About the Team
Dustin Peterson leads the effort at Proof Leadership. He left public relations in 2005 to find a more fulfilling job and instead found a calling. He is passionate about training and developing leaders to maximize strengths, engage their teams, and get results through people. He has trained leaders at Rice University, Indiana University, and UNLV, and has trained, coached, and consulted for numerous organizations in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.
After three years of teaching and training leaders at Rice, Dustin joined Broad Prize recipient YES Prep Public Charter Schools to create its first-ever leadership and management training program, which produced impressive results. Most significantly, it strengthened employee engagement throughout the organization and provided leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively lead schools.
Dustin completed his M.S. in Educational Leadership from Indiana University and his B.S. in Communications at Brigham Young University-Idaho. He is the author of Reset: How to Get Paid and Love What You Do and lives in Houston with his wife and four kiddos.
After three years of teaching and training leaders at Rice, Dustin joined Broad Prize recipient YES Prep Public Charter Schools to create its first-ever leadership and management training program, which produced impressive results. Most significantly, it strengthened employee engagement throughout the organization and provided leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively lead schools.
Dustin completed his M.S. in Educational Leadership from Indiana University and his B.S. in Communications at Brigham Young University-Idaho. He is the author of Reset: How to Get Paid and Love What You Do and lives in Houston with his wife and four kiddos.
Stephanie Houston is an HR and Talent Development professional in Houston, Texas who specializes in leadership and organizational development. She began her career teaching at YES Prep Public Schools and transitioned to coaching and developing talent at YES Prep as an Instructional Coach. Stephanie currently serves as the leader of HR and Talent Development at Trilliant Surgical, a Houston Business Journal Fast 100 company. In this role, she has led a wide variety of talent development projects including core values creation, leadership development programming, reorganizations, and ongoing coaching of team members within her organization. She has also overseen a period of rapid organizational growth at Trilliant, seeing the company nearly double in size since joining.
While maintaining her responsibilities at Trilliant, Stephanie joined Proof Leadership Group as a consultant. She is passionate about helping individuals unlock their leadership potential, as well as coming alongside organizations as they work to define and enhance their culture and cultivate an engaging workplace. Stephanie is excited about extending her experience in these areas to other organizations.
Stephanie graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Communication. She is a certified leadership coach and a graduate of Rice University’s CoachRICE program. She lives in Houston with her husband and son.
While maintaining her responsibilities at Trilliant, Stephanie joined Proof Leadership Group as a consultant. She is passionate about helping individuals unlock their leadership potential, as well as coming alongside organizations as they work to define and enhance their culture and cultivate an engaging workplace. Stephanie is excited about extending her experience in these areas to other organizations.
Stephanie graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Communication. She is a certified leadership coach and a graduate of Rice University’s CoachRICE program. She lives in Houston with her husband and son.
Danielle Kleist specializes in higher education and has been developing leaders through various programs, at different levels of her career, since 2004. She is currently the Director of Student Life at Washington State University, Tri-Cities. Prior to going WSU Tri-Cities, she was the Director of Orientation and Commuter Student Involvement at the University of Miami in Florida. Danielle also worked for NASPA – Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education, as the Assistant Director for Educational Programs & NASPA Foundation in Washington, DC.
While staying current in student affairs at her home institution, Danielle joined Proof Leadership Group as a consultant. With a diverse background, she wanted to extend her knowledge to organizations who request more personalized assistance. Danielle has provided educational opportunities to students, staff, faculty, and upper level administrators. Her primary background is in student affairs within higher education; however, she has experience working with non-profit organizations and donor relations.
Additionally, Danielle has presented at numerous conferences and continues to collaborate with institutions across the country. She is passionate about helping students and professionals reach their full potential and discover their own passions to help them succeed. Danielle earned her Bachelor of Science from Central Washington University and her Master of Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In 2016, NASPA presented her with the national Doris Michiko Ching Award for Excellence as a Student Affairs Professional. Danielle resides in Kennewick, Washington with her husband, Chris and doglike cat, Vader.
While staying current in student affairs at her home institution, Danielle joined Proof Leadership Group as a consultant. With a diverse background, she wanted to extend her knowledge to organizations who request more personalized assistance. Danielle has provided educational opportunities to students, staff, faculty, and upper level administrators. Her primary background is in student affairs within higher education; however, she has experience working with non-profit organizations and donor relations.
Additionally, Danielle has presented at numerous conferences and continues to collaborate with institutions across the country. She is passionate about helping students and professionals reach their full potential and discover their own passions to help them succeed. Danielle earned her Bachelor of Science from Central Washington University and her Master of Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In 2016, NASPA presented her with the national Doris Michiko Ching Award for Excellence as a Student Affairs Professional. Danielle resides in Kennewick, Washington with her husband, Chris and doglike cat, Vader.
Rachael Arthur is a career coach with Proof's thinkreset.com arm. Rachael graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Business Management and Marketing. She is a trained Career Coach at the Flatiron School where she has helped graduates make dramatic career pivots and land their first jobs in the tech industry. Prior to that, she spent a decade as an educator at Yes Prep Public Schools and Uncommon Charter Schools.
Facilitating development and personal growth is at the heart of everything she does. While in education, she started a leadership training institute where she coached promising upperclassmen in their interpersonal communication skills, character development, conflict resolution, time management, and public speaking. She is a StartingBloc Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellow—a program that develops leaders who are committed to positively impacting the world through collaborative problem-solving, inclusion, and creativity, and she is also a graduate of the Landmark Forum and Advanced Course—an immersive training program that teaches people to produce extraordinary results and enhance the quality of their lives.
Rachael draws from these experiences to coach individuals in identifying their inherit strengths and deep passions in order to push them towards living powerful and fulfilling lives, and contributing to society in an authentic and meaningful way.
Facilitating development and personal growth is at the heart of everything she does. While in education, she started a leadership training institute where she coached promising upperclassmen in their interpersonal communication skills, character development, conflict resolution, time management, and public speaking. She is a StartingBloc Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellow—a program that develops leaders who are committed to positively impacting the world through collaborative problem-solving, inclusion, and creativity, and she is also a graduate of the Landmark Forum and Advanced Course—an immersive training program that teaches people to produce extraordinary results and enhance the quality of their lives.
Rachael draws from these experiences to coach individuals in identifying their inherit strengths and deep passions in order to push them towards living powerful and fulfilling lives, and contributing to society in an authentic and meaningful way.
Donald Kamentz is a skilled facilitator and education consultant utilizing his diverse experiences in both non-profit management and K-12 education to help organizations best serve all student populations. Prior to this role, he served as executive director of Character Lab, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the science and practice of character development. Comprised of a team of researchers, educators, and designers, Character Lab believes character skills are malleable and measurable, character development can enhance academic performance, and finally, character strengths are as important to long-term life outcomes as are IQ and socioeconomic status. Before Character Lab, Donald spent 16 years, lastly as managing director of college and career initiatives, at YES Prep Public Schools, a public charter school system in Houston, Texas. Under his leadership, he created a college access program recognized nationally as a model for supporting first-generation, low-income students to and through college. Prior to joining YES Prep, Donald spent five years with Teach For America in a variety of roles, most recently as the executive director for institute operations.
Donald earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science, with a minor in international affairs-Latin American Studies, from The George Washington University. Donald is a Cambiar Education Fellow, a Pahara-Aspen Fellow, and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Donald earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science, with a minor in international affairs-Latin American Studies, from The George Washington University. Donald is a Cambiar Education Fellow, a Pahara-Aspen Fellow, and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Chad Spurgeon is a leadership coach with a background in postsecondary access and non-profit management. As a consultant, Chad brings 15+ years of K-12 and non-profit leadership experience to the Proof Leadership team and specializes in building teams, strengths-based coaching, and postsecondary access program development.
Most recently, he served as Senior Director of Programmatic Partnerships at National Math and Science Initiative, a national STEM-focused non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring all students, especially those furthest from opportunity, thrive and reach their highest potentials as problem-solvers and lifelong learners. Before his role with National Math and Science Initiative, he served as Director of Education for Character Lab, a non-profit committed to advancing the science and practice of character development. In this role, he led the organization’s work to translate promising character development research into high-quality, open-source classroom resources available to all educators and families.
Prior to his work in the education non-profit sector, Chad spent 10 years as a member of the College Initiatives team at YES Prep Public Schools in Houston, TX. During his career at YES Prep, he held several leadership roles, including Managing Director of College Initiatives, and led the district’s efforts to ensure all students were eligible and prepared to enroll, persist and graduate from a postsecondary institution.
Chad earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from The College of Wooster (OH) and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas - Austin. Chad lives in Houston, TX with his wife, Monica
Most recently, he served as Senior Director of Programmatic Partnerships at National Math and Science Initiative, a national STEM-focused non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring all students, especially those furthest from opportunity, thrive and reach their highest potentials as problem-solvers and lifelong learners. Before his role with National Math and Science Initiative, he served as Director of Education for Character Lab, a non-profit committed to advancing the science and practice of character development. In this role, he led the organization’s work to translate promising character development research into high-quality, open-source classroom resources available to all educators and families.
Prior to his work in the education non-profit sector, Chad spent 10 years as a member of the College Initiatives team at YES Prep Public Schools in Houston, TX. During his career at YES Prep, he held several leadership roles, including Managing Director of College Initiatives, and led the district’s efforts to ensure all students were eligible and prepared to enroll, persist and graduate from a postsecondary institution.
Chad earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from The College of Wooster (OH) and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas - Austin. Chad lives in Houston, TX with his wife, Monica
How We're Different
- You. Each program is customized to the needs of the group. No leader is exactly the same, and no program should be either.
- Education first. Engaging facilitation that honors the partner as a co-creator. The goal is to maximize performance and this is best accomplished through a balance of expertise and skilled facilitation that draws on the experience of the people in the room.
- We get you. We're educators at heart with more than a decade of experience in colleges, universities, and k-12 education. We understand your needs, challenges, and opportunities.
- Experience outside of education. We bring perspective to the field through past work. Proof has consulted with law firms, accounting firms, and Fortune 500 companies as well as nonprofits.
- Customer service. We seek to exceed your expectations in every interaction.
Who We've Served
Below is a sampling of the clients we've worked with:
