About Us

Vision

Mission

Values - Code of Conduct

Guardian Quest Team

 

About Us

When contemplating a name for the work that we would be doing we chose the words Guardian and Quest as symbols of the mission we would undertake.

The word Guardian was inspired by Plato’s Republic written in 360 BC. In the Republic Plato and the great philosophers of the time created all the components of what would be the ideal democracy. A Republic where everything was just, there was no crime, violence, prejudice – a utopia grounded in democracy! When they were all finished Plato realized that they had left one very important ingredient out of the Republic.

Plato knew that the Republic was made up of people and if left to their own devices they would eventually destroy the democracy. So the final ingredient added was: The Guardians.

Plato described the Guardians as those whose responsibility it would be to preserve the democracy. The Guardians had to be those with the highest of moral character because to them would be entrusted the highest level of power and authority over those in the community.

The Guardians had to be those who loved the community above all else and would never act in any way to harm the community. In fact, Plato said: “It doesn’t matter if the cobblers and the masons fail to do their jobs, but if the Guardians fail the democracy will crumble.

The word Quest was inspired by the great work of Miguel de Cervantes The Man of La Mancha (Don Quixote), which he began to write in 1602. This 400-year-old work has been described as the most influential novel ever written. One critical appraisal of the work reads:

“One can confidently say that no other novel has so served to make the world better. From the novel, the word quixotic has come into the English language, meaning like or befitting Don Quixote--extravagantly chivalrous or romantically idealistic, visionary, impractical.”

The song the Impossible Dream was written for Cervantes’ work.

Don Quixote de la Mancha is about the “quest”. As a knight errant Don Quixote was in search of evil to defeat and goodness to defend. His very existence was--“the Quest”!

At Guardian Quest we believe that all of us must embrace the challenge to be the Guardians of our democracy from which all our freedoms come. We are all the protectors of our way of life, our relationships and our community. As such, we must see life as
a “quest”! A quest to live boldly, to love freely, to learn daily and to leave a legacy worthy of the gift of life.

The Guardian Quest Team

“Every human being is under construction and has unlimited potential.” This principle has inspired Ondra
Berry to commit his life to inspire those within his sphere of influence to realize and actualize their hidden potential. Ondra has been a champion of leadership, diversity, and organizational change for over 25 years. He is committed to challenging the status quo in human potential and utilized his two decades of experience and studies in the topic of personal leadership and greatness to ignite a movement of unleashing the potential within, one person at a time, worldwide. He is co-founder and partner of Guardian Quest, a company committed to unleashing the untapped potential of individuals and organizations through worldclass training solutions. Known as a change agent in personal and organizational transformation, Ondra’s vast leadership and training experience spans public and private sectors.

His skills were refined in a celebrated 25-year career in the Reno Police Department, where he retired as the Assistant Chief of Police over-seeing the administrative division. He continues his public service to his state and country as a Colonel in the Nevada Air National Guard and is assigned to the Human Resource Board through the National Guard Bureau as a military expert in the field of diversity. In his role as consultant and trainer, Ondra L. Berry is routinely sought after to bring his expertise to an extensive client list including Fortune 500 companies, military and federal agencies, non-profits, schools and universities. Ondra invests his life energies and passions in the development and delivery of cutting edge training solutions in the topics of diversity, leadership and organizational change.

He holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Nevada Reno and is a member of numerous non-profit and service organizations. Guardian Quest is on a mission to launch a leadership and diversity revolution. Since the company’s founding on September 11, 2000, thousands have been trained, have found their voice, and have pursued journeys of greatness. Through his innovative training and keynote addresses, Ondra Berry has spoken in all fifty states and several countries and is on a quest to leave this world better than he found it!

Recognized as one the nation’s foremost authorities in the leadership practices of great leaders and organizations, Michael Nila’s mission is to inspire individuals and teams to achieve their highest potential
and productivity. A passionate educator, Michael has led hundreds of hours of research and consulting projects, which has translated into ground-breaking training programs, keynotes and seminars. These initiatives have helped leaders and organizations worldwide realize breakthrough solutions and results.

For twenty-nine years, Michael honed leadership skills while serving his nation in the policing profession before retiring as a Police Commander with the Aurora, IL Police Department. As a police officer, he served in many capacities, including Detective, SWAT Commander, Area Commander and led the department’s re-engineering from a traditional police agency to a communitypolicing department. He refers to the policing profession as his vocation, believing that policing is the noblest of professions. His vast experience in the field has made him the “trainer of choice” for police agencies and communities nationwide, and he has trained internationally in countries such as Europe, Africa and South America.

A valued and sought after speaker, Michael travels extensively to deliver his trademark real-world perspective to contemporary workplace issues. He has trained and certified hundreds of employees, executives and trainers for notable organizations worldwide, such as the U.S. Department of Justice, Chicago Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, New York City Police Department, The United Nations, as well as the military, government agencies and Fortune 500 Companies.

Currently, Michael is founder and managing partner of Guardian Quest, an organization committed to the design and delivery of world-class personal and organizational development solutions that unleash the untapped potential within. He is also a senior consultant for FranklinCovey, certified in delivering their signature classes.

To reinforce a commitment to unleashing individual and organization potential, Guardian Quest has partnered with FranklinCovey. This strategic partnership forges dynamic, world-class training options for individuals and organizations through a synergistic approach, which combines the expertise, passion and energy of a proven team of professionals from both organizations.

Michael is proud to draw his passion for life and commitment to excellence from his strong Mexican heritage. He draws inspiration from his grandmother; a beacon of courage, perseverance and loyalty; and his uncle, Hector Jordan; a trailblazer who served as the first minority police officer in Aurora, Illinois and as a U.S. Federal Narcotics Agent.

Michael holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a BA in Criminal Justice Management. He resides in Aurora, Illinois.

LIsa Sandoval has spent the last 22 years working in the hospitality industry, 12 years of which were devoted to management positions. She has worked with top companies, such as the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in the areas of Hotel Operations, Training, and Human Resources. During her management career, Lisa has implemented, oversaw, and managed numerous trainings for line-level to executive employees. She is currently the General Manager of Guardian Quest. Lisa has a Bachelors of Arts in both English and Business/Economics from Lafayette College and Master of Science on Hotel Mangement from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has a certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources from SHRM. Lisa currently lives in Las Vegas with her husband and son.

During a 20-year career at the University of Nevada, Reno, Dr. Angie Taylor served as Associate Vice President for Student Success Services, Assistant Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations and Senior Associate Director of Athletics. She also served as a partner/consultant for Diversity 2000, conducting workshops and trainings on the management of cultural diversity in the work place. She is currently a diversity and leadership consultant for Guardian Quest, Inc. Angie has earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Policy and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Serving on numerous committees, task forces and boards, she has received many awards and recognitions for her leadership and community service. Angie is also an ordained minister and serves as the assistant pastor for administration at Greater Light Christian Center in Reno, Nevada.

An accomplished trainer and facilitator, Chisa Golbourne brings enthusiasm, passion and energy to the Guardian Quest training team. Prior to joining Guardian Quest, Chisa was the Casino Operations Manager at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. She helped the organization identify problems, pinpoint solutions, ensure customer satisfaction and developed ongoing training programs for over 400 casino employees. She created ACES HIGH, a 6-month professional growth and development program. She was the driving force behind We Create the Results We Get, an experiential learning course each month for all casino leadership that focused on leadership and high performance teams. Chisa earned a Bachelor of Arts in both Psychology and Sociology from Rutgers University. She has delivered training programs for Fortune 500 companies, federal, state and local governments.

As a dedicated public servant to this nation, Ramon Barboza served in law enforcement for twenty-five years with the Reno Police Department in Nevada, retiring as a Sergeant. During his tenure, Ramon trained numerous police agencies and community organizations throughout the country. He is considered a highly regarded expert in he field of Community Policing and Problem Solving. As and independent consultant for Guardian Quest and FranklinCovey, Ramon has delivered instruction to many Fortune 500 companies and governmental organizations. He has provided passionate and professional keynote speeches and training to youth and adults alike.

Daniel Schmer is a veteran of the U.S. Army Military Police Corp. and served for 26 years with the Kansas City, MO Police Department (KCPD). He was the co-founder of the KCPD Leadership Academy where he was serving at the time of his retirement. He has experience in primary and secondary education and was most recently involved in a cooperative venture between the KCPD and Benedictine University in developing and facilitating a new MBA in Leadership degree program. He holds numerous nationally recognized leadership and personal development content certifications, including FranklinCovey's 7 Habits and Great Leaders Great Teams Great Results. Dan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and a Masters Degree in Education.

Chuck Lovitt has been with the City of Reno Police Department for 22 years. During his tenure as an officer with the department, Chuck has worked a variety of assignments including patrol, a detective in a federal organized crime task force, the regional gang enforcement unit, an undercover detective in the regional narcotics unit and a Field Training Sergeant. Chuck became intimately involved with the training and coaching of young police officers and sergeants and first exposed him to the concept of adult based learning. In 1999 Chuck was selected to attend an advanced adult
based learning course and was certified as an instructor in that capacity. Since that time, Chuck has instructed and presented to countless civilians and law enforcement personnel in several states and on several topics, including fraud prevention, computer crime, undercover drug operations, community oriented policing, impartial policing, customer service, diversity, and leadership. Chuck has developed many policy/procedures and training for numerous law enforcement agencies to combat racial profiling and its perception. He also developed and implemented regional training for members of several agencies in the areas of Racial Profiling, Data Collection and Impartial Policing. He and his family make there home in Reno, Nevada.

Jocelyn Little has spent the last several years sharpening her skills in the diversity and education environment. She joined the MGM MIRAGE’s Diversity Education department in 2002, where she supported their very first Diversity Champions Workshop, working along side Guardian Quest. In December of 2006, Jocelyn joined Bellagio’s Convention Services department, where she assisted with convention groups and the coordination of their events. In July 2007, when Jocelyn moved with her husband, a U.S. Marine, to Newport, RI, she jumped at the chance to re-join the passion and energy of Guardian Quest as a logistics support. She feels the real reward of her job comes from her influence in touching lives and leaving a legacy. In April 2009, Jocelyn took on additional responsibilities overseeing operations of Guardian Quest. She has a Bachelors of Science degree in Hotel Administration and currently lives with her husband and son in Kyle, TX, just south of Austin.

Robin Scdoris-Hester is a passionate logistic support with Guardian Quest. She brings with her the excitement and enthusiasm to help achieve her functions. Logistics is a very detailed and precise position. Prior to joining the Guardian Quest team, Robin was a practicing paralegal in her community after getting her Associates degree. She then had an 18 year career with the Reno, Nevada Police Department. She was a secretary to the Chief’s Office for several years. She expanded her career as the only secretary to have a secretarial position in all divisions of the Reno Police Department. She retired in 2008. Robin has been with her husband for over 30 years. She resides in Reno, NV.

Rita Middleton considers her self a native of Reno Nevada. She is currently a college student majoring in Political Science/ Criminal Justice. In addition to being a good student and hard worker, she is an extremely active in her local church. She is the director of youth ministries and in charge of planning programs throughout the community. She also serves board for theNorthern Nevada Black Culture Awareness Society - which aims to promote ethnic culture awareness globally, and educating the whole community.  She likes to define Diversity as recognizing and valuing each individual person  no matter race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

Mia Deufel started her career as an Accounting Clerk for Equipto Electronics Corporation. During her employment of 19 years at Equipto Electronics, she held several positions and was the Production Control Manager for the last several years of her employment. In 2005, she joined the team of Guardian Quest as an administrative assistant. She works behind the scenes to ensure that our trainers can prepare and present the best possible classroom experience for our clients. She’s proud to be a part of a company that can touch so many lives in such a meaningful way. Mia find’s the passion that the Guardian Quest team brings to all its endeavors to be very rewarding. Mia lives in Aurora, Illinois with her beautiful daughter, Jessie.

Stan Gragg has been with the Mount Pleasant Police Department since 1989. Since his employment began with the Mount Pleasant Police Department, he has worked to further his education attaining an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Trident Technical College, a Bachelors Degree in Workforce Education, Training, and Development from Southern Illinois University, and a Masters of Science Degree in Justice Administration from the University of Louisville. He was also a graduate of the 105th Session of the Southern Police Institute. Stan has been an instructor with the Carolinas Institute for Community Policing since 2003 and focuses his training efforts in the topics of Ethics, Bias Based Policing, the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Law Enforcement Professionals, Diversity Centered Leadership, and the Nobility of Policing.

Kristen Ziman is a Commander with the Aurora Police Department in Illinois. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Aurora University and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Management from Boston University. She is a fifteen year veteran and has worked in various divisions including Community Oriented Policing, Domestic Violence Reduction Unit, Field Training and Patrol. She is currently the Midnight Shift Watch Commander and Coordinator of the Field Training Program. She is a recruiter for A.P.D. and is a certified trainer for Franklin Covey’s 7 Habits for Law Enforcement, Customer Service for Law Enforcement, and Guardian Quest's Diversity Champions.

Matt is a 25-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, currently serving as Deputy Chief of Patrol, Area Three. He recently completed a 4-year command of the Chicago Police Academy. He holds numerous instructor certifications and has extensive experience with Special Operations, Use of Force, SWAT, Policy, and Firearms Training. Matt is also an Adjunct Professor for Kaplan University in the School of Criminal Justice. Deputy Chief Tobias holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois at Chicago, an M.S. in Criminal/Social Justice from Lewis University, and is a graduate of the 221st Session of the F.B.I. National Academy. He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

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