At Grow Strong Leaders, the three partners, Meredith Bell, Dennis E. (Denny) Coates, Ph.D., and Paula Schlauch, have worked together for over 32 years. We each bring something different to the team. We’re like a strong, healthy family, with caring relationships based on mutual trust and respect.

Meredith is a true people connector and often gives value to people in the most astonishing ways. If you ever have the opportunity to connect with her, be prepared to take plenty of notes and be awed by her expertise.

Meredith always knew she wanted to be a teacher. But after receiving her Masters in Education from Virginia Tech (1977), she realized that teaching in the public school system wasn’t for her. That’s when she became an entrepreneur and began using her excellent communication skills and wisdom to help companies develop the people side of their business.

As President and co-founder of Grow Strong Leaders, Meredith leads our marketing and sales efforts. It’s a natural fit for her to apply her teaching skills when discussing and demonstrating the benefits of our offerings. She loves building strong relationships with our clients, resellers, and vendors. She’s proud of the fact that many have chosen to work with us for more than 20 years.

Meredith and her husband Lee live near Williamsburg, Virginia. They spend as much time as they can with their two precious grandchildren (and their parents). She and Lee have been avid bird watchers for more than 20 years, and Meredith has coordinated field trips for the Virginia Society of Ornithology since 2009. They love creating a habitat that’s critter-friendly, so they have free entertainment whenever they look outside.

As Chief Wordsmith and CEO of Grow Strong Leaders for over 30 years, Denny has published articles, books, and online programs for workplace communication skills. You could say he’s our Ernest Hemingway of content!

When he co-founded the company, Denny wanted to know how learning actually happens; so he launched what has become a lifelong study of brain science, which influenced his writing, including the recent book, Connect with Your Team: Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills.

Denny’s understanding of leadership and team performance comes from experience. He graduated from West Point and the Army Ranger School in 1967, commanded a missile battery in Germany and an infantry advisor team in Vietnam, and eventually retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1987. He earned his Ph.D. from Duke University (1977) and has served on the faculties of the United States Military Academy, the Armed Forces Staff College, the College of William and Mary, and the Center for Creative Leadership.

Denny and his wife Kathleen live in the Texas Hill Country. When he’s not writing, he does the heavy lifting for their gardening projects. He’s an obsessive Duke basketball fan and movie watcher when he’s not playing with their cats. His two sons are successful IT executives.

We don’t call Paula “Support Wizard” for nothing! Our customers love working with her. She realized years ago that she loves puzzles, and believes that’s why she’s a master at sleuthing out technical issues. If she doesn’t know the answer to your question, she’ll doggedly stay on the trail until she finds the answer!

As Vice President and co-founder of Grow Strong Leaders, Paula is the CFO. Her executive responsibilities include administration of financial, legal, personnel and resource programs within Grow Strong Leaders.

Paula has many other creative talents and puts them to use in numerous ways, including building websites, creating videos and editing and publishing books for authors on Kindle Direct Publishing.

Paula has had a deep passion for working with subtle energy therapies and has studied them for more than 20 years. She’s a Healing Touch Certified Practitioner and RoHun Facilitator.

A graduate of The College of William and Mary, she has over 30 years’ experience in banking and business management.

Paula lives in Ohio with her husband Robert where they enjoy the seasonal changes. They’re the proud parents of 4 cats that keep them pretty busy and entertained.