Meet The Michael Hyatt & Company Team
Principals
Responsible for direction, vision, and the accomplishment of ultimate goals, our founders lead fearlessly into territories old and new. They tirelessly seek to meet the needs of our customers while protecting the interests of the team. Their heart for the integrity of our products and message resonates in everything we do.
Michael Hyatt
Chief Executive Officer
Michael is the Founder and CEO of Michael Hyatt & Company, an online leadership development company dedicated to helping high achievers win at work and succeed at life. Formerly the CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, Michael is also the New York Times bestselling author of Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World and the co-author of Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want. Through his blog, books, and online courses, Michael’s ideas impact the lives of millions worldwide. He and his wife of 38 years, Gail, have five daughters and eight grandchildren. He enjoys reading, spending time with family, fly fishing, and geeking out over the newest technology.
Enneagram Personality Type: 3, The Achiever
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Achiever, Intellection, Strategic, Futuristic, Relator
Megan Hyatt Miller
Chief Operating Officer
Megan Hyatt Miller is the Chief Operating Officer. Second in command to Michael, she’s primarily responsible for strategic direction, brand management, growth initiatives, and general operations for the company as a whole. She also serves as the leader of our leaders and works closely with Michael to create a world-class company culture for our team. An appreciator of beauty, Megan majored in design in college, and her professional background includes leading marketing and communications initiatives for small businesses and non-profits. Megan and her husband Joel make their home in Franklin, TN, along with their four children, Fionn, Felicity, Moses, and Jonah.
Enneagram Personality Type: 4, The Individualist
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Futuristic, Relator, Strategic, Activator, Achiever
Marketing & Sales Team
Enthusiasts from start to finish, our marketing & sales team is wired for matching people to the products that can improve their lives. Responsible for design, messaging, and getting the word out, they seek maximum impact and effectiveness for our customers. Their positive, can-do spirit is equaled only by their steadfast work ethic.
Chad Cannon
Chief Marketing Officer
Chad Cannon is our Chief Marketing Officer. He was formerly the founder and CEO of Chadwick Cannon Agency, a full-service digital marketing firm dedicated to amplifying brands and ideas. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Marketing for Thomas Nelson Publishers, now a division of HarperCollins. In his five years there, he led more than 225 book marketing campaigns, with 16 titles reaching the New York Times Bestseller List. Chad lives in Nashville with his wife Julie, a talented photographer and writer. He’s an enormous fan of the Chicago Cubs, Apple products, dogs, traveling, and darn good food.
Enneagram Personality Type: 8, The Protector
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Competition, Command, Strategic, Activator, Futuristic
Courtney Baker
Director of Marketing
A Nashville native, Courtney is the Director of Marketing. Prior to joining Michael Hyatt & Company, Courtney spent over 10 years in non-profit communications, most recently at Show Hope as the Director of Communications. Her hobbies include interior design, reading, traveling with her husband Chase, and doing just about anything with her daughter Kit.
Enneagram Personality Type: 3, The Achiever
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Achiever, Significance, Includer, Woo, Focus
Dave Yankowiak
Senior Developer
Born and raised in Minnesota, Dave is a senior developer for the marketing team. He focuses on front and back end web development. He especially enjoys building on top of WordPress with various JavaScript and CSS frameworks. Prior to joining the team, Dave ran his own company, Lift Development, for over nine years. His interests include the outdoors, guitars, vinyl records, the Minnesota Timberwolves, dates with his lovely wife Sarah, and making their three daughters laugh. He has his B.A. from Bethel University.
Enneagram Personality Type: 7, The Enthusiast
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Activator, Restorative, Learner, Futuristic, Includer
Megan Greer
Sr. Marketing Project Manager
Originally from Houston, Texas, Megan Greer is the Senior Marketing Project Manager. Prior to this, she managed marketing campaigns for several talent management solutions and leadership councils at CEB (now Gartner). She has her B.A. from Texas A&M University, M.B.A. from Trevecca Nazarene University, and enjoys reading, interior design, and going on adventures with her husband and son.
Enneagram Personality Type: 9, The Peacemaker
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Positivity, Futuristic, Maximizer, Adaptability, Relator
Neal Samudre
Marketing Copywriter
Hailing from the suburbs of D.C., Neal is the marketing copywriter. He’s responsible for crafting the words that power our promotional campaigns and launch initiatives. Prior to joining Michael Hyatt & Company, he was the CEO and founder of Neal Samudre & Associates, where he helped the biggest names online sell their products 24/7. Neal currently lives in Nashville, TN with his wife, Carly, and their dog, Noble. He’s a book lover, mustache enthusiast, Apple fanboy, and buffalo wing connoisseur.
Enneagram Personality Type: 3, The Achiever
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Achiever, Maximizer, Strategic, Relator, Significance
Sarah McElroy
Marketing Automation Specialist
Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Sarah McElroy is the Marketing Automation Specialist. Prior to this, she managed email marketing campaigns for several companies including HCA and several brands for the Journeys Group. She has her B.S. from Urbana University and M.B.A. from Wright State University. In her downtime, she enjoys basketball, Netflix, and life with her husband and daughter.
Enneagram Personality Type: 2, The Helper
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Restorative, Relator, Positivity, Individualization, Learner
Rebecca Turner
Executive Assistant to Chad Cannon, our CMO
A South Georgia native, Becca is the Executive Assistant to our Chief Marketing Officer, Chad Cannon. She carries with her experience in marketing, merchandising, and event planning, having previously worked with organizations like IF:Gathering. An alumni of Auburn University, Becca now lives and works in the Nashville area. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants in Nashville, and spending time with her family.
Enneagram Personality Type: 2, The Helper
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Relator, Responsibility, Positivity, Communicator, Empathy
Marissa Hyatt
Social Media Manager
Born and raised south of Nashville, Marissa is our Social Media Manager. She’s responsible for creating the strategy and content to make our brand’s name relevant and prominent on social media. Prior to joining our company, she owned her own business, built websites, and even worked in restaurant management. She is also Michael’s youngest daughter, which gives her a unique perspective that informs our social media management and direction. In her free time she enjoys cooking for friends, baking sourdough bread, geeking out about natural wellness and personal growth, traveling, and watching British period piece TV shows.
Enneagram Personality Type: 8, The Protector
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Futuristic, Activator, Significance, Relator, Communicator
Trey Dunavant
Senior Sales Associate
A Virginia native and newbie to Nashville, Trey Dunavant is our Senior Sales Associate. Prior to joining Michael Hyatt & Co, Trey spent the last decade as a Mid-Atlantic Sales Manager in the manufacturing sector. Here he developed his love for working with business’ and owners to grow their companies and better service their customers. With a zeal for his family, he can usually be found leading the charge to a fresh taco truck or dive with exceptional flavors. He also enjoys running, basketball, playing drums, and Saturday mornings at the local farmer’s market with his wife and two daughters.
Enneagram Personality Type: 2, The Helper
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Positivity, Achiever, Activator, Belief, Communication
Content Team
Guardians of voice, brand, and quality, our content team navigates the deep end of relevant research, distilling insightful, consumable information for our audience. Endlessly creative, they are responsible for developing and producing all types of content. Their knack for wordsmithing and attention to detail never ceases to amaze us.
Joel Miller
Chief Content Officer
Joel oversees our content team, which produces blog posts, podcasts, courses, and books. He is a writer and editor with more than fifteen years of experience in the publishing industry, including as a vice president and publisher for Thomas Nelson, an imprint of HarperCollins. He has worked with several New York Times bestselling authors and has authored four books of his own, including a biography of American revolutionary hero Paul Revere. Originally from California, he and his wife Megan now live in Franklin, Tennessee, with their four children. Joel enjoys spending time outdoors with Megan and his kids, reading history and theology, and blogging about where faith fits in the world today.
Enneagram Personality Type: 5, The Investigator
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Intellection, Input, Connectedness, Ideation, Learner
Mandi Rivieccio
Senior Content Creator
Mandi is a Senior Content Creator, contributing to our podcast, online courses, and webinars. She also serves as Michael’s co-host on many of our online trainings. Mandi has spent over a decade in the event industry, having written scripts and interviews for notable celebrities, athletes, politicians, and business leaders, including a former US president. A Florida native, Mandi holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Southeastern University and resides in Nashville. On the weekends, you may find her on the porch with a C.S. Lewis book, a strong cup of coffee, and a Matt Nathanson song playing in the background.
Enneagram Personality Type: 4, The Individualist
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Strategic, Intellection, Ideation, Connectedness, Restorative
Aleshia Curry
Content Executive Assistant
A native of the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, Aleshia is the Executive Assistant to the Chief Content Officer, Joel Miller. She obtained her B.B.A. in Management from the University of Houston and has an extensive background in hospitality management. Prior to joining our team, Aleshia served as an Executive Assistant to the Executive Chef & CEO of a corporate catering company in Philadelphia. She recently relocated to Mt. Juliet, TN, with her husband Calvin. Aleshia enjoys dancing, volunteering, kayaking, and traveling with her husband.
Enneagram Personality Type: 8, The Protector
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Communication, Woo, Strategic, Activator, Individualization
Mike Boyer
Content Production Manager
A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Michael moved to Nashville in ’96. After 12 years as a recording artist, he began working with a non-profit program to develop the talent of young artists in Music City. Prior to his arrival at Michael Hyatt & Co., Michael was the Creative Director at a church in Brentwood, TN, where he led teams focused on media and production and communications. In his down time, Michael enjoys reading, sliding across the kitchen floor in his socks, dancing with his 3 amazing kids, date nights with his bride, Verna, and designing t-shirts.
Enneagram Personality Type: 5, The Investigator
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Connectedness, Ideation, Belief, Learner, Intellection
Lawrence Wilson
Senior Content Creator
Larry is a Senior Content Creator and has been producing published materials for about 30 years. Prior to joining MH&Co., his diverse career included ghostwriting, freelance editing, editorial direction, and pastoral ministry. He holds degrees from United Wesleyan College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Larry resides in central Indiana with his wife, Heather, and their six grown children. On weekends, he can be found browsing the local library or cycling.
Enneagram Personality Type: 1, The Reformer
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Strategic, Learner, Achiever, Discipline, Responsibility
Jeremy Lott
Senior Content Creator
Jeremy is a Senior Content Creator and has been in the word business for about 20 years. Prior to Joining MH&Co., he had three books and an e-book published, was the recognized ghostwriter of former Maryland governor Marvin Mandel’s memoirs, and wrote for hundreds of publications. Jeremy and his wife Angela reside in Blaine, Washington, and enjoy exploring the Pacific Northwest with their dog Siska.
Enneagram Personality Type: 6, The Loyalist
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Achiever, Learner, Context, Individualization, Command
Adam Hill
Director of Product Design & Development
Adam Hill is our Director of Product Design & Development. He brings with him a wealth of experience on product development, having spent 13 years as a Product Developer for Harper Collins Christian Publishers. Adam has also been the front man for a rock & roll band, a dishwasher, a deli clerk, a furniture deliverer, and has written a novel. He currently lives in Nashville, TN with his wife and two kids. In his free time, Adam eats tacos and reads history and mystery books.
Enneagram Personality Type: 6, The Loyalist
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Context, Empathy, Relator, Strategic, Responsibility
Brand Leadership
Champions of each community we have established, we choose brand leaders who are passionate about creating “wow” transformational learning experiences. These strategic leaders dedicate their focus to developing and continually improving every aspect of the content and product experience for our brands. As deeply-invested advocates, they are responsible to create innovative ways to deliver the transformation we promise and truly exceed the expectations of our students.
John Meese
Platform University Director of Brand and Community Development
As our Director of Brand and Community Development for Platform University, John Meese works with our team to keep Platform University cutting edge as the best platform-building resource available today. John was originally a Platform University student, who successfully grew his platform enough to support his family from his online business and quit his job as Training Director at Chick-fil-A―where he worked for six years. John lives in Columbia, TN with his wife, Rachel, and two young kids. He enjoys good food, any book that makes him think, and learning songs on his ukulele (just for fun).
Enneagram Personality Type: 1, The Reformer
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Strategic, Individualization, Achiever, Responsibility, and Belief
Mike Burns
Platform University Student Success Specialist
Mike lives in Spring Hill, TN, and has over 25 years of experience in communication, community development and content creation. His career has spanned both the for-profit and non-profit worlds. Mike has worked on the communications team of a global anti-poverty social enterprise and has taught time and life management courses to groups of all sizes and backgrounds–ranging from those in leadership positions to the homeless. Mike has been married to his wife, Jen, for 23 years. They have six kids and get really jazzed if they can make the world a slightly better place.
Enneagram Personality Type: 5, The Investigator
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Achiever, Responsibility, Arranger, Positivity, Strategic
Elizabeth White
Executive Assistant to John Meese
Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Elizabeth serves as the Executive Assistant to John Meese, Platform University Director of Brand and Community Development. Prior to joining the Michael Hyatt & Company team, Elizabeth worked in operations and community engagement for a charter school in Nashville. She graduated from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) with a degree in journalism. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, cooking, and listening to podcasts.
Enneagram Personality Type: 3, The Achiever
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Achiever, Discipline, Input, Woo, Communication
Finance Team
The vigilance of our finance team has no equal. With diligence, optimism,
and an obsession with detail, they protect and add to the welfare of
our company with unceasing dedication. Responsible for our balance of personnel, income, and expenses, they fulfill their duty with passion and excellence.
Jarrod Souza
Chief Financial Officer
Originally from California, Jarrod Souza is our Chief Financial Officer. He was formerly the CFO for Golf Tailor LLC, a direct response company that produced golf clubs, accessories, training aids, and instruction within the golf industry. During his time at Golf Tailor, Jarrod established manufacturing relationships overseas to reduce costs while helping the company grow significantly over the past four years. He currently lives in the DC area with his wife and four kids. Jarrod enjoys the outdoors, hiking, mountain biking, playing soccer, and spending time with his family—especially if it is on a beach.
Enneagram Personality Type: 9, The Peacemaker
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Harmony, Positivity, Relator, Responsibility, Arranger
Charae Price
Accounting Manager
Charae is our Accounting Manager, responsible for processing all financial data as well as compiling the data into clean reporting packages for our executive leadership. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics with a concentration in Actuarial Studies. Prior to joining our team, Charae worked in the International Tax group for Home Depot and as a Senior Accountant at UnitedHealth Group in their corporate accounting group. Originally from Buffalo, NY, she grew up in Atlanta and now lives in Franklin, TN, where she enjoys photography, music, antiques, and traveling with her husband Matt.
Enneagram Personality Type: 6, The Loyalist
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Belief, Strategic, Achiever, Developer, Learner
Andrew Fockel
Accounting Specialist
Andrew is our Accounting Specialist and assists the finance team in the overall upkeep of the company’s financial information. His prior accounting experience has spanned multiple industries including healthcare, construction and manufacturing. Andrew graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Arts degree and now lives in Columbia, TN with his wife Natalie. He loves driving tractors, reading, playing the drums and Green Bay Packers football.
Enneagram Personality Type: 1, The Reformer
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Responsibility, Belief, Developer, Connectedness, Empathy
Operations Team
With a pulse on every endeavor, the Operations Team ensures the integrity of company processes that serve our clients and our staff. Our Customer Support, Facilities and Executive Support departments fall under the Operations umbrella, and together these teams work for efficiency and excellence in all on-the-ground operations. Responsible for creating wow experiences in events, environments, communication, and administration, they coordinate logistics, people, and places with mastery.
Suzie Barbour
Senior Director of Operations
Originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, Suzie is our Senior Director of Operations. She leads our Customer Support, Facilities and EA teams, is responsible for all of our events, oversees company-wide communications and calendar strategy, and executes high-level project management on behalf of our Executive Team. Her career experience thus far has allowed her to work closely with leaders like Colin Powell, Rudy Giuliani, Steve Forbes, Terry Bradshaw, and the late Zig Ziglar. Suzie holds a B.A. from the University of South Florida, where she double majored in education and journalism/communications. She resides in Nashville with her husband Justin and their two daughters. She’s a lover of coffee, reading, the ocean, old school gangster rap, and Timberland boots.
Enneagram Personality Type: 8, The Protector
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Communication, Activator, Futuristic, Strategic, Command
Deidra Romero
Business Accelerator™ Program Coordinator
Deidra is our Business Accelerator™ Program Coordinator. She’s responsible for providing a first-class experience for our BusinessAccelerator clients so they can enjoy the transformation our executive coaching curriculum delivers. Her in-depth experience of coaching and our Michael Hyatt & Company products allows her to give quality, customized care to our clients. In her personal time she adores a good memoir, any kind of life hack, and coffee. When she isn’t at her laptop, she’s doing something fun (and messy!) with her two kids. She and her husband, Michael, live in historic Franklin, TN.
Enneagram Personality Type: 3, The Achiever
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Activator, Achiever, Restorative, Learner, Strategic
Danielle Rodgers
Human Resources Manager
Native to New Jersey, Danielle is our Human Resources Manager, specializing in creating an optimal employee experience as it pertains to hiring, training, company policies, engagement, and company-wide events. She graduated from Rutgers University with a B.A. in Economics and serves alongside her husband, the associate pastor at their local church. In her free time, Danielle enjoys water sports, the outdoors, action movies, and spending copious amounts of time laughing with her husband Kyle and daughter Savannah at their home in St. Petersburg, FL.
Enneagram Personality Type: 1, The Reformer
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Analytics, Significance, Competition, Communication, Focus
Shana Smith
Executive Assistant to Suzie Barbour
As a West Coast native, Shana is the Executive Assistant to our Senior Director of Operations, Suzie Barbour. Prior to joining Michael Hyatt & Company, she did non-profit event planning and fundraising for multiple organizations. Shana, her husband, and 3 children made Nashville their home 5 years ago. In her spare time she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Enneagram Personality Type: 2, The Helper
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Maximizer, Intellection, Achiever, Connectedness, Belief
Customer Support Team
Standard-bearers for the interests of our audience, our customer support team empowers and protects our customers. In their eyes, every request is an opportunity not only to support, but to inspire. Their proactive approach toward building an uplifting experience generates a positive, accessible atmosphere that welcomes those we reach.
Natalie Fockel
Interim Customer Support Manager
Natalie Fockel is our Interim Customer Support Manager. With her decade of experience as an Executive Assistant and Event Planner, she ensures our customers have a fantastic experience with our physical and digital products. Natalie graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Arts degree and now lives in Columbia, TN with her husband, Andrew. In her free time, Natalie enjoys listening to podcasts, adventuring with her husband and spending as much time as possible with her son, Hunter.
Enneagram Personality Type: 6, The Loyalist
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Empathy, Discipline, Harmony, Developer, Belief
Executive Support Team
With an ability to anticipate needs and always be 5 steps ahead, our Executive Support team diligently serves our founders using their superb administrative skills. By guarding their time, and helping them stay focused, these elite Executive Assistants free up our leaders to do what they do best—lead our company to new heights.
Jim Kelly
Executive Assistant to Michael Hyatt, our CEO
Originally from Long Island, New York, Jim is Michael’s Executive Assistant, focusing on booking his travel and managing his calendar. He graduated from James Madison University (JMU) with a B.B.A. in Management. Jim came to Michael Hyatt & Company from his alma mater, where he served as an Admissions Counselor for several years. In his free time, Jim loves to run, golf, and read. He resides in Nashville with his wife Suzanne.
Enneagram Personality Type: 1, The Reformer
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Discipline, Focus, Harmony, Responsibility, Achiever
Jamie Hess
Executive Assistant to Megan Hyatt Miller, our COO
Jamie hails from Washington State and serves as the Executive Assistant to our COO, Megan Hyatt Miller. She developed executive support expertise through many years supporting authors and entrepreneurs in her own Virtual Assistant business. Together with her husband Greg, who was a pastor for more than 20 years, Jamie has an immense heart for people and loves to support charitable organizations. She enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family (especially their four grown children and now grandkids!), and relaxing anywhere with a serene, beautiful view.
Enneagram Personality Type: 2, The Helper
StrengthsFinder Top 5: Developer, Relator, Belief, Responsibility, Empathy
Join Our Team
Interested in joining our team? If you work with us, you can dig deep into your desired specialty and grow personally and professionally. Visit our careers page to find out what positions are currently available.
