Deborah J. Barrett
Dr. Barrett is the co-founder of University Connections, LLC and currently serves on our Board of Advisors and provides executive training for us. She is Professor of the Practice of Professional Communication and Director of the Program for Communication Excellence at Rice University in Houston, Texas, U.S.A., where she teaches leadership communication, cross-cultural communication, negotiations, and consulting. In addition, she teaches advanced writing and research in the Master of Liberal Studies program at Rice and conducts classes in leadership communication and team dynamics in the Executive MBA program at Jacobs University in Germany.
Dr. Barrett has specialized in professional communication for the last 25 years and has coached executives and conducted numerous workshops on negotiations, teams, writing, and presentations for managers at all levels. She has taught at the University of Houston, Texas A&M University, the University of St. Thomas, Houston Baptist University, and Rice University.
Dr. Barrett has worked as a consultant for leading consulting firms, focusing on strategic communication and change management. She was a senior managing director of Hill and Knowlton, Houston, before rejoining the faculty of Rice University, and prior to Hill and Knowlton, she was a communication consultant with McKinsey & Company for over five years. With McKinsey, she served as a leader in the change communication practice, developed and conducted Firm training, and worked on communication and general management consulting projects for McKinsey clients throughout the world. She has consulted for major international energy and utility companies, computer companies, several high-tech new ventures, the City of Houston, and several nationally acclaimed performing arts groups.
Dr. Barrett has published articles and presented papers on cross-cultural communication, emotional intelligence, communication ethics, change communication, employee communication, virtual teams, PowerPoint, effective MBA communication, and leadership communication. Her book, Leadership Communication (McGraw-Hill), currently out in its 3rd edition is one of the top-selling texts in professional communication. Dr. Barrett earned her B.A. and M.A from the University of Houston and her Ph.D. in English from Rice University. She is qualified to administer and provide workshops in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator©
Jim Lavis
Jim Lavis brings over 20 years of experience in business management, development, sales, marketing, training, and communications to his position as co-founder, director, and COO of University Connections. In these roles he manages the day-to-day affairs of the company, recruits and screens all facilitators who provide client training, and oversees all training and development programs. As a facilitator himself, he particularly enjoys negotiation training and executive coaching. The firm specializes in consulting and training for mid-size and major corporations in the areas of sales and marketing, negotiations, leadership skills, managing meetings, cross-cultural communication, team development, presentation training, and written communication.
Representative clients include a chemical producer, a European-based software company, an investment banking firm, a utility company, a financial services company, a helicopter manufacturer, a provider of cellular and satellite communications, and various oil and gas corporations. Services for these clients and others meet a wide variety of needs: designing marketing campaigns, providing writing seminars, researching market opportunities, teaching negotiation strategies, and many more.
Professional experience as well as specialized education account for Jim’s expertise. He has held executive positions at L & B Group, Jack Henry & Associates, Cusa Technology, and CFI ProServices. He graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in finance, with a concentration in entrepreneurial and small business development. Since then he graduated from the Sandler Sales Institute and completed Karrass workshops and seminars in effective negotiation. Jim’s passion for learning and attention to the needs of his clients took him to Rice University where he finished an executive education program focusing on negotiations and business writing. Lastly, through Harvard University’s executive education opportunities he underwent advanced training in conducting and teaching negotiation.
A native of New York City, Jim is now an avid Texan. He enjoys community service in the Houston area, tennis, and international travel.
