Tom Ori

Professional Focus: Organizational and Individual Alignment; Courageous Followership, Organizational Renewal and Human Performance

Tom is a principal and founder of Next Level Performance Group, an organizational development consulting and training firm based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Tom applies his versatile background as performance trainer, leadership coach, and process change consultant to regular clients FMC Corporation, Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, Astellas Pharmaceuticals and Erachem-Comilog. Complementing his use of action-learning and interactive learning methodologies, Tom frequently uses assessment instruments such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Leadership Practices Inventory (a.k.a. Kouzes and Posner 360), Blanchard Situational Leadership and custom-360 degree feedback to increase an appreciation of strengths and awareness for areas of improvement.

Upon completion of undergraduate work, Tom served as research and writing assistant to the McHugh Professor of American Institutions and Leadership at Colorado College, contributing to the publication of two books on grass-roots and government leadership. Prior to starting Next Level in 1998, he was a senior trainer for eight years with Peak Performance Associates.

Tom earned a B.A. from Colorado College where he graduated with honors and distinction.  He completed a Masters degree in Human and Organizational Development from the Fielding Institute in Santa Barbara, California. His research and practice emphasis was identifying the key systems and behaviors necessary for “middle-out” (in contrast to “top down”) organizational transformation.

A movie buff, Tom has been known to wildly digress from a meeting’s initial purpose in order to hear somebody’s Top 10 List. It is common to hear him defend the leadership lessons and social merits of The Godfather I and II and apologize for Part III. Whatever you do, avoid asking him his opinion about The English Patient.

Question: Colonel Nathan R. Jessep, Company Commander Windward, Guantanamo Bay, is one of the most misunderstood movie leadership characters of all time. Discuss!