Meet the Team at Odyssey Teams

We are ordinary people with extraordinary dreams of what is possible when people learn to give their best. Headquartered in Chico, CA with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area.

BILL JOHN

President / CEO/ Co-Founder

Bill cooked up this Odyssey many moons ago and has found a way to keep improving with every client and group with which he engages. Challenge him, trust him and then get out of the way and let him do his thing. You won’t be disappointed.

LAIN HENSLEY

Head Dream Chaser / COO / Co-Founder

Everyone wants to be Lain Hensley’s friend and listen to his podcast You Go First. Lain is one of those rare people who sees what people often don’t see in themselves. The beautiful beginner. The sacred wonder. He’ll reveal your magic and he’ll get you to believe. He is generous, smart, and oriented to making things better.

TODD DEMOREST

Chief Facilitation Officer

Todd Demorest has shared his wisdom with the top brass of almost every company out there, showing them that even if life is challenging, it has a brilliance that must be celebrated. He has seen it all and talks straight about life, work, and business to some of the best.

KIM CLARY

Director of Client Success

Kim Clary’s smile and infectious laugh will be the first things to make you gravitate towards her, but it’s her ability to bring out the best in you that is her real gift. She is flat-out fun from start to finish. But her passion for giving and depth of experience is why she is our Director of Client Success.

JONAS HERZOG

General Manager

Jonas is a passionate adventurer whose genuine smile and easy-going approach helps keep Odyssey firing on all cylinders. He started as an intern in the 1990s and helped coordinate our popular ropes course team building programs. With a degree in recreation management, Jonas is a jack of all trades who facilitates programs, oversees complex program logistics, builds whatever’s needed and keeps all facilities up to date. When he’s not rocking it at our team building programs, you can find him on a bike, boat or snowy mountain with friends and family.

CAROL JONES

Office Logistics Coordinator

Carol is the glue that holds Odyssey headquarters together. Her skillful hands touch every piece of an Odyssey program. She ships thousands of bicycles and prosthetic hands to companies worldwide and ensures the many (and we mean many) program parts are included to deliver a smooth and successful program. But it’s her love of people, dogged determination and incredible work ethic that make her an indispensable part of our team.

FRANK HACKNEY

Program Facilitator

For the past 20 years, Frank has worked as a coach, facilitator and strategy development guru to clients ranging from NASCAR to NASA – and a whole lot of Fortune 500 companies in between. In addition to presenting programs for Odyssey, he has facilitated graduate level group dynamics and team learning for the School of Public Policy as well as George Mason University. Frank, who has a masters degree in organizational development and knowledge management, is driven by an intense desire to help people create extraordinary experiences for themselves and others.

CYNTHIA MCNEIL

Program Facilitator

Cynthia has been a polished Odyssey facilitator for over 20 years. Her skills, experience and wisdom inspire participants and add value to any group. Cynthia understands the power of intention and she harnesses it to re-energize and re-engage individuals. Her humor, energetic style and authentic connection creates improved personal, leadership and organizational performance.

JEREMY BATES

Program Facilitator

Jeremy is a self-described addict of potential and dealer of hope. He’s as real and authentic as it gets. As an engaging speaker, Jeremy blends interactive personal stories, humor and live music to communicate that no matter what your circumstance, it’s possible to Hope More, Learn More, Love More. This “Hope Dealer” has made a life of redefining possibility for thousands of participants who experience his programs.

WHITNEY DEMOREST

Program Facilitator

Whitney has been an assistant facilitator with Odyssey since 2007. With a master’s degree in clinical psychology, she has worked in the personal growth and transformation field for 25 years. She loves helping people shift old thought patterns and limiting beliefs to discover their unique gifts and potential. Whitney enjoys going on adventures with Todd (yes, that Todd) and her two hilarious daughters, practicing yoga and savoring a good cup of tea.

SARA HEALY

Program Facilitator

As a facilitator, Sara embodies Odyssey’s mission of transforming lives for the better. With a background in psychology, she helps others examine and alter old habits and patterns to gain new insight into their own potential and impact on others – whether it be co-workers, communities, friends or family members. When she’s not leading a program, you can find Sara grooving out to music or spending time at the ocean.

CAT KRAWIEC

Program Facilitator

Cat’s impressive resume of training and facilitation experience is the foundation of her great energy and enthusiasm in front of any group. Cat has a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and a Masters in Sports Administration. She knows how to build great teams from NCAA college sports to corporate giants.

NICK HARRIS

Program Facilitator

Nick’s impactful programs tackle workplace mental well-being. His journey from despair and addiction to a purposeful life forms the basis of organizational mental health initiatives. With extensive experience in delivering programs to diverse groups, Nick, a certified yoga instructor and musician, also hosts the Power of Positivity podcast.

KATIE LEACH

Executive Assistant to Lain Hensley

Katie’s clear communication and expert multi-tasking skills help Odyssey dream chasers make their ideas come to life. As a seasoned athlete, Katie knows that a positive attitude, teamwork and dreaming big go a long way in achieving goals. She uses those skills to support Odyssey leadership and staff to develop winning programs for all types of clients. In her free time, you can find her on the tennis court or hanging out with her husband and awesome children.

MICHELLE WALKER

Sales Development Representative

Michelle is a passionate and genuine communicator with a background in public relations and social media management. She’s never met a stranger, strives to bring sunshine to a cloudy day, and authentically connects and engages with clients. In her free time, she enjoys biking to the beach with her husband and spending time with her adult children.

ROSS FIELD

Visual Production Specialist

As a polished news and sports broadcaster with over 15 years of experience, Ross spearheads our visual and digital production efforts. His creativity, curiosity, quick wit and engaging personality put program guests at ease, allowing him to capture the energy, emotion and impact at our team building events. Always pushing himself to capture the best story, Ross produces high-quality, engaging videos for Odyssey’s clients and media outreach efforts.

ALLISON SWITHENBANK

Senior Program Manager

Though Allison’s main role is working with Odyssey clients to ensure smooth and successful events, she is known around the office as our Swiss Army Knife – as she does a little bit of everything. Calm and cool under pressure, Allison is up for any task or challenge that crosses her desk. She’s a whiz at graphic design and loves to travel, cook, and enjoy the great outdoors with her husband.

LETICIA VELASQUEZ

Bookkeeper

Leticia is not your typical number cruncher. Balance sheets are her love language and she is the perfect combination of personal and professional to keep the Odyssey financial engine zipping along. Her dedication, eye for detail and easy-going attitude make her a cherished team member and key part of the Odyssey puzzle. She enjoys cooking, dancing, and spending time with her growing children and husband.

TAYLOR HENSLEY

Marketing Manager

You could say that Taylor has Odyssey Teams in her blood. She has participated in more programs than she can count, coordinates sales and manages Odyssey’s marketing efforts. Taylor’s background in organizational communication enables her to see the big picture to connect client goals with program strategies. Her contagious smile and passion for helping others bring their A game makes her a valuable asset at our programs nationwide. Taylor is also a talented artist who enjoys biking, rock climbing and kayaking.

SHEILA MURRAY

Administrative Specialist

Sheila easily transitions from providing administrative program support to writing Odyssey’s marketing materials. With a background in public relations and journalism, she wields her red pen to make Odyssey materials clear, concise and compelling. As a life-long marketer, Sheila’s passionate about spreading the word about Odyssey’s unique team building approach that changes minds, attitudes, workplaces, and lives.

JAMIE ENGEL

Office Logistics Assistant

Whether it’s a rocky mountain or a mountain of work, there isn’t anything Jamie can’t conquer. She’s committed to improving Odyssey HQ’s efficiency and works with a positive, team-oriented attitude. She rocks it as a program assistant and is tireless in making sure tools, tiles and team building kits are bagged, boxed, shipped and delivered to U.S. and worldwide locations.

BOBETTE HETTS

Consultant

Bobette started as a client and joined the Odyssey HQ team after retiring from a 35-year career in banking. As the training and development director for a leading California bank, Bobette worked with Odyssey to pioneer the company’s longest and most successful training program. Bobette loves to help others succeed and work together as a high-performing team.

CEANNE JOHNSON

HR Consultant

Ceanne’s 25 years of human resource management experience enables her to find the best players for the Odyssey team. After working at leading technology and computing firms, she understands the importance of hiring people who embody a company’s mission and values. At Odyssey, that means passionate, positive, hard-working people willing to make a difference in the world. Ceanne loves to travel, hike and spend time on the trails with her beloved horse.

CHAU YODER

Mindful Living and Leadership Trainer

Chau Yoder has been teaching people how to pause, breathe and smile for 30 years. As a manager at Chevron Corporation, Chau witnessed the crippling impact of stress on work, life and families. Thus began her decades-long journey to learn and share methods for enhancing mindful living. Chau is a sought-after teacher of mindful leadership and living skills for corporate, youth and retreat settings. She holds degrees in electrical and electronic engineering and lives in Northern California with her husband.

If you’re looking for team building providers for your next offsite or corporate event, look no further than the amazing team at Odyssey Teams.

Give us a call at (800) 342-1650 or send us email.

“Odyssey Teams left us with a common language in which our company can build upon to achieve greatness.”

Pete Brunner, BCSI

“Thank you very much for your help in making my meeting so successful and connecting the dots to all of my key messages in such a meaningful way.”

Tracy Tannenbaum, Heritage Homes

“Much to our delight, our participants had a terrific experience with the Helping Hands activity… and spent the remainder of the conference talking about it! The program that Odyssey Teams has developed is by far the most memorable, fulfilling, and moving “teambuilding” experience we have participated in.”

Brandy L Szever, Vanguard

“Thank you and your team for two great days of training. I couldn’t be more pleased with the training team you assembled, the content and how the material was received by the participants. You listened to our challenges and geared a program that got right to heart of some of our key management/organizational development issues. It was amazing to sit back and watch the light bulbs go on for our managers. I look forward to them taking the learnings back to the work place and applying them.”

Christine Stout, Premier Retail Network

“So many employees have approached to say how moved they were by by the bike build. It was such a positive lesson on working together and asking for help. The afternoon left a mark on everyone who participated in such a positive way.”

Cindy Silva, Ariat International Inc.

“Thank you for putting together and facilitating a fabulous collaboration exercise in Orlando. We’ve done a lot of different team-building activities and other types of exercises through the years, but this one was simply extraordinary. I have lost count of how many participants have grabbed me or emailed me to tell me how impactful it was to them on a professional and personal level. I was showing my kids last night the pictures we took on our iPhones, and they were amazed.”

Elana McFann, United Healthcare

“Odyssey Teams touched our team members, and our team members are taking that feeling and making positive action.”

Gretchen Chismar, Honeywell

“We really had an opportunity to know each other better and to have some fun together in a way that increases our commitment to work together effectively. But the biggest payoff of all was the combined feeling of having accomplished something with such an impact to people around the world.”

Jean E. Deering, Wells Fargo

“Odyssey Teams touched 970 people who are at an impressionable point in their lives. I’m confident that the wisdom and emotion Odyssey shared will positively impact their entire careers.”

Jenna Ballestrino, Microsoft Academy for College Hires (MACH)

“Our team unanimously voted the 3 hours with Odyssey Teams was the most beneficial part of our entire meeting.”

Julie C., BCD Meeting & Incentives

“The Helping Hands event structure + the personal connection to the prosthetic hands have left a lasting impression on our team. Many people still reference the event 90 days later.”

Megan A. Westman, GE Lighting

“The mosaic exercise is one of my favorite things I’ve ever done in Corporate America! What a beautiful outcome from such a simple but effective exercise.”

Jen Matlock, AbbVie

“Mission accomplished! The Odyssey Teams session exceeded every expectation I had. It created a unity with our teams and connected people in meaningful and thought-provoking inner-soul searching ways.”

Michelle Stokes, Merck

“Odyssey Teams wowed everyone. Feedback from executives to new team members has been phenomenal and the lessons learned will be lasting.”

Ralph S. Henderson, AMN Healthcare

“We found that working together for a worthwhile cause gave us perspective on new ways to use our talents to use for the good of others while learning important lessons about our own capabilities. Thank you, Odyssey Teams.”

Tim Somers, Pernod Ricard USA

“In my opinion, Odyssey Teams’ keynote and facilitation set the foundation and tone for an impactful two-day, staff retreat—I’m not sure we would have gotten to that level without Odyssey Teams kicking it off!”

Megan Moser, University of Pennsylvania

“Odyssey Teams provided the perfect foundation and jumping-off point for what our meeting was designed to accomplish. Helping Hands became the metaphor for how our team aspires to work together.”

Julie Person, Shire

“We’ve sung Odyssey Teams’ praises to everyone we know. Odyssey Teams has the unique ability to impact a group at the core with the right amount of humor.”

My-An Le, Kaiser Permanente Great Los Angeles

“Since the program, I have caught myself being myself and working on being a better person, husband, father, co-worker and friend. Perspective is everything…”

Dan Link, SDCDA

“Having experienced team building events all over the world, I must admit that nothing will top the experience we had with Odyssey Teams. Building unity, teamwork, collaboration – seeing real people, extending beyond themselves to help others, has been priceless.”

Kristen Muckleroy, Fiberlink Communications

Meet the Team at Odyssey Teams

We are ordinary people with extraordinary dreams of what is possible when people learn to give their best. Headquartered in Chico, CA with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area.

BILL JOHN

President / CEO/ Co-Founder

LAIN HENSLEY

Head Dream Chaser / COO / Co-Founder

TODD DEMOREST

Chief Facilitation Officer

KIM CLARY

Director of Client Success

JONAS HERZOG

General Manager

CAROL JONES

Office Logistics Coordinator

FRANK HACKNEY

Program Facilitator

CYNTHIA MCNEIL

Program Facilitator

JEREMY BATES

Program Facilitator

WHITNEY DEMOREST

Program Facilitator

SARA HEALY

Program Facilitator

CAT KRAWIEC

Program Facilitator

NICK HARRIS

Program Facilitator

KATIE LEACH

Executive Assistant to Lain Hensley

MICHELLE WALKER

Sales Development Representative

ROSS FIELD

Visual Production Specialist

ALLISON SWITHENBANK

Senior Program Manager

LETICIA VELASQUEZ

Bookkeeper

TAYLOR HENSLEY

Marketing Manager

SHEILA MURRAY

Administrative Specialist

JAMIE ENGEL

Office Logistics Assistant

BOBETTE HETTS

Consultant

CEANNE JOHNSON

HR Consultant

CHAU YODER

Mindful Living and Leadership Trainer

WHY THE BEST COMPANIES HIRE ODYSSEY TEAMS

There are many reasons why 80% of our business is repeat or referred clients. Companies have been relying on us to power and inspire their workforce for decades.