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About WizardHistory & Mission | Partial
Client List | Gloria's Bio History & MissionWizard Workforce Development began in 1993 as Gloria Thomas Communications. When working with a large client, delivering an organization-wide customer service training, consulting and voicemail revision project, a television special titled, Merlin, aired. Watching Merlin advise several kings reminded Gloria of what she did for leaders of organizations and departments. She works closely with her clients, sharing strategies and insights and she helps them find solutions for “people problems” of every kind.
The mission of our organization is to help every organization and every individual to uncover, develop and release that magic. Much of it is found in the communication potential that each person has and that few fully realize. Our unshakeable belief, which has been proven many times, is that once Positive Power™ communication is released in an organization, something magical happens throughout the workforce. The Wizard WIRE packs a Snicker's bar of information
into a Hershey's kiss-sized
document. Short, sweet and full of information to satisfy the mind. I
am always impressed with how Gloria is able to condense so much great
information into one little document. Partial List of ClientsBank of America
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Photograph by Darrell Elder |
Wizard’s mission is to help individuals and organizations tap into their communication potential. This is an often underutilized, yet priceless resource. Clients include: CJW Medical Centers, Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, The Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Capital One, Hunton & Williams, Henrico County, Bank of America and East-West Partners of Virginia. She has also helped many employees and organizations improve customer service, communication and workplace morale.
Gloria’s book The Wizard’s Secret: 7 Keys to Communication Success is scheduled to be published later this year. This book details the unique approach she uses to help organizations and individuals significantly improve communication and customer service. Seminars she offers include: Diversity and Workplace Communication, The Positive Power Customer Service Series and Positive Power Leadership: 10 Steps to Success. She has been an adjunct faculty member with the School of Continuing Studies at the University of Richmond since 1995.
When you leave after participating in one of Gloria’s programs, you depart with sound business solutions, innovative communication tools and a smile.
A Little History:
In the late 1800s, in Burkeville, Virginia my great-grandfather, Samuel
Alspaugh, started a company that made a product called King of Pain. From
all accounts, he genuinely believed that this “snake oil”
had genuine medicinal properties. He truly wanted to help humanity (and
horses).
He enlisted several of his five sons, including my grandfather, in the business at an early age. They traveled the countryside selling their amazing cure. When the business moved to Richmond, Virginia, it went under, due to an unethical business partner (according to the family story).
My grandfather, Grover Wise Alspaugh Sr. remained a salesman his entire life. He sold wood stoves for a time. Even when he wasn’t selling, he really was. He drove Yellow Cab #77 and sold riders on the fact that every day you laugh and share is wonderful. He even sold the toll takers on the “Nickel Bridge” on smiling, by sharing a cheery word or two with them. Despite his snake oil selling past, he made the word “sales” a beautiful word to me. I wanted nothing more than to be the kind of communicator he was.
As a painfully shy child, I loved watching him communicate, listening to him tell stories and marveling at his connection with everyone from complete strangers to long-time friends. I was fortunate that he and my grandmother lived with us throughout my childhood. He was my first and best communication and sales instructor and coach. He gently nudged me to say “hi” and to speak up a bit. Because I so admired how he deliberately sought creative, fun ways to brighten the day of everyone he met, his legacy to me was the seed for what I now call Positive Power. He was the original King of Positive Power.
Gloria Thomas
President of Wizard Workforce Development Inc.
Click here to download an image of Gloria for print.
Our first responsibility is to put the interests of clients ahead of his or her own, and to serve them with integrity and competence. Gloria Thomas, and the select group of associates she recommends for cooperative assignments, agree to abide with the professional ethics listed below:
We at Wizard Workforce Development Inc. know that we are being hired for professional training, independent judgment and objectivity, technical expertise, analytical skill, and concentrated attention to the solution of a problem or series of problems–or to prevent future problems. We will provide the skills required on an impartial basis and focus all efforts on meeting the client’s needs and objectives.
We will guard the confidentiality of all client information. We will not take financial gain or any other kind of advantage based on inside information. We will not serve two or more competing clients on sensitive problems, without obtaining the approval of each client to do so. We will inform the client of any circumstances which might influence our judgment or objectivity.
Before accepting an assignment, we will confer with the client in sufficient detail to understand the problem and the scope of study or training needed to solve it. Such preliminary consultations are conducted confidentially, on terms agreed to by the client.
We will accept only assignments we are qualified to perform, which will provide real benefit to the client. Of course, though we often achieve such results, we cannot guarantee any specific results, such as the amount of cost reduction, profit increase, or employee retention.
We present our qualifications on the basis of competence and experience. We perform each assignment on an individualized basis, and develop recommendations specifically for the practical solution of each client problem.
We do not shy away from difficult or challenging communications with clients, therefore, we can promise to be honest, ethical and open in all our dealings with you. We encourage your openness, in order to help us to get to the source of any problems you need our help with.
Unless otherwise agreed to, we agree with the client in advance on the fee basis for an assignment. Our fees are in the mid-range for the services we provide.
We always work on behalf of each client’s best interests.
Gloria Thomas, president
Wizard Workforce Development Incorporated
It dawned on her: WIZARD was the perfect name for her company! In addition
to Merlin, she had always loved The Wizard of Oz. She especially adored
the concept the Wizard shared with the brave little band of travelers:
“You always had the power, the heart, the brain and the courage!”
Soon after, she adopted the slogan There’s Magic In Everyone!™