50+ years COMMITTED to developing tomorrow's leadeRS TODAY

JIM KNIGHT

As Vice President of the SIM Leadership Institute, Jim is responsible for Institute strategies and offerings, while leading the team of Directors to drive the growth of SIM's internal leadership army's capabilities -- to develop exceptional leaders who change the world.

Jim is a seasoned executive and professional with more than 38 years of experience.  In recent years  he has been the CEO of Knight Insights, a successful empowerment/leadership coaching and executive consulting business with clients that range from many personal and professional individuals to major corporations.      

Prior to his current role Jim spent 20 years at Chubb Insurance Company in various IT leadership positions culminating in his 9-year role as the Chubb Global CIO and Executive Vice President.  Prior to Chubb, Jim worked at Utica National Insurance Company, Home Insurance Company and Merck-Medco.

MARK GRIESBAUM

As Director of Marketing & Sales, Mark is responsible for overall brand and marketing of the Institute products, including relationships with SIM Chapters, media, and sponsors.  He is also the point person for the Institute marketing and sales teams.

Mark is currently the Managing Partner at Affinity4U, LLC. He is a former CIO / COO for higher education organizations with experience in overseeing marketing, admissions operations, instructional design, student management, information technology, and learning management systems for online-blended programs. Mark also has 20+ years of experience in the financial industry in Chicago during which his leadership was acknowledged by Computerworld Magazine as one of its "Premier 100 IT Leaders."

Mark currently serves on the Board of SIM’s Chicago Chapter, the Illinois Technology Foundation and i.c.stars. 

CAREN SHIOZAKI

As Director of Curriculum Development, Caren is responsible for ensuring that all SIM Leadership Institute programs are high quality, aligned with the Institute's mission and maintain the characteristics of depth, coherence, relevance, challenge, breadth and progression. 

Caren is a C-Suite Leader & Board Advisor for digital risk, governance, compliance, ethics and ESG.  She is also a business technology executive with more than twenty years in financial services, travel, and media industries.  Caren has experience as a savvy executive driving business operations to achieve profitable growth strategies, and can direct complex transformation projects from vision through successful execution while coordinating geographically dispersed, multi-disciplinary teams.  

Caren is acknowledged as a turnaround expert and skilled leader of digital risk, data privacy & analytics, and ESG advisory & program design. 

DR. JIMMY GODARD

As Director of Program Delivery, Jimmy is responsible for ensuring that all Institute programs are delivered according to the organization's quality standards , while collaboratively leading all facilitators of in-person programs and the leaders of virtual programs.

Jimmy is a professional keynote speaker, entrepreneur and strategist who coaches business leaders to lead with passion and purpose. He is the President of Global Compass LLC and a former SVP at Bank of America, and has a solid background in business and technology leadership, experience making actionable decisions supporting business needs and priorities, and the ability to  strategically apply technology to business challenges.  

Jimmy also leads a PMO Certification Program which provides project management skills for participants while also make them effective leaders and change agents.

CORKY VALENTI

As Director of Finance & Administration, Corky is responsible for setting and managing the budget and oversees suport functions for the Institute as well as policy development.  He is also the point person for all Institute program support staff.

Corky was a longtime RLF facilitator and has a wide range of experience in strategic, corporate, marketing, and technical communications.  He has helped diverse organizations develop and execute communication and training programs to support enterprise initiatives and organizational change. He has extensive staff and project management experience in corporate, technical and marketing communications. 

Corky has also developed and implemented standards, processes, and methodologies for effective technical and marketing communication and training projects.