The Team

Lee J. Colan, Ph.D. is Co-founder of The L Group, Inc., a Dallas, Texas-based consulting firm. Lee's passion for serving leaders enables him to deliver cut-through-the-clutter tools that elevate leaders and their teams. He is a high-energy leadership advisor, author and leadership expert.

He has built a track record of successfully managing the challenges of rapid organizational change. Lee possesses an in-depth understanding of business, people and organizations. He blends this understanding with his corporate management experience to help leaders and companies grow.

From emerging companies to the Fortune 500, many organizations have experienced the positive impact of Lee’s practical approach.

Prior to starting The L Group in 1999, Lee worked in various leadership roles with American Airlines, Sandoz (Novartis) and FoxMeyer (McKesson). He also held consulting positions with two premier firms: Booz, Allen & Hamilton and William Mercer. His last corporate post was as Vice President for Physician Reliance Network, one of the fastest growing NASDAQ companies at the time.

In addition to 25 years of hands-on industry and consulting experience, Lee earned Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from George Washington University after graduating from Florida State University.

Lee has authored 12 popular books that have been translated into 10 languages. His latest release is, Stick with It: Mastering the Art of Adherence an enhanced and expanded 10-year follow-up to his bestseller. He has also created or co-created over 100 products that equip and inspire leaders at every level.

Lee’s passion and enthusiasm create turbo-charged presentations and workshops that are energizing and engaging. He delivers practical, powerful tools participants can put to work right away.

Lee's e-newsletter, The LETTER, and his popular column, Leadership Insights (check your local City Business Journal), reach tens of thousands of readers weekly. Additionally, Lee's articles and practical advice have appeared in a wide variety of print and electronic outlets.

In addition to The L Group team, Lee draws from over 10,000 personal contacts in his network as an extension of his team to speed up results for his clients.

Julie Davis-Colan is Co-founder of The L Group. She is an innovative business consultant who has 20 years of experience in sales and marketing to Fortune 100 companies. Julie has the ability to turn vision and marketplace opportunity into a profitable reality. She has built a track record of effectively creating and selling unique marketing initiatives to business partners including multi-million dollar corporate sponsorships, business-to-business and direct-to-consumer sales. Her clients included companies such as Home Depot, Westinghouse, Dean Foods and Coca-Cola Foods.

Prior to consulting, Julie conceptualized and managed several profitable business units and led successful turn-arounds at the American Heart Association’s National Center. The American Heart Association was recognized by the Harvard Business School as one of the best managed non-profit organizations in the United States.

Julie’s areas of expertise include business planning, revenue enhancement strategies, national sales, strategic partnerships and new product development in emerging markets.

Additionally, Julie is a compelling speaker and engaging trainer. Her passion for leadership and life create an infectious energy for audiences.

Julie earned her Master’s degree in Preventive Medicine from The Ohio State University, College of Medicine, after earning her Bachelor’s degree from Florida State University.

Donald H. Brush, Ph.D. is one of The L Group’s select Expert Partners.  He is co-founder and President of The Renova Corporation, a Dallas-based management consulting firm, founded in 1985, with offices and affiliated partnerships in Canada and Europe.

Dr. Brush was formerly on the tenured faculty of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he taught the management of science and technology, and The University of Texas at Dallas where he was Director of the Under­graduate Management Program.  During his academic career, he had over 50 publications and professional presentations in human resource management.  His research, sponsored by such companies as General Electric, IBM, and Pfizer, in the area of identifying and developing management talent in scientists and engineers has been acclaimed in the Wall Street Journal and Business Week Magazine.

Dr. Brush's areas of specialty include Strategic Vision Planning, Change Management, Teamwork & Empowerment, and Process Improvement.  His clients have included such corporations as Nortel, Universal Studios, GTE, Pier 1 Imports, Lucent Technologies, and Texas Instruments.  In 1991 he received the First Award in Quality Achievement in Brussels for the TQM work he did in Europe.   He consults extensively in the U.S. and on international projects in Canada, South America and Europe. 

Recent projects have included leading the integration of the Elizabeth Arden and Mario Tricoci Salons merger; the reorganization of Commercial Property and Casualty at the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies; and facilitating a major culture change at Sabre (Global Infrastructure).

Dr. Brush is on the Board of Directors of Aperian (NASDAQ APRN), is a Director of the Hogan Quality Institute and the Texas Quality Consortium and on the Editorial Board of the Journal for Corporate Education.

Lori Link is one of the L Group's select Expert Partners.  She is an Executive Coach and Certified Behavioral and Values Analyst committed to helping her clients achieve both personal and professional mastery.  Over 20 years of successful Human Resources experiences have provided her a unique perspective on organizational challenges of all kinds.  Her corporate background includes work with General Electric, UCCEL Corporation, PHH, and FirstBank USA.  In this variety of business environments, Lori has assisted CEO’s, executives, entrepreneurs, sales people and professionals from diverse industries to clarify their vision, eliminate personal roadblocks, implement action plans, and achieve success.

In her work as an executive, consultant, and corporate professional, Lori has experienced organizational cultures from all levels and has designed and conducted numerous workshops on behavioral/communication styles and coaching skills for managers. She understands the role of "manager as coach."  Lori’s goal is to help both business managers and individuals look inside for solutions that work effectively and easily for themselves and others. She listens, advises, endorses, and challenges her clients to overcome obstacles and make the most of opportunities.

Lori obtained her BA degree in Psychology from the State University College of Oswego in New York. She is a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaches Federation and Coach University.  Her clients have included UPS, MBNA, Tricon Global Restaurants, Corporate Express, Sterling Commerce, 1st Choice Lenders, Texas Instruments, Bloom Technologies and Global One.

David Reed is one of The L Group’s select Expert Partners.  David is the founder of Customer Centered Consulting Group, Inc.  Prior to founding Customer Centered Consulting Group, Inc., he served with Andersen Consulting, Exxon, and Walt Disney World. 

David’s mission is to help organizations of all types and sizes improve their effectiveness by getting the right people (Human Resources) doing the right things (Operations) with the right attitude (Customer Service) with the right tools (Technology) and for the right money (Finances).

David is the author of three books including Monday Morning Customer Service and A Culture of Service.  He conducts customer service training and consulting, and speaking for a variety of organizations.  His focus is on facilitating change in the culture that will have a long lasting impact on the way a company treats their customers.  He travels throughout the country, helping schools, churches, corporations, and government agencies identify their strengths and weaknesses.  Then, by working with leadership teams and teaching simple processes, he helps organizations create and implement common-sense solutions to their problems.

David received degrees in Chemical Engineering and Computer Science from Texas A&M University.

Melissa Cabana founded back porch creative, her freelance design business, in 2003. We were one of her very first clients. Virtually every product we have produced since 2003 has her creative fingerprint on it - book covers, book interiors, training materials and reinforcement tools, posters, calendar, newsletters, web site and more.

Melissa's spirit of partnership, perpetually positive attitude and stellar service create "sticky" relationships and fun customer engagements. She sets a shining example for us as we serve our client partners.

Reliable Studios has been our technical business partner since the founding of our business in 1999. Led by Harry Hopkins, they deliver a unique blend of business savvy, marketing insight, user perspective and technical know-how. Our partnership with Reliable Studios has helped us grow from a local consulting practice to a global business.

Reliable Studios‘s mantra is “Be Valuable. Be Reliable” and they are!