Bios
Idea Connection Systems has a diverse group of individuals that work together to create an outstanding experience for our client.
Bob Rosenfeld
Founder and CEO
Founded Kodak’s Office of Innovation 1st successful implementation in Corporate America
Co-founded the Association for Managers of Innovation (AMI)
Founded Idea Connection Systems
Created Mosaic Partnership (a social innovation) – reduce racial polarization in major urban centers
Author: “Making the Invisible Visible: The Human Principles for Sustaining Innovation”
Created the ISPI™ (Innovation Strengths Preference Indicator®)
Author: “The Invisible Element: A Practical Guide for the Human Dynamics of Innovation”
Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) – Innovator in Residence Emeritus
Andrew Harrison
Innovation Ambassador
Author - Love Your 84,000 Hours at Work: Stories on the Road from People with Purpose and Passion (2010)
Writer - The Invisible Element: A Practical Guide for the Human Dynamics of Innovation (December 2011)
Part of delivery team at first ever ISPI workshop (2008)
Has been delivering workshops and coaching since 2008
Co-author, NDU Press publication, “Finding Ender: Exploring the Intersections of Creativity, Innovation and Talent Management in The United States Armed Forces”
Sylvester Taylor
President & Strategist of Humangrid
Experienced coach, manager, award-winning researcher, and skilled facilitator
Served in a variety of senior leadership roles for more than thirty years at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)
Published widely on issues related to leadership assessment, leadership development, and innovation and creativity; including co-author of books: Making Creativity Practical, Experience-Driven Leadership Development: Models, Tools, Best Practices, and Advice for On-the-Job Development, and Leveraging the Impact of 360-degree Feedback
Recipient of the distinguished Scientific Contributions Award given by the Human Resources Division of the Academy of Management
Serves on multiple non-profit boards including serving as Chairman of the Association for Managers of Innovation and on the Board of Visitors of UNC Children’s Hospital
Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics and Industrial Relations as well as extensive Ph.D. level coursework from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
David Magellan Horth
Vice President Mosaic Communities
21 years in the computer industry as a research and development engineer
Worked 30 years at CCL as an innovative designer, facilitator, and coach, specializing in the confluence of design, innovation, and leadership development, his final role was Director of Innovation Venturing & Partnerships. Upon retiring from the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), he was awarded Honorary Senior Fellowship.
Co-authored the award-winning book “The Leader’s Edge: Six Creative Competencies for Navigating Complex Challenges"
Co-created leadership development tools: Visual Explorer®, Leadership Metaphor Explorer™, Wisdom Explorer™, Transformations ™ and Targeted Innovation Toolkit,
Leader of his episcopal church's Beloved (anti racist) Community Commission.
Gary Wilhelmi
Executive Consultant
Authored Fiber Optics System Design and Component Selection chapter of the book: Fiber Optic Advances in Research and Development.
Co-authored the book: ”The Invisible Element: A Practical Guide for the Human Dynamics of Innovation”
Experience includes development work in such areas as high-tech laser and optical systems, first multicomputer simulation of fly-by-wire flight control system, and first-generation fiber optics communication systems
Led technical development for new consumer products having over $750 million-year 1 nationalized annual revenue and productivity improvements totaling tens of million dollars in savings
Worked for McDonnell Aircraft Company, ITT Electro-Optics Products Division, and PepsiCo
Kenn Burke
Director of Operations
Recently moved to Rochester from Brooklyn NY, Kenn is a professional Fundraiser & Organizer with a strong background in the Operational field. Having spent the last decade supporting Non-profit/NGO’s achieve their goals, Kenn has brought his expertise to ICS to assist in directing the Office of Operational Innovation. An IT professional in another life, he brings with him the technical skills required to stay ahead. Also, Kenn is an artist (Pen, Pencil, Paint) and enjoys being creative when he’s not helping communities become stronger/wiser version of themselves.
Kristijan Petrovic
Navigator
Kristijan Petrovic is the Navigator at Idea Connection Systems.
Mike Vahey
Innovation Champion
35 years of innovation experience
Director/Innovation Champion of Raytheon’s Office of Innovation (Retired)
Senior Principal Engineering Fellow, a position held by only the top 0.02% of Raytheon employees
Instrumental in the development of Raytheon’s Innovation Challenge Week
ICS consultant each year for Raytheon to organize, lead, train and run the Challenge Week
Developed workshop-specific software to assist in workshop teaming and voting applications
Master of Science in Computer Science degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and a BS in Electrical Engineering from The University of California Santa Barbara
Ryan Ewers
Executive Consultant
Consultant and organizational psychologist whose approach to life and work is influenced by social science, inclusive practice and wellness
Approach intentionally explores the balance of commonalities and differences in people, groups and teams
Works toward lasting change through appreciative practices which identify and create effective solutions organizations want more of through expansion or creation
Professional mission is to partner with clients in the challenge of activating and achieving growth mindsets
Served in the capacities of psychometric tool research and development, co-created and co-led community-based assessments and taught courses on the principles of creativity and innovation
Frank DiGiovanni
Senior Government Consultant
Deputy Director, Expeditionary Warfare for Department of the Navy
Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education for the Department of the Navy
Director of Force Training and Education - served as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Readiness for the Office of the Secretary of Defense
Doctorate in Education from the University of Pennsylvania - Chief Learning Officer program with academic focus in Workplace Learning and Leader Development
Susan Bryant
Senior Government Consultant
Retired army colonel having served 28 years on active duty including overseas assignments in Afghanistan, Jerusalem, and South Korea
Executive Director of Strategic Education International - a non-profit that designs and delivers executive education programs for governments and private industry
Teaches Grand Strategy and Military History at Georgetown University
Teaches Defense Policy Making at Johns Hopkins University
Visiting Research Fellow at National Defense University
Co-author "Military Strategy in the 21st Century"
Co-author NDU Press publication "Finding Ender: Exploring the Intersections of Creativity, Innovation and Talent Management in the United States Armed Forces"
Currently researching military innovation and civil military relations
John Barr
Corporate Consultant
Currently provides executive coaching and consulting services to clients’ senior management teams
Innovative leader in the areas of change management and leadership with expertise in in the areas of strategy, business process breakthrough, and the implementation quality systems
Experienced in designing and implementing strategic change with solid approaches to business and human productivity
Worked at Xerox for 30 year with experience in all areas of management, human resources, sales and service and was responsible for the design, development and implementation of Total Quality Management
Senior Managing Partner for Xerox Quality Services, a worldwide consulting division, led a team of professional consultants and trainers.
Has been an adjunct instructor for years in both undergraduate and graduate programs and authored many journal articles