TIM VAN NESS — ORANGE, MA
“I had the pleasure of working with Tim Van Ness today and it was one of the best pd’s I have ever been a part of. It has changed my perspective on how to reach people through my experiences.”
Tim is an actor, director, educator and consultant with over three decades of experience training and coaching leaders. He designs and facilitates training programs and unique processes for utilizing interactive theater as a tool for behavioral, cultural, and transformational change. A 35-year veteran of Playback Theatre, an improvisational form, he is also a classically trained musician and accomplished singer, songwriter, and performer. Once a music teacher in the Boston Public Schools, he has sung with highly acclaimed choruses on both U.S. coasts and has toured numerous times throughout Europe.
Tim has led numerous successful workshops in the private sector across a variety of industries. His industry specialties include financial and professional services, healthcare, higher education, manufacturing and technology. His corporate clients include: Procter & Gamble, American Express, KKR, CVS Caremark, Kaiser Permanente, Liberty Mutual, and Capital One. He has also led training for executive education programs at Harvard, Duke, Columbia & UVA.
With Inspiring Educators, Tim has also worked with current and aspiring K-12 education leaders across the country. He has facilitated training for a variety of our partners like Achievement First, World Teach, Lynch Leadership Academy, KIPP, Uncommon Schools, IDEA Public Schools, Teach For America and more.
In addition to serving as president of his own company, Van Ness & Co., Tim has gained invaluable experience in a variety of business and development positions. Notable roles include Assistant Director of Development at The Men’s Resource Center of Western Massachusetts and Principal Partner at DramaWorks InterActive, which he co-founded in 1997.
Tim received a Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) and a Certificate in Education from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He also holds a Certificate of Advanced Training, including 100 hours of psychodrama training, from the Centre for Playback Theatre.
“Tim was expert in the delivery of his the material and he did a particularly stellar job of making people feel safe and supported. This was most notable to me as some individuals who I know to be more guarded and reticent about sharing stepped up to deliver their story. ”
“Fantastic facilitator, he was able to read us like a book. Made training fun, interactive and very informative. ”
“I really felt that all his feedback came from a place of growth for me, reinstating what I did well, as well as how I could enhance those things.”
“Tim created a safe space where he truly developed our skills with care and challenge. I am excited to go back and tell my story and support my team to tell their stories as well.”
“Tim was such an amazing leader and it showed with everything he had to share with all of us. I felt the vulnerability that overflowed our ZOOM meeting.”
“Tim was fantastic! His energy, knowledge, and authenticity made each session fun and informative. I will definitely be incorporating our discussions on storytelling and personal presence into my professional practice.”
