Meet the team

David is Co-Founder and CEO of Pinnacle Performance Company, a global training firm that has revolutionized presentation and communication skills training. He is also co-inventor of The Pinnacle Method™, a unique and innovative learning system that meshes time-tested performance delivery techniques with contemporary business skills.

Prior to launching Pinnacle, David spent a number of years in executive-level sales and marketing positions at Fortune 500 companies and hi-tech/internet start-ups. He is an accomplished actor / producer and is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild with a number of stage, film, and commercial credits.

G. Riley Mills is the Co-Founder and COO of Pinnacle Performance Company and co-author of The Pin Drop Principle. He has coached some of the world's top executives and leaders on their communication skills in more than 30 countries.

Mills has guest-lectured or delivered keynotes at such events and institutions as Columbia University, Association of Talent Development (international conference), London Chamber of Commerce, New York University, Young Presidents' Organization, Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University, Learning and Skills Conference (London), SHRM (regional chapters), Singapore Management University, and Manchester United.

 

With over 25 years of design and marketing experience, Gerri has contributed to the brand building and global marketing initiatives of global technology, biotech, and medical diagnostic companies and she now serves as Pinnacle’s Executive Vice President for Marketing and Operations.

She has developed advertising campaigns, marketing collateral, multimedia, and architectural design projects for many products. Gerri started as a designer but learned early on that she had a talent not only for creativity but for marrying it with the analytical process side of business. Out of this, she has developed a specialization in integrated marketing communications and operations.

Brian is the Executive Vice President of Client Relationships for Pinnacle Performance Company. He has over 20 years of corporate experience and began his career with Andersen Consulting (Accenture).

Brian has held a variety of leadership roles, including product manager, business development executive, call center director, and vice president of global partnerships. Past clients include American Express, Comcast, John Hancock, Banana Republic, Sears, and Qualcomm.
 

Emmy Award-winning Tim Kasper is the Vice President for the Southeast Region of Pinnacle Performance Company.

As an artist, he has been performing since the age of 13. He received much of his early training at the prestigious Trollwood Performing Arts School and under the tutelage of Broadway veterans Eddie and Kathy Gasper.

While an advertising major at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul Minnesota, his love of performing called him back to tour with his vocal band, The Blenders (www.theblenders.com). They’ve been together since 1990 and are still going strong.

Lizzie Yirrell is Pinnacle’s Head of UK/EU Operations and Business Development, as well as a certified Master Instructor. To Pinnacle she brings years of enterprise management and innovative curriculum construction for some of the most influential organizations in Europe and North America.

Prior to Pinnacle, Lizzie held a similar position at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She has also worked extensively as an educational coordinator and project manager for both The Royal Central School and the prestigious Milton Keynes Theatre.
 

Cindy Tegtmeyer brings a unique combination of business, teaching, and performance skills to her role as Pinnacle’s Director of U.S. Client Relations.

She has served as Production Consultant for Chicago’s hit show, The Magic Cabaret; Vice President for Clean Customized Comedy, a corporate entertainment company; and as Managing Director of the Actors’ Center of Chicago.

Cindy has spent the past 20 years implementing numerous artist residency programs. She is also a standardized patient and teaches communication skills to medical students at The Clinical Education Center at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.

Regan (Kelly) Gausselin is Director of Global Executive Accounts at Pinnacle Performance Company.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, Regan went on to the prestigious Erikson Institute, the nation’s premier graduate school in child development.

Her in-depth understanding of human development and skills acquisition provide her with rare insight when it comes to understanding HR development needs at Pinnacle.

Yvonne Blackwell has over 20 years of experience working in the field of learning and development. In her previous roles, she merged consultation with design and facilitation, and her expertise within the sectors of corporate finance, energy, and technology took her throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

In workshops, Yvonne seeks to combine an engaging style with broad knowledge of tools and approaches. Her extensive international familiarity enables her to draw upon behaviors, processes, and experiences and to combine them in unique, effective, and flavorful ways.

Prior to working with Pinnacle, Rob spent 14 years in the public relations industry publicizing clients for large global agencies like Porter Novelli, Burson-Marsteller and Ketchum, and small creative boutiques like EBS Public Relations and Dome Communications. He also handled all of the public relations activities for TransUnion’s business-to-business divisions.

Rob has appeared in commercials for The Chicago White Sox and Harris Bank and is one of the featured faces for The Chicago White Sox’ “All In” advertising print campaign.

Brad Lawrence is the longest-tenured of Pinnacle’s Master Instructors, having been with the company since its inception in 2004. Over the past ten years, Brad has trained thousands of people from many different countries, cultures, and professions in the Pinnacle Method.

In addition to his training responsibilities, Brad also serves as Pinnacle’s Editorial Director for newsletters, curricula, promotional material, and web content. If there’s a Pinnacle word in print, it’s probably passed by his desk at some point.
 

Aarti Gupta is a Partner with Pinnacle Performance Company. Her focus is to expand the Pinnacle footprint in India and Sri Lanka. 

Prior to joining Pinnacle, Aarti was the Global Head, Talent & Learning at Capgemini’s Financial Services Strategic Business Unit. In her 19-year tenure with Capgemini, she handled a variety of roles such as Leadership Curriculum Director for Capgemini University, Head-HR India & Asia Pacific, and Head-HR North America & Europe. She set up the India University for the Capgemini Group and also set up the Enterprise Learning Services Practice providing Learning solutions to external clients.