Who We Are
Proven Authority and Work-Life Pioneer. Bonnie Michaels, President of Managing Work & Family, Inc., is an internationally recognized work-life expert. For over 20 years, Ms. Michaels has assisted organizations to effectively analyze their work force and has helped them to develop a long-term strategy of appropriate work-life programs for their employees who have a variety of work-personal conflicts.
Consulting Clients. Harley Davidson, Roche Diagnostics, Carlson Companies, ABN AMRO/LaSalle Bank, St. Paul Federal Bank, Mobil Oil (Joliet), National Futures Association, Amoco (3 sites), Ameritech, Quaker Oats, Kemper Insurance, Centel, Commonwealth Edison, Hewitt Associates, Northwestern University, Spiegel, Automotive Controls, and McKinsey & Company are a few who have used her expertise. (Full list)
Trainer. From the Board Room to the factory floor--Ms. Michaels fosters a better understanding of the changing needs of the workforce for senior executives. She provides training programs for managers to provide them with strategies for working with employees who have work-life conflicts. Finally, she conducts Work-Life Balance Retreats and workshops for employees, to supply them with skills and options to manage their many roles. Prior to founding Managing Work & Family, Inc., Ms. Michaels worked for Keebler Company as a training/communication specialist.
Speaker. Ms. Michaels combines first hand knowledge, compassion, and practical ideas for her speeches. A trained actress/spokeswoman, she brings outstanding skills to her regular speaking engagements at conferences, associations and business settings. She has conducted hundreds of presentations all around the globe. Inspiration, motivation and education are key words in Bonnie Michaels' presentations.
Media Consultant. Ms. Michaels has had a wealth of experience in the media--both in front of and behind the camera. Ms. Michaels contributes regularly to articles in trade magazines and newspapers as well as to local TV (NBC-TV,"Weekend News") and radio stations. She has appeared many times on CNN, ABC, WGN and Australian TV and radio.
Author. Based on her own experience and helping others, she co-authored the books, Solving the Work/Family Puzzle, on solutions for work-family conflicts and A Journey of Work-Life Renewal . It is considered an excellent practical and comprehensive guide . In addition, she has written numerous articles and contributed to several video programs Her new book on renewal will be out in the near future.
Global Experience. From 1990-1997, Ms. Michaels traveled to Australia to license, train and work with companies and the government. In l996, she conducted workshops in Singapore
and has helped train a work-life consultation in Japan. In 1999, she and her husband took a one-year sabbatical, during which time they traveled, studied and volunteered around the world.
Entrepreneur and Mentor. When asked to share her knowledge and expertise, Ms. Michaels developed the first Work-Life Licensing program and trains individuals entering the field as well as for other work-life vendors
Memberships. Ms. Michaels is active in the National Speakers Association and Women of Vision,
and the League of Women Voters.
She contributes to the American Society for Training and Development, the Human Resource Management Association of Chicago, The Alliance for Work-Life Professionals, and the National Organization for Women. She is on the Women Bureau's Working Women Honor Roll.
Ms. Michaels has a profound understanding of the issues having been a single parent, part of a blended family, a caregiver for elders, and now an active grandparent. Her recent year-long renewal journey has brought new wisdom and skills which are now included in her consulting and training programs.
Author of the best seller, The Complete Eldercare Planner: Where to Start, What Questions to Ask, How to Find Help (Times Books), Joy helps corporate America avert a work/life crisis as its population ages and employees add to their responsibilities the role of family caregiver. Now completely revised and expanded, The Complete Eldercare Planner is endorsed by The White House Conference on Aging, Alzheimer's Association, Society for Human Resource Management, and the American Counseling Association among many others. "The book is the best we saw," stated the American Medical Association.
Employee Education. Expertise based on experience, Joy Loverde speaks and conducts workshops on eldercare-related topics for businesses and associations. Uniquely combining the concepts of "planning" and "communication," she helps audiences lessen the financial and emotional stresses of caring for elderly loved ones.
Work/Life Eldercare Consultant. Since 1989, Joy Loverde has created and implemented work/life eldercare programs for corporations and associations. She also serves as a consultant to attorneys, financial planners, clergy, retirement community directors, and other members of the fast-growing eldercare advisory industry.
Eldercare Columnist. Joy's monthly columns appear world-wide on websites and in publications such as CareGuide, Benefits Link and Today's Chicago Woman, and she frequently contributes articles for trade publications including TEC International Organization of CEOs and the American Compensation Association Journal and Employee Services Magazine among many others.
Cutting-edge News. During her career, Joy has been quoted in the Chicago Tribune, Kiplinger's Retirement Report, Family Circle, Working Woman Magazine, CNN, HR Magazine among many others. USA TODAY ran a four-part series on her eldercare programs. Joy is regular guest on television, radio, and Internet chats including the Today Show, Fox News, Bloomberg Radio and WebMD.com.
Service to America's Business Community includes Joy's participation in organizations such as International Center for Eldercare Advocacy, Joint Civic Committee of Italian-Americans, and the Chicago Fund on Aging and Disability. She is a faculty member of Eden Across America and is the international eldercare spokesperson for the Employee Services Management Association.
Advocate. An advocate for the prevention of elder abuse, Joy established the Center for Older Adults' caregiver support group in Chicago.
Beverly Addante is an organization development consultant working in both the private and public sectors. She began her journey with the American Express subsidiary, Balcor as an Organization Development Manager. Her interest in creating new workplace strategies led her to research and experience telecommuting. She revitalized workplace practices as a telecommuting consultant. 
Recognizing the need for the missing component of intra and interpersonal harmony, Ms. Addante brings emotional intelligence training and coaching to organizations. Her speeches, lectures and presentations focus on the impact of emotional awareness and successful leadership. Her work honors the human need for a life rich with passion, meaning and purpose.
Some of the companies benefiting from her workshops and coaching in emotional management include Andersen Consulting, Loyola University Medical Center, AON Insurance, Dominican University, Morningstar, Inc., Household International, and Katten, Muchin and Zavis.
Ms. Addante received her M.S. in Organization Development from Pepperdine University and taught on the faculty of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
Michael Seef is an expert in logistics and transportation. As president of MDS Logistics, he works with fortune 500 and smaller companies both domestically and internationally. Earlier positions included work with The Quaker Oats Co., IMC Global Corporation, McDonnell Douglas and US Department of Transportation. Industry applications include foods, consumer goods, chemicals and transportation.
Michael's experience in international work is extensive and he is fluent in German and Spanish conversation and speaks some French and Hebrew.
Apart from work assignments, he taught for three years in the economics department of Roosevelt University. While working at IMC Corporation, he trained visiting Japanese personnel in product distribution and logistics.
As a volunteer, he worked for the National Alliance of Businessmen (NAB) to locate positions for the disadvantaged in the Chicago area. This resulted in placement of over 100 low skill personnel in companies throughout the region. He volunteered as tutor for elementary school children at the Cabrini Green housing center.
Mr. Seef has a Master's degree from UCLA in systems engineering and management with undergraduate degrees in mechanical engineering and economics from the University of Illinois.
Michael's passion for the outdoors includes boating, bicycling, hiking, and nature study.
As a result of their unique year-off, Bonnie and Michael now offer workshops and speeches on the preparation and execution of a sabbatical. They have been married for thirteen years and have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. |
