Executive Advisory Team

Barbara Ann Sharon, MEd. CPBA, CPVA, CAIA
Barbara Ann Sharon is the CEO and President of Performance Initiatives, Inc., a training and consulting firm established to help organizations meet the new challenges for the millennium.

Ms. Sharon holds dual bachelor's degrees in Sales/Marketing and Speech Communications. She spent over 15 years in the sales field, advancing on to achieve superior sales and service achievements. Her first Master's Degree was earned in Human Performance Technology and Instructional Design. From there, she continued with studies for an MBA in Business Management.

In addition to her training and consulting firm, Barbara Ann owns a goal-based entity that delivers an award-winning personal education safety system. This personal education system conquers fear, produces high recall and builds confidence. The system empowers children and adults by teaching the skills and tools necessary to protect themselves in today's challenging, but dangerous world. To date, her organization and associated franchises have improved the lives of over 4,000,000 children and adults.

Barbara Ann Sharon currently resides in the Philadelphia area with her husband, Steve, and two children, Jessica and Stevie.

Michael Leardi
Michael Leardi is a senior higher education financial executive with 15+ years of experience in a variety of educational institutions. He has significant experience in project management, business process reengineering, financial administration, research administration and clinical activities. In addition to his strong record of financial and administrative accomplishments, he has managed the implementation of new administrative systems for 6 different organizations.

Mr. Leardi has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Villanova, an MBA from Widener University and an Ed.D in Higher Education Administration from Widener University expected 6/2006.

Michael Leardi presently resides in West Chester with his wife, Mary Ellen and his five kids, Katie, Michael, Brendan, Matthew and Cecelia.

Elizabeth (Bette) Engblom
Elizabeth (Bette) Engblom is a retired English teacher, who worked for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for 35 years.

Ms. Engblom has a Bachelor’s degree in History and English from Cabrini College and St. Joseph’s University, and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Villanova University. She taught in various high schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and finished her career at Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill, Pa. where she was the English Department Chair.

Over the years, Ms. Engblom held many extracurricular positions, such as: Yearbook Moderator, Class Moderator, Technology Coordinator, Bowling Coach, and Union Representative. She also ran a tutoring program after school to get students ready for the S.A.T. exams. Outside of her school duties, she served on the Home and School Association Boards for St. Kevin’s Parish in Springfield, Pa., and Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield, Pa.

Bette resides in Sea Isle City, New Jersey with her husband William, Ms. Engblom works for McCoy Enterprises as an Senior Editor, and Sand Barrens Golf Course as a Reservationist.

Ms. Engblom has two married sons, Kevin (Tina) and Jeff (Kristen), and two grandchildren, Isabella and Justin.

Ellen Barnes Pfiffner M. Ed, CMM
Ellen gets results for a wide range of clients by providing actionable plans. Her input is aimed at improving the strategic alignment of human capital with the operational goals of the company. She designs, implements, and evaluates customized processes that lower costs, increase revenue and improve procedures. Her expertise is focused on Training and Development, Organizational Development and Executive Briefing Center Programs.

In addition, she draws on her 20+ years of hands-on business experience plus post-graduate work in Management and Organization Behavior and her Corporate Marketing Certification to provide clients broad-based recommendations and coaching.

Ellen is a frequent presenter at national conferences and is active in professional and community organizations.

Ellen is an outstanding trainer with in-depth curriculum development knowledge and with extensive experience in E-learning including videoconferencing and webinars. She has designed, implemented, and managed professional certification programs to increase staffs’ technical knowledge, skills, and overall sales proficiencies.

By leveraging and perfecting her training and organizational development skills, she has held positions of increasing responsibility in sales and marketing. Over twelve years of experience managing and consulting to Executive Briefing Center Programs She managed the successful integration of the Bell Atlantic and GTE nationwide staffs to form the Verizon Executive Briefing Center Program team in less than three months, Showcased >500 voice, video products and services and conducted >2000 Executive Briefings for Fortune 1000 companies annually.

Ellen Barnes Pfiffner currently resides in Dallas with her husband, Tim, and two children, Kelly and Mary-Kate.

Karen Howland, Ph.D.
Karen Howland holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Organizational Psychology. She is an executive with 15+ years of corporate experience working on a wide range of issues that affect employee and organizational performance. She has tackled challenges that span all aspects of managing one's workforce from designing effective selection processes ensuring the right people are placed in the right jobs to building a talent base through succession management programs sustaining organizational growth. Karen believes in the importance of considering the whole performance management system when addressing employee development. The most successful training is supported by other elements of the HR and management environment. She has created integrated solutions like certification programs linked to the organization's rewards, recognition, and promotion processes.

Karen currently resides in Silver Spring, MD.