Exceptional practitioners, shared commitment.
Competitive Edge has built lasting relationships with industry leading practitioners who extend our capabilities in specialized areas. These strategic partners share our dedication to quality, our commitment to evidence-based tools, and our focus on creating real impact for the organizations we serve.
Drew Bird
Drew Bird is a seasoned leadership and organizational development practitioner with more than 20 years of experience coaching leaders, designing development programs, and delivering solutions that drive measurable results. He is the Founder and Principal of The EQ Development Group. His work spans multiple sectors, giving him a broad, practical perspective on how effective leadership practices shape organizational performance and human outcomes.
Drew is a Premier Partner and approved Certifying Trainer for the EQ-i and EQ 360 assessments through Multi-Health Systems, and is also certified in the Risk Type Compass and Hardiness Resilience Gauge. His credentials include Achieve Global Master Trainer, qualified MBTI practitioner, and certifications in the Hogan HDS, HPI, and MVPI instruments.
He holds an MSc in Organizational Psychology from the University of London and an MA in Leadership from Royal Roads University. Drew is a member of the Canadian Psychological Society and the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
Drew partners in the delivery of Emotional Intelligence certification training and co-facilitates Adaptability Intelligence certification programs. He brings depth, credibility, and practical application to complex psychological frameworks, ensuring participants not only understand the models but can confidently apply them to leadership development, culture, and real-world organizational challenges.
Sarah Dale
Sarah Dale is the Founder and President of Know No Bounds and a respected consultant, speaker, and author with more than three decades of experience in the financial services industry. Her career spans client-facing advisory work, product and program development, practice management, and the design and delivery of training and coaching initiatives that drive measurable performance and revenue growth.
As a practice management consultant, Sarah works closely with corporate leadership, managers, advisors, and teams to strengthen leadership capability, improve client acquisition and retention, and build scalable, high-performing practices. Her approach is grounded in real-world experience, having held Series 7, 9, 10, 63, and Life and Health licenses, giving her a practical understanding of the pressures and complexities facing today’s financial professionals.
Sarah is an accomplished author and co-author of The Question and Answer Book of Money and Investing and Know Service: 5 Steps to 5-Star Service for Financial Professionals which was co-authored with Krista Sheets. She began her career in 1990 and previously served as Director of Marketing and Training for a regional investment firm, where she played a key role in strategic planning, business development, and cross-organization integration initiatives. Sarah is a graduate of the E. Claiborne Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond and currently resides in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Sarah collaborates with us in the application of DISC, Motivators, EQ, and Adaptability Intelligence assessments to help leaders and teams translate insight into action. Her work focuses on using assessment results to clarify strengths, address performance constraints, and improve how individuals and teams lead, communicate, and respond to change. By grounding data in practical execution, Sarah helps organizations build consistency, accountability, and sustainable growth.
Dr. Melissa Furman
Dr. Melissa Furman is the Founder and Owner of Career Potential and a nationally recognized expert in career development, leadership growth, and future-ready workforce strategies. Her work focuses on helping individuals advance their careers while supporting organizations in building leaders who can navigate generational complexity and ongoing change.
Dr. Furman serves as a faculty member at the James M. Hull College of Business at Augusta University and with Georgia Tech Professional Education in Savannah. Her research and consulting work span multigenerational workforce dynamics, unconscious bias, emotional intelligence, leadership development, and supporting technical professionals as they transition into management roles.
With more than 20 years of academic and applied experience, Dr. Furman is known for translating research into engaging, practical learning experiences that resonate across diverse learning styles. She delivers training and organizational consulting for corporate, nonprofit, and government organizations and is a frequent speaker at state, national, and international conferences.
Dr. Furman holds a Doctorate of Business and a Master of Science in Professional Counseling from Georgia State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Susquehanna University. She is a National Certified Counselor and is certified to administer a wide range of assessments related to behavior, emotional intelligence, leadership, and career development. Her recognitions include Faculty Member of the Year at Augusta University, Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, and nomination for Georgia Trend Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40.
Dr. Furman partners with us for her deep expertise in multigenerational workforce dynamics, future-ready leadership development, and career advancement. She brings research-backed insight and practical application to help organizations prepare leaders and employees to grow, adapt, and succeed across generations and evolving career expectations.
Liz Schehl
Liz Schehl is the Founder and Principal of ESC Strategy and the author of The Courage to be Curious: Transforming Leadership from Within. She is a seasoned consultant and executive coach who helps leaders, teams, and sales professionals elevate performance by strengthening adaptability, strategic thinking, and self-awareness.
With deep expertise in wealth management, Liz serves as a trusted advisor to leaders and sales organizations, guiding them to clarify vision, set meaningful goals, and navigate change with confidence. Her work centers on reframing challenges, unlocking potential, and building sustainable momentum through practical, people-centered strategies.
Liz holds an MBA, an MS in Organizational Leadership, and a BA in Communications. She is certified in AQai Adaptability Intelligence, DISC, and Motivators, and is CPD certified in Neuroplasticity. Her insights have been featured in Fortune, CBS Radio, On Wall Street, ThinkAdvisor, Talent Management, and The Glass Door. She also holds Series 7, 9, 10, 24, 63, 66, and insurance licenses.
Liz partners in the delivery of our validated DISC, Motivators, and Adaptability Intelligence assessments to help leaders and teams gain practical insight into behavior, drivers, and change capacity. Her work translates assessment data into clear coaching strategies that improve decision-making, strengthen leadership effectiveness, and accelerate performance in environments requiring continuous adaptation.