… some of Peter’s backstory

 

I see myself as a life-long learner. While I have done a great deal of classroom work and my fair share of workshops, conferences and certifications – all in pursuit of experiential learning – the most transformative learning has been through my varied experiences at work and in life.

The path to here and now has its roots as a coming of age in the 60’s story. I started a commune, my first experience at creating intentional, collaborative community. We worked at understanding ourselves, one another and our relationships. We studied eastern philosophy and explored the integration of mind, body and spirit – the early underpinnings of emotional intelligence (EQ).

In 1973, I took a job as a librarian in a local public school, leading me out of the commune and into a seven year stint as an educator. My early years were spent in public schools and the last four as co-founder, lead teacher anPCs Shadowd administrator of an alternative elementary school; a parent-teacher cooperative. The Schoolhouse is still up and running today. While the commune taught me some things about collaborating, The Schoolhouse, a Montessori-based experiential learning environment, brought it all home.

During this time I worked a number of ‘odd jobs’, paying my way through college and summers between teaching assignments. And by ‘odd’ I mean incredibly diverse and unusual, such as teaching leather craft at the University of New Hampshire, working as a longshoreman on the docks of Portsmouth, rebuilding antique wooden boats on the shores of Lake Champlain, tending bar on the day shift at a local watering hole, listening to the memorable stories of an 80 year old, one-armed carpenter and a Vietnam Vet who was there waiting when I opened every morning at 10am.

Then it was 1979. Jimmy Carter was telling us to turn down our thermostats and put on a sweater. I needed to support a family of my own. I took Richard Bolles’ advice in What Color is Your Parachute and looked to combine my love of teaching and physics, my fascination with the brand new field of computer science and my commitment to sustaining the planet. This led to just the right job – a corporate trainer for a national manufacturer of computer-controlled, building automation systems and evolved into a 15 year career in building automation/energy management. As a sales engineer turned corporate executive, I developed a very strong appreciation for systems thinking, initially the interface between mechanical and human systems, then within the world of organizational development – the art and science of helping people work together as high performing teams. I loved the exploration and scientific assessment of commercial and industrial facilities. I learned to ask clarifying questions which led to millions saved in energy dollars. This is where I really honed my skills in methods of inquiry, simultaneously building trust and understanding between the people who did the work and the leaders who managed them.

In 1994, I went into private practice as an organizational development consultant and leadership coach, weaving into the fabric of my practice all the grass root threads that came before – listening to understand, teaching from the heart, finding the courage to go deeper and working collaboratively. My primary focus on executive and team coaching comes from my belief that it is of utmost importance that organizations walk their talk.

I am extremely fortunate to have found right livelihood. I love what I do and feel honored to work with such remarkable people who also challenge me, help me to grow, and model through their courage and perseverance, how the work is really done.