Arlen Bankston, a pioneering figure in the agile movement, was one of the first to integrate lean systems thinking and user experience practices with agile software development methodologies. His innovative approach has left a lasting impact on the field.

Currently, Arlen is a sought-after coach and trainer, specializing in advanced courses such as the Advanced CSPO, Certified Scrum Professional PO, Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster, Certified Agile Leadership Essentials and Team, as well as custom sessions including the Grow-Lean Remote and Hybrid Work. His expertise extends beyond the realm of software, exploring Lean, Six Sigma, BPM and other process management and systems thinking approaches to provide organizations with a comprehensive perspective.

Arlen's journey in the agile world began with his early involvement in the Scrum Alliance (member number 41) and as one of the first Certified Scrum Trainers . He further expanded his knowledge by becoming a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt during his six-year tenure leading a Lean-Agile practice. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found the consultancy LitheSpeed, which he successfully led for fifteen years before joining Grow-Lean.

Known for his thought leadership and dynamic, entertaining, and practical training style, Arlen has trained and mentored thousands of ScrumMasters, Product Owners, team members and executives. He designed the Agile Leadership Academy to address the leadership and structural challenges that many successful companies still face.

Arlen's client list spans across every industry and includes notable names such as RBC, Monster, Marriott, NBC Universal, CNBC, NGA, Capital One, T. Rowe Price, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and the Armed Forces Benefits Association. His book “HR and the Agile Organization” provides valuable insights on how human resources departments can adapt to support organizations striving for adaptability while enhancing employee engagement and retention.

David Bulkin is a managing director and head of training services at Grow-Lean. He assists teams as a coach / mentor; delivers training, and builds product. He has trained 20,000 students, and impacted thousands via public speaking and coaching. Unlike many trainer/coaches, he continues to build systems.

David delivers training, including the CSM, A-CSM, CSPO and A-CSPO courses; and has trained over 20,000 students with over 10,000 being with the Scrum Alliance.

David mentors and coaches teams and individuals.

He does all of this while actively building software, filling various roles at different times, including designing, coding, testing, PO and Scrum Master (think about that, someone who does what they teach).

David's commitment to helping others and his continued work as a team member positions him to deliver a practical perspective that will help you boost your career.

David's thought leadership in 2009 on progressive elaboration for agile requirements influenced what is now known as refinement (entering Scrum in 2011). David has successfully applied agile to manufacturing, marketing, sales, finance, and other areas outside of IT. He was an independent reviewer of the original PMI-ACP body of knowledge that fed the creation of the PMI-ACP Exam and has worked on the exam questions for the Certified Scrum Master Exam. David’s broad background ensures you are getting up-to-date ideas to apply.

David is an industry veteran with 40 years of product development experience. In 2001, David's eBanking Team at JP Morgan Chase implemented agile with Kent Beck, the Father of Extreme Programming (XP), and perhaps also Agile, was the team coach. In addition to eBanking, David was also responsible for Online Account Opening, Insurance and Retirement Services.

David's deep experience, his high energy level, and his continued hands-on work helps David stay practical and level-headed . He can understand your needs so you benefit from his experience.

Chris Doss is a seasoned executive leader with over 20 years of agile leadership experience in Technology, Operations, and Project and Program Management. He is known for delivering a friendly, stress-free training experience.

He has a proven track record of transforming organizations and programs to deliver value to customers and associates by applying business agility. Chris is also a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) with extensive experience in agile coaching, consulting, and training. He has helped over 250 agile teams achieve better results and has led large-scale agile transformations for various organizations.

Chris has achieved significant improvements in Operational Excellence, Product and Service delivery, and regulatory compliance. He has successfully managed enterprise, operational, and technology risk in highly regulated business areas, and has built effective compliance and monitoring frameworks.

Chris holds multiple certifications and qualifications, including Project Management Professional (PMP), Six-Sigma Green Belt, Design Thinking from Harvard University, Management of Business Administration (MBA), and Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mechanical Engineering.

Chris was one of the first CSTs authorized to deliver the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) course and he has delivered Scrum training in different countries, such as the United States, France, and Brazil.

He combines his leadership skills, developed in 22 years of service in the Virginia Army National Guard where he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel, with his practical business background,and with his informal / friendly style, to provide engaging and effective training that makes a difference.

Donald Patti is a seasoned agile trainer, coach, and consultant, renowned for his robust business acumen and software development expertise. He has successfully implemented agile methodologies across a diverse range of industries, teams, and organizations. As an entrepreneur, Don has founded and grown two businesses and provided c onsultation to numerous well-respected organizations. His deep understanding of lean principles, the foundation of agile, enables him to impart the intrinsic meaning of his teachings.

With a long-standing career in education, including many years as an adjunct professor and agile trainer delivering online training, Don's background in lean, agile, education, and online delivery equips him to convey information in an easily comprehensible manner.

Don devotes much of his time to coaching teams applying agile at scale and providing targeted coaching to clients. His vast real-world experience enriches his classroom instruction, where he delivers practical, reality-based agile training.

Don's service spans government, private sector, and non-profit clients. His extensive client list includes a dozen federal agencies, eleven non-profits, and over 90 private sector entities. Prominent clients include Amazon Web Services, HP, Daimler Benz, JPMorgan Chase, CheckFree, NASA, GSA, DHS, the National Cancer Institute and the Small Business Administration.

Don's strengths lie in his ability to tailor Agile and Lean techniques to the unique needs of each client and situation. His ability to explain this tailoring sets him apart.

Certifications and Education:

Don's significant real-world experience is complemented by a strong educational background and numerous certifications across various areas:

• Scrum Alliance: Certified Scrum Professional (CSP), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
• Scaled Agile Academy: SAFe Program Consultant (SPC5), SAFe Agilist (SA)
• RH Smith School of Business: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Information Systems and Entrepreneurship
• Balanced Scorecard Institute: Balanced Scorecard Professional (BSP)
• Morestream University: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (LSBB)
• American Society for Quality: Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB)
• EXIN: ITIL v3/IT Service Management
• Project Management Institute: Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Microsoft: Microsoft Certified Professional –Architecture and Requirements Gathering (MCP)
• IBM: Certified Solutions Expert/WebSphere
• IBM: Certified Solutions Advisor