The Team Of Leadership Outfitters
The staff of Leadership Outfitters offers more than 65 years of combined experience in working with leaders, their teams, and their companies. This unique personal development company assists clients who are seeking to achieve breakthroughs in their business and personal lives.
Our TeamJoe Esparza, PrincipalRis Higgins, PrincipalRachel Howard, Equine ManagerJackie Wickens, Ranch CoordinatorOur Affiliate Coaches
Natalie AllioMary-Martha BahnJennifer CombsKelly LewisMatt PerryJulie Puentes
Joe started his career with 7-Eleven, as a Sales Manager for 62 stores in the metro Seattle market. He continued developing managers at Miller Brewing Company where he was responsible for the training and development of Miller distributors throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. In 1992, Joe founded Leadership Outfitters and has successfully led this coaching and consulting company, working with executives in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
As an active coach since 1992, Joe's experience comes from business; not the classroom. His coaching focuses on real life application: achieving breakthroughs, getting results, and moving things ahead. In addition to his coaching work, Joe has authored articles on selling, leadership, and coaching, and has served as a co-host for a monthly radio show on leadership.
Joe is not only a veteran of the corporate trenches, he's a natural leader. Throughout his life, Joe has held the position of president or vice-president in nine businesses, organizations, and boards of directors. He has strength in helping leaders connect, motivate, lead, and inspire their teams.
Joe's speciality is in working with individual leaders and their teams. His clients appreciate his straightforward, no nonsense style which helps develop an environment of trust creating the opportunity for high performing work teams to come together. Joe is also noted for the work he does in developing emotional intelligence distinctions with his clients. He goes beyond just helping people with business; he also helps his clients integrate success practices in their personal lives as well.
Joe received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington State University in Commercial Recreation with a minor in Business Administration. In 2001, he graduated from a three-year professional development program on Coaching and Leadership offered by the Center for Authentic Leadership in Atlanta. Joe is an Epona Approved Instructor in Equine Experiential Learning through Epona Equestrian Services in Tucson. In addition, Joe is a member of the American Society of Training and Development.
Joe enjoys spending time with his family, learning how to play the guitar, and is an avid horseman, playing polo, hunting on horseback, and trail riding.
Ris Higgins is an executive coach to senior executives and their teams. She co-founded Leadership Outfitters, a Bozeman, Montana based coaching and experiential learning company 15 years ago to offer a unique development approach for clients seeking to achieve breakthroughs in their business and personal lives. Past clients include Kraft, Capital One, Albertsons, FINRA, Turner Enterprises, Inc., Houston Rockets, Chevron Texaco, and Heineken U.S.A.
From her professional background as a corporate executive, government manager, magazine editor, business owner, and executive coach, Ris offers insights and business practices that are based on real-life applications, not theory. During her 14 years at Miller Brewing Company, Ris created the internal consulting and coaching function, building it into a department known for its innovation and results. With the executive team, she spearheaded a revolutionary organizational development plan which supported a total change in the structure, systems, and culture of the sales and marketing divisions to improve the company's overall performance.
When Ris joined her husband, Joe Esparza, in their executive coaching company, she shifted her coaching focus to life-altering personal growth and development for leaders. Each client has a unique way of being and learning, and Ris uses language, emotional intelligence, and somatics to help her clients cultivate a greater depth of self-awareness and self-development. In her work as a coach and facilitator, Ris uses a gentle strength that creates safe openings, helping clients explore what gets in the way of their effectiveness. Her ability to help clients connect with their authentic selves results in transformed teams and dynamic leaders. Ris goes beyond just helping people with business. She also helps her clients integrate success practices in their personal lives as well.
Ris writes a monthly business column coaching readers, has co-hosted a monthly radio show on leadership, and co-produced a documentary on leadership using horses. She received her B.S. from Iowa State University in 1973. Ris is a graduate of the Organizational Development Internship with National Training Labs (NTL), is a graduate of a program on Coaching and Leadership offered by the Center for Authentic Leadership, and is an approved Epona Instructor in equine experiential learning through the Epona Center in Tucson. In addition, Ris is a member of the International Coach Federation and is certified in the Tracom Social Style model. She is currently completing the Newfield Ontological Coach Program.
Ris stays active in her community, volunteering on boards and offering pro-bono coaching for non-profits, She loves to hike, ride horses, and is a voracious reader. One of her sons attends the University of South Carolina and the other son is a Combat Rescue Officer with the Air Force Special Forces.
Rachel is the wrangler for Leadership Outfitters during their Power of
Choice retreats. It's a natural position for her as her love for horses
began when she started riding with her mother at age two.
As a
young child, Rachel was active in 4-H, competing in horse knowledge
competitions and horse shows. Rachel competed in various disciplines
of riding including English Equitation, Jumping, and Western Pleasure.
As a teenager, she worked at a youth horseback riding camp.
After
moving to Montana, a friend introduced Rachel to barrel racing. Since
then she has been competing in barrel racing and training horses for
these events. Rachel is a student at Montana State University and
enrolled in the Natural Resource and Range Land Ecology Program.
Jackie is Leadership Outfitters’ Ranch Coordinator, a job which encompasses everything from booking travel reservations, answering phones, making sure the farrier comes, to keeping the website up to date. Her past work experiences demonstrate that she is always up for a challenge and not afraid of a little hard work.
Prior to joining the Leadership Outfitters team, she worked in the construction industry as a tile setter, timber framer and sawyer. Outside of construction she has been a waitress, white-water raft guide, and snowboard instructor. Born and raised in Michigan, she’s always loved the outdoors. She was a member of the U.S Junior National Snowboard Team, allowing her to travel and compete in the U.S and Europe.
After high school, Jackie moved to Bozeman to attend Montana State University and loved Montana so much, she still calls it home. Jackie was married in October 2008, and enjoys spending free time with her husband, Jason, while perusing her passions for music, guitar, songwriting, photography, and the outdoors.
Our Affiliate Coaches
Natalie has spent much of her career in servant leadership as an advocate for patient and customer care, and now as a coach to leaders and their teams. She has over 15 years of experience in health care and has worked directly with the executive management of national medical associations, health care organizations, universities and medical technology corporations. She has served as consultant to physicians, providers and allied health professionals and has played key roles with core leadership teams, working directly with incoming directors and executive management in the transition of leadership and implementation of new business plans. Natalie has a passion for coaching both the seasoned and emerging leader. Her innate ability to identify the strengths of individuals and teams brings out the best in those she leads and coaches. Her corporate training programs receive enthusiastic reviews from managers and participants alike.
Natalie holds a B.S. in Clinical Management and Leadership from the George Washington University. She is a graduate of the Newfield Network’s Coaching for Personal and Professional Mastery and Coaching In Business programs. The Newfield Network is accredited by The International Coaching Federation.
In 2008, Natalie co-founded Inner Wilderness, Inc., a coaching and equine guided learning organization. Using ontological coaching to facilitate inner exploration she helps others discover a new way of being. Through exploration of the messages behind their emotions, the language used to describe their world and the way they move within it, she guides individuals and teams in reaching their full potential.
Years of experience working with horses and people have taught Natalie the value of authenticity and true partnership. At the heart of her coaching are the life lessons learned through those things she enjoys the most – her relationship with her husband, nature, horses, and kayaking.
Natalie may be reached by phone at (540) 788-1015, or by email at natalie-innerwilderness@hughes.net.
Mary-Martha has
been in service to others as a coach, facilitator, leader, and advocate
for over 15 years. Throughout her professional life, beginning in
academia, and including a long career in Human Resources, Mary-Martha’s
natural ability to connect to people has been her hallmark.
During
her tenure as Vice-President of Human Resources at Janus Funds,
Mary-Martha oversaw the growth of the company from 350 to over 3,000
employees. She implemented cutting edge performance management
programs, worked with senior leaders to redesign their work teams, and
introduced Executive Leadership Coaching across organizations, helping
new leaders tap their inner strengths to produce excellent performance
in themselves and in their people
In 2004 Mary-Martha made the
decision to change her life course and left corporate America to begin
utilizing her skills as a coach and consultant. Today, she owns and
runs her own business, Two Paths Coaching and Consulting, specializing
in helping others, especially HR leaders, step into larger leadership
roles. With energy and enthusiasm, she helps her clients explore and
connect all the unique facets of their life, creating a prism through
which their own authentic leadership is reflected. In all of her work
with clients, Mary-Martha focuses on building self-awareness and being
intentional in all aspects of life.
Mary-Martha received a
Bachelor of Arts degree from McDaniel College, and a Master of Arts
degree from Vanderbilt University. She is certified as a professional
coach through the Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara, which is
accredited by the International Coaches Federation.
In addition
to her work as a coach and consultant, Mary-Martha and her husband run
a Bed & Breakfast and Wolf Sanctuary, which is home to wolves that
cannot be released into the wild. She also serves on a local Board
which is active in maintaining the natural beauty of the area.
Mary-Martha is renewed by spending time outdoors and indulges her
passion for hiking and cross country skiing whenever she can.
Mary-Martha can be reached by phone at (406) 587-5229, or by email at mmbahn@earthlink.net.
Over the span of 14 years, Jennifer has gained experience in a wide range of corporate arenas, from mid-sized, privately owned to Fortune 500 companies and engaged in a broad array of businesses including wholesale distribution, national retail, and global manufacturing. Serving in increasing levels of responsibility in the areas of inventory, key account, and people management, she is also a wife and mother of four children.
In November 2006, inspired by her life-long passion and insatiable thirst for higher knowledge and spiritual insight, Jennifer left a thriving corporate career to dedicate herself as a coach to helping others find meaning and purpose in their lives and thereby reclaiming a true sense of joy, peach, gratitude and love. Her company, Concentric Solutions, was founded on the pillars of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and personal empowerment, Calling upon her own relevant experience, extensive training and sense of humor, her aim is to facilitate organizational health, authentic leadership and personal well-being via individual and team coaching, consulting, and group interaction.
In addition to her busy family life, Jennifer also enjoys hiking in the mountains surrounding her Bozeman, Montana home, reading, writing, being with her horse and spending quality time discussing the mystery of life with others.
Jennifer can be reached by phone at (406) 581-3524 or by email at Concentricsolutions@yahoo.com.
Kelly Lewis is the founder of the Lewis Leadership Group, a leadership development and coaching company that improves performance - inside and out, inspiring greater awareness and authentic action. Kelly brings more than 15 years of experience and dedication to working with the leaders of today and tomorrow. Kelly is currently working on her signature BOUNCE program, a leadership development effort that focuses on Bringing Out "U" and Creating Excellence in today’s youth.
Kelly is a native of Richmond, VA and earned a bachelor’s degree in Business from Virginia Tech University. She holds a certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University and has been designated an Associate Certified Coach by the International Coach Federation. Before starting the Lewis Leadership Group, Kelly spent twelve years as a change leader in corporate America with a Fortune 200 Company where she created, facilitated, and led large scale change efforts, strategic initiatives, and leadership development programs. Kelly is also an active advocate for regional non-profit groups and is co-creator and executive board member of TrePadges, a non-profit organization focused on raising money and awareness for charities in Central Virginia that support children in need.
Kelly can be reached by phone at (804) 308-3539, or by email at kelly@tllgroup.com.
Matt received a BBA in Marketing and Economics from James Madison University and he is a graduate of the Georgetown University Leadership Coaching Certification Program. He lives in Richmond, VA with his wife, Stephanie, and their two children, Matthew and Lucy. Outside of work, Matt spends much of his time playing in (and advocating for) the James River Park System, playing soccer, coaching youth sports, reading, traveling with his family, cherishing friends and cheering for his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.
Matt Perry is a leadership coach who works with executives, business leaders and teams to help them reconnect with their core talents and get out of their own way, thereby playing larger in their careers and lives. Matt leverages his thirteen years of vision setting, strategy development, change leadership and problem solving experience with a Fortune 200 financial services company to quickly relate to other executives’ challenges and help them drive bottom-line results with authentic leadership presence, confidence and compassion. Matt also is a partner in a small business venture in Richmond, VA. Matt runs an outdoor outfitters business geared toward reconnecting people with natural fun and guiding outdoor adventures. It is through this experience of making a living on the small business ownership edge that has made Matt highly tuned to organizational purpose and that which makes a real difference.
By blending experience, formal leadership coaching education and his own set of talents, Matt has developed a unique approach and ability to reconnect leaders with themselves for the sake of elevating their organizations’ creativity and results. Matt combines true curiosity and directly stated observation to challenge his clients to discover clearings in which to broaden their perspective, challenge their assumptions and reemerge on a path with more possibilities. In that way, his clients clarify their intentions and inspire sustained movement toward valuable outcomes. Matt can be reached by phone at (804) 822-8181, or by email at willowcoaching@yahoo.com.
Julie Puentes helps clients see and feel their impact on others and act with clear intention and purpose. Her work combines a keen knowledge of psychology and leadership with her lifelong passion for horses. Julie has pioneered new approaches to learning through experience, most notably with horses. She is an approved facilitator in Equine-Assisted Leadership and holds a B.A in psychology from the University of Texas and an M.S. degree in organizational leadership and ethics from St. Edward's University.
Julie managed the client services division with a trade show and convention production company for twelve years. Julie enjoyed this career and had a bright future there, but felt there was something more aligned with her talents and interests for her to do. Ultimately, she decided to follow her heart, make a significant change and obtain her graduate degree. Still unsure about her next step upon graduating, synchronicity struck. Julie read a book, which outlined the various ways that horses were being used to help people in therapeutic settings and personal development. . "Some of the concepts discussed in the book were so similar and aligned with my studies in leadership and emotional intelligence (EQ) that I became very excited about the possibilities of using horses in leadership development. Being around horses my entire life, I knew this was a direction I wanted to go." Determined, she found a program where she could continue her studies perfecting her skills working with horses to develop leaders. Now working in what she calls her "ideal career," she is the owner of a coaching and consulting company, Bridges Solutions and a partner in New Territory Offsites.
Julie is an enthusiastic life-long learner and confesses to having no shortage of ideas on how to spend her time. She enjoys riding and competing with her two horses, traveling, painting, and listening to live music and discovering new musical artists.
Julie's clients include companies such as Heineken U.S.A., Green Mountain Energy, and Back-n-Balance Chiropractic Clinic. She has also worked extensively with individuals from Dell, Schlumberger, Bank of America, Teach for America, and The LCRA (Lower Colorado River Authority).
Julie can be reached by phone at (512) 468-9372, or by email at jpuentes@leadershipbridges.com.