WHO WE ARE


Michelle Cummings
Michelle is the Big Wheel and founder of Training Wheels. Training Wheels is a known leader in the teambuilding industry and prides itself in creating quality, affordable activities, books, and trainings for those seeking experiential resources. Michelle has created a wide variety of facilitation, debriefing and teambuilding activities that have collectively changed the way experiential educators and trainers work. She actively seeks and/or creates new activities to enhance her workshops and to provide new resources for facilitators. Michelle has facilitated a wide variety of programs from therapeutic populations, corporate and school groups, to train the trainer programs for professionals. Browse the Training Wheels web site for more information about these programs.

Michelle is a dynamic keynote speaker and a highly-regarded consultant in the areas of leadership, teambuilding, and experiential learning. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Kansas State University and a Master's degree in Experiential Education from Minnesota State University at Mankato. Michelle is currently partnering with Stephen M.R. Covey and his partners at CoveyLink to develop experiential initiatives for Mr. Covey's most recent book, The Speed of Trust.

Michelle speaks at more than 25 local, national, and international conferences each year and authors a monthly teambuilding e-newsletter that has over 9,000 subscribers in 53 countries. She continues to create new activities to enhance her workshops and to provide new resources for facilitators and trainers. Michelle has also authored a number of books, including A Teachable Moment: A Facilitator's Guide to Activities for Processing, Debriefing, Reviewing, and Reflection; Bouldering Games for Kids: An Educational Guide for Traverse Walls; and Playing With a Full Deck: 52 Team Activities Using a Deck of Cards. Michelle is currently working on her fourth publication, Setting the Conflict Compass: A Facilitators Guide to Activities for Conflict Resolution and Prevention. In 2008, she was featured as a local author in the Denver Business Journal and in Training Treasures magazine's 100 Hot Tips from the Industry's Top Ten Creative Trainers.

Michelle works with professional associations, corporations, universities, and non-profit organizations throughout the United States and Canada. She facilitates a wide variety of programs for corporate teams, therapeutic populations, and school groups, as well as train-the-trainer workshops for professionals. Michelle grew up on a farm in Norton, Kansas and currently lives in Littleton, Colorado with her husband, Paul, and two sons, Dawson and Dylan.


Linda Williams
Linda Williams is a senior facilitator, trainer and the "Spare Tire" at Training Wheels. She has over 15 years of experience as a human resources and training specialist and more than 20 years of stage work as an actor and director. Ms. Williams is an exceptional instructor and facilitator who delivers highly interactive programs that engage learners through the use of a variety of instructional methods. She has a proven track record in instructional development and implementation, and specializes in the facilitation of adult experiential learning initiatives with a focus on business applications. Her areas of expertise include public speaking, supervisor-employee relations, conflict resolution, team building and customer service. Ms. Williams holds a Bachelors Degree in Management from Fairfield University and a Masters degree in Training and Development from Lesley University. Linda and her dog Maggie came to Colorado for Christmas in 2003 and never left. They live near Evergreen Lake with a small herd of elk.


History of Training Wheels
A note from Michelle Cummings, the Big Wheel and founder of Training Wheels: I love telling stories. So I thought I would include a brief history piece of how Training Wheels came to be. I moved to Colorado July 2, 1998 and met my future husband, Paul, that very same day. I was working for an adventure resort as their Challenge Course Director and Corporate Team Development Specialist. After a year at the resort Paul and I decided to get married. I started looking around Denver for a full time job and couldn't find anything that fit me. So the dream of Training Wheels started then. I officially opened Training Wheels in late July 1999 with a web site, some training programs and 4 products to sell. Over the years we have grown into many departments—or Spokes as we like to call them. We have over 325 different activities, books, and trainings that we now offer and have presented at hundreds of conferences teaching others how to do what we do. I have a real passion for hands-on learning and the amazing growth I see in others when they learn experientially. I chose the name Training Wheels for a few reasons: 1. We're portable and can come to you. Wheels make it that much easier. All of our Training Kits that we use and sell have wheels. 2. I like the metaphor of the training wheel. I truly believe you only need training for a little while before you take them off and ride on your own. Like learning how to ride a bike with training wheels, our clients learn ways to grow and balance for the long ride. We are here to support you on the many paths you will encounter by providing hands-on learning and the tools you need to be successful.


Guiding Principles
Our Guiding Principles frame everything we do at Training Wheels.

We Believe...

     in Play with Purpose
     that change and learning can and should be Fun
     that Reflection is an integral part of learning
     in incorporating all Learning Styles in our work
     in living with Integrity
     in our Quality Guaranty
     in Continual Growth (for ourselves and others
 
Copyright © Training Wheels Group, LLC  All rights reserved.    |    Toll Free: 1-888-553-0147    |    E-Mail: info@training-wheels.com