Cary was named LMI's Rookie Associate of the Year for North America during LMI's 38th Annual World Convention held last spring in San Diego. Pictured starting left are Rex Houze, President of LMI, Cary, Linda Gray, and Paul J. Meyer, founder of LMI. The convention's theme was "Building for the 21st Century."

Cary is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who, as an enlisted airman, worked his way up thorough the non-commissioned sergeants grades and commissioned officer ranks. During his career, he was instrumental in leading his units to win eight Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards and two Organizational Excellence Awards.

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern Colorado, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electronic Systems Management from Southern Illinois University, and a Masters of Science Degree in Systems and Logistics Management from the United States Air Force Institute of Technology.

Cary was a college instructor for seven years with the University of La Verne and Chapman University where he specialized in Ethics in Business, Corporate Communications, Management and Leadership Principles, International Business, and graduate classes in Organizational Leadership.

He is a graduate of four of the California Central Coast's community leadership programs: Leadership San Luis Obispo County, Leadership Santa Barbara County, Leadership Lompoc Valley, and Leadership Santa Maria Valley (a program he co-founded in 1995). Cary is also currently a pioneer year class member in North San Luis Obispo County's Foundation for North County Leadership.

In 1996 Cary was named a California Distinguished Community Leader and, in 1997, was recognized as a Distinguished National Community Leader by the National Association of Community Leadership Programs at its national convention. He currently serves on the Board of the California Association of Leadership Programs.

Linda A. Gray, co-founder of the Center for Effective Organizations, currently serves as the Executive Vice-President of LMI-CEO.

Linda has more than 20 years of experience as a Registered Nurse working acute care, medical floor, surgical floor, reserve status, CCU, and DOU. She is also experienced in dialysis and as a circulating nurse in ophthalmological operating room, home health care, and forensic nursing.

She graduated with an Associate Degree in Nursing from Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo; and an A.A. and A.S. in Licensed Vocational Nursing from Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria.

R. Stewart Fisher, LMI-CEO's Senior Vice-President for Ventura County, serves as our chief ISO 9000 Auditor and is our Lead Facilitator for total quality leadership training programs.

Stew is a cum laude graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He retired as a captain from the Navy in 1998, after 31 years of service spanning the Vietnam War and Desert Storm.

During his long career, he attended the prestigious Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C., and served in the Secretary of the Navy’s Total Quality Leadership Office. He authored and taught many of the Navy’s quality and leadership courses and was a Strategic Planning Instructor/Facilitator.

Stew Fisher led a helicopter combat search and rescue squadron in Desert Storm and later commanded 2,000 men and women at the Naval Air Station, Pt. Mugu, California. He has received numerous awards including the Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and Legion of Merit.

In his civilian career, Stew is an ISO 9000 auditor, a leadership, team skills, program management, and quality instructor, and the author of several leadership courses. He has served as the keynote speaker for many events and ceremonies. Stew also trains in the martial art of Aikido and is a Certified FAA Flight Instructor in both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft. In 1999, he joined LMI-CEO.

Stew and his wife, Annie, reside in Camarillo, California, and have four children: Molly, Kelly, Patrick, and John.