The official website of Applied Organizational Concepts, Inc., Rod Hess, President

Applied Organizational Concepts, Inc. Partial Client List

All American Gourmet Company (PA)

Allegheny Academy (PA)

American Meter Company (PA)

Arizona Boys Ranch (AZ)

Bowling Brook Academy (MD)

Children's Guild (MD)

Coatesville Area School District (PA)

Dial Corporation (TN)

Diversified Benefits Services, Inc. (PA)

Duquesne University Women's Basketball Team 

Duquesne University Football Coaches

Edwin Gould Services for Children (NY)

Enterprise Communications Network, Inc. (PA)

Fisher-Rosemount (OH)

Franklin High School (MD)

Graham Windham (NY)

Health Education Center (PA)

Health Related Services (PA)

Hetrick-Martin Institute (NY)

Highlands High School Faculty/Athletic Coaches (PA)

Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield (Western PA)

Hispanic Aids Forum (NY)

Human Resources Administration, City of New York (NY)

Kennametal, Inc. (PA)/(TN)

Kent State Residence Life (OH)

KPMG Peat Marwick (PA)

Kutztown University Residence Life (PA)

Lebanon Valley College Residence Life (PA)

Lemington Center (PA)

Mansfield University Residence Life (PA)

McKinley Home For Boys (CA)

Mel Blount Youth Home (GA)

Nabisco (OH)

National Aquarium in Baltimore (MD)

National Center for Institutions and Alternatives (NY)

Neilson Business Consultants (DE)

NMC Medical Services (PA)

Parent and Child (GA)

Pen-Wel, Inc. (PA)

RPS (PA)

SOS Children's Village (IL)

SOS Children's Village (FL)

Slippery Rock University Residence Life (PA)

St. Mary's Grade School (PA)

St. Mary's Home (GA)

St. Vincent College Residence Life (PA)

Tidelands Mental Health Agency (GA)

The Mill (IL)

Thiel College Athletic Department (PA)

University of Pittsburgh @ Bradford Residence Life (PA)

What they have said over the years about Rod Hess and Normative Leadership . . .

Education

“We were impressed with Mr. Hess’ enthusiasm and professionalism when we first met prior to the workshop. . . He emphasized the importance of setting normative behavioral expectations for students in order to increase classroom control and management. His approach was both refreshing and friendly, as he spent a great deal of time interacting and talking with teachers. Feedback from the staff below include direct quotes taken from the evaluation form:

! “What a great class. We received so much great information and ideas!”

! “Enthusiastic. Interesting. Informative.”

! “This approach provides a “win-win” solution for teachers and students.”

! “Rod was organized, prepared and demonstrated a sense of humor and knew his subject well.”

! “Well organized, effective presentation.”

- (2003) Michelle Rimbey/Stephanie Bergamasco, Coordinators

Office of Professional Development, Penn Hills School District,
Penn Hills, PA

“Rod recently presented a “Normative Leadership Training Program” for the sixty-five members of the faculty of Central Catholic High School. He has the knack of being able to present concepts and issues in a non-threatening manner designed to empower the faculty to develop ownership in devising problem-solving strategies to create a better school environment. Whenever a presenter can hold the attention of a group of faculty for four hours of in-service, you realize that he was effective.

- (2003) Brother Richard Grezeskiewicz, FSC, Principal

Central Catholic High School, Pittsburgh, PA

“My experience as a school administrator has provided an understanding that people embrace progress but are very resistant and even loathe change. The Normative Leadership Training experience, presented by Mr. Hess, provided outstanding motivation for our faculty and administration, and it was extremely exciting to observe twenty and thirty year teachers actively involved in the various activities that were part of this training. This program seems to have given us the “missing link” that enabled us to become more aware of key strategies paramount to the successful development of a strong, positive normative culture on our campus.

- (2005) John R. Barr, Administrator

Owen J. Roberts High School, Pottstown, PA

Human Services

“The participants in his training routinely evaluate his sessions as ‘above average’ or ‘excellent.’ They also request that he return often.”

- (1987) Shirley Wright, ACSW

Executive Director, Parent and Child, Savannah, GA

“Understanding how group norms operate in the work environment is the key to competent leadership, supervision and management. Rod’s series of workshops has sharpened my skills and level of confidence to the point that I can troubleshoot our organization’s vulnerabilities long before symptoms turn into real problems.”

- (1998) Claire Turberville, Vice President of Administrative Services

The Children’s Guild, Baltimore, MD

Business

“As technical individuals, my directors and supervisors needed to develop their “people skills” and their overall understanding of the dynamics in changing corporate cultures. Rod’s program gave us the “missing link” that complimented our own culture change initiative within the FedEx system. Today the Information Technology team is strong with zero turnover of the 30 managers and less than 2% of the professionals.”

- (2003) Mike Hmel, Senior Vice President, Information Technology

FedEx Ground, Pittsburgh, PA 

“I wanted to give you some feedback on your session with six of my managers and supervisors. Every one of them expressed high marks for your session. After they attended your session, they attended a one-day management seminar given by a nationally known firm. Several of my managers indicated that your program was far superior and covered issues that were more relevant to managing their employees.”

- (1998) Joe Karlovits, President

VITAC, Canonsburg, PA

“Most small companies suffer through a period of growth where certain functions like human resources, payroll, advertising, employee training, etc., are less important than sales and shipments. Since Glacier was no different, we called upon Rod Hess of Applied Organizational Concepts for help as our company grew. After the initial Normative Leadership training session, we not only had a “road map” to follow for building our organizational culture, but also a company philosophy and a set of norms that we defined. Now, we have more consistency in our operating systems which helps us to work smarter and not harder. Not only has the company benefitted from the training, but my managers have found the Normative Leadership book to be a valuable reference as they work at becoming more effective leaders.”

- (2005) Ron D’Ambrosio, President

Glacier Computer, LLC., Amherst, NH

Athletic Teams

“After discussing with you the obstacles we have faced in the past as an institution and as staff, my fear was that the seminar was not going to be as successful as I hoped. Not only did it exceed my and the other coaches expectations, we all feel the exercises brought us closer than we had ever been before. As effective as it was for us, I know our players will drastically improve their knowledge of what they can achieve through the information they will acquire at the student seminar this fall. . . I feel it will be the psychological breakthrough we need for a great year. Thank you for a wonderful and powerful seminar.”

- (2003) Dave Armstrong, ESQ., Athletic Director and Head Football Coach

Thiel College, Greenville, PA

“Rod Hess gives clear and to the point outlines on how to achieve a winning culture. It helped me enormously, even as a player, to understand the “bigger picture” and start acting in a way that will create the atmosphere of winning and sportsmanship.”

- (1999) Korie Hlede, Professional Basketball Player

Detroit Shock (WNBA)

“In this age of sports when many players are more concerned about statistics and individual accomplishments, your book, Beyond Xs and Os: A Coach’s Guide for Managing Player Attitudes and Behaviors on the Team, ( predecessor to Normative Leadership) reinforces concepts of TEAM building and dynamics. The Force Field Assessment puts the entire (team) “chemistry” mystique in black and white form. Your use of the (Polsky) Diamond clarifies specific roles and attributes which are applicable to team building. For me, I find this book must reading for all of my new coaches. Your ideas are what is needed to enhance the level of team sports.”

- (1997) Gene Rotberg, Athletic Director

Roland Park Country School, Baltimore, MD

College/Residence Life

“The professional staff received your training with enthusiasm. Our building director called me after the workshop to express her enthusiasm. She appreciated the practicality of the workshop and is interested in adapting it to a high school setting. Another building director has proposed that you be invited back to work with the thirty head staff team members during August training. Students and staff found that your work is very adaptable to our “training series” that teaches practical applications for some difficult situations.”

- (1994) Kathy Lynch, Associate Director of Housing and Residence Life

Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA

“As the newly appointed Dean of Students, I began looking for a program that would offer greater structure to not only the initial training of Resident Assistants and Resident Directors, but also a system that could be continued through the course of the year allowing its basic concepts to be reinforced. The introduction of the normative concepts into the training (specifically the Force Field and Polsky Diamond) gave a candid statement of where each dorm floor was behaviorally, and also pointed where the floor needed to go in its development. My anticipation is that in subsequent years, the use of “normative systems” as a developmental tool within the dormitories will itself, become an increasingly more significant part of campus life.”

- (1996) Fr. Frank Ziemkiewicz, O.S.B., Dean of Students

St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA

“I am sending you some of the quotes taken directly from the RA Training Evaluation forms I had each staff member complete at the close of the training:

! “Excellent! The most beneficial leadership session that I have experienced in the five years that I’ve spent on campus.”

! “Rod was very informative. He gave us a lot of really useful information and he was very entertaining.”

! “I think he had a lot of great ideas. I liked the program a great deal. I wish he could have had more time because there was so much good information.”

! “ Great! Rod’s ideas were fun and easily understood. I will definitely use what he taught me when I work with my section this year.”

It is my hope that other professionals discover your company. You have provided me with valuable tools that I will continue to use.”

- (1994) Gina Geronime, Director, Residential Life and Housing

University of Pittsburgh - Bradford Campus

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