Professional Education Instructors
Current Instructors
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JERRY ROY BENSON
Jerry Benson is a consultant and university instructor specializing in building high-performing organizations. Until 2018, Jerry was the President/CEO for Utah Transit Authority (UTA), a 2400 employee, $1 billion transit authority providing commuter rail, light rail, bus, and mobility services to 46 million riders per year. Over his 34 year career at UTA, Jerry worked in multiple executive positions including Director of Human Resources, Director of Communication, Chief Performance Officer, Vice President of Operations, and President/CEO.
During his tenure, UTA became a recognized leader in transit system efficiency, safety and reliability. Jerry received the American Public Transportation Association Innovation Award for UTAs unique approach to labor relations. Under Jerry’s direction, UTA became the industry leader in applying Lean/enterprise excellence practices to public service. Jerry has given presentations on his leadership and organizational principles at the American Public Transit Association, the Shingo Institute/Huntsman School of Business, the University of Utah and Westminster College.
After leaving UTA in 2018, Jerry created 3rd Wind Leadership, an organizational and leadership development consultancy. Jerry works with business, government and non-profit clients to improve results by increasing leadership and organizational effectiveness. 3rd Wind Leadership helps organizations become CLEAR reach clarity of purpose and strategy, develop principled leadership, cultivate employee engagement, achieve alignment of systems and metrics, and produce breakthrough results.
Jerry Benson holds a Master of Human Resource Management and a Ph.D. in Organizational Communication. He has over 20 years of experience as a university instructor teaching leadership and performance management. -
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CLINT EREKSON
Clint Erekson is a graduate of the University of Utah, College of Fine Arts with a degree in Photography/Digital Imaging. He has an excitement and enthusiasm for unconventional means of art and photography. He has been using his iPhone exclusively for the last few year to take his photos and one of his pieces shot with the iPhone won best in show at a local gallery. Clint also has a long history with improv comedy, spanning over 12 years of experience. In high school, Clint led his school's improv team for two years and won a local improv competition his Senior year. While in his first year of college, he was a rotating member for the popular Southern Utah improv comedy troupe Off the Cuff. In 2008, he joined a team called And Go! Improv Comedy and served as its manager and artistic director until 2014. With And Go! Clint has taught workshops for groups such as the Boys and Girls club and other various organizations.
What Students are Saying:
"Clint is an excellent teacher! Organized, inviting, non-judgmental, keeps the class incredibly engaged. I'd definitely take another class from him."-Jordan R.
"Clint was an excellent instructor. I had such a cool experience in his class and will use the lessons learned for the rest of my life. I'd highly recommend this class to anyone and everyone."-Bradley N. -
KARI GARDNER
Kari Gardner is an educator and HR professional who has taught deaf and hard of hearing students, grades K-12, for the Idaho, Utah, and Arizona schools for the Deaf and Blind. She has worked as a college instructor teaching American Sign Language and other courses, and she currently teaches for University of Utah Professional Education department.
Kari has a Master's Degree in Deaf Education from Idaho State University and an MBA in Human Resources from Strayer University. In addition, Kari has a 20-year career in corporate training, organizational development, and human resources. As an independent consultant, Kari enjoys serving Utah businesses to maximize their employee relationships. -
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CORPER JAMES
Corper James practices in the areas of general business and employment law with an emphasis on employment discrimination and litigation. Corper advises clients regarding federal and state employment laws, and also specializes in providing training and prevention programs for businesses and organizations focusing on effective management techniques. Corper is the co-author of The Opportunity of Workplace Diversity: Theory, Cases, and Exercises published by Prentice Hall. Corper is also the author of several training programs designed to assist businesses and organizations in preventing and dealing effectively with workplace conflicts.
Corper has litigation experience in general civil litigation, employment contracts, Title VII protected classes, the American's with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and employment-related state law tort claims. Corper is an experienced trainer and speaker on such issues as Title VII sexual harassment, employee handbooks, proper interview, discipline and termination procedures, workplace diversity, and the Family Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, ADA and ADEA. Corper represents state and national employers, as well as plaintiffs in employment cases. He is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Utah, where he teaches a Civil Rights Law/Employment Discrimination class.
Corper is a partner at the firm of Mabey Wright & James in Salt Lake City. Prior to joining his current firm, Corper was a shareholder at the firm of Woobury & Kesler.
Corper is an avid football fan and worked as an in-house Law Clerk for the Oakland Raiders from 1999 until 2000. Corper also worked as a certified teacher in the San Francisco Unified School District prior to attending law school, and has worked with several inner-city programs focusing on troubled youth and access to community resources for immigrant families. Corper is active in local community affairs and politics, and serves as President on Board of Trustees for Centro de la Familia in Salt Lake City.
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CAMIE SCHAEFER
Camie Schaefer is a writer and teacher of writing who lives in Salt Lake City. She holds a PhD from the University of Utah, where she was a managing editor of Quarterly West. Her work has appeared in Phantom Drift, Passages North, So to Speak, Rappahannock Review, Drunken Boat, and elsewhere.
"It was the most amazing writing class I have ever taken. Camie doesn't only have the expertise of a graduate degree in this area, but the keen eye of an experienced teacher and editor. Add to this her supportive nature and a non-threatening environment, and you have the perfect learning environment. Now, if I don't get to writing something, it would be totally my fault :) " -
JOHN STEPHENSON
Scott Stephenson has over 30 years of consulting and facilitating experience in the United States, Europe and Asia helping organizations become more profitable and people more effective.
Most recently he has been focusing on:
Business consulting and writing, Learning design, implementation and facilitation, Project Management, and Market development and sales.
This expertise has allowed Scott to help public, private, profit and not-profit organizations become more successful and effective particularly in building specific individual and collaborative team skills.
Recent clients include US Veterans Affairs-Rural Health Agency, City of Page, AZ, Colorado Springs Utilities, Expense Reduction Associates, Universal Accounting Center, Utah State Emergency Management Administration.
Scott has a Bachelor's degree in economics and an MBA. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. -
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JEANINE H WILSON
Jeanine Wilson has worked in the Human Resources field for 25 years. She has worked in hospitality, finance, benefits management, broadcasting, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and medical device industries.
Jeanine is currently owner of Corporate Talent Advisors, a full service HR consulting, training, and recruiting company.
Jeanine has a Bachelor's Degree in Human & Organizational Development from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, a Masters in Human Resources from Utah State University, and she has achieved an SPHR certification from SHRM and HRCI. Jeanine was the 2005 President of the Salt Lake SHRM Chapter and currently sits on the Utah SHRM State Council.
