Called to this work.

For The Referent Group team, this work is more than a profession—it’s a calling. We built this company because too many good people were struggling in broken systems, and we knew they deserved better. We’ve seen firsthand how the right kind of leadership support can transform not just individuals, but entire organizations. That’s why we’re here—to help leaders rise, cultures improve, and people thrive.

Creating the space for genuine human connection and transformational growth is at the heart of what we do.

The Referent Group is a team of award-winning teachers and coaches working diligently to deliver an unrivaled leadership development experience to every individual and organization with whom we are privileged to work.

  • Tom graduated from West Point in the top 3% of his class and subsequently from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. As a retired Army Colonel, highlights from his distinguished 24-year career include being awarded Flight Surgeon of the Year for his service in combat, Outstanding Faculty of the Year for his medical teaching, and board selection as Department Chair for a family medicine residency department. As a result of his appointment by the Army Surgeon General to be the “face of military medicine” to recruit and share the Army Medicine story, Tom recognized a need and developed a passion for teaching physicians across the country to be effective, engaged leaders. In his final appointment in the military, Tom was the commander/CEO of a NATO military medical facility at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium. Most recently, Tom served as the CMO for the Medical Group at Baptist Health Hardin in Elizabethtown, KY where he still resides. With an emphasis on servant leadership, Tom’s core conviction is that effective leadership is never about him but is focused in creating a culture where the ones he leads can thrive and succeed. Tom and his wife Cheri of 30 years live in Kentucky and have three children.

  • Doug is a graduate of West Point, the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and has a M.Ed from the University of Washington. He has led multiple units in the Army, and spent time in operations at Amazon.com. For five years, Doug taught Leadership, Advanced Leadership, and Leading Organizations Through Change at West Point, where he won the Excellence in Teaching Award and exceeded the academy average in every area of teaching feedback during each semester that he taught. He’s the co-author of four books: Permission to Speak Freely, Say Anything, Hope Unseen, and Leadership Lessons from West Point. Doug has published articles in the International Journal of Servant-Leadership and written case studies for both Stanford’s and Harvard’s business schools. Before joining The Referent Group, Doug spent over a decade creating and delivering leadership development content for companies across myriad sectors and in multiple countries. He also regularly delivered keynotes for organizations such as Walmart, Gap, USAA, Goodwill, the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, McKinsey and Company, and others.

  • Matt holds an MBA and a PhD in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University, as well as a Master Certification in Physician Development Coaching from the Physician Coaching Institute. Matt was named on Inc.com as one of the Top 100 Leadership Speakers in the United States in 2018 and has been interviewed for both Forbes.com and Investor’s Business Daily. He co-authored the critically acclaimed leadership book, Permission to Speak Freely, which has sold thousands of copies across five continents and been translated into Chinese for greater distribution in Asia. Matt’s peer-reviewed work has been published in both the International Journal of Servant-Leadership and the International Journal of Leadership Studies, and he has been an article reviewer for the peer-reviewed publications, The Leadership Quarterly and the International Journal of Servant-Leadership. He has been featured in two widely-distributed textbooks published by Pearson Prentice Hall, and been a top-rated professor for 15 years—teaching for Heritage University, Columbia Basin College, and Gonzaga University. Matt lives in southeastern WA with his wife Alaina and their three children.

  • Shari holds a master’s degree in organizational psychology from Columbia University and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix. Shari has led multiple Army units, including in combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over the past four years, she has taught Leadership and General Psychology at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where she earned the Dean’s Early Career Diversity Award and the Teaching Excellence Award. She has also taught abroad in Austria and Spain for Seton Hall. In addition to teaching, Shari has co-authored case studies on topics such as Psychological Safety and Managing Conflict, which have been published in Harvard Business Review, West Point’s Managing Insider Risk and Organizational Journal, and other peer-reviewed journals. Shari has spent over a decade training and mentoring leaders in both non-profit and religious sectors in the U.S. as well as Grenada, West Indies. She is also the co-founder of House of Clay International Ministries, which focuses on providing Christian education both domestically and internationally to leaders. Shari is the mother of six adult children and currently resides in New York with her husband Randy.

  • Amanda “Mandy” Cuda provided 16-years of active duty service in the Army, during which time she assumed clinical, academic, combat operational, and leadership roles in Hawaii, Georgia, Washington, Alaska, and Afghanistan. She has held the roles of Medical Director and Physician for Product Innovation and Strategy, and has continued to serve in the US Army Reserves as a faculty member at the Uniformed Services University. Mandy has integrated medical innovation work with curriculum development by building and implementing advanced clinical rotations that emphasize Health System Science competencies, with her work being both published and presented at conferences across the nation. Dr. Cuda’s educational background includes a Biology degree from Wheaton College and a Medical Degree from the Uniformed Services University. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health and. has completed a Faculty Development Fellowship at Madigan Army Medical Center. Mandy lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, their four amazing kids, a sweet black lab, and a mysterious cat.

  • Geoff graduated from West Point with an Engineering Physics degree and commanded army units around the globe as an Apache attack helicopter pilot. Following his military career, he studied with Second City in New York, teaching improvisation while working as a professional actor. Blending his creative work with his technical experience, Geoff began to develop authentic leaders in corporate America and soon found himself transforming leaders in the world’s largest companies. At Walmart, he led a team that designed and delivered leader development for 2.1 million associates in 27 different countries. Geoff has worked with Google, Facebook, Apple, IBM, JP Morgan, HBO, Chick-fil-A, and more to create innovative, breakthrough experiences for leaders at all levels. He integrates scientific research with a uniquely human approach to help technical professionals connect with others and become better communicators, innovators, and influencers.

  • Traci graduated from West Point and served seven years as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot. Following her military career, she founded and led two health and wellness companies before establishing The Healthy Leader Group. As a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach and ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Traci works with healthcare executives and C-suite leaders to optimize cognitive energy, prevent burnout, and enhance decision-making capacity. With three decades of experience, she has delivered coaching for executives and physicians at organizations including Corning, Raymond James, Johnson & Johnson, and the Cleveland Clinic. Traci is the creator of The Healthy Leader Operating System™ and hosts The Healthy Leader Podcast and Expert Forum, regularly interviewing authors and researchers in leadership development. She is a Gallup Strengths® Coach and Red Team Thinking® Facilitator. Traci also serves as a board member for Embracing Our Warriors, as a volunteer coach for The Honor Foundation, and as a consultant to LifeScore™, supporting military mission readiness and suicide prevention. Traci lives in Cleveland, Ohio, and has three adult children.

  • Nate holds a Master of Arts in Management and Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and Advertising from Liberty University. His expertise in relationship management, client relations, media relations, crisis management, and strategic communication has allowed him to craft impactful marketing strategies that strengthen brand presence in marketing manager roles for both Bojangles and Novant Health. Prior to working in the marketing industry, Nate spent 12-years as the Director of Young Life Military at The United States Military Academy at West Point, as well as Fort Shafter, Hawaii, where he mentored young leaders, built strong community relationships, and developed impactful programs for military families. He also served seven years in the Coast Guard Reserves as a Public Affairs Specialist. Beyond his professional career, Nate is an avid outdoor enthusiast who loves camping, hiking, and exploring nature.

Cheri Hustead, ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR

  • Tom is an award-winning municipal fire service leader with more than 30 years of experience in Fire and EMS, including a decade as Fire Chief for the City of Richland, Washington, and a brief tenure as Interim Assistant City Manager. A graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program with a bachelor’s degree in Fire Services Administration, Tom has led major municipal and regional initiatives spanning community risk reduction, hiring and promotional systems, officer development, fleet and project management, and organizational training and development. Known for his collaborative approach and servant-leadership mindset, he has taught leadership in university, officer and leadership academy, and professional settings and spoken nationally on the future of public safety. Tom is passionate about investing in people and preparing the next generation of municipal leaders to serve their communities with integrity, skill, and vision.

Ready When You Are.