Meet The Team 

THE INSTRUCTORS
Ken Block
Ken is the lead singer & founder of the platinum-selling band, Sister Hazel for the last 30+ years! Founder of the children's cancer charity, Lyrics for Life, a co-founder and host of The Rock Boat (the world's largest floating music festival), and writer of the song that started it all... Change Your Mind! Ken earned a master's degree in counseling psychology somewhere around the time of Justin Bieber's birth, which has come in hand while navigating the creative waters of being in the same band since 1994. Ken enjoys surfing, laughing (mostly at Dave), being a dad to three ridiculously good-looking offspring, and a husband to CYM team's Tracy Montgomery-Block.

Dave Neal

Dave has 20+ years of experience in adult learning, instructional design, & leadership management working with companies such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), PetSmart, Mayo Clinic, GE Healthcare and more. Dave co-authored the CYM workshop materials and workbook, but more notably, survived being Ken's roommate in grad school. Dave enjoys traveling and is also an avid novelist with 7 penned novels - rising early to get those words in!

Elyse Sanneman

Elyse has 15+ years of experience in adult learning, instructional design, retail education, process, communication and negotiation working for large corporations such as Ulta Beauty Corporation, Ace Hardware Corporation, & SymphonyAI. Elyse is obtaining her CliftonStrengths coach certification and has a passion for helping others identify and utilize their core strengths. Elyse led point on the development of the Cymplify U digital program. Elyse is a kick ass auntie, dog lover, and foodie who loves to decorate sugar cookies, and hand make greeting cards in her (rare) spare time!

THE CONDUCTORS

Tracy Montgomery-Block

Tracy, Ken's wife, but far more importantly... the wrangler of all things that need wrangling! Tracy has a background in psychology and personal development, years of experience leading development workshops for teens, and many, many more years of experience raising three really great humans!

Joel Cobden

An original co-founder of CYM, Joel coined the term "Cymplify" from which we get our namesake! Joel runs Campus Customs, a family business that has provided exceptional merchandising and apparel service for over 40 years and brings his business sense and the best CYM swag straight to you.
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