LF Leadership

Cynthia Luna is an executive integral coach with extensive experience in leadership development, executive and group coaching working with intercultural teams in diverse industries including: manufacturing, telecommunications, civil engineering, education, market research, professional and business associations, foundations and non-profit organizations in the USA, Mexico and South Africa. She has supported organizations and individuals managing small- and large-scale change, moving through strategic realignments, integrating multicultural teams and becoming more effective leaders.

Committed to the growth and development of leaders, organizations and communities worldwide, Cynthia has a history of pioneering leadership in business and community development. She was the first woman sales manager for the Latin American division of ADC Telecommunications, a leading international supplier of broadband equipment. She was also the first woman — and the first young adult — to serve on the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Mexico.

Prior to founding LF Leadership, Cynthia supported business and community leaders across the United States through her work in the consulting division of ShoreBank Corporation, the first and largest community development bank in America. In addition, Cynthia has served large family businesses in her work with the Loyola Family Business Center in Chicago.

She is certified as an Integral Coach by New Ventures West and is a member of the International Coach Federation. She holds an MBA in Organizational Development and Operations from Loyola University, Chicago, and received her BA in International Business from ITESM University, Mexico. She is an alumna of the Metropolitan Leadership Institute, a leadership development program for outstanding Hispanic leaders in the Chicago area.

Cynthia has spoken in venues such as the LISC Urban Forum (San Francisco and Miami), Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation (New York), and “The Spirit of Business” on KEST Radio (San Francisco), among others.

Cynthia has a passion for voluntary service, holding leadership positions in NGOs such as the World Alliance of YMCAs in Geneva, Switzerland and currently serving on the board of directors of the Pomona Valley YMCA. She loves traveling, running, practicing yoga, and enjoying world music and dance.

Max Freund has over 15 years’ experience developing leaders in both the United States and overseas, supporting organizations ranging from large national and international federations to small community-based start-ups. Max's passion for participatory leadership, organizational learning, and intercultural bridge-building guides his consulting work in strategic planning, board development, fundraising, training and group facilitation, and organizational change.

Max is an expert in non-profit capacity building, governance, and leadership. He chaired grant review panels for the Federal Compassion Capital Fund Demonstration Grant Program in 2007 and Targeted (Mini-grant) Program in 2005 and 2007.

Prior to co-founding LF Leadership, Max was a consultant with The Alford Group, a national consulting firm to the non-profit sector that has assisted more than 1,000 clients nationwide over its 25-year history. There he provided strategic and operational counsel on leadership, fund development, and information technology to national and local organizations including professional associations, religious congregations, and educational institutions. Previously, he served Assistant Director of World Service at the YMCA of the USA, where he carried out a nationwide campaign raising $1.2 million annually for international programs and partnerships of the YMCA. He also directed a leadership development and reconciliation program in Cape Town, South Africa, served in the national office of the American Lung Association, and worked in the National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University’s School of Public Health.

Max has served in a range of volunteer leadership roles for non-profit organizations, including on the boards of the Mankind Project-Chicago and the HotHouse/Center for International Performance and Exhibition. He has served in an advisory capacity to North Park University's Axelson Center for Non-profit Management, the University of Illinois Extension Chicago-Cook Unit, the Foundation for Human Potential, Global College of Long Island University, and Boys to Men-Chicago.

Max is Adjunct Professor in Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Business Administration where he teaches courses on corporate social responsibility and ethics. He is currently a doctoral student in Organizational Behavior at Claremont Graduate University's School of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences, focusing on leadership in non-profit boards of directors and innovative staff leadership structures for promoting shared leadership. Max holds a Master's degree in Intercultural and International Management from the SIT Graduate Institute, a Bachelor's degree from Global College of Long Island University, and a certificate in Fundraising Management from DePaul University. He is a member of the Organization Development Network, the Alliance for Nonprofit Management, and the American Evaluation Association.

He enjoys cycling and hiking in the hills above Claremont, tinkering with technology, and exploring the multicultural culinary and musical landscape of the Los Angeles area.

Suzanne Lane has broad and extensive experience in strategic business, law, and organizational development that brings a unique perspective to improving business results by advancing the people and processes required to achieve those results. She specializes in supporting emerging leaders, leadership teams, and owner-managed companies, including family businesses, through times of sensitive organizational change, such as leadership and ownership succession.

In addition to her consulting expertise and experience, Ms. Lane was extensively involved in the educational programming, advising, and research initiatives for owner-managed firms as Program Director of the Loyola Family Business Center. Prior to her research endeavors and consulting experience, she provided legal counsel and risk management for high-net worth clientele and their family businesses at Aon Corporation.

A frequent speaker on topics related to family businesses, Ms. Lane has spoken to groups such as the Illinois CPA Society, the Family Business Network, the Family Firm Institute and the National Trust Closely Held Business Association.

As a leader in the field of family business, Suzanne has been published in magazines and journals including Family Business magazine, Families in Business magazine and Family Business Review.

Suzanne received her J.D. and MBA from Loyola University Chicago and holds a B.S. in English Literature and Psychology from the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign. She is also certified in several behavioral and leadership assessments.

Gail Nugent has nineteen years experience mediating disputes of all kinds, facilitating meetings, conducting training in conflict resolution, and designing conflict management systems.

She has mediated well over 2500 disputes in a broad range of areas, including employment, business, community, special education, vocational rehabilitation, and family law. She has also conducted over 150 complex multi-party mediations and facilitations for public and private agencies, school districts, churches, and community organizations. In addition, Gail conducts training for organizations, businesses, government entities and school districts in effective communication, effective meeting facilitation, conflict resolution, creative problem solving and mediation.

Gail worked as the Director of Community Programs and Training for the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Services. In l995, she became the Executive Director of the Mediation Center of Orange County, a not for profit organization that provides alternative dispute resolution training and services. She also served as Executive Director of Community Boards of San Francisco, one of the oldest community mediation centers in the United States.

Gail is very interested in policy development in the field of alternative dispute resolution and has served on the Board of Directors of the California Dispute Resolution Council and the Southern California Mediation Association. She is the former president of the San Diego Chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution. In 2000, the Southern California Mediation Association recognized her with its Peacemaker of the Year award. Currently, she is an elected member of the Governing Council of the American Bar Association’s Section of Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Gail’s education and experience also include the development and management of community organizations. She earned her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of California, Los Angeles with a specialization in the area of program administration and community organization.