About the Authors
Larry Sternberg, JD, Talent Plus Fellow
Having been with Talent Plus® since 1999, Sternberg has served in a variety of capacities, beginning as a management consultant and in-depth analyst. He has held leadership positions as chair of management consulting, leadership consulting and client engagement, and most recently as president. He is now a member of Talent Plus's board of directors, and a Talent Plus Fellow, performing duties as an often-requested speaker and consultant. His ideation is expressed as an active blogger by writing weekly for the Leadership Laboratory (www.leadershiplaboratory.wordpress.com | www.talentplus.com/talent-plus-viewpoint-blog).
Sternberg has been instrumental in helping clients build Talent-Based Organizations. He has designed and conducted training programs on a variety of topics for thousands of executives and managers and has served as a facilitator for numerous organizations to articulate their mission, vision, and values. His areas of expertise include selection, training and development, employee engagement, empowerment, self-directed work teams, strengths management, mentoring, and leading change. Sternberg's teaching ability and sense of humor have earned him a reputation as one of the most talented and effective teachers and facilitators in the country.
Before joining Talent Plus, Sternberg used the Science of Talent as vice president of human resources with The Portman Hotel Company and as a general manager with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. He pioneered self-directed work teams, achieving remarkable improvements in financial results, guest satisfaction, and employee satisfaction. His approach was described in the book Turned On: Eight Vital Insights to Energize Your People, Customers, and Profits, by Roger Dow and Susan Cook.
A native of upstate New York, Sternberg and his wife, Salli, have called Lincoln, Nebraska, their home since 2006. Sternberg holds a BA degree in philosophy from Hamilton College, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
Kim Turnage, PhD
Kim Turnage has spent her career figuring out where people naturally excel and connecting them with opportunities to stretch those talents. She first joined Talent Plus® in 1997 as a senior research analyst and leadership consultant. At that time, she directed research, statistical analysis, and reporting of results, including the design, initial validation, and ongoing validation of selection instruments. She also consulted with clients to develop and implement measurement strategies to help them understand the impact of talent-based selection and strengths-based management on their business outcomes.
She now serves as a senior leadership consultant at Talent Plus. In this capacity, she works with client partners in the selection, development, and retention of top leadership talent, including succession planning. She has consulted with global clients, including The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Sun International, Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), Harman Management Corporation, the United States Air Force, and Gensler. She is also a regular contributor to the Talent Plus Viewpoint Blog.
A graduate of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Kim earned a BA in English and psychology (1990), an MS in psychology (1994), and a PhD in cognitive psychology (1997). She was a Presidential Fellow in 1997. During her time as a graduate student and later as an adjunct faculty member, she taught undergraduate courses in research methods and data analysis, perception, cognition, and introductory psychology. Her professional experience also includes hands-on training, management, and strategic leadership of more than 500 volunteers as director of ministries for Southwood Lutheran Church.
In her free time, Kim enjoys coaching high school track, reading, writing, and getting outdoors around her home in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. She and her husband, Rick, have three children, Connor, Arin, and Peyton.