The VP Team

Vertical Performance is a company whose strength is genuinely defined by the depth of its staff. They are a collective of individuals from a variety of public and private sector career fields with common and compelling connections to each other and the VP purpose.

Jim Schneider

Specializations: Individual Development; Team Development; Leadership Development; Coaching; Community Building; Public Speaking and Facilitation

Foundational Quote: “Effective leadership is not so much about individual achievement as it is about what I bring out in others.”

Jim has been doing the work of human development and community building for the past 35 years. He is a facilitator, trainer, program/ project innovator, speaker and leadership coach. Jim is passionate about human potential, from individual growth to building culture within organizations, to ultimately the larger notion of collective potential throughout our communities. He served 22 years at the YMCA of Southwest Illinois where he was Director of Leadership Development. He was founder of Life Adventures, a team building/ adventure based program and Teambuilders, a corporate training program. He also served 11 years as Director of Human Resources and Director of Community Development for the City of Belleville, IL.

Jim: “I believe strongly that to see real positive organizational transformation and productivity, it is imperative to first build an effective culture and healthy community within the organization. We are strongest together, so why would we not intentionally create a culture conducive to nurturing the giftedness in everyone?”

Lynn Clapp

Specializations: Team Building; Individual Development; Leadership Development; Community Building; Public Speaking and Facilitation

Foundational Quote: “When you tug on one small thing in nature you find it connected to the universe.” (John Muir)

Lynn is a school/community psychologist, university educator, and former assistant school superintendent with 35 years of experience in building individual and organizational excellence. He is an experienced facilitator, mediator, and professional coach. He is an accomplished public speaker, and believes in strong community connections. He is most passionate about helping individuals and groups unlock their unlimited potential.

Lynn: “I absolutely thrill to the look, the sounds and the feel of a “best version” workplace! In my experience, this is an organization where people look forward to arriving every day; a climate that is truly inclusive, encourages “voice”, and maximizes the strengths of each person. I love becoming a partner with organizations that desire a collective focus. For me, it is highly rewarding but also just darned good fun facilitating the process of a workplace’s transformation from “good” to “great”!

Jim Holdener

Specializations: Team Building; Communication; Human Relations Transformation; Leadership Development; Coaching; Storytelling

Foundational Quote: “The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The meaning of life is giving your gift away.”

Jim has been an engineer in various management positions for over 44 years, handling million dollar projects from conception to reality. He has also been instructing Dale Carnegie classes for 29 years helping folks enhance their self-confidence, communication, human relations, leadership, and attitude skills. He stays young hanging with his young-adult twin sons.

Jim: “My personal mission statement is ‘To help people grow and be more successful.’ In other words ‘I help people tune their instruments to create a symphony.’ As a facilitator I serve as a guide on the side rather than a sage on the stage. Find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it. And remember, wherever you go there you are.”

Additional VP Consultants

Vertical Performance utilizes the talents of individuals who bring unique life and work backgrounds and experiences to client services. They demonstrate a collective competency for the highest quality group development and team building experiences.

Jeff is a small business owner and operator, who understands and appreciates the common challenges of business owners. He is an adventure-based learning instructor and facilitator and experienced leader and guide for adventure excursions. Jeff has designed and built low- and high-challenge courses and climbing walls.

Kevin is a certified special education teacher in Illinois, currently working as Executive Director of Todd Hall Retreat Center. He has a degree in Psychology and is a trained Life Coach . Kevin is the former director of an independent living services program for disabled adults. For 23 years, he was a Program Director for Life Adventures, during which time he specialized in adventure-based programming, instruction, and facilitation for individuals and groups.

Mike is a certified school social worker in Illinois. He is currently the Director of Pastoral Care for the Retirement Community of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville. He has expertise in individual and family counseling, and is a long-time grief support counselor. Mike is skilled in applying activity-based concepts to team building and group development activities.

Linda is our “rocket scientist”, with a degree in Physics, a Master’s in Science Education and 28 years of teaching experience. She teaches Physics, Physical Science and Chemistry at Columbia High School in Columbia, IL. Linda is skilled with group development and outstanding in working with clients one-on-one. She translates that experience for Vertical Performance through facilitation of groups with activity-based programs.