John-Cleese-Venture-Up-Blog

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What clients say…

"In two short hours Venture Up was able to break down barriers, get our group interacting in a productive way, and most importantly, taught them applicable team and communication lessons along the way. As an academic program, I appreciated that after each activity, or group of activities, the Venture Up leader would tie back the lesson to credible research including Harvard Business Review cases and current MIT research. I highly recommend Venture Up to any organization looking for a way to get their teams engaged and thinking about collaboration and communication."
- Nikkole McCartin Director, Executive MBA Lee School of Business UNLV
"The team had a blast! We will be looking to have a class once a quarter with the next one around February-March. Thanks again for a great time!'
- Tali Kirschbaum AzFSM Trainer Intel
"... I want to thank you for all the time and effort you put into our team-building program. Both personally and professionally, I found it to be one of the most rewarding programs in my experience, and the team members are still excitedly talking about the exercises and how the lessons learned can be applied in our company."
- Sheena Tejeda Vice President Operations New Vision International
"A note of thanks for the very helpful training afforded our staff by Venture Up. The training they provided at the Merchant Marine Academy was very well received. The various exercises and interactions proved most beneficial to the participants. Our staff members are sometimes very difficult to engage, due to the stressful nature of our jobs. Venture Up, however, was able to get them involved and engaged in short order."
- Cheryl L. Holmes Deputy, Chief Officer U.S. Probations
"I have been absolutely astounded by the lasting impact Venture Up has had on our family at Buca di Beppo. We completed the course almost two months ago and our partners and executive officers continue to rave about the experience."
- Daniel Durenburger Divisional Vice President Buca Di Beppo
"What a great experience. Our day with Venture Up was memorable. Thank you for your leadership and for working with us to ensure that we had an exhilarating time, while maintaining focus on our objectives."
- Kate Bickmore Vice President of Human Resources U-Haul
"Our meeting was so open and honest after the experience. Our people were really pumped up and excited. Since then, managers have told me it changed their lives."
- Kathy Sederhom Regional Vice President Charles Schwab
"Venture Up field personnel are extremely effective in their roles as facilitators. In addition, they are very accommodating to make sure that your experience is as satisfying as possible in all aspects."
- David Griffin Vice President of Human Resources Huttig
"Venture Up did an excellent job of making the Anderson Clayton Corp. Managers Meeting the most energizing and valuable meeting we've ever had."
- Heather Walker Vice President of Marketing Anderson Clayton Corp.
"I wish there were words to fully describe how our lives have changed both personally and professionally as a result of our excellent adventure with Venture Up. We have a connection now, a bond that cannot be broken which gives us all an extra sense of support and incentive to expect great things of ourselves."
- Penny L. Newlun Rental Manager Caterpillar
"Our adventure day in the Superstition Mountains was a smashing success! Perhaps most impressive was the manner in which basic business concepts were communicated to the participants. The lessons about the need for thoughtful planning, for clear concise communication, for thinking across functional lines, for creative risk-taking and for trusting your fellow team members were delivered in a manner which will stay with our people long after the event."
- Henry G. Ciocca Chief Executive Officer Markborough Development
"Our Venture Up experience was a total success. Once again, you have added tremendous value to our team building efforts here at GTE. Each person has grown individually and believes that our team has become much stronger as a result of this shared experience."
- Jeri L. Cowan Vice President, Systems Provisions GTE
"Eight hours with Venture Up will pull you together more than 1,000 hours around a table."
- Bruce Willams Human Resource Manager Bank One
"The corporate beach games hit the mark. You took the demographics of the group and formulated appropriate games for all of us to enjoy. Your enthusiasm and eagerness in planning the event was the first step to a continued business relationship with us."
- Tammala L. Spencer Regional Sales Manager Affiliated Paper Companies
"We have achieved dramatic improvement and outstanding success due in large part to services provided by Venture Up. Your ability to understand our challenges and provide value-added consulting services has been a critical factor in our success...I consider Venture Up to be part of our team and look forward to continuing our relationship in the future."
- Kenneth J. Laszczych Senior Manager Ernst & Young
"Thank you for again putting on such a wonderful and fun program for us at the Ritz Carlton in Chicago. Given both the space and time constraints you had to work with, the program was absolutely flawless. Human Foosball was definitely a big hit this year. It is evident to all of us that you truly enjoy what you do while instilling in the participants a level of team cooperation and drive that most business sessions cannot accomplish."
- Kris Laverty Administrator TransUnion
"Thank you once again for putting together another terrific program for us this year. We all came away with some new ideas on how to work together better. The feedback unanimously has been positive. Venture Up once again exceeded our expectations and delivered a successful program."
- Gary Friedman Executive Vice President Williams Sonoma
"Venture Up put together a fantastic program for our team. I was especially impressed with your pre-event needs analysis. You hit all the points we discussed. Team building, risk-taking, motivation, communication and trust building. And to think...you pulled it all together for us in less than 10 days."
- Michael D. LiBassi Manager Strategic Marketing American Airlines
"Thank you for your hard work with two wonderful team building events. The group definitely grew much closer. Your ability to make frequent trips to our LA office to meet with senior management allowed us to bring this program to fruition. Your staff is truly great to work with."
- Kristen Buttery Recruiting Coordinator, Investment Banking Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
"Thank you for the outstanding team building session. As our other venture had cancelled at the last minute, and you stepped in on such short notice, all of us felt that Venture Up played an important role in making our Strategic Planning Meeting a great success."
- Wade H. Baker CEO Payback Training
"Now that the dust has settled following our sales meeting in Redondo Beach, I wanted to take a minute and offer heartfelt thanks for the excellent program Venture Up provided for Cinram. This was the first time our organization had pulled folks together from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico for an "Americas" meeting and, with your help, I believe the meeting exceeded expectations."
- Jill W. Croft National Sales Manager Cinram
"I cannot thank you enough for the impact you have had on our Russian employees. Your course really opened up their minds and hearts. You have made my job of training them so much easier."
- Sue Creek Operations Director Lensmeister, MOSCOW
"My instincts told me it would be good. It wasn't. It was spectacular! I have never been so pleased and proud after any of my meetings."
- Mike Pedreira Corporate Meeting Planner Benckiser Consumer Products
"This event was an overwhelming success, and you deserve much of the credit. Venture Up provided excellent service and we all appreciated your availability and guidance throughout the planning process. Programs like this take an incredible amount of coordination, and your attention to detail and willingness to go the extra mile made the program a success. You made this event so fun and painless to plan."
- Lisa Shimizu Corporate Meeting Planner Milliman & Robertson, Inc. Actuaries & Consultants
"Thank you for all your efforts in making the recent National Leadership Conference/Dealer/Press Meeting a success. The evaluation summary indicates this meeting was the best we've ever had."
- Bill Clark Meeting Planner Phillips Consumer Electronics
"Thanks again for such a wonderful team building experience! Both our instructors were incredible. Our team has taken part in various team building organizations and activities but Venture Up's program was by far the best we have participated in."
- Laura L. Ollis Marketing Coordinator SAP America
"Venture Up made some pretty heavy duty promises to me before we went through the program as to how effective it would be, and you exceeded those promises beyond my biggest expectations. Venture Up helped teach us a more intense level of communication, teamwork, listening skills, problem solving as a team and goal setting. It also taught us that we can go beyond our comfort zone and accomplish great things together."
- Meagan K. Burrows Vice President, Sales Paramount Pictures
"We were delighted with the professionalism and flawlessness with which Venture Up carried out its responsibilities. As a group of consultants always looking for problems to solve, we tend not to be easily satisfied. Suffice it to say that numerous people thought the retreat was the best ever."
- Marty Pollock Director of Professional Development McKinsey Consulting