Helping good humans do great things.
Three things we believe make all the difference in helping people grow.
Lead with love.
Fear makes us small. Love makes us grow.
Keep it real.
Practicality and honesty over BS.
Find the fun.
Fun isn’t an extra thing, it’s an essential thing.
Say hello to your new favorite humans.
Our team brings the perfect blend of experience, empathy, and energy to everything we do. These are the bright minds and big hearts that make Strong the kind of place people never want to leave.
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 comes with over 25 years of business leadership experience partnering with clients such as P&G, General Mills, Burger King and United Airlines at top advertising shops including Grey, Saatchi & Saatchi and mcgarrybowen.
Some people say it’s easier said than done; Maureen feels it’s easier done than said. She emphatically believes Ralph Waldo Emerson was right when he said, “Do the thing and you will have the power.”
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BA in Marketing and Communication from The University of Dayton
Professional Coaching Certification (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
Throughout his career in both corporate and agency environments, Matt has worked with a variety of global organizations, including Facebook, Walmart, Adobe, Kraft Foods, Cisco, Humana, McDonald’s, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, and Mondelēz International. Previous to his position as global head of training & facilitation for Golin, Matt was a consultant for various IPG agencies, as well as a graphic designer and creative director.
Matt is a husband, father, musician, outdoor enthusiast, runner, occasional boomerang thrower, 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 Performanceâ„¢ (CPLP) from the Association for Talent Development (ATD)
Certified DiSC Practitioner
Roshan
Roshan Shah
Trainer // Coach
Roshan is a former advertising leader turned executive coach and trainer with over 20 years of experience. Roshan’s career has spanned the disciplines of account management, project management, human resources and teaching abroad. She has worked at top agencies like McCann Erickson and RAPP Worldwide driving projects forward for clients like Verizon, Pfizer, and MasterCard.
Roshan thrives on helping people move from knowledge to action, idea to initiative, stuck to boundless forward momentum.
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BS in Finance and Marketing // NYU Stern School of Business
Masters of International Affairs // Columbia
Certified Professional Coach (CPC) from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)
Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coach Federation (ICF)
Certified Energy Leadership practitioner (ELI-MP)
Certified DiSC Practitioner
Aimee
Aimee Baxter
Trainer // Coach
Aimee has worked for global consultancies and in corporate roles across a variety of industries ranging from CPG to tech, finance and nonprofit. She has managed teams across 50+ countries and led brand visibility on some of the world’s biggest stages like FIFA World Cup Russia and The Bloomberg Global Business Forum. With sharp business acumen and strong interpersonal skills, she builds collaboration that drives results.
Aimee is an adventurer and truth seeker. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.
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BA in Public Relations // State University of New York College at Fredonia
Co-Active Leadership Coach through the Coaches Training Institute (CTI)
ACC certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF)
Certified practitioner of the Leadership Circle Profile assessment
Natasha
Natasha Lindor
Coach
Natasha’s 15-year corporate career began at Colgate-Palmolive where she was inducted into the Sales Circle of Excellence. She then went on to the PR and internal communications/employee engagement world where she impacted brands and employees at companies like Mars, Kaiser Permanente, and Illinois Eye-Bank.
Natasha believes every one of us is born deserving of a life that lights us up and that all of life’s transitions are a springboard into a deeper level of joy, happiness and fulfillment. She calls Chicago & Hawaii home.
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BSBA in Marketing // Washington University’s Olin School of Business
MS in Integrated Marketing Communications // Northwestern University
Professional Certified Coach certification (PCC) from the International Coach Federation (ICF)
Life & Leadership Coaching Certification from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (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 transformational executive leadership. She is an accomplished growth driver for organizations, grounded in a purposeful and genuine approach. Her reach spans a wide range of healthcare clients from single entity start-ups to billion-dollar conglomerates.
Lauren truly lives and gives through food. She’s a feeder at the core. Lauren 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 has been featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Insider, and more. She has worked with organizations like Google, Salesforce, Chevron, SHRM, Capital One, Yale, USF, and The Social Justice Learning Institute.
When she isn’t working, she is enjoying the great outdoors, spending time with her family, coaching or playing soccer, enjoying good food with friends, and leaving her cell phone in the dust for extended periods of time.
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BA in Human Communication Studies from CSUF
Certified Professional Coach (CPC) from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)
Certified Mediator through the Orange County Human Relations Commission
Certificate in The Science of Well-Being from Yale
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. She brings together all of the moving parts–client management, HR, coaching operations, and billing–to ensure everything flows seamlessly behind the scenes. With a sharp eye for performance and a knack for building strong, empowered teams, Carolyn drives the kind of operational excellence that lets Strong deliver standout service every time. Her passion lies in creating environments where teams can thrive and clients feel genuinely supported, every step of the way.
In her first life, Carolyn spent over a decade in the hospitality world as a restaurant and events manager from New York to Colorado to Hawaii. Today, she’s settled in Newport, RI with her husband and three boys. Depending on the season you’ll find her in a hockey rink or at the beach.
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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 exceptional training and coaching experiences at STRONG, ensuring every session runs seamlessly and feels personal, purposeful, and powerful. With a background in account leadership and L&D at global ad agencies like McCann and Leo Burnett, she brings a unique blend of creativity, precision, and client empathy to every engagement. Amber specializes in instructional design and curriculum development, crafting custom program experiences that are tailored to each client’s unique goals, culture, and team dynamics. Known for her thoughtful communication and calm-under-pressure presence, she’s the behind-the-scenes force that makes every program feel effortless (even when it’s anything but). When she’s not coordinating high-impact learning, Amber is likely traveling with family and friends, skiing, trying new recipes, or deep into a good book.
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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 in marketing and business development at Strong. She applies a mix of creative strategy and operational savvy to projects that keep her learning and evolving–no two days quite the same. She’s proud to be a part of work that has a real impact on people and values being part of a close, collaborative team that makes remote work feel truly connected.
When Kelly’s not working or on the sidelines of a youth sporting event, she’s likely reading, listening to a podcast, or getting in a game of tennis or pickleball.
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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. As a Program Management Supervisor, she’s the steady hand behind the curtain–keeping clients supported, our team aligned, and logistics buttoned-up. Whether she’s troubleshooting a rollout or managing a program with a dozen moving parts, her approach is thoughtful, pragmatic, and people-first.
In her free time, she’s experimenting in the kitchen, out on a trail, traveling, or planning her next trip. After years of hopping coasts, she currently calls the DC area home.
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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 the back end of Strong running smoothly. She oversees data entry, list segmentation, and the countless operational details that ensure seamless execution across all projects. Her pragmatic approach, combined with a passion for making things work better behind the scenes, helps keep both clients and internal teams moving forward with confidence.
When she’s not keeping Strong’s operations on track, Beth is hitting the pavement training for her next marathon or leading workouts by 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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BSBA with a concentration in Accountancy // California State University – Sacramento
Ready to work with us?
Engage and empower is the only way to lead.
