SPECIAL FEATURE: KNOW YOUR COLLEAGUES – YVON DALAT AND PETER BAVERSO
Editor’s Note
IN THIS SECTION, Dr. Judith Hale interviews ISPI Members so that readers can learn about colleagues. She is featuring a new member (an emerging or a reemerging professional), along with a notable long-term member of the Society.
Yvon Dalat serves on the ISPI Board of Directors as our Director of Technology and on ISPI’s Executive Committee. Peter Baverso also serves on the ISPI Board of Directors.
INTERVIEW WITH YVON DALAT
What attracted you to PI/HPT/ISPI?
I have been working in the Learning industry for two decades. When I meet with new clients, one of the first questions I like to ask is: what is the problem we are trying to solve? I have always found the L&D industry to be focused more on developing new content, delivering more courses, or selling new shiny tools, and less on understanding which problem we are trying to solve as well as defining the right interventions by which to address the real root-causes.
I first got in contact with ISPI when I moved to the United States in 2007. I was immediately impressed by the professionals I met; they were focused on the measurable impact of their initiatives and not just delivering more learning content in different format.
What is some of the work you are most proud of?
The achievement of which I am most proud is my family. My wife and I married in Germany in 2000. She now works as the Chief Executive Officer for a startup in the medical field. We have three boys. The first was born in Zurich, Switzerland, and he is finishing his studies in UK and Graphic Design. The second was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, and he is studying Computer Science at the University of Michigan while working for a research team dedicated to advance autonomous vehicle technology. The third was born in Troy, Michigan, and he loves robotics and volleyball.
I joined Raytheon (legacy company named Hughes International) as the first European employee. We set up a new company to deploy a program for an automotive manufacturer that was headquartered in Germany. When I moved to the United States about 10 years later, the company had over 200 local employees, had entities in 21 European countries, and had been growing by 32% over the past 3 years. Once in the United States, I got certified as Raytheon Program Manager Level 3, and I was asked to lead the transformation of large-scale programs. Five years later, one of these programs was honored with the excellence award from Raytheon’s CEO and President.
I have been actively engaged in nonprofit organizations since the early 2000s, from leading an international cooperation for Rotary International in Germany to being elected as the President of the ISPI Michigan Chapter. Today, I am honored to serve on the Board of the ISPI International Society. In 2019, I received the President Award from the White House in “recognition for volunteering and the unparalleled commitment to improving the life of others”.
When people speak or think of you, what do you want them to say or remember?
It was fun working with Yvon. Together, we made a significant difference to our stakeholders, partners, employees, and the environment.
What do you do and/or what are you doing now?
I work for V2X Vertex Professional Services division as the Director of Performance Solutions, Strategies, and Performance Assurance while serving on the ISPI Board as the Director for Technology and Communications.
Since 2020, I am contributing to the ISPI revival in collaboration with the ISPI Board, directors, volunteers, chapter leaders, corporate members, and collaborators. Together with a group of dedicated volunteers, we have achieved a 167% increase in membership and implemented ISPI’s new Digital Hub, modern web pages, new conference web app AI4PI.net, and more. Throughout this journey, our primary focus remains on promoting the adoption of evidence-based performance improvement research and practices that result in tangible and sustainable outcomes.
Where can you be reached?
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvondalat
Short Bio
Yvon is a Certified Performance Technologist and Program Leader for V2X’ VPS company. Over the last decade, his contribution was recognized with four Raytheon CEO/President awards and ten industry awards From CLO Magazine, Learning-Elite, HRO-Today, and Brandon-Hall. During the first part of his career, Yvon managed over 200 employees and expanded business in Europe and Asia. He then moved to the United States to lead the transformation of large-scale programs in North America.
He was recently elected to join ISPI’s Board of Directors following his engagement as Chapter President and Committees’ Chair. In 2019, Yvon received the White House’s Volunteer Service Award from the United States President, acknowledging his “exceptional commitment to improving the lives of others”.
Yvon has authored three books that were published by Dunod and Librinova and have been translated in multiple languages. He has had the opportunity to live in various countries, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, and Germany. Yvon pursued his educational journey by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in civil aviation engineering from the Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany and completing his MBA at Leicester University in the United Kingdom.
INTERVIEW WITH PETER BAVERSO
What attracted you to Performance Improvement (PI)/Human Performance Technology (HPT)/the ISPI?
What is some of the work you are most proud of?
Something that is coming that I am very excited about is the UMANIAMO Festival in Matera, Italy, in June of 2024. The Festival will showcase the Universal Language of Humanity, which consists of our shared strengths, diversity, and spiritual gifts. I am also proud of introducing Cognitive Diversity, Cognitive Agility, and Humanizing the Workplace to ISPI and my clients. My decade of work as the Human Performance Lead and Process Owner for Marine Corps Systems Command included the development of the Human Performance Architecture Framework while working with the Marine Corps and the development and delivery of the Courageous Agility Program to more than 400 library personnel in Maryland. I am also proud of the stories of those who tell me how their lives have changed in a positive way because of our collaboration.
When people speak or think of you, what do you want them to say or remember?
People usually say that I have a calming effect on them and that I am willing to share and help where I can. What lights me up is when someone shares a story in which he or she was able to help someone else because of our work together.
What do you do and/or what are you doing now?
I am the Managing Member of Ventivia, LLC, which is a culture consultancy that focuses on helping organizations create cultures that are courageous and agile (“Courageous Agility”) to enhance their collaborative intelligence, speed, and resilience. In addition, I develop internal Agile education programs for clients. I also facilitate the Courageous Agility Certification program and am the President/CEO of UMANIAMO, which is a faith-based nonprofit that educates people on the Universal Language of Humanity, which consists of the spiritual gifts shared by all people, regardless of culture or religion. These gifts are our superpowers, the way our brains work, and our character strengths.
Where can you be reached?
Phone: +1 571 271 5040 US +39 371 693 7383 IT
Email: pbaverso@ventivia.com
Website: https://www.umaniamo.org/
Short Bio
Peter Baverso is an experienced thought leader who has been active in the human performance innovation community since 1996.
Peter is the Managing Member of Ventivia, LLC, and the President/CEO of UMANIAMO US and Italy. His background includes: Board Member, ISPI, President of the Potomac Chapter of ISPI; the establishment of the Lean/Agile Academies for Government and Educational Institutions; Human Performance Lead for US Marine Corps Systems Command; 15 years as Adjunct Faculty for the University of Phoenix, Business Strategy; and Vice Dean of the Innovation and Organizational Change Management Institute. He earned an MBA in HR and International Business from Loyola University of Chicago and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Human Systems Integration from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Peter was awarded the Thomas F. Gilbert Award for Distinguished Professional Achievement in 2023 by the International Society for Performance Improvement. Professionally, he infuses cognitive agility, strengths-based approaches, courageous agility, and diversity of thought and action to augment fundamental HPI principles. Peter assists organizations in creating cultures that are courageous and agile (“Courageous Agility”) to enhance their collaborative intelligence, speed, and resilience. His publications include the eX5 Strategic Innovation Framework, Human Performance Architecture Framework, and SMART Canvas series, along with the Courageous Agility Program.
