Pete Sherwood, managing partner, entered the training and development field after 27 years as a working journalist. His role at Sherwood includes editorial supervision, research, custom design and client management of key training projects. Prior to joining the company in 1993, Pete Sherwood was affiliated with three New Jersey daily newspapers in positions including reporter, news editor and managing editor. He holds a bachelor of science in commerce degree from Rider University with a major in business administration and minors in marketing and management.


Susan Gottlieb, managing director of Sherwood Talent Solutions, partners with executives and line management to help them assess needs, define requirements and build solid management teams. She conducts executive search assignments across a diverse range of functions and industries. Previously Susan Gottlieb was with Korn/Ferry International’s mid-market search company Futurestep, and held positions as director of recruiting with UBS and national director of recruiting with PriceWaterhouseCoopers. She holds a bachelor of science degree from Ithaca College and a master of arts degree in HR and management development from the New School University.


Richard (Rich) Silkes, client services director, specializes in creating innovative customized designs as well as facilitating management and professional skills workshops for intact teams and ongoing corporate university programs. As a performance improvement consultant, he brings a broad range of experience in customer service, management development and organizational change. Rich Silkes also has held director-level positions in the retail industry, both in specialty stores and mass merchandising. He received graduate and undergraduate degrees from Brown University and has pursued doctoral studies at Columbia University. Silkes also holds a certificate in video production from Fairfield University.


Louise Kiernan, client services director, has more than 25 years of experience in helping people reach their full potential. She has worked in manufacturing, communications, pharmaceuticals, health care and finance industries, with a focus on designing, developing and implementing programs to strengthen leadership and management skills and increase employee engagement. Louise Kiernan has extensive experience coaching managers and teams to improve performance, resolve conflict and increase cohesiveness. Her work extends to employee performance as well as employee relations issues. She holds a MA degree in psychological studies from Seton Hall University.

Larry Fisher, director of professional services, is a certified business coach with experience in helping business leaders and practices implement sales, marketing and business planning strategies, leadership and practice management, and team building. He has more than 20 years of corporate experience in training and staffing. Larry Fisher leads Sherwood’s initiative within the BDO Seidman Alliance partner program and has worked with many accounting firms to bring clarify and focus to their practices. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in communications from SUNY Oswego.


Patricia (Patti) Anesetti, senior consultant, is a learning and development professional with two decades of experience. Her expertise targets leadership and team development, e-learning, distance learning, strategic planning, organizational development and executive coaching. Patti Anesetti is a veteran public speaker, with strong facilitation skills with both large and small groups. She holds undergraduate degrees in business and education from SUNY Buffalo, and a master of science degree in educational technology (e-learning) from Ramapo College.


Jodi Brodsky, senior consultant, brings to clients a rich background in instructional design, leadership development, training, OD and field management training. She also plays a major role in managing our customized development projects and supporting change management initiatives. She joined Sherwood Learning Solutions following a corporate career that included key posts with two major companies. Jodi Brodsky holds a bachelor's degree in business with a minor in psychology from the State University of New York at Albany and a master's degree in organizational psychology from New York University.


Joe Graziano, senior consultant, specializes in coaching and team-building programs, sales and product knowledge training, and a variety of professional and management skills workshops. He has conducted training and delivered keynote addresses for scores of companies throughout the country. Joe Graziano also is the co-designer for the Sherwood SellingSmart© program, a comprehensive workshop covering selling fundamentals. He received an accounting degree from William Paterson University and attended graduate classes at Pace University.


John W. Hauch, senior consultant, has worked as both an external consultant and an internal training director in fields including professional and financial services, high-tech medical systems and pharmaceuticals. Prior to becoming a consultant, his corporate career included posts as director of training for the Kuwait war claims project and head of management development for an international accounting firm. John Hauch holds both bachelor's and master's degrees from Loyola University and studied toward a doctorate of philosophy degree from Northwestern University.


Peter Hess, senior consultant, brings to Sherwood clients more than 20 years of broad-based experience and a proven ability to leverage HR in a focused, orchestrated approach to achieve business goals. He has particular skills in leadership and development with customized design and delivery, strategic business thinking, leadership development, change management and team development. Before turning to a consulting career, Peter Hess held senior HR development positions at Bayer and Nabisco. He has an undergraduate degree in psychology from Swarthmore College and a master of science degree in HR management from the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations.


Nadine Metta, senior consultant, specializes in the creation and delivery of employee and management skills programs. She has designed and delivered diversity, presentation skills, selection interviewing, employment law, teambuilding and communication programs as well as culture change and performance management initiatives. Nadine Metta received her bachelor of arts degree in biology from Montclair State University and a master's degree in public administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Dr. Alan Richter, diversity consultant, partners with Sherwood Learning Solutions to support our global diversity and culture initiatives. He has provided strategic consulting, facilitation and program delivery for varied organizations in Africa, Asia and Europe, in addition to the Americas. He also has been involved in innovative instructional product development. Dr. Richter is the president of QED Consulting, a 21-year-old firm based in New York. He has a master of arts degree and a bachelor of science degree, both from the University of Cape Town, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Birkbeck College, London University.


Other permanent members of the Sherwood Learning Solutions in-house staff devoted to workshop design and client support are Madelin Roman, Debora Yodice and Dawn Mizzone. The Sherwood team also includes a highly qualified group of affiliated consultants with diverse backgrounds and professional experience in corporate training design and facilitation.