Profiles in Leadership

Rebecca Shaddix is a seasoned marketing executive and go-to-market strategist with a proven track record of driving significant revenue growth across various industries. With a unique background that combines deep technical expertise, data-driven marketing, and empathetic leadership, Rebecca has led high-growth companies in education, healthcare, and SaaS to impressive success. Her approach is rooted in a research background, allowing her to blend analytical thinking with creative marketing strategies. 

As a Forbes contributor and recognized thought leader, Rebecca brings insights into the societal impacts of technology, particularly in areas such as AI's role in solving global issues and fostering diversity in tech. Her 

ability to align technology-driven solutions with broader missions while driving substantial business results sets her apart in the marketing and leadership landscape.

Claudia Longo is a dynamic leader and social entrepreneur whose journey is one of resilience and purpose. A former Division 1 athlete, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at 18, just months before beginning her collegiate soccer career at the University of Washington. Despite this challenge, she returned to the field, playing several successful seasons for the Huskies while earning her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience.

After graduating, Claudia turned her experience into action, founding MS, I’mpossible, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering young adults living with MS. Through community support and financial aid programs, the organization provides critical resources to those navigating life with the disease.

Claudia is also the Managing Director at BoardReady, where she plays a pivotal role in increasing diversity of thought in corporate boardrooms. Under her leadership, BoardReady has expanded its reach, helping companies build stronger, more forward-thinking boards.

Her influence extends beyond boardrooms and nonprofits – in 2024, Claudia took the TEDx stage, sharing her insights on how to create change from challenge. Recognized for her impact, she has received numerous accolades, including being a Seattle Kraken Hero of the Deep nominee and receiving the Wayne Gittinger Inspirational Award at the Seattle Sports Star of the Year event.

Jimmy McKay and I sit down and discuss what I have learned doing interviews for my Podcast over 8 years and more than 235 interviews.  He wanted me to rank my top 10 impactful moments but I just couldn't do it because there are so many to choose from.  So I picked 10 I thought were great and didn't rank them but shared them as they were profound to me.  Jimmy was a pioneer in Podcasting and has shared some of his knowledge with me as I launched my show.  He has done exceptionally well and embraced those of us who have tried to follow in his footsteps.  It was an honor and pleasure to sit down with him and share ideas and experiences.

Franklin J. Rooks Jr. is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (“PCPS”), where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science and a Master of Physical Therapy Degree. After graduating from PCPS, he earned a Master of Business Administration (“MBA”), with a concentration in finance, from Drexel

University, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Along with his college roommate, he went on to be a founding partner of PRO Physical Therapy, an outpatient physical

therapy business based in Wilmington, Delaware. At the time that it was sold to the private equity firm KRG Capital, the business had 18 locations in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

After selling PRO Physical Therapy, Mr. Rooks earned his juris doctor degree from Delaware Law School. He is licensed to

practice law in the State of New Jersey and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Rooks also represents healthcare providers in breach

of contract matters and also provides general legal advice pertaining to contracting and compliance with federal and state regulations. 

Since 2009, Mr. Rooks has been an operating partner of Shore Capital Partners, a private equity firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors for Therapy Partners Group, a portfolio company of Shore Capital with 137 outpatient physical therapy clinics primarily located throughout California, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada.

After graduating from law school, he and his partner from PRO Physical

Therapy purchased a single-office occupational medicine business from a hospital system in Delaware. Mr. Rooks and his partner grew the occupational medicine business

to five locations and in 2015, sold it to In-Tandem Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm. In 2018, Mr. Rooks and a partner acquired a durable medical equipment business in New Jersey. In 2023, after tripling the business’s EBITDA, Mr. Rooks and his partner sold the DME business to a strategic acquirer.  He is currently a partner with Iterum Physical Therapy, and outpatient physical therapy business with locations in Florida and Delaware.

Mr. Rooks resides in Chester County, Pennsylvania.   He is married with

three children, 2 sons, one daughter

Israel David Duran, compelling speaker and

business growth partner, has empowered countless entrepreneurs worldwide to unleash their potential.

After a transformative car accident in 2018, Duran dedicated himself to serving others, guiding them to personal and professional growth. He inspires purposeful leaders to build profitable businesses that impact the world.

As a sought-after speaker, Duran's dynamic stage

presence motivates audiences to embrace their

purpose and drive. With his guidance, individuals

learn to share their stories effectively, enhancing

credibility and fostering personal growth.

DanJ.Berger(www.danjberger.com) is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, author, and community builder dedicated to fostering connection and belonging. His book,The Quest: The Definitive Guide to Finding Belonging(Forbes Books), cements his place as a thought leader on this essential human need. As the founder of Social Tables, an award-winning event design software company acquired by Blackstone-owned Cvent for $100 million,Danrevolutionized the events industry, helping people connect at scale. A recipient of multiple awards including the Pacesetter Award from the Events Industry Council, he now leads Assemble Hospitality Group, reimagining corporate retreats to cultivate belonging and transform team dynamics.

An avid community builder,Danfounded the Idaho Israel Alliance, a nonprofit combating antisemitism in the wake of the October 7 attacks in Israel. He also spearheaded a prominent Idaho men’s group and is an active participant in YPO and Tiger 21. He holds an MBA from Georgetown University and lives in Boise, Idaho with his wife and daughter.  

Dan Rootenberg is the CEO of Spear,  which he co-founded in 1999, working out of a small treatment room in midtown Manhattan. He had a singular vision for combining clinical excellence with a five-star customer service experience. Spear has since grown to 55+ locations throughout NYC, Westchester, Long Island, New Jersey and CT, employing over 950+ people currently and is continuing to expand further.

Dan’s focus on organizational leadership has resulted in several honors and recognitions from business, medical and academic institutions. Dan is an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® New York finalist, National Entrepreneur of the month winner and an Olympic Team medical coordinator. Spear has been named to the Inc5000 list of fastest growing private companies in America seven times, received Columbia University’s Award for Leadership in Clinical Education twice and has been named by SmartCEO magazine as a Future50 company five times.

Dan has been honored with the National Practice of the Year award twice, by two industry leading organizations.

Prior to Spear, Dan played pro baseball on three continents.  In the summer of 2021, Dan traveled to the Olympic Games in Tokyo as a team PT and medical coordinator as well as fulfilling that role in Major League Baseball’s World Baseball Classic tournament held in Seoul, Tokyo and Jupiter, FL.

Dan also served on the Board of Directors of Peter Stuyvesant Little League and the Bonnie Youth Club, two organizations devoted to teaching children lifelong values, self-worth, and responsibility through baseball. Dan has made numerous guest spots on Sports Talk radio, and was featured in the award-winning documentary “Holy Land Hardball”. Dan now plays tennis in his free time and lives in NYC with his wife and three children..

•  Rebecca Fitzsimmons, founder of Tactical Harmony, an online business focused on holistic leadership and mindset strategies.
• Rebecca shares her background, starting from her upbringing in a small town in northeastern Ohio, her degree in forensic and investigative science, and her internship with the FBI.
• Rebecca explains her transition from forensics to becoming an NCIS Special Agent, detailing her 13.5 years with NCIS and her roles in criminal investigations, counter-terrorism, and counter-intelligence.
• She discusses her decision to leave NCIS after nearly 15 years to explore new sectors and eventually start her own business.

• Rebecca elaborates on her reasons for leaving NCIS, including her desire to serve in a different sector and her leadership experience.
• She describes her transition to a technology company and her current role as an entrepreneur running Tactical Harmony.
• Rebecca emphasizes the importance of holistic leadership, which involves leading oneself and others in a comprehensive way.
• She highlights the components of holistic leadership, including emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and self-regulation.

• Rebecca defines holistic leadership as a whole-person approach to influencing and inspiring oneself and others.
• She explains the importance of leading by example and the role of emotional intelligence in building strong relationships.
• Rebecca discusses the power of mindset, stating that it is the starting point for achieving greatness and that thoughts determine feelings and actions.
• She shares her belief in the transformative power of gratitude practices and how it can positively impact one's biochemistry and neural pathways.

• Rebecca describes her typical clients, which include ambitious professionals, aspiring leaders, and businesses looking to enhance their mindset and leadership skills.
• She explains the concept of gratitude practices, advising clients to think of three things they are grateful for each morning and evening.
• Rebecca emphasizes the importance of feeling the emotion associated with gratitude to create positive biochemical changes in the body.
• She shares her own experience of initially dismissing gratitude practices and how it eventually became a transformative part of her routine.

• Rebecca discusses the importance of building resilience through continuous hard work and incremental improvement.
• She introduces the concept of Kaizen, focusing on getting 1% better each day, and compares it to the analogy of turning a tractor slightly to achieve greater distance.
• Rebecca highlights the significance of raising standards and maintaining high-performance habits, such as physical exercise, mind-body-spirit nourishment, and focusing on high-impact activities.
• She emphasizes the need for self-care and the benefits of incorporating fun and enjoyable activities into daily routines.

• Rebecca explains the role of spirituality in holistic leadership, describing it as connecting to one's truth and highest self.
• She shares her personal practice of meditation and how it helps her achieve coherence between her heart and brain, leading to peak performance.
• Rebecca discusses the importance of self-care and how it contributes to being the best version of oneself.
• She describes her approach to self-care as a harmony rather than a balance, allowing for flexibility based on different life demands.

• Rebecca talks about the concept of legacy and its importance in leadership.
• She explains the process of identifying one's values, mission, and vision, and how it ties into the legacy one wants to leave behind.
• Rebecca emphasizes the need for continuous personal growth and the role of coaching in helping leaders understand themselves better.
• She shares her experience of witnessing clients' transformations as they explore and nourish their personal growth.

• Rebecca discusses the varying lengths of her client relationships, ranging from short-term engagements to long-term collaborations.
• She explains how her work with clients often starts with addressing their immediate needs and then evolving into more comprehensive support.
• Rebecca expresses her passion for public speaking and her plans to focus more on keynote speaking in the future.
• She mentions her goal of speaking internationally and the energy she derives from engaging with audiences hungry for growth and development.

• Rebecca provides an overview of her Tactical Harmony podcast, which she started last year and has been a solo show so far.
• She plans to introduce guests in 2025 and aims to balance short, digestible episodes with longer, in-depth conversations.
• Rebecca describes her approach to creating content that is easy to fit into busy schedules and targets high performers.
• She shares her process of recording episodes based on her intuition and the topics that resonate with her at the moment.

BobKaplan just brought out a new book, GRAPPLING: Leaders Striving To Improve. It’s short stories, fictionalized cases, meant to bring executive coaching to life, which is often a struggle, a wrestling match with yourself. GRAPPLING is a novel approach to writing about leadership and self-improvement, and very readable.Bob’s previous book is Fear Your Strengths—What You’re Best At Is Probably Your Biggest Problem. He is founder and president ofKaplanDeVries, a leadership-consulting firm. Learn more at KaplanDeVriesand http://kaplandevries.com/booksBobhas a bachelor’s degree in English and a doctorate in organizational behavior from Yale, and lives in New York City with his wife, Becky. 

NeilTrickettis a physical therapist, and private practice marketing expert. Neil built a 7 figure PT practice with his wife, Amy, in which he transitioned out of in 2010. He then founded Practice Promotions, and has built that to be one of the largest multi-7 figure marketing agencies in North America, specializing in Rehabilitation. Neil's passion is for helping practice owners scale their business by leveling up their marketing systems and websites. Neil's company, Practice Promotions, currently services over 1200 clinic locations across the U.S. and Canada.