OUR FOUNDERS
Since the 1960s, Sonia March Nevis and Edwin C. Nevis have been
international
leaders in developing powerful techniques to transform organization and family interactions based on Gestalt theory. After studying with the originators of Gestalt therapy, they helped to found two of the most successful Gestalt training organizations in the world. Sonia Nevis pioneered the expansion of Gestalt therapy application, first
to couples and families, and then to small groups and teams. To teach this work she established the Cape Cod Training Program (formerly known as the Couple and
Family Training Program), which for over twenty years has drawn participants from around the world.
Edwin Nevis was a creator of the Gestalt approach to organizational consulting, consulting to Fortune 500 companies, and writing Organizational Consulting: A Gestalt Approach and co-authoring Intentional Revolutions: A Seven-Point Strategy
for Transforming Organizations in addition to many other articles. He helped found
the ground-breaking Gestalt OSD Program in Cleveland, and later the OSD International Program. Edwin and Sonia continue to be frequent contributors to professional journals.
Over the years their theoretical advances have expanded Gestalt theory.
They
have trained thousands of consultants, coaches, therapists and leaders worldwide, transforming their effectiveness. They continue to teach at GISC and publish and refine their approach, bridging personal and professional life so that each world can benefit from the strengths of the other. Their students have gone on to extend the development of new theory and practice, and now form
the core of GISC’s experienced faculty. The intensely tangible qualities they model of generosity, integrity, and professional
curiosity are the values that GISC is built upon.
OUR EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
In 2002 GISC completed construction of the beautiful Wellfleet Meeting House,
creating a unique retreat-like training facility designed for small and large
group meetings and enabling a significantly expanded offering of programs. Now GISC
offers a wide variety of programs that together form an extensive course
of study for leaders and practitioners. In 2008 the expansion of our continuing education certifications led to the approval of several of our
programs for International Coach Federation ongoing certification, and in
2010 we began offering our GISC Advanced Practice OD Consulting Certification.
LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION
To support the long-term sustainability of GISC, a leadership succession plan
was
put into place by the board of directors in 2006. Nancy Scott Hardaway, MEd,
served
as President and CEO from 2007 to June 2010. Nancy succeeded in her mission to support the community of founders, faculty, and learners while developing management and operations infrastructure and expanding programs to create a foundation for long-term sustainability.
OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mary Anne Walk, MS , MBA , MCC, joined the Gestalt International Study Center as Executive Director in June 2012. She has held executive positions on the Board of Directors and has been a member of the faculty during her long standing relationship with the Center.
Prior to this, Mary Anne was the President of Walk & Associates, Inc., a management consulting and coaching group, and previously Executive Vice President of a software company, which she joined shortly after retiring from at&t as Vice President of Human Resources.
Mary Anne is a summa cum laude graduate of Tarkio College, holds an MBA in Marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a M.S. in Management Science from MIT as a Sloan Fellow. She is certified as a Master Coach from the International Coach Federation.
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