Leadership Center of Excellence (COE)

Facilitators

Levi Surls

PMP, SPHR: Business Consultant, Coach, Leadership Development Strategist, and Mindfulness Practitioner

"Transforming organizations with leadership, mindfulness, and strategy."

Academic Foundations

PhD in Organizational Development & Leadership (In Progress).
Master of Arts in Applied Leadership & Management.
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.

Brief Summary

Levi Surls brings over 25 years of experience in the U.S. Navy and the Department of Defense, specializing in leadership development, business strategy, and mindfulness practices to build thriving workplace cultures.

About Levi

Levi Surls is a dynamic leader in organizational strategy and transformation. His career spans decades of impactful service, including roles in leadership training, change management, and instructional design. He’s committed to helping organizations enhance their culture and performance by driving individual potential and fostering inclusivity.

What Levi Offers

Leadership Development: Enhancing individual and team leadership competencies.Organizational Change Management: Implementing strategies for transformation.Mindfulness Coaching: Cultivating resilience and emotional intelligence.Instructional Design: Developing engaging training programs for diverse audiences.Business Strategy: Aligning goals with actionable plans for success.

Credentials & Expertise

Master Training Specialist and certified Post-Secondary Instructor.Certified DiSC Facilitator and Prosci Organizational Change Practitioner.Provider of EDGE 360 Assessments.Business Analytics and Evidence-Based Coaching certifications.Pursuing a PhD in Organizational Development & Leadership.Master of Arts in Applied Leadership & Management.Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.

Experience Highlights

Taught hundreds of classes and graduated thousands of students through the DoD and U.S. Navy leadership programs.Delivered hundreds of training sessions focusing on mindfulness, resilience, and stress management.Developed and delivered customized leadership programs for organizations in diverse industries.

Dr. Yasemin Gokalp

PhD, SHRM-CP, PHR, ICF Certified PCC, CCDP

"Performance Psychology Expert | Leadership & Diversity Advocate | Mindfulness Trainer"

Academic Foundations

PhD in Performance Psychology, Grand Canyon University
Master of Science in Organizational Industrial Psychology, Grand Canyon University

Brief Summary

Dr. Yasemin Gokalp is a performance psychology expert with a passion for improving organizational and leadership performance. With over 17 years of experience in human resources and corporate adult learning, she specializes in emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and fostering inclusive workplaces.

About Yasemin

Dr. Yasemin Gokalp is a visionary in leadership coaching and organizational development, with a passion for empowering individuals and teams. Her holistic approach integrates mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and evidence-based strategies to create thriving workplace cultures. With a strong academic foundation and practical experience, she’s dedicated to driving meaningful transformation for her clients.

What Yasemin Offers

Leadership Development: Empowering leaders with emotional intelligence and mindfulness techniques.

Mindfulness Coaching: Enhancing resilience and stress management through evidence-based practices.

Diversity & Inclusion Programs: Driving cultural transformation with equity-focused strategies.

Organizational Development: Optimizing team dynamics and performance outcomes.

Custom Training Solutions: Designing programs tailored to unique organizational needs.

Credentials & Expertise

PhD in Performance Psychology (Grand Canyon University).

Master of Science in Organizational Industrial Psychology (Grand Canyon University).

Certified SHRM-CP (Society for Human Resource Management – Certified Professional).

Certified PHR (Professional in Human Resources).

ICF Certified Professional Coach (PCC).

Cornell Certified Diversity Professional (CCDP).

Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt.

Experience Highlights

Professor of Psychology, Grand Canyon University: Developed and taught Life Coaching certification programs with a focus on mindfulness and emotional intelligence.

Designed mindfulness training programs adopted by organizations through the Healthy Minds app.

17+ years of HR experience, specializing in leadership coaching and corporate adult learning.

Conducted research on mindfulness in high-performance teams, showing measurable improvements in attention and focus.

Delivered customized leadership development programs for diverse industries, including the Department of Defense.