Being a leader is tough! Jeff Fierstein and Ric Shriver can testify to that!
We are two career business leaders who are both recently retired and readily empathize with the millions of leaders who face endless pressures to “perform” in an increasingly competitive, changing, and unpredictable environment. Both of us came to the end of our professional careers reflecting on the positive impact we had on the organizations we served – and what we could have done differently.
Through a career-long personal and professional relationship, we faced nearly every obstacle a leader could experience. So, we decided to write our stories in a book that focused on lessons both of us learned during our careers. What is unique about our stories and motivation to write the book is that our discussions about leadership lasted over forty years!
Ric Shriver
“Ric Shriver is frequently outspoken but seldom outdistanced!”
Ric Shriver’s career spans over 40 years in healthcare human resources and organizational effectiveness, marked by his tenacity and commitment to follow-through. These traits, shaped by his Midwestern upbringing and a lifelong passion for endurance athletics, have defined his journey in progressively senior HR and organizational development roles with notable healthcare organizations, including Sun Alliance Hospitals, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Morrison Management Specialists, Horizon Behavioral Health, Southeast Georgia Health System, and Centra Health.
Ric’s extensive skill set covers all areas of Human Resources and beyond. His expertise includes Business Development, General Healthcare Administration, Marketing Communications, Leadership Coaching, Labor Management, and Process Improvement.
Known for his exceptional presentation and facilitation abilities, Ric has been a sought-after speaker at professional conferences, a facilitator of senior strategic planning sessions, and a mediator in resolving chronic conflicts within critical hospital departments across the U.S. His deep knowledge of the healthcare industry, combined with a highly collaborative and visible leadership style, has consistently led to enhanced employee retention, engagement, and patient satisfaction in every executive role he has held.
Ric holds both a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Economics from Appalachian State University. His professional credentials include a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification (1996-2016) and certifications as a professional facilitator from DDI, Edge Learning, Miller-Heiman Sales Training, Emotional Intelligence (EQ), and Inscape Publishing (DISC). Additionally, Ric served on the Florida Workforce Board, where he was Chair of the Global Talent & Competitiveness Council and the Board Liaison for the Florida Healthcare Initiative.
On a personal note, Ric financed his own college education and achieved significant accolades as an athlete. While in college, he became an All-American Distance Runner, winning a Junior National title and a Southern Conference Championship. In 1979, he placed among the top 100 finishers in the Boston Marathon and has since completed numerous marathons and triathlons. Ric is also a U.S. Navy Veteran, having served as a Radioman for the 6th Fleet while stationed in North Africa. Today, he lives in Lynchburg, Virginia, with his wife Janet and enjoys time with his three grown daughters and two grandsons.
Jeff Fierstein
Leadership has over 850 definitions according to Google, reflecting the complexity of this essential concept. Jeff Fierstein, with 40 years of experience, has transformed these diverse ideas into actionable strategies for leaders at all levels. Jeff’s approach to leadership is holistic, addressing the full spectrum of challenges his clients encounter. With a background that spans coaching, training, and consulting across Human Resources, Organizational Development, and General Management Consulting, Jeff helped to develop over 15,000 senior leaders and partnered with nearly 100 industry-diverse organizations across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Jeff has provided services for organizations including Honeywell, Bank of America, Best Western Hotels, the American Heart Association, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Intel, The Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands, AT&T, TRW, Motorola, Times-Mirror Cable, IPQE Limited (Hong Kong), The City of Phoenix, AZ, U.S. Postal Service, Maricopa County (AZ), American Management Association, Make-A-Wish, and U-Haul International.
A former Director-level leader in a Fortune 40 company, Jeff brings firsthand insights into the challenges leaders face. His extensive contributions to the field include numerous published journal articles and book chapters in such publications as Management Review, Training and Development, Performance & Instruction, Executive Education in America, Phoenix Business Journal, Making Training Pay Off on the Job, and Training. He served 12 years as a graduate-level adjunct professor, where he taught Human Resources and Organizational Development.
As a Management Consultant, Jeff specialized in Strategic Planning, Management, and Execution, Process Improvement, Organizational Effectiveness, Culture and Change Management, and Leadership and Management Development. He has coached nearly 500 leaders with his Results-Based Coaching method. Jeff served as the national President of the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) Healthcare Chapter and as President of the Arizona chapter. He has presented at national and international conferences.
Jeff attended the University of Illinois. He holds two Master’s degrees, a Professional Certificate in Human Resource Development, and earned the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification. Now retired in Arizona with his wife Linda, Jeff continues to share his expertise through limited speaking engagements, coaching, and consulting. When he’s not working, he enjoys quality time with family and their beloved rescue dogs.
