Our team.
David Woolwine, SPHR | President
I founded The Paraclete Group in 2019 to bring executive level experiences and insights to the next generation of leaders and organizations - virtually. In today’s organizations, I see a wealth of very seasoned leaders with a desire to leave a legacy through coaching and influencing leaders and I also see a group of bright, hungry next generation leaders with a continual thirst for growing and learning. It didn’t seem too far a leap to help bring these two together in a more intentional way. Then the pandemic hit revealing the opportunity to provide services virtually.
I have over 30 years of leadership experience in many different industries, small and large. I have a deep appreciation for the challenges of those starting their own business, because I have done that three times. I have had the privilege of coaching and mentoring leaders of some of the largest organizations as a leadership consultant with the Ken Blanchard Companies. I also have had all the leader development, change and culture implementation, and talent strategies and succession experiences that come as a former Chief Learning Officer in a major healthcare system.
My wife and I are blessed with three children and nine grandbabies.
I look forward to meeting you and being by your side in your leadership journey whether it be as a coach, helping you implement change, develop your team, or create a culture that will allow you to leave a legacy.
David Bernd | Leadership Coach
For more than 20 years, David L. Bernd served as the Chief Executive Officer of Sentara Healthcare, a $5.2 billion integrated health system headquartered in Norfolk, Va., comprised of 12 acute-care hospitals, with health plans covering 450,000 lives, 950+ provider medical groups and medical staffs of approximately 3,700 physicians. Under his leadership, Sentara developed a national reputation for safety, quality, and innovation, and Sentara facilities and programs have been recognized in the America’s Best Hospitals rankings by U.S. News & World Report for the past 15 years. Mr. Bernd led the organization into a new era of health care, caring for defined populations and transforming the way health care is provided.
Mr. Bernd received his master's degree in hospital and health administration from the Medical College of Virginia. Mr. Bernd served as administrator at Norfolk General Hospital where he was named a recipient of the American College of Hospital Administrators' Robert S. Hudgens National Young Hospital Administrator of the Year Award. Mr. Bernd later served as executive vice-president/chief operating officer of Sentara Health System and later as it’s Chief Executive Officer of Sentara Health System (now Sentara Healthcare). Mr. Bernd retired from Sentara in 2016, bringing to a close a 43-year career with 21 years at the helm. David now serves as a certified, International Coaching Federation coach and is using his experiences and insights to help develop the next generation of leaders. David and his wife now have 10 grandchildren!
Eric Hayes, SPHR | Leadership Coach
Eric Hayes is a Human Resources executive with a deep background in organizational leadership, learning development, and core HR skill sets. He has served as a Human Resources business partner and learning and organization development consultant supporting corporate HR and accounting across multiple industries for over 11 years. He holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Learning from The George Washington University, and a Bachelor’s in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication. He also serves on the board for the Peninsula Chapter of SHRM as the College Relations Chair. Eric lives in Yorktown, VA with his wife, three kids, and two golden retrievers.
Mary Streett, SPHR | Leadership Coach
Mary’s leadership experience spans 30 years in frontline to senior roles. Prior to her consulting work, she served as a talent development leader for a national healthcare organization. Driven by her belief that we all have potential within, she works with clients to set and achieve work and personal goals balanced with focus on the whole person.
Mary received her MSM in Leadership and Organization Effectiveness from Troy University, and a BS in Industrial Relations from LeMoyne College. She completed her coach training at Georgetown’s Institute of Transformational Leadership, is an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation, and is a Narrative Coach Enhanced Practitioner. She holds certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources, a Global Talent Management Leader, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Leadership Circle Profile 360, and the Organization Analysis and Design Survey. She welcomes the opportunity to partner and co-create solutions that make a difference!
Mary and her husband have raised three boys and reside in Virginia Beach, VA.
Jessica Davenport | Marketing Consultant
Jessica has over 15 years in marketing and public relations experience and serves as the Creative Director at a boutique public relations agency in Virginia Beach.
As a graduate of James Madison University’s competitive media arts and design program, Jessica has a mixed background of marketing, public relations, graphic and web design, journalism and advertising.
She is a mother to a childhood cancer survivor and a former micro-preemie, and is passionate about helping other families going through similar situations. Many of her blogs have been published on sites like Huffington Post and Mamamia, and shared thousands of times on social media.
Jessica resides in Chesapeake, VA with her husband and three kids.