Len Brzozowski

Executive Director

Len Brzozowski is the Executive Director of the Xavier Leadership Center, helping companies across a wide variety of industries develop the leadership skills necessary to succeed in today’s dynamic market environment. By engaging leaders from every level of the enterprise, Len helps companies effectively identify and implement solutions to overcome business, interpersonal and organizational challenges.

Len holds advanced degrees in engineering systems and business strategy from Dartmouth College and has worked on a variety of public and private sector management consulting projects with the firms Cresap, McCormick and Paget and McKinsey & Company. His work has involved clients including Georgia Power, Air Products and Chemicals, Macy’s, Michigan Department of Education, Burns and Wilcox, The US Department of Agriculture, Stahls’ Inc., and Lucas Girling.

Before joining Xavier, Len was a successful entrepreneur, running his company – Robotron Corporation – a global designer and builder of high frequency welding and induction heating equipment and systems. His operating experience includes Europe, Asia, and Mexico. Under his leadership, Robotron was recognized by Crain’s Detroit Business as one of the leading technology companies of Michigan, and was named as one of the 50 most innovative small business in the United States by the US Chamber of Commerce.

Len has written and published many articles on the topics of education, leadership, strategy implementation, management and entrepreneurship in The Journal of Bank Research, The Journal of Systems, Synectics, and Cybernetics of the IEEE, Agricultural Economics Research, Small Business Focus and The Year. He has provided testimony to the Joint Science and Technology Committee of US congress on improving mathematics and science education, and is a frequent lecturer to local organizations and businesses on the topics of organizational change, leadership, and systems theory.

Bruce Miller

Managing Partner

Bruce Miller is the Managing Partner of the Xavier Leadership Center, working closely with leading organizations to implement high-impact custom programs for senior executives, high-potential leaders and experienced business professionals. Bruce facilitates the process of creating custom designed, multi-layered programs for organizations to achieve their business goals, while drawing on XLC’s team of over 100 experts, business professionals and academic faculty who are leaders in their respective fields.

Prior to joining Xavier University, Bruce held executive and leadership positions with both highly specialized and global professional development and management consulting companies, including one of the world’s top professional services firms.

Bruce quickly recognizes and relates to the business challenges of corporate clients, having started his career with a decade of business experience with General Electric. His business experience is reinforced by an MBA from Xavier University. A sought-after facilitator and speaker on project management and process excellence, Bruce recently spoke at the 3rd International Project Management Conference in Moscow, Russia, on the topic of “Business Simulation Games and Client Successes”.

Shelly Wallace

Associate Director

Shelly Wallace is the Associate Director of Xavier Leadership Center, bringing more than fifteen years experience in communications, change management, executive education, strategic planning, diversity training and organizational dynamics to her client organizations. Prior to her work with XLC, Shelly was the founder of Accent Management, a corporate speech and accent modification practice. She holds a Masters Degree in Speech Pathology from Miami University of Ohio, and has extensive experience with intercultural communications and training.

Currently, Shelly is engaged in creating sustainable business success with clients in the healthcare, governmental, publishing and financial services fields. Her approach to solutions-oriented consulting and facilitated learning, combined with access to more than a hundred faculty members and industry experts through Xavier University’s robust network, allows Shelly to create true customized learning experiences for employees at all levels.

Mike Leavy

Associate Director

Mike Leavy is an Associate Director of the Xavier Leadership Center, working with the Center's growing list of healthcare clients and other key organizations throughout the region to implement high-impact custom programs for senior executives, high-potential leaders and experienced professionals. His extensive experience in strategic leadership and execution, business development and talent development, as well as his collaborative style enable him to present unique leadership development solutions to organizations and their teams. Before coming to Xavier Leadership Center, Mike spent 26 years with Procter and Gamble leading customer and business development for multiple categories and customers, then served as the Director of US Sales Operations and Transition Leader for Warner Chilcott Pharmaceutical Company, a divested organization of P&G. Through his work, he has established a history of dramatic growth within his organizational units, an aptitude of developing bench strength, and the ability to optimize resources to manage rapid and innovative change.

Marla Phillips, PhD

Director

Dr. Phillips joined Xavier University in 2008 where she leads initiatives that bring global regulators and industry together in an effort to collaboratively address issues faced by the Medical Device and Pharmaceutical industries.  Since 2005, Phillips has worked with former FDA Investigators to conduct mock FDA inspections of pharmaceutical firms globally, as well as to provide technical assistance related to manufacturing, packaging, and laboratory operations.

Phillips started in the industry in 1996 when she was employed by Merck & Co., where she quickly took on positions of increasing responsibility, culminating in the position of Head of Quality Operations at the Merck North Carolina facility in 2000.  Dr. Phillips holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Xavier University, and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

Sue Bensman

Director, Programs

Sue Bensman is the Director of Programs for the Xavier Leadership Center, overseeing all aspects of public programs for Xavier University and the Center. In this role, Sue leads the operational functions for developing, implementing and administrating the delivery of more than 100 facilitated learning programs each year, ensuring the quality and consistency of all programs and training materials for client organizations, as well as providing high customer service and satisfaction. She also assists with marketing these open enrollment programs to regional professionals in a variety of roles, including leadership, sales, marketing, project management, process excellence, information technology, operations and human resources.

A graduate of Xavier University, Sue has worked for the university for more than 30 years, and her knowledge, experience, and understanding of the leadership focus of XLC’s programs add tremendous value to the classroom experience for both facilitators and class members.

Jenn Stark

Director, Communications

Jenn Stark brings more than 18 years of marketing, communications and branding experience to her Personal Branding work with individuals and organizations. Her consulting and corporate experience includes developing, writing and managing the production of extensive direct mail campaigns; directing comprehensive rebranding initiatives for organizations undergoing dramatic change; crafting corporate communications for  diverse and multi-level workforces; and successfully working with individuals and teams to help them achieve their communications and presentation goals through the systematic and authentic expression of their Personal Brands.

Prior to her work with Xavier Leadership Center, Jenn held executive and leadership positions with both corporate and start-up organizations, leading communications initiatives to drive growth and brand recognition. A trainer and speaker on topics of personal branding, marketing and promotion, Jenn offers skills in Personal Brand strategy development and execution, communication planning, content development, presentations, and project management and facilitation, and helps individuals and teams take Branding initiatives from concept to production within deadlines, on budget, and in alignment with organizational strategy.