FENNVILLE, MI, March 27, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A. Renee Thornton, PhD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Thornton is recognized for her success as the CEO and director of training and research at Pathfinder Resilience. With over 25 years of professional experience, she began advising executives on practical ways to develop employees who positively influence organizational outcomes after her honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy. In 2010, she expanded her client base into emergency services, focusing on the impact of self-care on mental health, employee engagement, and performance. Dr. Thornton's accomplishments in the field of organizational psychology have earned her recognition as an authority on self-care, agency wellness initiatives, and strategic leadership. Her work involves translating therapeutic techniques into professional development training curriculum and integrating a research component using a mobile application she developed to ensure validity. Her seminal work in the field of wellness established the first validated, multidimensional model of self-care proven to counteract the implications of mental distress in trauma survivors. Today, that model has been expanded as a strategic planning tool for leading high-performance cultures. In 2024, she established the Pathfinder International Summit on Leading High-Performance Cultures, an invite-only executive retreat focused on strategically leading long-term, organizational culture change.
Apart from her work at Pathfinder Resilience, Dr. Thornton has held faculty appointments at Indiana University's Kelly School of Business, Indiana University's Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences, and Arkansas Tech University's Schools of Communication and Business since 2012 and has been the director of training and research at The Command Post Corporation since 2017. Dr. Thornton has been honored with invitations to guest lecture at the University of Notre Dame, the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, the European Union for Law Enforcement Training, and the Operational Communications Center of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Dr. Thornton's entrepreneurial journey began at age 15 and ten years later, she launched the Metamorphosis Consulting Group as an organizational development director specializing in measuring the impact of training on performance. Dr. Thornton shares her expertise at conference events for organizations such as the National Sheriff's Association, the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, the National Emergency Number Association, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Before working in a civilian capacity, Dr. Thornton found success as a journalist and public relations officer in the U.S. Navy from 1995 to 2002. During her service, Dr. Thornton was recognized as the distinguished honor graduate of the Defense Information School at Fort Meade, Maryland, and later celebrated as Sailor of the Year. Her written work highlighting the unique leadership and sacrifice of her shipmates was featured in military and civilian news publications around the world.
Throughout her career, Dr. Thornton has authored and co-authored numerous books and articles, contributing to scholarship focused on building high-performance workforces. Case study articles such as Courageous Leadership and Dynamic Leadership are featured in the Homeland Security Library. Collaborative projects including, POWER: Police Officer Wellness, Ethics, & Resilience, Practical Considerations for Preventing Police Suicide, and Mental Health Intervention and Treatment of First Responders and Emergency Workers advance the need to prioritize self-care and wellness in the public safety and emergency services communities. Dr. Thornton also published such noteworthy writings as Immersive Training, Psychological Capital: The Combatant of Workplace Anxiety, and Bipartisan Leadership. Furthermore, Dr. Thornton published the first multidimensional whole-person self-care training manual, Navigating Adversity: Tactical Self-Care Training for First Responders, which has garnered international acclaim for its effectiveness in fostering resilience and self-awareness. To honor their family members, Dr. Thornton then followed up with a sister training course and book for first responder loved ones, Keeping it all Together: Building Resilience at Home while Serving the Community.
Due to her patriotism, Dr. Thornton has been active as a member of her local American Legion, a volunteer for Disabled American Veterans and her local Veteran's Association, as well as the creator of a support network for veterans transitioning into the civilian workforce. She is also involved as a donor to the Western Michigan Teen Challenge Program, and a sponsor of two children through the Compassion International humanitarian aid organization.
Dr. Thornton's educational background includes a bachelor's degree in psychology and communication in 2006 and a Master of Business Administration in 2010 from Liberty University. She achieved a Doctor of Philosophy in crisis intervention from Walden University in 2014, and returned for her master's in clinical mental health counseling in 2017. In addition to her academic pursuits, Dr. Thornton remains abreast of professional matters as a member of the American Society for Training and Development, the Life Sciences Trainers and Education Network, and the National Organization for Human Services.
Dr. Thornton's distinguished career is complemented by several accolades, including several Brandon Hall Awards in recognition of expertise in technology and innovation in learning management and advanced technology in the classroom. She is also QM Certified in curriculum development for adult learning through the Quality Matters Higher Education organization. Her collaborative team was also honored with an Excellence in Law Enforcement Research Award from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In addition to her scholarly pursuits, Dr. Thornton is a fiction author and member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. She is an avid wine lover, currently on the journey to a Master of Wine Certification through the Court of Master Sommeliers.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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