MARK HOOG
CEO and Founder
Mark is a 26-year veteran of the airline industry, a 737 Captain and Check Airman with United Airlines, and (through his message of “Conscious Leadership”) is one of the top professional speakers in the country.
Mark spent the early part of his career training the aviation industry’s top pilots on leadership, human potential and achievement. Turning his attention to the corporate arena, Mark recognized the important role leadership and leadership development played in safety and corporate culture. Drawing on years of human factors training, courseware development, and instructor development techniques, the Vector message was born and soon spread outside the aviation industry and immediately began to impact corporate America.
Uniting human factors & instructor training with leadership development, Mark and the Vector team are inspiring audiences from around the country to “pick up their Sharpie” and make a signature on the world around them.
Mark makes his home in Colorado with his wife and three children.
BOB ZIMMERMANN
Founder/Partner
Bob is a high-impact and inspirational motivational speaker. He has been a featured speaker on human factors and leadership training for numerous companies throughout the country.
He is a Captain and Check Airman for United Airlines and plays an integral role in delivering leadership and human performance training to all new Captains at the airline. Bob has served as a facilitator for multiple training courses th safety and efficiency for United’s 12,000 pilots. While leading the Boeing 777 Quality Assurance program, Bob was instrumental in implementing United’s Advanced and Continuing Qualification training programs. These programs revolutionized industry flight training by developing and incorporating human factors and leadership effectiveness into flight proficiency training. Bob was part of a team for United Airlines responsible for the quality control of training standards for all aircraft types.
A Naval Academy Graduate and Carrier Aviator, Bob flew the A-7E and made three deployments onboard the USS America and USS Eisenhower. He flew in the Libya Conflict, Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Bob also served as a contract pilot for NASA and flew the 747 that carried the Space Shuttle.
Bob is a dynamic speaker, facilitator, and instructor and an expert in Crew Resource Management.
CHRIS SHARBER
Founder/Partner
Chris is a Captain, Instructor and a Human Factors content development expert for United Airlines. He began his aviation career in the U.S. Navy, serving first as a fleet pilot and then as an instructor in the F/A-18 Hornet. Chris deployed aboard the USS Independence during Operation Desert Shield. He also served aboard the USS Midway and the USS Carl Vinson.
Chris started his commercial career with United Airlines in 1996, and has served as a Flight Instructor on the B727, Airbus A320, and currently the B777. During his twenty-year tenure, Chris served as part of the Human Factors team that developed the airline’s industry leading Crew Resource Management performance model. Each year Chris is responsible for developing and delivering training for the airline’s 12,000 pilots and over 800 instructors/evaluators on the effective use and implementation of critical human factors skills.
Chris has a B.S. Degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry Riddle University, and has over 23 years of experience as an aviation instructor.
Chris lives in Evergreen, Colorado with his wife Julie. His daughter is a nursing student and his son is a student Naval Aviator in the U.S. Marine Corps. They enjoy skiing, biking, hiking, photography and music.
MICHAEL HOOG
Founder/Partner
For over 20 years, Michael Hoog has provided strategic and crisis communications counsel to organizations ranging from cutting-edge start-up companies, to Fortune 500 brands, to public institutions, and trade and non-profit organizations. Michael helps companies manage organizational change and build corporate cultures through the implementation of active internal communications programs, and helps them establish, enhance and/or repair reputation through external outreach to key stakeholders.
LARRY STEPHENSON
Larry has been an aviation professional for 25 years. He is currently a Boeing 737 Captain, Evaluator and Check Airman for United Airlines. Throughout his career, Larry has been called upon by airline leadership to inspire and elevate pilots. He is an expert in human factors, facilitation and instruction.
Larry has also had the opportunity to lead the largest fleet at United Airlines. During that time, he built a team of over 180 Flight Instructors and Evaluator Pilots. Being responsible for such a large team, Larry capitalized the opportunity to create a culture of safety and leadership by ensuring that his team was thoroughly trained in emotional intelligence and human factors development. His team now produces not only the safest airline pilots in the United States, but in the world.
“Being a good pilot is more than safely flying an airplane. It demands the ability to functionally work with those around you. Collective decision making requires listening and proactive engagement with others. This results in the ability to make efficient and informative decisions that not only protect the flying public but protect the enterprise.”
Larry is gifted at inspiring coworkers to leave behind a legacy of safety and leadership and he is ready to work with your coworkers to elevate them to their highest potential!
DOUG KELLY
Doug has been active in aviation for over 45 years. He is currently an Airbus Check Airman and Evaluator for United Airlines. His vast experience in commercial, military and civil aviation make him uniquely qualified as an expert in human factors and crew resource management.
Doug has been training pilots for over 40 years, first as a CFI in college, then with military combat pilots in the U.S. Air force. At United Airlines, Doug has trained and evaluated pilots on the 747 and for the past nine years on the Airbus 320.
After the attacks on our country on September 11, 2001, Doug was in a unique position to help develop our country’s crew member defense program for Homeland Security. He holds the rank of 6th degree black belt in Aikido and with his military experience as an F-16 Mission Commander and 25 years of martial arts instructor experience, he was the subject matter expert for this program.
Doug has been the military advisor bringing self-defense training to the Army Rangers of the Nepalese Army for the past eight years.
He has a Master’s degree in Aviation Management from Embry Riddle University and a BS in Aeronautical Operations for San Jose State University.
Doug lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife and two daughters.
JOE COOK
Joe was born in Newark, New Jersey and spent his formative developmental years in the shadow of a major airport where his desire to be a airline pilot was cultivated. Upon graduation from high school, Joe attended Hampton University in Hampton, VA where he learned how to fly while also obtaining his B.S. in Management. Joe was also active in numerous professional and social organizations during his tenure at Hampton University.
After short stays at smaller local and regional carriers, Joe was eventually hired at a major airline where he has flown numerous Boeing and Airbus aircraft all over the world. Over the course of his airline career, Joe has been fortunate to hold many union and flight operations leadership positions.
Inside the flight deck, Joe’s priority is taking care of his jet, crew and passengers. Outside of the flight deck, Joe is passionate about motivating and inspiring current and future aviators and professionals. While flying has always been his primary love, Joe is grounded by his obligation to service and community. He firmly believes it’s his obligation to influence those who come after him as fervently as he was mentored along his personal and professional path.
Joe resides in Atlanta, GA and is an avid sports fan. His family, friends and personal relationships are paramount in his life. Joe also enjoys exercise, golf and staying physically and mentally active.
ANDRE SIMMONS
Andre was born in 1959 in Sault Sainte Marie Michigan. His father was enlisted in the Air Force so he moved many times while growing up. He attended elementary school in Japan, junior high school in Germany, and several other schools in various states. He graduated from Hueytown High School in Alabama 1977, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1981. He majored in Criminal Justice . During his senior year in college he became a police officer at University, working the south side of the city of Birmingham. He entered the Air Force as a Commissioned Officer in 1982.
Mr. Simmons attended Air Force navigator training in 1982 and graduated as a distinguished graduate. His first assignment was as a crewmember on the nuclear B-52 bomber the worlds most powerful aircraft. Mr. Simmons attended pilot training in 1985 at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. During his time in the Air Force he has been a distinguished graduate three times, the award giving to the top graduates in flight and academic training classes. And in 1991 as an aircraft commander of a C1 41, he was awarded the United States “Air Medal” for bravery for flights during Desert Storm.
In 1992 Mr. Simmons was hired as a pilot by United airlines. He has flown the 727, 737, 757, 767, 777, and the 747. He is currently a Captain on 737 based in Los Angeles. Mr. Simmons also Works in the Human-factors and Pilot Development department for United. He facilitates their Captain Upgrade program which is a transition course for Copilots transitioning into Captains at United.
Mr. Simmons is married, he has five children. His older son (Brian) is a captain in the Texas Army Guard and will be taking over command of a military police squadron in August. His daughter Ashley is a former Carollton Texas police officer, and worked for The Dallas Attorney General. His daughter Erika works for NBC Entertainment in New York and he has twin boys who are juniors at Texas Tech University.
ERIC BRAXTON
Eric is a motivational speaker and facilitator whose goal is to help people reach their professional and personal goals by improving and honing their leadership skills.
His education in leadership started at the United States Air Force Academy where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science. After graduation he proudly served his country for thirteen years as a professional aviator, instructing other pilots and flying into remote areas all over the world in support of our military.
The next step in Eric’s leadership journey took him to United Airlines where he is currently a Captain, safely flying passengers all over the world as they reunite with family, conduct business, and pursue their dreams.
Eric currently shares his leadership expertise thru speaking engagements and large group training for Fortune 500 companies. His training speciality is facilitating groups in Crew Resource Management with an emphasis on improving Communication, Workload Management, Planning and Decision Making, and Overall Leadership in the workplace.
Motivated by his passion to help underserved youth, Eric volunteers with various charitable programs that use aviation to inspire children to pursue their college dreams and more.
Eric currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two daughters.
In his free time Eric enjoys traveling the world with his family, grilling tasty barbecue, and working towards his goal of one day becoming a professional Corn Hole player.
CHRIS CROMER
Chris has accrued six years of valued experience as a facilitator of human factors training and leadership development. He has always taken on the toughest challenges, never shying away from speaking about failures and changing paradigms. His focus is to ensure that aviators and others in high-risk environments can operate in the safest manner possible. When combined with his vast experience in aviation, Chris is a driving force in change management and leadership across a wide variety of industries.
Effective communicator, attentive trainer, and innovative leader are just a few of the words most often used to describe Chris Comer. As a third-generation professional airman, Chris has amassed over three decades of aviation experience. Through his experiences as an aviator, Chris developed a strong ability to train, educate, and mentor up-and-coming pilots through a wide variety of career challenges, with a proven track record of success. In addition, he relates extremely well to people, no matter what their situation, keeping them engaged, motivated, and moving forward to successful outcomes.
Chris is a native of Missouri and was born into an aviation family. From an early age, he started flying, learning the demanding skills of aviation under the tutelage of his father and grandfather. They not only taught him aviation skills but instilled a strong work ethic and focus on success.
BETSY BENTON
Betsy is a Senior Captain at United Airlines, currently flying the Airbus.
For the last 31 years she has been performing in leadership roles at the airline, including teaching, mentoring, evaluating, and flying the line. Betsy has also acted as a Professional Standards intermediary in order to help create greater cohesiveness and teamwork among pilots at United Airlines. Working with people of diverse backgrounds and finding common goals and language to promote safety, efficiency, and learning is something in which Captain Benton takes great pride.
Betsy’s passion for helping her colleagues achieve their greatest potential at United drives her to accept roles that elevate her understanding and execution of important applications such as Crew Resource Management, to encourage collaboration and hone the skills necessary to become a cohesive team. Betsy’s teaching opportunities include didactic settings in classrooms/simulators and in the very dynamic environment of the Airbus commercial jet, where skilled teamwork allows an ideal utilization of the crucial resources available in flight.
Captain Benton previously came up the ranks in the civilian world, flying business jets around the world. She attended the University of Oklahoma. Betsy and her partner Brad live most of the time on their ranch in Colorado where they enjoy their horses and an abundance of other outdoor activities. They also get plenty of beach time in the Golden Isles of Georgia.
CINDY ALLEN
Cindy’s expertise in human impacts and enhanced performance stems from her unparalleled background and involvement in researching, teaching, writing about, and facilitating interactive, educational opportunities.
As one of the first instructors of crew resource management for the U.S. Air Force, Cindy developed and implemented the initial content for both classroom and simulator training for two USAF major commands. Relatability, coupled with flexibility, allowed her to work as easily and effectively with first-year crew members as she did with generals. Her program became the core course for introducing CRM and Human Factors/Line Oriented Flight Training. During her time in the Air Force, she also flew, instructed, and evaluated on various aircraft, from fighter type jets to those with multiple crew members and missions.
Captain Cindy Allen’s skill set bridges many management and facilitator roles. Currently, she serves as a leadership and human factors facilitator for thousands each year, as a trainer’s trainer, as a simulator evaluator for initial and recurrent training, as a new pilot interviewer, and as the editor of the Crew Resource Management Guide for United Airlines. Previously, Cindy managed the implementation of numerous industry-leading programs, including United’s Quick Reference Checklist and post-merger analysis and adaptation of CRM content for each fleet’s training syllabus.
Cindy believes the integration of human factors awareness, leadership, and development creates a formidable synergistic effect on performance, culture, and ultimately, on safety.
Cindy has a B.A. in International Business and M.A.S. in Aeronautical Science. She and her husband, Steve, live in Florida and Colorado. They enjoy the best of both places – skiing, hiking, biking, and beaching.