Meet The Team
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Leonard "Elwood" Wood
Founder & Principal Consultant
​Leonard Wood is the founder and Principal Consultant for L. Wood Consulting, LLC. When not serving clients, Leonard is an Adjunct Instructor with the Florida Center for Public Management’s Certified Public Manager program, part of the Askew School of Public Administration at Florida State University.
Leonard is a designated Master Trainer with the Association for Talent Development and a certified True Colors facilitator. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology and a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Prior to his career in leadership development, Leonard served with the State of Florida for 15 years in various roles, including Organizational and Strategic Development Manager, Training Consultant, Quality Manager, Park Ranger, and Wildland Firefighter.
He volunteers with several non-profits, including the Keep Wakulla County Beautiful Adopt-A-Road program, Wakulla County Animal Shelter, and Second Harvest of the Big Bend
Phone: (850) 888-0335
Julie Wood
Partner & Managing Director
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Julie Wood serves as Partner and Managing Director of L. Wood Consulting, LLC, where she oversees all Florida operations, including public sector and nonprofit clients. She is a training and leadership development consultant and keynote speaker. A dedicated public servant, Julie has served in a wide variety of training and communication roles with the state of Florida for twenty years.
Julie is a designated Master Trainer with the Association for Talent Development (ATD), a certified Change Management facilitator, a designated ATD Master Instructional Designer, and a Certified Public Manager. She is also a DISC facilitator, received her certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from the University of South Florida, and is certified by the Emergency Care and Safety Institute to provide CPR/AED and First Aid training.
Julie found her passion for public service while serving as an AmeriCorps member during Hurricane Katrina, where she met her husband, Leonard. She currently volunteers with the Junior League of Tallahassee and has served as a board member and Vice President of Membership with the Tallahassee Association of Talent Development.
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When Julie is not training, volunteering or behind a computer, you can find her hiking outdoors, spending time with family and dogs and planning her next big adventure.
info@lwoodspeaks.com
Phone: (850) 888-0335
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Megan Sanderst
Leadership Development & Training Consultant
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Megan Sanderst is a Leadership Development and Training Consultant with L. Wood Consulting, LLC. Megan's passion is to bring mental health awareness to the workplace and help individuals recognize the psychological impacts of interpersonal connection.
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Megan is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over a decade of experience supporting children, adults, and families. She began her career in 2012 as a DCF intern at Florida State Hospital and earned her CMHC degree in 2017. From 2018 to 2023, she served as a project manager and wellness coordinator for the Department of Agriculture, focusing on rural and law enforcement mental health. She also provided therapy for foster youth and families at Camelot Community Care. Megan holds certifications in Trauma-Informed Care, TF-CBT, DBT, Adoption Competency, and is a Certified Public Manager.
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In 2023, she authored the Step into Success curriculum and became the trauma-informed trainer for its annual mentee training. Currently, she is the Director of Children and Adolescent Services at The Therapy Room, where she is launching a foundation to offer pro bono support to at-risk youth.
info@lwoodspeaks.com
Phone: (850) 888-0335
Gaby Vollertsen
Leadership Development & Training Consultant
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Gaby Vollertsen is a Training Consultant with a background in Health Sciences. She values health, learning, and collaboration, and believes in the importance of growing individual and team skills through training and professional development.
Gaby was raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and attended Florida State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology with a minor in Child Development. Her academic foundation sparked a passion for promoting wellness, education, and development across communities.
Over the years, she has become a certified instructor in several key areas, including True Colors, CPR and AED, Healthcare Provider CPR, Standard First Aid, and NWCG Facilitative Instruction.
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​In addition to her instructional expertise, Gaby recently earned a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University and holds the designation of Certified Public Manager. Her leadership training, combined with her dedication to inclusivity, makes her a valuable asset to any team or organization. She is committed to empowering others through education, safety, and meaningful human connection.​​
info@lwoodspeaks.com
Phone: (850) 888-0335
Amy Topol
Leadership Development & Training Consultant
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Amy Topol is a Leadership Development and Training Consultant with L. Wood Consulting, LLC. She is dedicated to the principle that building strong resilient team members is the foundation for ensuring organizations are empowered to support the communities they serve.
Amy has served in government positions for nearly 25 years, with over 12 years at the executive leadership level. She is an Adjunct Instructor with the Florida Center for Public Management’s Certified Public Manager program, part of the Askew School of Public Administration at Florida State University.
She is a certified facilitator for Languages of Appreciation and provides training on strategic development, project management, employee empowerment, and authentic leadership.
Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida and a Juris Doctor from Barry School of Law. She is a member of the Florida Bar Association and serves as a volunteer board member for Hello Credit Union.
info@lwoodspeaks.com
Phone: (850) 888-0335
Daniel Williamson
Leadership Development & Training Consultant
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Daniel Williamson is a Leadership Development and Training Consultant with L. Wood Consulting, LLC. He believes that strong leaders are essential to building strong organizations.
Daniel began his nineteen-year career with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) in July 2003 as a uniformed law enforcement officer. Since then, he has progressed through the ranks and, in 2016, was appointed to the rank of Lt. Colonel/Assistant Director.
He has served in law enforcement for over 19 years, with more than 9 years at the executive leadership level. In his current capacity, he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of OALE and the supervision of 236 sworn and 65 non-sworn personnel.
Daniel is a designated Certified Public Manager and Certified Fraud Examiner. He holds a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia College of Missouri and a master's degree in Criminology from Florida State University.
info@lwoodspeaks.com
Phone: (850) 888-0335
Kelli Keech
Leadership Development & Training Consultant
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Kelli Keech is a Leadership Development and Training Consultant with L. Wood Consulting, LLC. She is passionate about connecting application of individual skills to big picture impacts through systems thinking.
Kelli has served in state and local government positions for nearly 15 years in roles spanning communication and training; policy and legislation; strategic planning; and technology and innovation. She has also spent a decade working with non-profits to train boards, committees, and the community.
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She is a Certified Scrum Master and often applies agile, private sector, public sector, and academic principles in training on strategic thinking and planning, change management, process improvement, time management, and creating a legacy of leadership.
Kelli holds bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Accounting from Flagler College, a Master’s in Health Services Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University, and is ABD in Public Administration from Valdosta State University.
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In her free time, you can find Kelli exploring markets with her rescue dog, Brie; tagging Horseshoe Crabs; relishing in local foodie spots; and collecting once-in-a-lifetime experiences across the world.
info@lwoodspeaks.com
Phone: (850) 888-0335
Maxi Wood
Marketing and Special Projects Manager​
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Maxi Wood is the Marketing and Special Projects Manager with L. Wood Consulting, LLC. Maxi is a nonprofit leader, educator, and community strategist with over 25 years of experience empowering underserved communities. Her work spans nonprofit management, faith-based leadership, and grassroots advocacy.
As a former Programs Manager, Maxi developed financial literacy curriculum for immigrant communities, coordinated a diverse network of volunteers, maintained essential data systems, and served as a vital connector between board leadership and external partners. She is known for her collaborative and community-centered leadership style.
Maxi also founded Melody’s Closet, a now-retired ministry that provided free workwear to plus-size women entering the workforce, meeting practical needs with dignity and care.
She has served with the Dunedin-Palm Harbor Junior League, the Tampa Bay Refugee Task Force, and Opera Tampa. In her free time, she enjoys writing, performing and recording smooth jazz music, and continuing to serve her community.
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info@lwoodspeaks.com
Phone: (850) 888-0335
