiSC Practitioner
Julie
Julie Vessel
Trainer // Coach // Consultant
Julie’s career began in account management, leading business-driving and award-winning collaborations for clients including: Rolling Stone, E*Trade, NBC, Children’s Hospitals MN, General Mills, and Virgin. Most recently, she was Chief Talent Officer/Chief Operating Officer of MONO.
The best compliment Julie ever received – “You helped me see the power I had within that I would have never seen myself. And you inspired me to make forward movement in my life.”
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BA in Advertising, PR, and Journalism // St. Ambrose University
Certified Coach through Martha Beck
Licensed Gallup Strengthsfinder Coach
Certified DiSC Practitioner
Matt
Matt West
Trainer // Coach
Matt has worked in both agency and corporate environments with global brands like Facebook, Walmart, Adobe, Kraft, Humana, J&J, Cisco, and Unilever. Prior to his role as Global Head of Training & Facilitation for Golin, Matt was a consultant for IPG agencies, a designer and creative director.
Matt is a husband, father, musician, outdoor enthusiast, and was once called “the sober karaoke king” by a colleague.
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BA in Communications // Brigham Young University.
MS in Management and Organizational Behavior // Benedictine University
Certified Professional in Learning and Performance™ (CPLP) from ATD
Certified DiSC Practitioner
Roshan
Roshan Shah
Trainer // Coach
Roshan is a former advertising leader turned coach & trainer with 20+ years of experience across account management, HR, and teaching abroad. She’s worked at top agencies including McCann Erickson and RAPP Worldwide for clients like Verizon, Pfizer, and MasterCard.
Roshan thrives on helping people move from knowledge to action, idea to initiative, and stuck to boundless forward momentum.
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BS in Finance and Marketing // NYU Stern
Masters of International Affairs // Columbia
CPC from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)
PCC from ICF
Certified DiSC Practitioner
Aimee
Aimee Baxter
Trainer // Coach
Aimee has worked for global consultancies and in corporate roles across industries from CPG to tech, finance, and nonprofit. She’s led teams in 50+ countries and driven brand visibility on world stages like FIFA World Cup and Bloomberg Global Business Forum. She combines business acumen and strong interpersonal skills to build collaboration that drives results.
Aimee is an adventurer and truth seeker. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.
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BA in Public Relations // SUNY Fredonia
Co-Active Leadership Coach // CTI
ACC from ICF
Certified practitioner of the Leadership Circle Profile
Natasha
Natasha Lindor
Coach
Natasha began her career at Colgate-Palmolive as a Sales Circle of Excellence inductee. She moved to PR & comms/employee engagement impacting brands and employees at Mars, Kaiser Permanente, Illinois Eye-Bank, and more.
She believes that all of life’s transitions are a springboard into a deeper level of joy, happiness, and fulfillment. She calls Chicago and Hawaii home.
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BSBA in Marketing // Washington University in St. Louis
MS in Integrated Marketing // Northwestern University
PCC from ICF
Life & Leadership Coaching Certification from iPEC
Certified Energy Leadership practitioner (ELI-MP)
Lauren
Lauren Heineman
Coach
Lauren is an organizational and talent advisor with 20 years of experience in client services and executive leadership. She is an accomplished growth driver with a purposeful and genuine approach. Her reach spans healthcare clients from start-ups to billion-dollar conglomerates.
Lauren truly lives and gives through food. She’s a feeder at the core. She resides in Harding, New Jersey.
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BA in Psychology and Mathematics // Fairfield University
Certified practitioner of the Leadership Circle Profile assessment
Recognized as a Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) “Luminary”
Shereen
Shereen Thor
Speaker // Coach
Shereen is a keynote speaker and executive coach. A two-time TEDx speaker, she’s been featured in Forbes, WSJ, Insider, and more. She has worked with organizations like Google, Salesforce, Chevron, SHRM, Capital One, Yale, USF, and The Social Justice Learning Institute.
Outside of work, she enjoys the great outdoors, time with family, coaching or playing soccer, and staying for extended periods of time.
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BA in Human Communication Studies // CSUF
CPC from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)
Certified Mediator
Certificate in The Science of Well-Being // Yale
Kelly
Kelly Harmon
Trainer // Speaker // Coach
Kelly led U.S. and global accounts at MRM McCann, Colle McVoy, and Fallon, advising brands like General Mills, Elanco/Eli Lilly, Nestlé, and BMW. She’s transformed 25+ years of agency leadership experience into a coaching practice that empowers leaders to grow with clarity and impact. She brings that same expertise to speaking and training engagements.
Kelly understands the pressures leaders face today and helps them navigate with purpose and empathy. Her mission: to bring joy to the job.
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BA English // Lafayette College
Certified Professional Coach (CPC) from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)
Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP)
Associate Certified Coach (ACC), International Coach Federation (ICF)
Operations
Ryan
Ryan Darden
CFO
With over 15 years of experience, Ryan has led financial strategy at creative companies like XX Artists, Stink Studios, and Now What. Known for a “whatever it takes” approach, Ryan brings clarity, rigor, and calm to fast-moving, high-growth environments.
Ryan calls Venice, CA home and loves nothing more than ending the day with a walk to the beach alongside his dog, Champ; proof that spreadsheets and sunsets can coexist beautifully.
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BS Economics // Oklahoma State University
Carolyn
Carolyn Clay
Operations Director
Carolyn is the driving force behind Strong’s smooth & effective operations, overseeing client management, HR, coaching operations, and billing. Her passion lies in creating environments where teams can thrive and clients feel genuinely supported, every step of the way.
Carolyn lives in Newport, RI with her husband and three boys. You’ll find her in a hockey rink or at the beach depending on the season.
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Bachelor’s Degree in Restaurant Management // The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park NY.
Amber
Amber Trimble
Program Experience Director
Amber leads the design and delivery of Strong’s training and coaching experiences, ensuring every session runs seamlessly and feels purposeful and powerful. She brings account leadership and L&D experience from agencies like McCann and Leo Burnett. Amber is known for her calm under pressure approach and brings thoughtfulness to every engagement.
Outside of work, you’ll find Amber reading, skiing, trying new recipes, or traveling with family and friends.
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BA Communications // Susquehanna University
Kelly
Kelly Welch
Business Development Supervisor
Kelly brings experience from the corporate world and boutique agency settings to her role at Strong. She applies a mix of creative strategy and operational savvy to her work spanning from marketing campaigns to new business outreach.
While not at work, Kelly enjoys reading and playing tennis with family and friends.
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BBA Marketing // UW-Madison School of Business
Meredith
Meredith Wiktor
Program Management Supervisor
Meredith brings a service mindset to everything she does. She’s the steady hand behind the curtain, keeping clients supported, the team aligned, and logistics tight. Whether troubleshooting a rollout or managing a dozen moving parts, her approach is pragmatic and people-first.
In her free time, she’s experimenting in the kitchen, out on a trail, or planning her next trip from her home base in DC.
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BA Communications, French, and Public Health // University of Minnesota
Beth
Beth Blendell
Program Operations Supervisor
Beth plays a pivotal role in keeping Strong running smoothly. She leads data entry, list segmentation, and the operational details that power seamless execution. Her pragmatic approach and passion for optimizing systems help keep clients and teams moving forward with confidence.
While not at work, you can find Beth training for her next marathon or leading workouts at the beach.
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Masters of Social Work // University of Pennsylvania
Jill
Jill Nakatani
Accounting Coordinator
Jill has over 10 years of experience in accounting and finance, having worked with both fast-growing startups and public companies. Her expertise spans financial planning, reporting, and strategic decision support.
When she is not crunching numbers, Jill loves exploring new hidden gems in her home state of California with her boyfriend and chiweenie.
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