In addition to our expert instructors below, each student has access to one-on-one business coaching.

Our Instructors

Jono Darville

Master Trainer, Center for Leadership Studies

JD McPherson

Master Trainer & Senior Consultant, Center for Leadership Studies

Dr. Dale Gauthreaux

Founder, Forge Leadership

Bill Nagle

Angle Up Consulting

Angela Prestil, CUDE

CU Difference

Leesa Wallace

The Performance Architect, LLC

Jono Darville

Master Trainer, Center for Leadership Studies

Jono has garnered a reputation as one of our most engaging trainers in the classroom. His high-energy style has been a perfect match for today’s fast–paced learners. He has a gift and a passion for helping leaders see the practical applications of Situational Leadership® for their various spheres of influence, whether that is at work or at home. In addition to having a B.A. in Christian studies from The College at Southeastern, Jono is a certified Situational Leadership Trainer, completed Meisner Training at William Esper Studios, and is in the process of earning his M.A. in the philosophy of religion from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Facilitates:

  • Situational Leadership Building Leaders
  • Situational Coaching

JD McPherson

Master Trainer & Senior Consultant, Center for Leadership Studies

JD McPherson has over 12 years of experience as a learning professional and has been training Situational Leadership for more than a decade. His high-energy style combined with his passion and enthusiasm for the model makes him an engaging facilitator. During his tenure as a learning professional, JD has served as a franchise training manager, supporting multiple franchisees to manage their learning functions and consulting with them on their leadership development. As a senior manager of learning and development, he led a team of training managers that were responsible for managing the hourly and management training for more than 300 restaurants with combined revenues exceeding 600 million dollars.

Facilitates:

  • Situational Leadership Building Leaders
  • Situational Coaching
  • Understanding Your Management Style
  • Putting It All Together
  • Leading with Emotional Intelligence

Dr. Dale Gauthreaux

Founder, Forge Leadership

Dale specializes in helping leaders and organizations address performance and engagement challenges. Through consulting, training and/or coaching, Dale helps leaders develop the capacity and capability to accomplish their organization’s goals. A student of organizational culture and effectiveness, Dale brings over 30 years of experience in organizational effectiveness, leadership development, strategy, and culture transformation. His experiences span manufacturing, sales, health care, financial services, technology, education, and non-profit organizations. Dale lives and learns in the Atlanta area but enjoys frequent visits to his native Louisiana to savor the food, music and culture of his second home, New Orleans.

Facilitates:

  • Leading Change in Organizations

Bill Nagle

Angle Up Consulting

Bill Nagle delivers training programs for credit union boards and staff on compliance, sales and service, communication, leadership, and career development, and provides customized on-site training aligned with organizational goals. With over 40 years in financial services, including recently as senior vice president of professional development at the Cooperative Credit Union Association and 20 years in Boston’s banking sector, he is also a certified DiSC facilitator and teaches at various credit union associations’ programs including here at LDI and Southeast Management School. Bill holds a B.S.B.A., a graduate certificate in Organizational Communication from Northeastern University, and is a graduate of the Massachusetts School of Financial Studies and the New England College of Finance.

Facilitates:

  • Understanding Employee Engagement

Angela Prestil, CUDE

CU Difference

Described as passionate, engaging, and collaborative with a wonderful sense of humor, Angela brings a distinct specialty set in the critical areas of employee engagement, leadership development, and member loyalty strategies. She has helped hundreds of business leaders and young professionals through her coaching, mentoring, and professional development efforts. Having spent 20 years as a leader at the Credit Union National Association, Angela delivers a highly valued perspective on how to help financial institutions drive membership growth and optimize their future success. Additionally, as an active Credit Union Development Educator she enjoys building on the people helping people philosophy.

Facilitates:

  • Leading with Empathy

Leesa Wallace

The Performance Architect, LLC

Leesa is a master at leadership development and learning strategy. She builds better leaders by staying true to her core mission of comforting the disturbed and disturbing the comfortable. She’s unapologetically practical and has a focus on bringing practical, realistic, integrated approaches to help elevate individual, team, and organizational performance. Over a period of thirty years, Leesa has helped bring success to organizations such as GE, Deloitte, Blum Shapiro, Harbor One Bank, Bridgeport Fittings, Odyssey Reinsurance, Louis Vuitton, TJX, and more. Leesa has a degree in communications and journalism from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and completed her M.Ed in Adult Education with a concentration in management from Cambridge College. She lives in Connecticut with her husband Bruce and the coolest rescue cat imaginable.

Facilitates:

  • Leader as Talent and Performance Manager

Apply

Prepare to elevate your leadership journey with the 2027 Leadership Development Institute! Applications for our two cohorts will open in August 2026. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for more details.

Once enrolled, you'll gain exclusive access to our LDI LinkedIn page, where you can connect with fellow students and alumni for insights, inspiration, and networking opportunities.