Meet the team

Here to help you.

About Us

At Utech, we understand that you want your company to reach its fullest potential. In order to do that, you need an individualized and unique plan to move your teams forward. The problem is, most organizational development solutions are “one-size-fits-all” and don’t meet leaders where they are – which can make you feel frustrated, with no clear strategy to achieve your vision of where your company can go.

We believe you deserve a custom approach that’s sustainable, company-wide. As a family-centric company, The Utech Group understands the unique dynamics of change and transition that can lead you to the next phase of growth. That’s why, over the last three decades, we’ve been able to guide thousands of people in making the changes they needed to move their organizations forward through our training programs, leadership and team development and our customized organizational development approach.

MELISSA BOROWICZ

CEO & OWNER

MELISSA BOROWICZ

CEO & OWNER

Melissa Borowicz has over two decades of experience working with organizations across the country and is an expert at defining corporate culture and helping companies maximize their management teams and people. With a rich understanding of how relational barriers limit personal, professional, and organizational growth, Melissa strives to help create team and organizational alignment to overcome barriers. Her comfortable and relaxed style puts people at ease during even the most difficult leadership transitions.

In addition to her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, Melissa is equipped with an arsenal of skills that enable her to efficiently identify and customize solutions to meet each organization’s unique needs. She specializes in leadership assessments, values identification, and values articulation to drive culture, develop leaders, and enhance team interactions.

Melissa establishes a common language and common ground that permeates an organization – from the leadership team and employees to the customers and communities they serve. After working with organizations that range from 10 employees to 3,000 employees across the United States and Canada, she understands the importance of establishing buy-in at every level, both internally and externally, and knows how to accomplish it. Helping to create self-sufficient people and organizations is a driving force in Melissa’s work.

Her certifications include:

Global LQ™ Listening Intelligence Certified Coach
Process Mastery Certification from Hammer Company
Certified Master Practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming
Certified User of DISC
Certified Lead Now Practitioner

In her free time, Melissa serves on the Encompass Early Education and Childcare Board of Directors and is on the Advisory Board for the Institute for Women’s Leadership with UW-Green Bay. She can also be found cheering her kids and husband on through their sports and passion areas. Melissa also loves to travel, read historical fiction, run, spend time out West hiking and being in nature, and tackling DIY projects.

KEN UTECH

FOUNDER & SENIOR STRATEGIST

KEN UTECH

FOUNDER & SENIOR STRATEGIST

Ken Utech is the founder of The Utech Group (formally Utech Consulting, Inc.) and published author of “Recapturing the Growth Track: Correcting Leaders’ Disempowering Behaviors.” He is driven to make things happen, particularly challenging senior management teams to change so they impact their organizations more productively. He was among the first to create an organizational development company focused on the cultural elements of organizational structure, and he is the first to approach organizational development through changing the heart. Ken created a system that blows past the symptomatic behaviors to create true change.

With over 40 years of experience, Ken has refined his techniques and created a model to work with CEOs and leadership teams. His approach empowers the CEO and his or her direct reports to ask themselves the right questions, explore their answers together, determine the appropriate changes in their behavior, and hold each other accountable. Ken has worked with hundreds of companies of various sizes throughout the United States and Canada. He has worked extensively in businesses, non-profits, government, healthcare systems and schools to create lasting, impactful change.

In addition to his years of organizational development experience, Ken is also a licensed marriage and family therapist and has a master’s degree in social work.

When not at the office, Ken enjoys working out, meditating, reading, and spending time with his wife, children, and grandkids.

CHRIS UTECH

OWNER

CHRIS UTECH

OWNER

Chris Utech is driven by connecting with and making a difference in people’s lives. With over 35 years of organizational and behavioral experience, Chris has established herself as a change agent, providing people with a fresh start. She leverages her skills to provide leadership breakthroughs, personalized coaching, training, and a Quit Smoking program.

Chris has a long history of working with people and organizations. In the mid-1980s, she started a company called Community Connections, which focused on developing effective and efficient office programs. She used her skills in connecting with people to create more efficient offices, especially in the medical and dental communities. Her primary joy and focus is working more effectively and efficiently while connecting with people to make things happen.

The work she did in Community Connections propelled her to join The Utech Group (formerly Utech Consulting, Inc.), where she has been an owner for over 25 years. Chris has transferred her business and office administrative skills to empower people to realize their potential and facilitate healthy relationships. As a certified Master Practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming and the Body and Emotion Code, she coaches people by helping them break down limiting beliefs and create achievable, positive outcomes. She also leads communication seminars and works with families and couples.

Chris will help you see what your potential is and how you can achieve it. If you’re interested in working with someone who has the insight and the ability to develop you from a personal and couple’s standpoint, Chris has the answers and the drive to make a difference in your life.

In her free time, Chris enjoys gardening and spending time with husband, children, and grandchildren.

NICOLE SMITH

SENIOR CONSULTANT

NICOLE SMITH

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Nicole Smith has a true passion for seeing people for who they are and engaging with them to create change and growth. She has worked with employees at every level — from senior leaders to those just beginning their career — on leadership and team development. With her 20-plus years of organizational development and HR experience, Nicole has extensive experience providing executive coaching and interviewing and hiring talent for cultural fit.

Nicole has also been a part of an acquisition team, where she focused on assessing leadership and team dynamics, and created plans to integrate cultures from the acquired businesses into one organizational culture.

Additional credentials include:

Bachelor’s degree in business administration from St. Norbert College
Master’s degree in counseling from Lakeland College
Global LQ™ Listening Intelligence Certified Coach
Certification in Culture Index
Certification as a Nero-Linguistic Practitioner
Certified ECHO Listening Intelligence practitioner
Certified in Stewart Leadership LEAD NOW! Assessments
Certified in Interstrength Cognitive Dynamics
Certified in Culture Index
Certified in Korn Ferry
Certified Conflict Dynamic Profile Practitioner

Away from the office, Nicole likes to spend time with her family at a variety of sporting events, supporting her kids in all areas of their passions, playing games, and being at her lake property. She also loves to immerse herself in a good book.

RYAN GRACYALNY

DIRECTOR OF TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

RYAN GRACYALNY

DIRECTOR OF TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

As a consultant, coach, and trainer with The Utech Group, Ryan Gracyalny’s passion and focus lies in creating meaningful growth and change by strengthening relationships and breaking down barriers between people.

Beginning his leadership path as a social sciences teacher in Milwaukee, Ryan shifted his course to continue pursuing his purpose to have the greatest possible impact on people. He rejoined his family’s manufacturing business, finding a niche in organizational development, and working with every level of leadership to create engagement and movement within the company. After joining The Utech Group in late 2015, Ryan leveraged his experience to work with organizations across the country to improve their culture, leadership development, and team development.

A creative thinker and problem-solver, Ryan collaborates with organizational leaders to create customized, high-impact training and team development experiences that truly move the needle. These sessions equip people with cutting-edge tools to improve relationships, optimize their teams, and develop the change resiliency leaders need to thrive in the modern business world. He’s driven to help people think differently about themselves, each other, and their work, while providing innovative tools and insights into how they can improve their workplace culture and productivity. Ultimately, Ryan’s purpose is to help others turn their stories into their strengths.

Additional tools and skills Ryan brings to the table include:

Bachelor's degree in secondary education, Broadfield Social Sciences and History
Certified Stewart Leadership LEAD NOW! Practitioner
Certified Master Practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming
Certified Master Practitioner in Hypnotherapy
Certified Master Practitioner in Mental Emotional Release®

Ryan loves spending time with his wife, Nicole, and stepson, Weston, who keeps him on his toes. He is a musical entrepreneur and songwriter who is easy to catch on stage behind the drums of his band, Christopher Gold & The New Old Things.

GAOJOU SHOMBERG

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

GAOJOU SHOMBERG

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

Gaojou Shomberg is the marketing and social media specialist for The Utech Group. Gaojou graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay with a bachelor’s degree in English. Utilizing her creative abilities as a writer and visual artist, Gaojou designs and develops content for Utech’s social media, marketing materials, and website. She brings the story of The Utech Group and our clients to life. Her curiosity and ambition for capturing the essence of what it means to create change make her a valuable member of the Utech team.

As part of her growth journey, Gaojou participated in the Utech Leadership Collective (2017) and Leadership Green Bay (2020) and is a member of the American Marketing Association (AMA).

In her free time, Gaojou enjoys photography and spending time with her friends, family and two adorable cats - Mitthaniel and Jaximus. She also enjoys attempting DIY projects and exploring new places with her husband and daughter.

KRISTI SMEESTER

PROJECT COORDINATOR & EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

KRISTI SMEESTER

PROJECT COORDINATOR & EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Kristi Smeester has a strong administrative background, serving all levels of management, from small businesses to large corporations. Her ability to bring stability and results to the companies she has worked with makes her a highly valuable member of the Utech team.

Kristi has a down-to-earth, yet direct communication style, which allowed her a seamless integration into the Utech family. Her ability to manage projects and schedules, build relationships with clients, and anticipate the needs of those around her make Kristi a key component to Utech's success. She keeps the business running efficiently and effectively with her strong work ethic, her dedication to those she works with, and her drive to get things done the right way, the first time. She has a deep passion for people and for being a part of making positive changes in the lives of those around her.

Kristi is a 2019 graduate of Utech’s 12-month training program, the Leadership Collective. She continues to educate herself through life experience and on-the-job training.

In her free time, Kristi enjoys spending time with her daughter, her family, and her friends. She has a love for people and a passion for art.

KATIE LOEHLEIN

TRAINING & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PRACTITIONER

KATIE LOEHLEIN

TRAINING & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PRACTITIONER

With a passion for helping others grow and develop, Katie Loehlein has extensive experience creating, presenting, and facilitating leadership training to both new and existing leaders. She also possesses a strong background in HR and has worked with employees across all levels of an organization to create and implement organizational change. Katie is driven to build relationships, encourage others, and guide them to self-discovery and action.

Katie has an associate degree in speech language pathology assistant from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. She is also certified in Speed of Trust — Franklin Covey, Reality-Based Leadership — Cy Wakeman, and is a Practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming and a Certified Emotion Code Practitioner.

Away from work, Katie enjoys spending time with her husband and three daughters, either camping, hiking, thrifting, or playing cards. She and her family also take time to help others by volunteering at local homeless shelters to feed those in need. In addition, Katie loves to read and believes there is always more to learn.

EMILY LIMBERG

BUSINESS & STRATEGY CONSULTANT

EMILY LIMBERG

BUSINESS & STRATEGY CONSULTANT

Emily Limberg is passionate about helping leaders and teams recognize their potential and understand the impact of their individual fingerprint on the company.

She has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin—Oshkosh and is a 2008 graduate of the Marinette/Menominee Chamber of Commerce Leadership Academy and the 2021 Utech Leadership Collective. Emily is an active member of the Green Bay Area SHRM Chapter. Emily has more than 15 years of experience in human resources, program management, operations, and general management.

Emily has worked with organizations across the United States in the areas of talent development, employee engagement, and change management. Throughout her professional career, the teams she has led and been a part of have focused on measuring corporate culture, improving workplace communication, and enhancing inclusive leadership.

Her certifications include:

Global LQ™ Listening Intelligence Certified Coach
Senior Certified Professional (SCP) Certification through Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming Certification
Korn Ferry 360 & Leadership Architect™ Certification
Korn Ferry Conscious Inclusion & Managing Inclusion™ Certification
Practitioner in Conflict Dynamic Profile Certification

In her free time, Emily loves spending time at “the lake” with family and friends. During the pandemic, she discovered a new hobby in quilting. Additionally, you can find her cheering for her two daughters at their swimming, running, basketball, and music events. She and her husband Shawn also enjoy volunteering at their local school and community events.

KEELY MARLOWE

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT

KEELY MARLOWE

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT

As an Organizational Development Consultant with The Utech Group, Keely Marlowe excels in uncovering growth opportunities and fostering strategic partnerships. Her proactive problem-solving skills, collaborative approach and passion for positive, transformative change drive her work. Leveraging her intuitive insights and strategic planning abilities, Keely is dedicated to delivering innovative solutions and leading initiatives that support company growth.

Prior to joining The Utech Group, Keely was an accomplished Marketing and Communications Director with over a decade of experience driving brand vision and strategy. As a consultant, her role centered on the growth and performance of her clients’ teams, establishing strategic communications, marketing, partnership development, training and new programs. Keely has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and has completed the Program for Inclusive Excellence at St. Norbert College, along with Master’s level coursework in business negotiation, marketing and mediation at the University of WI-Milwaukee.

In Keely’s free time, she and her husband, Evan, team up with their son, Emmett, to produce a family trivia podcast. When they’re not wrangling their energetic dog, Dolly, or enjoying a getaway at their cottage, Keely is dedicated to giving back to the community by volunteering at local non-profits and serving on the advisory board of the Women’s Fund of Greater Green Bay.

STEVE UTECH

ILLUMYX FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION & STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

STEVE UTECH

ILLUMYX FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION & STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

Steve’s life mission is to unlock the mysteries of complex human interactions to make people’s work and personal relationships more meaningful, productive, and satisfying. All things niche and complex are food for his ADHD brain. He’s a geek at heart with irreverent humor, but also has a deep love of people. An experienced leader in the areas of culture optimization, organizational effectiveness, and team development, Steve is the visionary and founder of illumyx.

His background in both the hard sciences and the art of family dynamics allows him to take a behavioral and systematic approach to organizational change and transformation. He has worked with Fortune 1000 organizations and executives in a variety of sectors to help them optimize their culture and achieve results. Steve holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver in Colorado and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota.

An adventurer at heart, Steve spends his free time exploring nature with his 4 kids and anyone up for testing their limits. He enjoys rock climbing, backpacking, and finding brief moments of rhythm out on the dance floor.

Above all, he enjoys seeing people grow and develop by giving them the freedom to explore and try new things. As someone once put it, “Steve makes it safe to be dangerous”.

DAN RITTER

DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE ANALYTICS

DAN RITTER

DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE ANALYTICS

Dan is a data geek with a passion for computational social science and its applications in the workplace. Dan has never been a fan of the left-brain vs right-brain dichotomy–he is a dedicated all-brainer. He believes in the power of data to help us better understand human behavior at scale, and also that a healthy dose of humanity is required to accurately interpret data and apply insights with wisdom and tact.

Two of his favorite quotes sum up his approach to work:

“Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion,” W. Edwards Demming

“...people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” Maya Angelou.

In his free time, Dan enjoys wilderness camping with his family, reading, and tinkering with anything that can be taken apart. A lifelong learner, he holds a BA in Education, is currently pursuing his MS in Data Science, and has amassed a growing collection of certificates from fine institutions around the country.

MAX KRESCH

SENIOR DATA SCIENTIST

MAX KRESCH

SENIOR DATA SCIENTIST

Max finds creative problem solving deeply fulfilling is highly disciplined in his approach to research. He brings an advanced mathematics background to illumyx with significant experience in machine learning techniques, computer programming, and complex statistical analysis.

Max has experience working on complex Department of Defense projects and he recently transitioned his career into social science research. An erstwhile lecturer on data science at the University of Wisconsin, Max is gifted at communicating complex topics in easy-to-understand ways. Max assists the team in survey analysis and reporting and provides oversight on research design and analysis.

A father of two with a passion for music. In his free time, you’ll find him at a local park with his kids, cruising on his rollerblades, or jamming on his guitar with one of several bands he plays in.

MICHELLE STEINER

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT

MICHELLE STEINER

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT

Michelle is the Senior Accountant here at Utech. She graduated from St. Norbert College, with a degree in accounting and has nearly a decade of experience helping large organizations achieve their finance goals. Michelle is unafraid of taking on challenges and is driven to collaborate with others to find ways to make meaningful, positive, and impactful change. Her high attention to detail and strong analytical nature, coupled with her love for people and for building sincere relationships, makes her a great fit for the Utech team.

Away from the office, Michelle likes spending quality time with her husband, son, family, friends and, of course, her beloved pup. Michelle loves sunshine and will do anything to be outside. Most days, you can find her either running around with her son, playing sand volleyball, or reading a good book.

"Utech takes an intellectual approach to what they do. They teach you how to learn and grow through conflict. I haven't seen anyone else approach it like that."

Sachin Shivaram
CEO
Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry

Meet the team

Here to help you.

MELISSA BOROWICZ

KEN UTECH

CHRIS UTECH

NICOLE SMITH

RYAN GRACYALNY

GAOJOU SHOMBERG

KRISTI SMEESTER

KATIE LOEHLEIN

EMILY LIMBERG

KEELY MARLOWE

STEVE UTECH

DAN RITTER

MAX KRESCH

MICHELLE STEINER

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