The Leadership Reality Team is Here to Help

Daniel MontgomeryFounder/CEO

High profile leaders are often set up to experience high-impact burnout or flatline in their growth, unwilling or unable to scale the wall ahead of them. Daniel understands that if core challenges and past stories are not addressed in leaders, no real progress can happen.

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With a Masters of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, certification as a Leadership Challenge Coach and Facilitator, certification as a Flippen coach, and 17 years as the founding and lead pastor of Sojourn Community Church, Daniel is uniquely qualified to address the real-life challenges facing high profile leaders.

Author of How to Be Present in an Absent World, Leadership Mosaic, and others

Certifications: DiSC®, 5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team, PXT, CQ, Leadership Challenge Facilitator, Certified Flippen Coach

Daniel and his wife Mandy have been married since 1998 and they have four children Elijah, Stella, Levi and Georgia.

Lauren TharpCOO

How can leaders be effective and creative, while also inspiring others with a bold vision so that they take action?
This is the driving question behind Lauren’s work, both in the advertising industry and in leadership development. In her almost 15 years in the marketing and advertising world and a BA from Furman University, Lauren has worked with several companies varying in size and industry, including managing the marketing and communications of over 250 Qdoba Mexican Grill restaurants in the eastern United States.

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From building sales platforms and marketing messaging to managing and developing teams, Lauren has forged clear paths forward for herself and teams and sought out catalysts for true development.

Certifications: DiSC®, 5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team, PXT, Leadership Challenge Facilitator, Certified Flippen Coach

Lauren and her husband John live in Louisville, KY with their two daughters, Henley (2014) and Madeline (2016) and their son Barrett (2022). She’s an avid reader, indoor cyclist, painter and lover of the beach.

Kenny SilvaSenior Writer

A PhD candidate at Trinity International University and the Interim Senior Pastor at the Village Church of Lincolnshire in Lake Forest, IL, Kenny’s writing has appeared in Business Insider, Forbes, and Collegiate magazine, covering a diverse range of topics, including technology, leadership, small business management, marketing and real estate

Melinda SpeeceCopywriter

Melinda Speece supports Leadership Reality with editing, writing, and mining gold from client’s stories, notes, and assessments. Melinda has a B.A in English and a M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction, both from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. She and her husband, Lincoln, live outside Montgomery, AL with their four children: Halina, Jameson, Hudson, and Haiden.

Alfred Frager Sales and Consulting

As an Organization Development professional and drawing from a wide range of experiences working with organizations of many sizes, Alfred helps clients link culture, strategy, and learning.
In addition to serving Leadership Reality clients, Alfred is on the faculty at the University of Louisville business school. He is an Eagle Scout and has a passion for volunteering for service organizations that benefit youth, such as the Boy Scouts of America, Kiwanis, and the Lead Poison Prevention Project.
Alfred earned his Ph.D and M.S. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Saint Louis University. He has a B.A. in Psychology, Communications, and Spanish from the University of Louisville. Born in Louisville and the son of the sports psychologist for the Cardinals, he is a true blood Louisville Cardinal through and through.

Sarah BurgessCoordination and Administration

Leadership development can be a burden or asset to any company and
Sarah has learned through her work experience that leadership growth and development is all about a willingness to put in the work in order to see results.

Starting out as a hostess at a restaurant called Biscottis, Sarah developed a love for the restaurant industry and working closely with people. She has held a myriad of positions in both the restaurant industry and in retail sales including Merchandising manager for Urban Outfitters and General Manager for Quills Coffee.

Quills taught her to be customer focused, the value of investing in people, and the need for a leadership team to have a cohesive and well-defined vision. Leading her team through the pandemic, Sarah learned to use all available resources to pivot quickly and lead a large team effectively.

Sarah and her husband live in Louisville with their three-year-old son, Wyatt.