About Us

Rachel Karu, M.S., A.C.C.,
RAE Development, Founder

RAE Development, a professional and personal growth consulting organization, assists organizations, teams and individuals to Reflect, Act and Excel, providing a path for success, productivity and fulfillment.  Rachel Karu brings more than 18 years professional development experience with primary expertise in coaching, and training managers, and individuals in the areas of executive, career and personal coaching, leadership and management development, communication skills, team effectiveness, and performance management.  

Prior to founding RAE Development, Rachel has served as HR Manager specializing in Training and Development as well as Manager of Training and Organization Development at both the corporate and regional levels.  She worked for and provided consulting services to industries including: entertainment, sporting goods, high technology, healthcare, managerial consulting and financial services. Clients include Nestle, Raytheon, Citibank, Mattel, Warner Brothers, Philips, Tenet Healthcare, EMI Music Distribution, ATT Wireless and the United States Navy.  

Rachel possesses a MS in Counseling for Business.  She earned her Coaching Credential from International Coach Federation.  Rachel is the Chairperson for the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) Westside Breakfast Special Division.  Rachel is a speaker with Vistage International. Rachel’s Competency Case Study has been published in The Wisdom of ASTD-LA (ASTD-LA, 2001).

Rachel is a happy wife and mother of two amazing children. She enjoys dancing, singing, traveling and spending quality time with her family.

Senior Associates

Susan Edlinger, M.Ed

Susan has over 27 years of business experience in both corporate and private consulting. In addition to holding numerous line positions, Susan is recognized for guiding senior executive teams and individuals through times of significant change, conflict resolution, and strategic visioning. Susan brings significant corporate coaching experience to her clients:
Coached senior executives - most notably the CEO and CIO.Launched two Corporate Universities, including a 60 course online E-Learning certificate program.

• Initiated, designed, and coordinated a company’s first global leadership summit resulting in a major organizational change from a traditional hierarchical design to a matrixed organization.
• Facilitated an ongoing executive process improvement team focused on the analysis of labor-based cost savings associated with a major pilot restructuring, resulting in the pilot gaining approval to become a permanent program.
  

Prior to her own company, Susan was the Director of Human Resources, Training and Development for the Ryland Group, a national Fortune 500 homebuilding company. In addition to her line responsibilities, Susan oversaw the Corporate Executive Coaching function for all high potentials within the Company.

Areas of Expertise:

• Labor and employee relations
• Executive Coaching – Hi-potentials, team effectiveness and work/life balance, conflict resolution
• Corporate Universities and E-Learning
• Communication Skills, Mentoring, and Performance Management, 360 feedback

Certifications:

• DISC
• Zenger-Miller ( Achieve Global)
• Certified Integral Coach

Client Types/Levels of Experience:

• CEO – CIO
• SVP – VP – Director - Manager

Janet Conn, LCSW

Janet Conn’s specialization is in personal and professional development coaching, career management and organizational consulting.  With over twelve years of experience, Janet assists individuals in utilizing their full range of capabilities to achieve career growth and personal satisfaction.

In addition to her private coaching practice, Janet is a Consultant at Lee Hecht Harrison, where she has acquired a strong background in all aspects of career management.  Janet facilitates seminars and provides assistance in all aspects of career transition including: career exploration, resume development, networking, interviewing techniques and job search management and productivity.  Some of the companies she has worked with include: Boeing, Capital Group, Wellpoint, Allergan, Washington Mutual, Nestle, Raytheon, Sony Pictures, Universal, California Federal Bank, Warner Bros., Sun Microsystems, and American Express.  Previously, Janet was a Consultant on staff at a company providing career management services to major aerospace industry companies.   She was responsible for a comprehensive program of services, including coaching, workshop facilitation and program development.

In addition to her consulting and coaching practice, Janet is a Guest Lecturer at the University of Southern California School of Cinema-TV and has been an Adjunct Professor at Chapman University’s Dodge School of Film and Television.

Janet received a M.S.W. from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. from Temple University.  She has completed advanced training at the College of Executive Coaching and the Coaches Training Institute.  She is qualified to administer the most widely used career management and leadership development assessments.

Jean Franzblau

Jean is a  facilitator and   international public speaker with nine years experience. She specializes in management development training such as communication, organization and stress management skills. Her groups range from 5 to 300 people.
 
Prior to founding her business, Jean worked as the resident trainer at Arden Realty - a publicly traded commercial real estate firm. There she instructed employees from entry level to executive. Before Arden, Jean facilitated stress management programs at Gensler Architecture and Design and at retreat centers across California. She has had the opportunity to work and consult with the following industries: entertainment, technology, government, healthcare, recruiting, hospitality, law, education, financial services and real estate.
 
Jean received her B.A. with cum laude honors at UCLA in Communications and Business Administration. She completed the Train the Trainer course with the American Society for Training and Development. As a performing artist, Jean studied at the renowned Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater in New York. She has performed in theater, television, voice-over and film.
 
Jean develops her skills with the National Speakers Association, networks with Worthwhile Referral Sources and is a 2009 Board Member of the American Society for Training and Development. Her home office is in Santa Monica, California.

Shannon McCrary

Shannon McCrary is a project-based consultant providing elearning and traditional instructional design services to companies of all sizes, from small independently owned Internet businesses to Fortune 500 corporations.  The depth and breadth of her experience ensures implementation of high quality training programs designed specifically for your business.

Prior to becoming a consultant, Shannon managed training and employee development programs for Fortune 500 Company KB Home, overseeing needs assessment, program planning, graphic design, and production, while acting as the principle instructional designer for all training programs.
Shannon also managed the daily operations for the homebuilder’s internal training and development portal, KB University, directing development, content, and maintenance.

Shannon previously managed the training and quality assurance programs for Fidelity Investments, the largest mutual fund company in the United States and one of the world's largest providers of financial services. During this part of her career, she managed a team of in-house trainers and quality assurance representatives, managed the site-wide licensing program for the Series 7, 9 & 10 securities licenses, and provided project management, instructional design, and facilitation services to a third party vendor hired to provide technical support for the www.fidelity.com website.

Shannon volunteers at Los Angeles-based non-profit organization PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) where she writes job search and career management workshops for residents and community members. She is a member of the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD), both national and local chapters. She enjoys sharing her expertise with other ASTD-LA Chapter members through regular contributions to their monthly newsletter, InterChange. Shannon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from William Woods College.

 About Us Overview Flyer PDF (click here for a downloadable file)

 Speaker Flyer PDF (click here for a downloadable file)