Board of Directors

Brooke Sanders is our Administrative Director, who was first introduced to the work of Virginia Satir during her studies to become a Marriage and Family Therapist at Mercer University. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to her at office@satirglobal.org”

My name is Robert E. Williams, and I am a US Army veteran, startup founder, author and serial entrepreneur. I am a graduate of The University of Wales Trinity St David where I attained my MBA in global business management. In 2015 I launched my startup Athcorp Inc. and built XZEVN, a multi-modal mental health analysis platform. In 2018 Athcorp partnered with the National Security Administration Office of Research and Technology (ORTA) and Bowie State University research laboratory to study how machine learning and artificial intelligence can be leveraged to improve telehealth outcomes. In 2017 Mr. Karl Ginter, my technology adviser at the time, introduced me to Jean McLendon of the UNC Department of Social Work Satir Program. Jean introduced me to the work of Virginia Satir when I participated in two Satir summer intensive courses conducted at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Department of Social Work Summer Satir Program. Today, I serve as a strategic advisor to businesses seeking help with planning, designing, and standing up mobile and web applications. My connection to Satir is rooted in my training in the Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy (STST) method. Through my connections training, I learned to not focus on the chaos in life but to navigate that chaos by tapping into my internal resources. I now integrate Satir’s teachings into not only my personal life but also as a foundational framework of my business culture.

Michael Hardin, Ph.D., LMFT, LPC-S, CFLE

Dr. Michael Argumaniz-Hardin began his employment at Fuller Theological Seminary in the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy in July 2020. He was instrumental in starting a 10-month master level Virginia Satir practicum for students where they spent 7 hours a week seeing clients using the Satir model while getting live supervision. He also created a doctoral level Satir consultation course. Before working for Fuller, Dr. Argumaniz-Hardin was a professor at Lubbock Christian University. He served as the Chair over the Department of Psychology & Counseling for 13 years. Dr. Argumaniz-Hardin has been in private practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist for 23 years and is the host of the Virginia Satir podcast https://www.liveconnectedtherapy.com/podcast.

Marta Karchnakova is an experienced linguist, recruiter, and project manager with a strong background in translation, cognitive testing, and education management. Fluent in multiple languages, she has worked with a diverse range of clients across industries. She is skilled in critical thinking, strategic outreach, and creative problem-solving, with extensive experience in project management. Her ongoing education in psychology and active participation in the Lifbee Innovation Incubator further enrich her leadership and problem-solving abilities. She is currently volunteering on the Satir Global Affiliates, Institutes and Membership Committee. She is committed to supporting strong global connections within the Virginia Satir Global Network and fostering the growth of affiliates and institutes worldwide.

Joanne Kennedy has been associated with Virginia Satir’s work and organizations for over 30 years. She was introduced to IHLRN in the mid-1990s by Michele and Bud Baldwin and Bill and Ann Nerin and has been active in the organization since then. Joanne initiated and coordinated the Silent Auction for IHLRN for many years as it became a major fundraising effort for the organization. She served several terms as a member and officer of the IHLRN board, most recently as its President from 2016 to 2021. During that time she worked closely with Sharon Loeschen, then president of Satir Global, to enhance the connection and cooperation between IHLRN and Satir Global. Joanne’s professional experience is in the business world. She was an employee benefits consultant to business organizations for much of her career, working for insurance companies as well as insurance brokerage and consulting firms. Later, she worked in the outdoor industry as a buyer of apparel and footwear for a major outdoor retailer. Joanne is enthusiastic about becoming involved in the work of Satir Global and continuing her commitment to the vision and teachings of Virginia Satir in creating healthy and just relationships. Joanne lives in Olympia, Washington with
Richard Kennedy, her husband of 38 years.

Natalie has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and is an integrative therapist and founder of the Bangkok Psychological Services and the Satir Institute of Thailand (Bangkok). She is also a master-trainer in the Satir Coaching and Mentoring program and has a passion for spreading the teachings of Virginia Satir.

Gina Adams Gephart, currently serving as the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at CAPSTONE University, offers a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership, governance, policy management, and compliance. With doctoral degrees in psychotherapy and education, Gina has over two decades of expertise in higher education and digital learning. Her unwavering commitment revolves around improving education quality for all learners, and she actively collaborates to integrate Satir’s transformative teachings into CAPSTONE University courses. Beyond her academic role, Gina is a Certified Life and Trauma Recovery Coach and co-founder of SCORES™, a relational model fostering safety and connection within educational and family contexts. In these roles, she nurtures emerging leaders dedicated to carrying forward Virginia Satir’s legacy of promoting healthy relationships and personal growth, embodying Satir’s philosophy of “Peace within, peace between, and peace among.”

Eileen Strider is a retired information technology (IT) executive and consultant. Beginning in 1969, her 30 year IT career included programmer, manager, and director of engineering & scientific programming for a large aerospace company, IT vice president for an insurance company and interim CIO for The Ohio State University. She began studying Virginia Satir’s work when she realized that technical problems were often primarily people problems. With Wayne Strider, she introduced Satir Process of Change workshops in 1989 into her aerospace IT organization.

Eileen and Wayne founded Strider & Cline, Inc., an IT management consulting firm to use their Satir skills. Their work included clients in the following industries: aerospace, higher education, biotechnology, insurance, non-profits, accounting, gaming, veterinary medicine and software development. Eileen previously served as Satir Global Board Treasurer for 6 years and received a Living Treasure award in 2012. She has volunteered her time in various roles including as Virginia’s 100th Birthday GoFundMe campaign organizer, Satir Global and IHLRN website redesign project manager, Satir Summer Intensive administrator and IHLRN Board member. She has published numerous articles including “Re-Sculpting an organization: A Different Kind of Family” published in the Satir Journal of Counselling and Family Therapy, Vol. I, 2013. Having seen how valuable and effective Satir’s model was in organizations, Eileen is committed to seeing Virginia’s work continue to be taught, used and recognized.