Dr. Marc Bertrand was the speaker for the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony at St. John’s University on May 8th, 2012. Approximately 300 people attended this milestone event, representing graduate faculty, recent doctoral graduates, and their families. Dr. Bertrand gave an inspiring address, acknowledging the supportive individuals in his life, and reflecting his positive attitude after overcoming many personal hurdles. Numerous faculty and doctoral colleagues mentioned their appreciation of the tone and content of the speech, which focused on the importance of building good relationships and helping those around you.
Dr. Rene Parmar Dept. of Administrative and Instructional Leadership 513 Sullivan Hall St. John's University 8000 Utopia Pkwy. Queens, NY 11439
August 3rd, 2012
“There is no separation between us and God - We are divine expressions of the creative principle… there can be no real lack or scarcity; there is nothing we have to try to achieve or attract; we contain the potential for everything within us.”
Shakti Gawain
Creative Visualization.
“Life is like a wild tiger, you can either lie down and let it lay its paw on your head – or sit on its back and ride it.” Ride the wild tiger
Marc: The two quotes above sums up the message that you brought to the support group. Thank you for that, I did not know what to expect and did not have an expectation. Instead I hoped that you would be great and have a message for us and by George you did. Not just for the members of the group but I believe you reached the support team as well, for sure I was inspired and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Thank you and keep doing what you do because your message was heard. I hope that you will come again to talk to us. Please stay in touch. And on behalf of my support team and the members of our support group thank you. All the best as you continue to share your inspiration.
Jacqueline Callender at New York Presbyterian
August 2012
"When planning workshops for a group of Columbia University students who coordinate various outreach programs, we wanted someone who was inspiring, energetic, articulate, and relatable. Dr. Marc Bertrand was all of those things. Dr. Bertrand was able to articulate how to maximize your leadership potential in organizations that range from education to business services. He made it clear that to be an effective leader in today's economic landscape, one must always be reaching for the high octane fuel (for maximum performance) and not just settle for regular fuel (status quo)."
Christopher M. Sharpe Program Coordinator, Jobs & Education Empowerment Project (J.E.E.P) Community Impact, Columbia University
"I attended the Columbia University Community Impact Coordinator Retreat in August where Dr. Bertrand spoke about effective organizational leadership. After his presentation, I was not only inspired to return to work at a non-profit, but I also felt equipped with the skills necessary to maintain a standard of excellence in service. Having worked with Chris Sharpe over the course of the past year, I know that Dr. Bertrand's guidance produces results!"
Jackie Thompson Senior Coordinator, J.E.E.P. Columbia University
August 12, 2012
It is always a wonderful feeling to have “someone” with whom one can bear witness with to various events, feelings, and those “moments” in life. While listening to a homily presented on behalf of a grieving family on August 12, 2012, I realized, that dealing with certain aspects of the human condition, such as grief, or in the case of the death of a loved one, is unnecessary, and should not ever be encouraged. It is a challenge to find that person who is uniquely qualified to be that “someone” in such times. The world is full of kind, compassionate and sincere people, who are willing to reach into a person’s soul in times like these, these moments, but they simply do not have the kind of soul that it takes to reach into the deep recesses of the mind.
Dr. Marlving Charlet possess that outstanding ability to identify the core issues of the human soul and separate them out in order to address the salient ones and give them perspective. He demonstrated this ability exquisitely well when he provided a comprehensive insight through dialog into the various animations of the mind that can affect a person who is experiencing grief. In his homily, Dr. Charlet spared no opportunity in helping family members and the mourners deal with a sad event, from a spiritual, yet practical aspect of self. He identified how all of us fit into our lives with respect to religious inclinations, convictions and maturity which, put together, determines our comfort level with grief.
This is why I jump at every opportunity to hear Dr. Charlet speak because of his ability to command an audience. Dr. Mary Jones, Wyandach School District
September 6, 2012
I have had the honor of being present at a number of lecturers and training sessions given by Dr. Marlving Charlet. Thanks to him and his creative seminars people see themselves with so much more value and purpose. His information is new, informative, and extremely valuable to all.....it combines practice with background knowledge and theory. Excellent material presented in an exceptional manner! Great pace, thought-provoking and entertaining!! Dr. Charlet provoked our thinking and challenged us to look with a new frame of reference. Now I know where my strengths (and weaknesses) lie and can work towards those strengths.
Dawn Virtue, Bimbo Foods Bakery Distribution Inc. 55 Paradise Lane Bayshore, NY 11706
I observed Dr. Bertrand use his leadership skills to develop successful strategies in raising student achievement levels. His attention to both process detail and outcome efficiency enabled him to raise the "bar" for our school programs from "under performing" to "Highly Proficient" in a span of three years, earning the adult program accolades from the NYS Department of Education due to Dr. Bertrand's Total Quality Management Operational System: TQMOS (see link) https://patch.com/new-york/levittown-ny/nassau-boces-adult-learning-center-earns-winning-report-card. Through his TQMOS, I've determined that Dr. Bertrand's leadership methodologies will serve as model for any educational program, ranging from your standard elementary/charter school through post graduate.
Dr. John Kalaboukas Former Supervisor
Nassau BOCES (Board of Cooperative Education Services)
January 2013
I recently had a situation in my classroom where a student was extremely upset about something that happened in class and was acting verbally and physically abusive. Being the teacher in the classroom, I was very concerned since I did not know to what level this student would take with his anger. I immediately called administration and luckily Dr. Marc Bertrand was in the building. He immediately pulled the student out of the class to counsel him. When Marc and the student returned approximately 20 minutes later, I was in disbelief when I observed the attitude of the student. He not only apologized regarding his behavior, he was appreciative to have the opportunity to be in my class and have me as a teacher. From that point on, this student had a respectful attitude towards me and the class. I would never believe that this could be possible especially with this student. Marc Bertrand has a very unique way with his motivational counseling. What I experienced in this critical situation was so profound that Marc not only made this student realize what he did was wrong, but he was also able to make the student realize how fortunate he was to be in our school program. Marc can really make a difference in people’s lives, the way they think, and the way they can change. When I think of Marc Bertrand, the first thing that comes to my mind is that he could make a robber drop their gun!! I am truly impressed, his words are so powerful! I want Marc around ALL THE TIME!
Theresa Casamassima Nassau County, Long Island Educator
April 2013
Dr. Marc Bertrand has established himself as a breath of fresh air in the field of education. His ability to work with students of all ages and also to select top consultants to support his mission to motivate, counsel, and educate clients, sets him apart from many who aspire to the same goals. He recently conducted a mock interview session for my graduate class in School Building and School District Leadership at St. John’s University. At the end of the session, the students couldn’t stop praising Dr. Bertrand’s expertise in identifying and prescribing the correct course of action for them as potential administrators. Dr. Bertrand’s experience and leadership qualities truly make him a very valuable member of the educational community.
Dr. Robert Brasco Director The Professional Development Center and Graduate Internships St. John's University The School of Education
May 2013
I feel I would be remiss if I did not formally express my appreciation for Dr. Marc Bertrand's openness and candor in sharing organizational information with staff, both in good times and bad. In nearly eight years as an educator, I have known no other administrator who has demonstrated such an awareness of the importance of keeping staff in the loop. The philosophy of respect that Dr. Bertrand's actions convey not only make me proud to be a member of his team but also inspires me to follow his lead in dealing with others. Here's to paying it forward!
Brigid Bozzello, Post-Secondary Teacher
June 4, 2013
(extracted from an email correspondence) Dear Mr. Bertrand,
It is so great to hear from you! I can't believe that after all these years you still remember my brother and I. Thank you for all you did for us during your time as our educator. You gave us the foundation, drive, and faith that we needed to succeed. My brother is doing great. He is a rising junior at Fordham University studying marketing. He will actually be studying abroad in London this fall.
I am also doing well. I graduated from the George Washington University in May 2011 with a degree in International Affairs and am currently pursuing my Master's in International Media from American University. I live in DC and work for the U.S. Department of State coordinating and implementing the government's communication strategy for foreign audiences.
I have copied my brother in this email so you have his email as well. Let us know when you get back from London. Would be great to catch up over coffee. I am always in NY visiting the family. I will send my parents your regards. You are by far one of their favorites!
