217-414-2989 mbyers@marybyers.com

Testimonials

Thank you for seeing us through the process of re-imagining the CCCU and for facilitating the conversations at our board meetings. You led with grace and brought clarity. I believe the conversations and decision points were made easier by your thoughtful planning and guidance.

Shirley V. Hoogstra

President, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities

Thank you so much for the wonderful experience you provided in facilitating the strategic plan. The ARN board is still talking about how much they enjoyed the experience.

Gayle Irvin

Executive Director, Association of Rehabilitation Nurses

It was a real pleasure working with you last week. I continue to receive compliments from persons who attended last week’s meeting(s) about the format and deliverables.

Chris Newton

Executive Vice President, Texas Apartment Association

Thank you so much for the fantastic presentation! I personally received several very positive comments from attendees about the content and how smoothly the virtual format went! Well done!!

Erin Henke

Former Associate Executive Director, San Francisco Marin Medical Society

Thanks again for your excellent presentation to the Association for Healthcare Foodservice Board. They loved it! Feedback has been excellent.

J. Bruce Wardle, CAE

Chairman, Interel US

I know that we were able to accomplish our goals because of the lift-off you provided at our meeting in September.

Stephanie E. Mercado, CAE

Executive Director, National Association for Healthcare Quality

Your contribution to our beginning was spot-on, and it really helped us start from a good place. I heard nothing but very positive reactions to your comments from the participants.

Jerry Slaughter

Former Executive Director, Kansas Medical Society

Your presentation on tough talk brought the most audience participation I have ever seen at a Leadership Conference. Kudos to you!

Connie B. Smith

Former Senior Vice President, National Funeral Directors Association

You were a perfect choice for the keynote speaker at our event.

Elizabeth J. Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH

Former Executive Director, National Association of Social Workers

On behalf of the AAMSE State CEOs, we would like to thank you for your excellent session at the State CEO Meeting in Charleston. The initial feedback we have received from attendees has been very positive, which, given your time slot, is a real testament to your professionalism and skill at keeping your audience engaged.

Benjamin H. Bütz, MPA, CAE,

Former Executive Director, American Association of Medical Society Executives

I want to thank you for setting the positive tone and helping guide us in a marvelous start to our strategic planning. Board members and staff told me this was the best strategic planning session they had ever attended!

Lynn Erdman, MN, RN, FAAN

Chief Executive Officer, Association of Women's Health, Obstetrics & Neonatal Nurses

The last planning session you lead with us was a huge success and our board members enjoyed the process and working with you.

Beth Fells

Executive Office Director, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

Absolutely spectacular. I have so many people saying your presentation was so clear and concise. You had the answer we were looking for.

Brett Jeffery

Austalasian Society of Association Executives

The Board gave you rave reviews.

Charles M. Cohon, CPMR

CEO and President, Manufacturers' Agents National Association

Thank you again for a terrific session. Everyone felt that it was the most dynamic meeting we have had.

Kent Van Amburg CAE

Executive Director, American Society of Baking

You did a masterful job navigating the group through all kinds of potential road blocks to a satisfying and productive finish…. Everyone I talked to after the meeting was still buzzing from the positive energy and group dynamics you produced.

Carol Hendrick

Former Senior Vice President, National Funeral Directors Association

Thank you again, Mary, for leading our strategic planning process. We are very pleased with the results. You are such a joy to work with and we always learn so much.

Mary Amos Augsburger, Esq.

Chief Executive Officer, Ohio State Bar Association

I’ve been through multiple facilitator-led sessions and this was far and away the best!

Harry Gewanter, MD, FAAP

Strategic Planning Retreat Participant

A special thank you to Mary, for her outstanding stewardship and planning of the event and for enabling all of us to engage in such rich conversations on how we can build on our rich history of success and support ABET’s mission for even greater impact in the years ahead. This was hands down one of the best retreats I have been fortunate to be a part of!

S. K. Ramesh,

2022-23 President, ABET

I’m still riding the high from ThinkWORKS. Your diligent preparation and thoughtful instructional design, effective communication with the organizing team, expert delivery of high-level content, focused and stimulating questions for interview sessions, involvement of software providers to support learning objectives, and your agility in making on-the-fly adjustments as the virtual conference progressed all added up to a meaningful, impactful and satisfying learning experience for our participants. It was obvious from their questions, comments, body language, and big smiles that VMAE | ThinkWORKS 2021 exceeded expectations and provided nourishment to this exceptional community of colleagues. Thank you for every aspect of your contribution.

Ralph Johnson

Chief Executive Officer, VMAE | Veterinary Medical Association Executives

You exceeded my expectations and were a welcomed surprise to almost everyone who attended.

Brian Henry

Chair, American Bar Antitrust Law Section

We continue to hear positive feedback on your impact on the Board. They found your facilitation to be superior and said they learned tactics to improve virtual meetings that they will be conducting. So did I! Thanks again for your involvement with ASDA.

Nancy R. Honeycutt, CAE

American Student Dental Association

Thank you for the wonderful presentations you gave at our 2019 Leadership Forum! You will be happy to know that the post-meeting survey is final, and you were our top-rated speaker!

Karen Burgess

CEO/Executive Director, Michigan Dental Association

Thank you again for Thursday. I believe it was one of the best meetings we have ever had and my board was energized even if they were exhausted.

Ashley Gold

Former CEO, Insurors of Tennessee

Mary’s facilitation of the consortium process was extremely valuable in helping the eight participating organizations reach agreement. We all appreciated her insights and group process skills.

Cindy Durley

Dental Assisting, National Board and the DALE Foundation

Mary Byers was outstanding! She was the ‘whole package’ of a professional speaker with an important message delivered with skill and heart.

Attendee

Ontario Real Estate Association Leadership Day

I want to thank you again for the terrific session you led yesterday during our Leadership Meeting. People were talking about it all day and you really made a great impression and delivered messages that I think will help CAS move forward and hopefully deploy our resources more effectively…Not only was your presentation informative, what impressed many was that you really took the time to learn something about CAS and customized your talk so that it was meaningful to everyone.

Cynthia Ziegler CPCU, ARM, AAI, CAE

Former Executive Director, Casualty Actuarial Society

Our attendees were overwhelmingly impressed with both the content of your lectures and with your presentation skills. We received numerous comments (even from one of our hardest-to-please attendees!) that you were the best speaker we’ve ever had!

Chris Wroten

O.D., President’s Council Moderator

Thank you. You did a terrific job of facilitating, using humor to keep us engaged, challenging us when we needed it and herding the tracks when we strayed off track.

Dennis Stork

Former Executive Director, AACE International

The session was well received. Several of the board members that have been on the board for awhile said it was the best session they have attended since being on the board. I thought the discussion was rich and thought provoking.

David Varda

Former Executive Director, Ohio ASBO

Many thanks for the FANTABULOUS job with the Leadership Springfield program recently. Your presentation is always one of the most highly rated for the entire year, as you are able to connect with your audience and make it applicable to daily life. Thanks for all you do to help improve the lives of so many people through your engaging discussions. You have a true gift, Mary!

Jim Alberts

Chair, Leadership Springfield

Mary Byers was the best so far this year! She was fantastic and presented things in a way that really made me think about how the material related to my current work and personal situations. I also loved her enthusiasm.

Participant

Leadership Springfield

Because of you we not only will likely have buy-in for our efforts, but I already see great momentum.

Julie Armstrong

Executive Director, Indianapolis Bar Association

If you haven’t had the author of ‘Race for Relevance’ at your event, you haven’t had an event. Mary is thoughtful and thought provoking, and she gives your attendees practical ideas that will change their lives.

Beth Ziesenis

Owner, Your Nerdy Best Friend

You know it was a great session when you wake up still thinking about what you learned! Your delivery, approach, techniques and ability to bring the best out of us was fabulous. I took away many items and am looking forward to our next meeting already.

Angela Kisskeys

Co-Director, VP of Operations & Communications, Associations North

With lots of our staff playing new roles, it was especially comforting to have you in an anchor position to kick off the program with such thoughtfulness and care.

Jennifer Lewin

Deputy Director, ABA Division for Bar Services

Superbly run retreat.

Dr. Jamie Lieberman

Past President, Wilderness Medical Society