Zen Benefiel
MA, MBA, CHt, CLC
Bruce 'Zen' Benefiel is one of those characters who has kept moving, creating
and facilitating hundreds of projects including arts & crafts festivals, change
management, concerts, conferences, corporate events, customer service programs,
delinquent shipment reduction, Gaia-fests, forums, fundraisers, golf tournaments,
manufacturing bottleneck removal, radio and television shows, road and bridge
construction and many smaller projects just because somebody needed to create
some action.
Principal and owner of Be The Dream (since 1988), specializing in partnering facilitation, project management, organizational development, strategic planning consulting, customer service and motivational speaking. His vocational experience spans aerospace, education, health foods, home improvements, manufacturing, radio, social services, television and video production.
-
Possibilities Coagulator - Facilitator - Transformational Life Coach
-
Master of Business Administration degree in Project Management
Master of Arts degree in Organizational Management
B.S. degree in Business Administration, minor in Finance
Certified Life Coach from Southwest Institute of Healing
Arts
Over twenty years experience facilitating partnering workshops
Over 10 years as a college and secondary instructor/teacher
Personal Objectives
-
CoCreate integrated domains, under Be The Dream, as a virtual model themed 'harmony among people and planet.' Websites are shared revenue generating and populated with people, products and services congruent with the 'theme.' I own BeTheDream.biz, .com, .info, .mobi, .net, .org, .tv, .us and .ws with some being populated to date.
-
CoCreate a model peer community educational village using the Spectrum Academy model to example a working institution designed for the new millennial mindset, one that comprehends the concept of 'oneness' and seeks to incorporate it in life.
-
Facilitate the growth of Be The Dream Academy, Inc. to include educational events, community organizing workshops and new millennial festivals that bridge personal and professional environments that relate to a healthy global village.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Conducts Partnering workshops for public and private sector
organizations in the southwestern United States.
Zen completed his Transformational Life Coach certification in 2004 through the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. He also taught Business Plan Development classes there and worked with the staff in organizational development, communication and problem-solving preferences as the school was growing tremendously.
Since then he has served scores of clients through a variety of business and personal processes. His unique background allows him to address the conservative crowd as well as those who desire to experience the 'urban shaman' approach to transformation in the red rocks of Sedona.
Zen also provides partnering facilitation for the Arizona Department of Transportation's multi-million dollar construction projects bringing contractors, designers, engineers, municipalities, utilities and others to consensus in launching project management, issue resolution and action plan development.
In the early 80s he catapulted a health foods company's success with a 45% increase in market penetration throughout a 13-state territory. In the mid 80s he facilitated $7 million per month in commercial aircraft spare parts, then a 20% reduction in delinquent military spares shipments, as an aerospace production control coordinator through aligning interdepartmental information flow. In the process, he initiated interpersonal skills development when it was not popular.
Rising from the ashes yet again after nearly a year of self-examination, he became a radio and television host in the early 90s. His focus was on overcoming common fears that helped people achieve their dreams. Hosting over 100 One World shows, he highlighted success stories from homeless transitional facilities to city government to internationally acclaimed celebrities. He went on to co-produce several community activism television shows on child development, holistic medicine, political activism and community service.
He also worked with tribal representatives to help facilitate the development of the Steele Indian School Park, learning the reality and value of 'all our relations' being connected. A rare interview with the co-chair of the Phoenix Indian School Preservation Coalition sparked his involvement.
Zen developed a live metaphor for transformation; a comedic look at his own quest for congruence complete with PowerPoint (1995) and presented to hundreds throughout the following decade. During this period he completed his Master of Business Administration in Project Management from the University of Phoenix in 1997, going on to complete certification in Secondary Education with the goal of empowering students with real world connections to their learning.
After receiving certification in Secondary Education, Zen was granted an emergency certification in special education for high school. It turned out that business openings were rare in the Phoenix Metro area. He took his students through a successful journey in creating research papers; thought nearly impossible by 'trained' school staff. Zen also completed certification in Hypnotherapy, providing an avenue to share techniques in accessing deep knowing and pattern changing processes.
He went on to manage entire curriculums at several charter high schools and even a residential treatment center for adjudicated teens while finishing a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix in 2002. He wrote a project plan for an alternative school/community called Spectrum Academy. An author and avid writer, a paper on personal ethics garners several thousand views per month on the web now.
Always the champion for the underdog, Zen worked with Self Employment Loan Fund to help challenged entrepreneurs, women and minority owned businesses, through consulting and facilitating written business plans, in acquiring small business loans and assisting with organizational development.
As an educator with real world experience his compassion and understanding allows him to communicate effectively on a wide range of topics that relate to self-awareness, personal development and co-creating healthy environments and relationships in the new millennium. The new paradigm is collaborative creation, inclusive of personal and planetary purpose.
"Anything less than the truth and we make fools of ourselves."
author unknownObjectives when engaged
Focus: Integrating science and spiritual principles to empower co-creation and achievement of dreams/goals.
Secondary: Excellence in education delivery in secondary, post-secondary and professional environments.
Management Style: Charismatic / Transformational
Skills set:
Business Consulting – analysis, strategic planning, project management
Facilitating - coalitions, collaborations, cooperatives, partnering workshops
Educating, Mentoring and Coaching – secondary and adult learners
Event Coordinating – small to large scale private and public events
Television Producing – producer/host, procurement coordinator and media buyer
Transformational Life Coaching - ally, guide, mentor, shape shifter and zeitgeist
Supply Chain Managing and Resource Integration – aerospace, events, health foods
Sales and Marketing – education, graphic services, health foods, home improvements
Desktop Publishing – brochures, j-cards, posters, newsletters, presentations
Completed Graduate Studies:
Master of Arts - Organizational Management, U. of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 10/03
Human Resources, Conflict Management, Project Planning - 3.94 gpa
Master of Business Administration, University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ – 2/97
Project Management, Marketing, and Production - 3.84 gpa
Other Education:
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration, University of Phoenix 11/89
Life Coach Certification, Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Tempe, AZ – 8/04
15 proficiencies for personal and professional development – 100 hours
Secondary Teacher Certification, University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ – 11/98
Business Certification - 3.95 gpa
Hypnotherapy Cert., Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Scottsdale, AZ – 2/98
Stress relief, personal growth and development – 100 hours
Desktop Publishing Certificate, Aztech College, Tempe, AZ – 8/92
Adobe Illustrator, Quark, Adobe PageMaker – 100 hours
BS in Business Administration, University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ – 11/89
Major: Advertising, Finance and Marketing - 3.72 gpa
Self Employment & Personal Endeavors:
Be The Dream, Gilbert, AZ (1988 to present)
Business & Personal Transformational Coach & Facilitator - Entrepreneurial and executive coaching; sales/marketing consulting, ministerial and spiritual counseling, hypnotherapy, personal transformational life coaching, personal and professional development workshops using the synergy of science and spiritual wisdom. Facilitator for partnering workshops in various industries, fostering collaboration and team building.
Can Do Productions, Inc., Phoenix, AZ (1992 -93)
Video/television producer, host, procurement coordinator and media buyer. Developed format, content, and talent and secured studio time, coordinated location tapings and directed final post-production for series of 30 minute community activist television shows called “Who?”. Simultaneously Production Coordinator for three other hosts' shows with multiple studios, location tapings and crews to assemble.
GAIA-Fest (Aug. 2001), Pacific Palisades, California
Co-creation and facilitation of eco-festival in multi-tiered canyon, know as Las Pulgas, celebrating environmental and spiritual alternatives. Event included body/mind/spirit vendors, alternative energy devices, eco-system regeneration projects, organic gardening, paulownia tree exhibit and live music with 60+ vendors. Attendance was estimated at 2,000 patrons and received front-page coverage in Pacific Palisadian, CA newspaper.
Mission: Earth Dance (Spring 2001), Phoenix, ArizonaEvent Producer – Series of one-day events to raise awareness for at-risk youth population in Arizona. Topics included Social Innovation and Community Building, Patterns and Problems in Global Business Archetypes, Touching Lives and Healing People, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Removing Prejudice from Our Lives and Schools.
Prophets Conference (Oct. 1997), Phoenix, Arizona
Event Manager – Coordinated and managed all logistics at Corona Ranch in Levine, Arizona, a 17-acre mini-ranch and rodeo grounds. Logistics included over 30 presenters in 5 lecture areas (3 tented), 120 vendor booths w/ pipe and drape, paramedics, security, traffic, waste management and 50 volunteers. Event drew over 5,000 patrons for the 3-day weekend.
Earth Concert 1989, Phoenix, Arizona
Organized, promoted, negotiated media coverage, and emceed weekend multi-speaker conference and forums, including music concert finale. Coordinated approx. 50 volunteers in development and implementation of action plans, distributing printed materials, site and venue development, public awareness outreach and logistics at the venue, Scottsdale Sun Center.
ONE WORLD (1990-92), Phoenix, Arizona
Producer/Host - 30-minute weekly cable television show for 65 weeks based on thinking globally and acting locally interviewing various celebrities, public figures, business, education, environmental, social psychology, and science and technology professionals and how they worked through personal and/or professional fears to find success.
Native American Heritage Park and Cultural Center (1990-93), Phoenix, Arizona
Advocate - Participated in proposal writing and presentation to the City of Phoenix Mayor and Council regarding multi-use development of Phoenix Indian School Park grounds. Acted as temporary co-chair for volunteer group of mostly Native Americans demanding Native American cultural and heritage recognition as a compliment to the diversity of Arizona. Process took 2 ½ years and resulted in the project approved and implementation. Steele Indian School Park opened in November of 2001.
Insight of Others:
Citizen involvement is crucial to the decision-making process and I commend your efforts with the Indian School Heritage Park development.
Paul Johnson, Mayor – City of Phoenix, Arizona
Zen is a rare find in education… he has a ‘calling’… his belief, creativity and compassion add value to students as learners and people.
Angela Budde, English Teacher, Trevor Browne High School
…offers fresh ideas, creative problem solving techniques… exercises leadership when necessary to accomplish group goals… substantial contributions toward success.
Dr. Charles Wiley, Faculty Member, University of Phoenix
...works well with others ...ability to effectively communicate his thoughts on a wide range of topics....impressed by the degree of sensitivity and enthusiasm.
Cay Randall-May, Ph.D., Faculty Associate, Glendale Community College
...very resourceful and creative ...communication and concern for the community makes him an asset.
Julia Zozaya, AZ Special Projects Coordinator, United Latin American Citizens
...an exceptional young man, dedicated to honesty, credibility and integrity in all the aspects witnessed. …instrumental in the success of the Indian School Heritage Park.
Jean Chaudhuri, President, Indian Women in Progress
...good in the environment of working with groups of people, speaking to groups and organizing projects, especially when acting as a mediator or negotiator.
Robert Puryear, Systems Analyst, AMEX
...well prepared presentation, effectively modulated ...anticipation and timing was superb; intensified by using distractions to demonstrate understanding.
Robert Wahl, Hypnotherapist
...has shown interpersonal skills that allow him to work effectively in potentially hostile situations with patience and poise ...resourceful...good communicator and team player .
Martin Stone, Training and Development, JTPA, City of Phoenix...positive, pro-active management style ...takes initiative and meets the needs of others ...is a doer, not a talker, and can take charge of a management position and make things happen.
Ruth Fisher, Glendale Airport Manager
...am always impressed by his abilities to communicate in ways that assist others to understand whatever the topic he is intending to communicate. He is a natural facilitator, bringing together people and ideas in a cohesive manner that supports their effectuation.
Jerome Allan Landau, J.D.
Professional associations:
American Society for Training and Development - Valley of the Sun Board of Directors
Institute of Noetic Sciences Steering Committee - Phoenix IONS
University of Phoenix Alumni Association
International Association of Coaches
American Counseling Association
International Speakers Network
Personal
affiliations:



