Board of Trustees: Judith Delozier, Connirae Andreas and Steve Andreas serve on this Board. Their years of conscientious dedication to the development of NLP bring an oversight function that will insure the congruity and integrity of the Project. They constitute the final approval step in the development of every annual budget.

The Board of Directors: include the the Executive Director of the NLP Research and Recognition Project, Frank Bourke, Ph.D., NLP Practitioner for twenty five years, former lecturer Cornell University and researcher London University. Also on the Board are, Chairman, Robert Salluzzo CPA, with thirty five years of corporate experience, including CFO Management Positions and Initial Public Offering developments; Richard O’Leary PhD, Director of Human Resources, IRIS Inc.; Professor William McDowell, long time NLP Trainer and current Chairman of the Human Development and Allied Technologies Department at Marshall University; General Jon Adams (R), & Andrew Komonchak, Executive Director, Purple Heart Hall of Honor, Inc.

Below are brief biographies of the members of the Board of Trustees and Board of Directors, in alphabetical order.

Steve Andreas, Member Board of Trustees:

Steve Andreas is one of the most active developers of NLP. He has been learning, training, and researching NLP since his introduction to it in 1977, and has been developing new NLP patterns since the early 1980s. He was the co-founder with his wife Connirae of NLP Comprehensive in Boulder Colorado in 1979, one of the first NLP institutes. Recently he authored the two-volume set Six Blind Elephants: Understanding Ourselves and Each Other (2006), again demonstrating that he continues to be one of the foremost thinkers advancing the development of the field. He also wrote Transforming Yourself: Becoming Who You Want To Be (2002) and Virginia Satir: The Patterns of her Magic (1991). He co-authored (with Connirae) Heart of the Mind (1989), Change Your Mind (1987), and the NLP 24 Day Practitioner Certification Training Manuel (1986). In addition to his books, Steve has published numerous articles on various NLP-related topics in various publications including the Psychotherapy Networker, (formerly the Family Therapy Networker) and the Milton H. Erickson Foundation Newsletter. Many free articles can be found on his website: http://www.steveandreas.com/

With his wife Connirae, Steve was an early student and sponsor of NLP co-founders Richard Bandler and John Grinder. Together they edited four classic NLP books by Bandler and Grinder. He is also the founder, owner, and editor of Real People Press, a small publishing company devoted to new developments in psychology and personal change. Current authors (in addition to several books by the Andreas) include Leslie Cameron-Bandler, David Gordon, Michael Lebeau, Michael Colgrass, Andrew Austin, Eloise Ristad, and Wilson Van Dusen. Past authors have included Fritz Perls, Carl Rogers, Eugene Gendlin, John Shlien, and Barry Stevens. Steve received a BS in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology in 1957, and an MA in psychology from Brandeis University in 1961.

Steve continues to write and innovate in the field. He has been a supporter of the NLP Research and Recognition Project since its inception in 2006. His letter to the NLP community from early 2007 can be found on this web site (under the “Library” tab). When asked recently about the importance of the NLP Research & Recognition project he said,

“Most of us working in the field have lots of “clinical experience” that demonstrates that NLP works wonderfully. But that is not convincing to academia, and shouldn’t be (despite the fact that many other therapies that are recognized by academia have no better evidence). I hope and expect that the R&R project will produce the kind of rigorous experimental evidence that will gain NLP the wider recognition and acceptance that is necessary for others to learn about it and benefit from it.”

Connirae Andreas, Member Board of Trustees:

Connirae Andreas in an international NLP trainer and has made a lasting contribution to the field of NLP through her books, CDs, DVDs, and manuals. She is one of the “first generation” of NLP trainers. Ms. Andreas became known for her heartful training style as well as her development of new methods that bring personal growth to a new level. Books she has authored or edited, some in partnership with husband Steve Andreas, have been translated into 18 languages. Connirae is one of the first small group to be certified as NLP trainers by the field’s founders (1981). She and her husband are responsible for bringing NLP into greater visibility through creating and publishing books by founders Bandler and Grinder. They edited and published Frogs into Princes, Transformations, and Reframing the first NLP books to become widely read. She was also co-author of several books with Steve Andreas including Heart of Mind (1989) and Change Your Mind (1987). The book Core Transformation: Reaching the Wellspring Within (1994), written with Tamara Andreas, is her best known book. Connirae Andreas is the co-founder with her husband Steve of NLP Comprehensive and she is the developer of a set of NLP techniques known as “Core Transformation.”

Connirae and Steve Andreas sponsored the first NLP practitioner certification training worldwide (Denver, Colorado, September 1979). Connirae together with her husband wrote the original NLP comprehensive trainer manual, the first systematic model for NLP training. This manual has become an international model for training excellence. She has also worked extensively mentoring the next generation of NLP trainers, first building a team of trainers through NLP Comprehensive, and then coaching Core Transformation trainers.

In addition to her work as editor, author, and trainer in the field of NLP, Connirae’s contributions include important research and development in all areas of NLP. She also has developed “aligning perceptual positions”, another impactful method that can result in dramatically improving relationships. Other landmark contributions from Connirae included the use of NLP in parenting, work on language patterns, work on grief and forgiveness processes, and on changing Meta programs (which can be described as the personality structure of each of us). Connirae received her master’s in clinical psychology from Colorado University in 1979 and her Ph.D. in psychotherapy from NCU in 1989.

Connirae’s support for the NLP Research and Recognition Project comes out of her experiences observing the difference NLP makes in people’s lives.The first time she used the process being studied [in the trauma protocol] with a Vietnam Vet, it took 45 minutes to complete. Initially he was so afraid to try it out that he turned white and started sweating when he even thought of doing the process.In an interview afterwards, he shared how it had changed his life—he had a kind of inner calm, he no longer woke up in a sweat from terrifying nightmares, and was no longer worried that he might seriously harm his wife because of the way he used to startle instantly into defensive reactions.He also noticed he now felt a sense of connection with Asians, rather than an automatic fear.Connirae would like to see more Vets these healing experiences through the use of the trauma protocol.

Frank J. Bourke Ph.D.: Executive Director of the Research and Recognition Project

Dr. Bourke is the Executive Director of the NLP Research and Recognition Project and Coordinator to the NLP Community. He founded the Not For Profit Corporation to advance the science of Neuro Linguistic Programming. It is aimed at doing the research necessary to bring international recognition and acceptance of the new technology. Dr. Bourke has 33 years of professional experience in business (CEO, managed twelve psychiatric hospitals), academia (lecturer, Cornell University) and clinical settings (corporations, hospitals, and group private practice).

Dr. Bourke is a Clinical Psychologist. He was trained in research at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, where he received his Ph.D. in Psychology in 1973. He earned his masters in Clinical Psychology from St. John’s University in 1968. He was an Associate Professor of Community Psychology,New York School of Psychiatry. He has also been a Lecturer for Cornell University Psychology and Education Departments for undergraduate and graduate level courses in Community Mental Health and Psychology.

Business experience has included being President and Chairman of the Board Flowers Management Corporation, Miami FL(1982-1987). He was the founder and developer of a professional service corporation which grew to manage twelve inpatient psychiatric and alcohol/drug programs in five states. Dr. Bourke was responsible for all facets of corporate development inclusive of administration, fiscal management, personnel selection, marketing and clinical systems programming. Later (1997-2002) in his career he was Co-owner and Clinical Director Clinical Associates of the Southern Tier, Mental Health Service Business employing sixteen psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists in a multi-service group practice. Since 1987 he has also been the owner of, and clinician for, a Private Clinical Practice in Corning, NY.

In the aftermath of 9-11, in 2001, Dr. Bourke designed and implemented a rehabilitation plan for 800 World Trade Center building survivors of Aon Insurance’s New York Office. As a consultant, he developed referral and treatment system for 9-11 survivors. He conducted in house education and therapy groups, and served as management consultant through the crisis and recovery. In commenting on this experience he has stated that he found that he was able to change the symptoms of PTSD survivors he was treating with an NLP derived protocol much quicker and more effectively than the 30 or so therapists he was working with.

In discussing his commitment to the NLP Research and Recognition Project, Dr. Bourke has been using NLP techniques, among other tools, since the 1970′s in his clinical work. The effectiveness of NLP with trauma recovery was reinforced in his work with 9-11 survivors. He also used NLP techniques to deal with pain and optimize the healing process with his own struggle with cancer. He has commented that, when he realized that he had survived, he did a re-evaluation of what was important for him. He stated in his blog, “I took an oath to do what I could to get NLP research recognized to allow the full use of its wonderful capabilities.” He has been working extensively on NLP Research and Recognition Project since 2006, while also maintaining his private clinical practice.

Judith DeLozier, Member Board of Trustees:

Judith DeLozier is the co-director of training and research at NLP University with Robert Dilts.  Judith has been mainly responsible for bringing NLP to the area of transcultural competence and cross cultural skills.  She has made fundamental contributions to the development of numerous NLP models and processes.

She has been a trainer, co-developer, and designer of training programs in the field of neurolinguistic programming since 1975.  She was a member of Grinder and Bandler’s original group of students and she has made fundamental contributions to the development of numerous NLP models and processes.  She has coauthored several seminal books on NLP.  She is co-author of The Encyclopedia of Systemic NLP and Neurolinguistic Programming and NLP New Coding with Robert Dilts (2000).

She was co-author of Neurolinguistic Programming Volume One (1980) with Robert Dilts, John Grinder, and Richard Bandler.  She was first author, with John Grinder, of Turtles All the Way Down: Prerequisites to Personal Genius (1987). She has been involved in the creation of fundamental techniques in NLP.  She was also a student of Milton Erickson.  She has contributed substantially to the creation of NLP new coding which stimulated a movement towards more systemic and relational approach to NLP.  She has been primarily responsible for bringing NLP to the area of transcultural competence, pioneering the application of NLP to the development of cross cultural skills.

Judith holds a master’s degree in Religious Studies and a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Religious Studies from the University of California at Santa Cruz.  She has taught NLP all over the world including Europe, Asia, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, Central America, Canada, and the United States.  She is the co-developer of numerous projects applying systematic NLP ranging from modeling to leadership to health care and cross cultural competence.

Andrew Komonchak, Executive Director, Purple Heart Hall of Honor, Inc., Member Board of Directors. 

Andrew is a Marketing consultant and public relations professional experienced in graphic arts, design, photography and fine arts. 45 years broad based marketing career with a great interest and connection to Veterans needs and services.

William McDowell, Ph.D., Member Board of Directors

Professor William McDowell is a longtime NLP trainer. He is recently retired and newly appointed as Professor Emeritus at Marshall University. He was a full professor of counseling at Marshall University from 1994 to 2000 and coordinator of the undergraduate program from 1979 to 1980 and the chair of the counseling program from 1981 to 1997. After going into semi-retirement, he coordinated the counseling program from 2004 until recently. He was the Interim Division Chair of Human Development and 2006 Technology.

He received his Ph.D. in counselor education from Kent University in 1971 with an emphasis in counseling psychology. He got a master of education in rehabilitation counseling in 1968 from Kent State University. He has a master of DIV. in theology and religion 1967 the United Theological Seminary.

Dr. McDowell has extensive experience in various counseling modalities. He was the founder and director of Mountaineer Affiliates in Neurolinguistic Programming and developed programs with the Southern Institute of NLP and the International Institute of NLP teaching programs from 1990 to 2000. He has research experience and publications in the area of holistic approaches, dealing with emotional distress, the use of therapeutic strategies with people with disabilities, addiction, caring for individuals with self-destructive patterns of behavior, and is working on a book on brief interventions in the treatment of trauma and PTSD. He has also authored numerous chapters in books, topics have included therapeutic strategies with people with disabilities, dealing with clients with various difficult issues, on death and dying, and similar topics. He has also participated in developing training videos in the area of NLP and has worked with NLP founders such as Robert Dilts, Suzie Smith, and Tim Hallbom. He has accumulated numerous honors and awards over the years and has many years of university and professional service.

Richard A. O’Leary, Ed.D., Member Board of Directors

Richard O’Leary, Ed.D. joined IRIS in February 2011 as our Corporate Vice President, Human Resources and Administration.  Prior to joining IRIS, Dr. O’Leary was employed as the Global Director, Human Resources , International Regions and prior to that as the Director of Human Resources for Strategic Growth, Research, Development and Engineering , positions he held for Corning Incorporated form April 2, 2001to December 31, 2010.  Prior to that, Dr. O’Leary was the Vice President of Human Resources for Cytometrics, a diagnostics technology firm in Philadelphia.  He has also held director-level roles with Public Service Electric and Gas, Owens Corning and Blue Cross of Michigan.  Dr. O’Leary is nationally recognized for his expertise in organizational development, innovation and Human Resource Practices.

Dr. O’Leary is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air National Guard with 24 years of experience, and served on the boards of the Best Practice Institute and The Conference Board’s Executive Council for Talent and Organizational Development.  Dr. O’Leary holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of Delaware and a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University.  Dr. O’Leary is an accomplished speaker having presented at numerous conferences worldwide on business transformation, innovation, inclusion and best practices in human resources.

 

Robert Salluzzo CPA, Member Board of Directors

Mr. Salluzzo has served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for multiple entities both  public and
private since 1997. From 1992 through 1997 Mr. Salluzzo provided consulting services to emerging and development stage companies. Mr. Salluzzo is a Certified Public Accountant, having begun his accounting career with Price Waterhouse & Co., now PriceWaterhouseCoopers, an international accounting
firm. He spent seven years with that firm before forming his own accounting firm which he merged in 1985 into a major regional accounting firm located in Albany, New York. Mr. Salluzzo is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University, and served as an Army officer in the US Army Field Artillery. He is active in a number of civic and
professional organizations..