Ed Gash is a leadership development consultant and owns his own business, Eagle Wings Consulting. He conducts numerous workshops in the areas of Leadership and Personal Development. Ed was president of the national award-winning chapter of the Charlotte Area American Society of Training and Development. He worked at First Union eight years, implementing a corporate-wide leadership training program with Franklin Covey, and previously managed the training and employment functions at the Federal Reserve Bank. His versatile career includes being a top salesman in an executive recruiting firm, directing a comprehensive guidance program at an independent school, a decade of coaching winning football and wrestling teams, writing a federal grant that awarded a drug treatment facility assessment and creation of overall wellness and fitness programs, and working with the department of corrections as a probation officer.

Ed graduated from NC State University with a BA in Sociology and Criminal Justice. He also holds a Master of Education Degree in Guidance & Counseling from UNCC. He studied at Cambridge University in England and graduated from the NC School of Banking. He is a Master Trainer in Development Dimensions International and Franklin Covey and teaches all of the Franklin Covey Leadership Courses. Additionally, he has attended the Disney School of Management

Ed is active in his church as a lay minister and leader. Being an Eagle Scout, he proudly serves as assistant scoutmaster in his son's troop. He has completed Woodbadge Training, the highest leadership training in Boy Scouts. He has an official Cherokee name and is infatuated with Native American Culture and has competed in Indian Dance Competition. His versatile background is not limited to sports and scouts. Ed has had leading roles in dramas and musicals and participated in summer stock and opera.

He is married to the former Cindy Anderson of Kingsport, Tennessee, and is the very proud father of 14-year-old Mason. Of all the prestigious titles Ed has held, his most cherished is that of "dad."

In 1994, Ed co-facilitated the training of 1,500 volunteers for the men's Final Four Basketball Championships. He was asked to return and help train the 600 volunteers for the women's Final Four in 1996, as well as the volunteers for the NFL Experience and Rock 'n Roar Weekend. In July of 1997, Ed trained the 2,000 volunteers that worked the AAU Junior Olympics - at ONE TIME in Ovens Auditorium. In 1996, Ed was honored as "Trainer of the Year" at then First Union Corporation. This is an award that is given based on nominations and specific comments from Ed's peers and those who he served with in the corporation.

He has recently authored a book entitled Beyond the Hashmarks chronicling his coaching stories into corporate and personal development learnings. Ed's varied background, coupled with coaching experience and humorous storytelling antics, prove to be an entertaining and enlightening event for all. Ed is an avid disciple of the "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People." After reading the book in 1989 he immediately discerned a personal mission statement that he lives by today. He has been honored at the Franklin Covey Symposium with "International Facilitator of the Year." Ed attests that this process helped him cope with the toughest challenge to him so far, watching and supporting his wife's recovery from breast cancer.

Areas of Expertise:

Athletics/Sports

Change

Leadership

Team Building