We enable you to do your best work

After dedicating the initial 22 years of his life to the pursuit of becoming a Major League Baseball player, Damon pivoted in 1995 to help his father (Walt Lembi, Founder of Learnit) by investing his heart and soul in Learnit to help individuals gain the knowledge and confidence they need in attaining their professional goals through the value of education. Damon has a deep commitment to the Learnit team past and present and the San Francisco Bay Area community as a whole, where he was born and raised. Damon attributes Learnit's longevity and success to the ability to surround himself with "A" players and taking advantage of learning / evolving through past mistakes. Outside of Learnit, Damon is an avid reader, moviegoer, and live music fanatic. Most of all, Damon loves spending time with his wife, children—Lucy and Wally, and his dog.

Matt is a native Northern Californian who loves the outdoors and grew up hiking, biking, skiing, and hunting. Matt is a no excuses, get it done kind of guy. He believes in survival of the fittest—mind and body—through hard work, discipline, and focus.

With 15+ years of experience in corporate sales at Learnit, Matt has successfully driven profits and created lifelong corporate partnerships. His mantra is Listen, Learn, Grow, Share, and Repeat.

When not in Learnit mode, Matt is either enjoying a well-brewed cup of coffee while burying his nose in the latest influential business book or he's exploring the great outdoors with his beautiful wife, rambunctious two boys, and dog.

Darren is a Bay Area native and UC Berkeley alum whose first professional career was spent performing on regional stages in lead roles and in films and TV in decidedly supporting roles as a full-time, working actor. Since then, he has become a communications and leadership trainer and consultant.Prior to joining Learnit, Darren served on the executive team of a top professional skills development company where he designed and delivered programs for Fortune 100 organizations around the world, managed key customer accounts and served internally as the Head of Faculty Development.When not at work, Darren enjoys spending time with his family, getting outdoors as much as possible to bike, play tennis and backpack with his 16 lb. beast of a chihuahua terrier sidekick, Tecate, in the High Sierras.

In addition to helping individuals elevate their skillset through formal training, Kandis Porter loves working with organizations on planning and executing productive offsite meetings, teambuilding, solving challenging problems associated with programs or projects, and ensuring a structure is in place to support effective communication. Through Learnit, Kandis has collaborated with numerous organizations to successfully design customized solutions, to include Sony, Travis Credit Union, and Lyric. She is also one of our primary instructors for getting certified as a Six Sigma Green Belt. Kandis has a MS in Project Management (MSPM) from The George Washington University and MBA in Human Resources. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Prosci Change Manager, and Six Sigma Green Belt. She is also a practitioner of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Thomas-Kilmann Instrument (TKI) for managing conflict, and DiSC Workplace assessments. Outside of work, she enjoys running, skiing, and spending time with her family. Kandis proudly spent more than seven years on Active Duty in the United States Air Force and is passionate about giving back to veterans and their families.

Courtney Ritchie is a seasoned executive learning professional with over 15 years of experience in driving learning and development initiatives within organizations. As an integral member of the team at Learnit, she is passionate about collaborating with businesses to build and grow effective learning programs and foster a culture of continuous learning. Her expertise in the field of corporate learning and development makes her a valuable asset in creating impactful learning solutions that drive business success.

Bob serves as an Advisor and Fractional CRO at Learnit, fully aligned with the company’s mission that emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset, talent development, and continuous learning. Previously, Bob was the VP of Enterprise Sales at ON24, and he also led the strategic sales team at Gong, driving record growth.

As a customer-first leader, Bob is passionate about helping clients achieve meaningful value. He has a proven track record of enhancing seller performance and building high-performing teams across various organizations, from startups to mid-sized companies and billion-dollar enterprises. His experience includes multiple successful exits, where he built teams that consistently deliver outstanding results.

Brian Lanier is Learnit’s primary leadership development and diversity, equity & inclusion champion. He has over 20 years of experience coaching scores of business leaders in a wide range of industries across North America.

Brian helps executives address diverse performance challenges, reimagine what’s possible and achieve their goals. He does so by altering the prevailing context and expanding corporate leadership and communication practices.

Prior to his training and development career, Brian was a Regional Vice-President with Starbucks Coffee Company and a Director of Operations for KFC-Canada.

Brian holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and studied journalism at the University of Houston. He serves as Vice-Chair of the Advocacy Committee for a non-profit group of Black professionals and academics committed to ending systemic racism for Black, Indigenous and People of Color.

Brian lives in Calgary, Canada with his spouse, Yvonne, their “velcro” dog, Fletcher, in their forever-house with breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains and Bow River. Together, Yvonne and Brian are parents of an extended “modern family” that regularly gather for meals, real conversations and to remind Brian that he’s not nearly as funny as he thinks he is.

A former New Yorker, Sheila enjoyed a first career in finance, from financial writer and editor to Wall Street analyst and portfolio manager. She did a 10-year stint as an entrepreneur and currently coaches business owners in profitability and management. The real-world business experience furnishes her with stories and examples for Professional Development workshops in Leadership, Work Relationships, and Change Management. She has a degree in economics from Bryn Mawr College and an MBA from NYU. Outside of work, Sheila’s enthusiasms include reading, ballroom dancing, hiking and bird watching with her husband and serving on the Board of an historic SF cultural Institute.

Joe is an accomplished professional and avid world traveler, having resided in diverse locations including Ukraine, Russia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, London, and China. Currently based in New York, he brings a wealth of global experience to his role.

As an End User Instructor at Learnit, Joe is passionate about delivering high-quality training and firmly believes in the value Learnit provides to its clients. His enthusiasm for education and technology is evident in his dedication to empowering users with essential skills.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Joe is actively engaged in his community through volunteering efforts. He also nurtures his creative side through singing and acting. Joe values work-life balance and cherishes time spent with his wife and son.

With his unique blend of international experience, technical expertise, and commitment to excellence, Joe is a valuable asset to the Learnit team and its mission.

James Jeffley is an award-winning international speaker and trainer, a professional coach, published author, accomplished musician, ordained minister and a two-time finalist in the Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking. He blends humor and a varied skillset and knowledge base, with proven, real-world strategies and tools, and practical wisdom to create an environment where students are not only engaged, having fun and learning, but also motivated to take action after class to apply what they learned to create meaningful change in their lives.

Edward is a California native that has brought his operational experience to many different industries; gaming, veterinary, and of course training. He has 13 years of experience working in the training industry covering various operational, managerial, and sales roles.

Edward transferred to Learnit in March of 2020 and since then has joined the operations team while also assisting in many other projects. You might hear from him in email, through chat, or on the phone as he excels at customer engagement and responsiveness.

In his spare time, you will find Edward with his children, playing games and exploring nature. He is an avid traveler and lover of learning and music.

Benjamin is the Enrollment Manager at Learnit. He makes sure everyone is in their class. In his spare time, Ben plays video games, hits the gym, and roots for the 49ers. Travel is his passion; he is always looking for his next travel adventure. Go 49ers!

After studying business administration and marketing management at the university level, Kareen went on to work as a marketing assistant in Thailand, Vietnam, and in the Philippines before becoming a part of the Learnit team. Outside of work, Kareen enjoys hiking, reading books and travelling locally and internationally.

Nick is a Bay Area native and a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. He spent his early years and time in college as a competitive swimmer, where he eventually became a US Open champion in 2017. After his athletic career, he moved to Miami, Florida to pursue his professional career. In August of 2020, Nick joined the Learnit team. He enjoys building lasting relationships with his clients while providing top-notch customer service and delivering a product that truly helps his customers. In his free time, you can find him at the beach, dining out at his favorite local restaurants, or spending time with his dog, Mac.

Tayler is a Southern California native and a graduate of Azusa Pacific University. With a background in nonprofits and event management, the love of hospitality and taking care of customers is ingrained in her sales approach. When she is not helping clients develop amazing programs, you can find her volunteering with Make- A-Wish, playing beach volleyball, and frequenting Taco Tuesdays around San Diego.

Sammy works with the marketing team to keep clients up to date on the emerging landscape of learning and development. Before joining Learnit, Sammy was a professional baker and cake decorator.

Mo is a resident of Atlanta, GA. Originally from New York, he graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in Computer Information Systems.
He has a passion for technology and has served at Adelphi University and Georgia Tech as a computer engineer.

Three years ago, Mo answered the call to serve as a computer instructor at a new, small school in the Republic of Panama. In that role, he discovered his passion for teaching and completed his Master of Education. Mo believes teaching and technology are a great fit and is committed to lifelong learning.

During leisure time, you can find Mo enjoying the great outdoors with his family of four.

Bindi is originally from Australia, currently residing in sunny San Diego, CA. She graduated from the University of Sydney with a Master of Teaching, and Wollongong University with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science.

Bindi has a wealth of experience in education, health, and wellness both here in the USA and in Australia. She has been a teacher, a coach, an instructor, and course developer - leading the creation of professional development education courses in previous roles.

Bindi believes that education and fun are the keys to help people develop a lifelong relationship with health and wellness. Outside of teaching, you'll find Bindi skiing, biking, swimming, hiking, and taking on outdoor adventures!

Nick has been fortunate to work for and with companies who champion learning and development.

Prior to Learnit, Nick held entrepreneurial roles that required him to generate new business, build teams, create process, and be comfortable in the weeds. Learning was a necessity in those roles, and he developed a great appreciation for the mentors and managers who gave him the space and resources to grow and develop. Nick joined Learnit because he believes in helping others become the best possible versions of themselves at work.

Nick lives near the beach in San Francisco with his fiancé and dog. You can often find him surfing at Ocean Beach, golfing at Harding Park, or walking his dog in Golden Gate Park.

‍

Christian Durso is a professional development trainer, accomplished playwright and screenwriter, and runs a non-profit arts organization in his hometown of Los Angeles.  He values bringing more creativity into the lives of working professionals, and bringing more professionalism into the lives of creatives. He has a background as a crisis counselor and values clear, empathetic communication as the basis for building powerful relationships at home and at work.

Christian has executive produced and written for shows on Netflix, films for Sony, and plays for theaters across the nation. He's managed teams internationally and remotely. He creates engaging environments where his students, colleagues, and peers can access their potential and discover joy in their work.

Originally from South Carolina, Mary attended the College of Charleston Honors college, where she competitively swam while earning a BA in biology and Spanish.

After graduation, Mary started her career in education by working in Morocco as a high school science teacher. She has since relocated to San Diego, CA, where she has worked in public and private schools developing curriculum, teaching courses, and implementing policy change. Mary most enjoys crafting thoughtful, research-driven curriculum that is engaging to her audience.

In her free time, you will most likely find Mary near the ocean or any body of water, surfing or swimming. She also enjoys traveling, camping, and any kind of outdoor adventure.

Mickey Fitch-Collins is a lifelong education professional with a deep passion for performance management, supervision, leadership, and professional development. Mickey has also worked in the higher education and adjacent spaces in educational technology and professional development and training, an area where she gets the most energy and excitement in her work. Mickey has served in a variety of leadership and managerial roles supervising large and small teams, facilities, initiatives, and services, and has also had the opportunity to teach on unique topics at the collegiate level.

Mickey earned her PhD in Leadership in Higher Education from Northcentral University in 2019 while researching how professional development and supervision influence middle manager self-efficacy.

Mickey is an avid outdoorsperson, where she enjoys spending time on Lake Superior with her family, gardening, fishing, or just reading a good book on the porch.  

Madison began her career as an actor and spent over a decade performing in plays and musicals throughout the United States and on Broadway. A multi-passionate artist and health advocate, she now weaves her love of storytelling, collaborative learning, and wellness into her work as an Inclusive Leadership Facilitator, Professional Development Instructor, and Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. She feels endlessly inspired to help others to improve their quality of life with holistic nourishment and self-development. Currently, Madison lives in Brooklyn, New York, and spends much of her free time galavanting through Prospect Park and connecting with family and friends.

David Bencomo brings more than twenty years of corporate experience to Learnit as a learning & engagement leader who has helped organizations establish a learning culture that advances proficiency, boosts employee engagement, and promotes professional development. ​

His expertise is helping individuals and organizations flourish in uncertain times. He enjoys delivering programs focused on building personal resilience, developing inspirational leaders, and fostering team unity and engagement.

Joe Little - Joe is a professional facilitator and corporate trainer, a certified executive presentations coach, and an entertaining, energetic, dynamic presenter who keeps live & virtual global audiences engaged...in multiple languages​

He is a specialist in workplace communication and leadership skills, including public speaking, listening, virtual communication, business writing, cross-cultural fluency; and relational skills like empathy, influence, persuasion, emotional intelligence, conflict management.

Dale Barnes practiced law for over 40 years, focusing on litigation and mediation, with extensive experience in persuasion, team management, mentoring and team development, and real-world problem solving. Dale is also a certified mindfulness and meditation instructor with an interest in helping others to develop and grow both professionally and personally. In his spare time, Dale enjoys golf and the art of bonsai.

Elizabeth holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of West Alabama. Prior to joining Learnit, she spent 11 years in upper leadership roles within the retail industry, which is where she honed her expertise in training and development, emphasizing the significance of fostering strong relationships with her team and customers.

With a passion for continuous learning, Elizabeth is committed to creating impactful learning experiences that empower individuals and drive organizational growth. She currently resides in beautiful Durango, CO and in her free time you can find her hiking, practicing yoga, playing with her dog and 3 cats, or traveling in her camper van with her partner.

The child of two college professors, Skyler grew up in an environment of scholarship and academic rigor, so naturally, she dropped out of high school to be a ballerina. She has a master’s degree in theater and work experience in education and advertising. She’s won awards as a stage director, published six novels, and appeared on reality TV—and if you can spot a “career path” in that, you have a better eye for pattern than she does.

She spent a half-dozen years as a ghostwriter and book coach for a full-service publishing company, working with consultants, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders on narrative strategy and market positioning. As one of the company’s two title experts, she collaborated with authors to crystallize even highly technical books into juicy, memorable titles that piqued curiosity and drove sales.  

Before that, as the head of advertising for a small acoustics firm, she was responsible for defining the company’s brand, building sales collateral, and helping prepare senior executives for high-stakes presentations, interviews, and industry conferences.

She has a hobbyists’ interest in behavioral economics and design thinking and developed a lifelong fascination with how the creative process works and breaks into a web-based choose‐your‐own‐adventure game for getting unstuck in collaboration with Write or Die wizard Jeff Printy. She’s a mom, a writer, a dancer (yes, still), and lives in Austin, Texas.

With over a decade of experience in strategic business management, talent development, and project leadership, Garrett is a seasoned professional dedicated to driving growth and fostering inclusive workplace cultures. His expertise lies in creating comprehensive onboarding plans, career development roadmaps, and training structures to align with employee feedback and business objectives, resulting in optimized operational efficiency and significant cost savings. Additionally, his background as an instructor and strategic content creator demonstrates his ability to lead large group settings, develop innovative learning methods, and promote cohesive organizational goal achievement. With a track record of success in corporate and entrepreneurial ventures, he brings a unique blend of leadership, creativity, and strategic thinking to any learning and development initiative.

When Garrett is not providing the best possible outcomes for clients, you can find him chasing his two boys or attempting to play golf.