Why We Are Here
One of the greatest blessings of my life was growing up watching my father as he created his own leadership consulting company from the ground up.
As a child, I was given the opportunity to watch my father pour into people and invest in their lives, both personally and professionally. Witnessing the impact that he has been able to have over the past 20 years on the lives of countless people belonging to National Wildfire, FEMA, and other groups, has inspired me.
For my dad, money was never the goal. In fact, when I was younger and not-all-that-bright (still ain’t), I found out how much my dad charged for his work. I knew how much time, effort, and pride he took in providing his clients the best educational experience possible, so I asked why he didn’t charge more for his services. His response was short, clear, and to-the-point, “I follow a service model, not a business model.”
Years later, I still reflect on that conversation and smile. My dad does what he does for the right reasons. He carries and handles himself in the way that both his father, Dean, and his younger brother, Kenny did. His “People First” attitude and approach in the business world has left an immense impact on me.
This impact spurred a passion within me and helped push me to create a leadership development company with the same service-oriented mindset as my father. To honor him and the values for which he stands, I have named the company People First Leadership Solutions LLC. People First Leadership Solutions, PFLS, aims to meet learners where they are and help them develop themselves to reach their personal and professional goals.
While PFLS will work with youth organizations to help their members develop into tactful, experienced, and knowledgeable citizens and leaders, PFLS will also focus on adult learning in institutions of higher education and in the corporate arena. The Center for Creative Leadership reported in their Leadership Insights Survey that 95% of employees think leadership development should begin by 21(1), yet the Harvard Business Review found that the average person’s first leadership development training occurs when they are 42 years of age (2). This disconnect could prove detrimental in the ability of companies to recruit and retain employees, as well as lead to poor company culture and other managerial problems. PFLS wants to help companies effectively recruit and retain employees while boosting company culture from within.
SHEA BOOSTER
President
Shea received his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Communication with minors in Leadership and International Studies from the University of Florida. He leverages his knowledge in content creation and curriculum development to write programming that is engaging, grounded in research, and beneficial for personal and professional development. He has developed content on a wide range of topics including personal motivation, work-life balance, public speaking, and more. Regardless of your organization’s needs, we are confident Shea will be able to craft content that will exceed your expectations.
Shea has a passion for people and their development as individuals, as teammates, and as leaders. He believes that the success of a leader is directly connected to the quality of relationships he/she has with his/her people. His high energy, sense of humor, and general positivity are sure to engage your organization and encourage personal and professional development.
See what others are saying about Shea below.
Sometimes if we are lucky enough, we get to meet a special person who is unlike anyone else we have ever encountered. A true breath of fresh air, an inspiration. This was the case when I first met Shea Booster. To say that he is an incredible young man and wiser beyond his age would be an understatement. He impressed me from the very first moment we met and even more as I learned more about him. The value he brought to our Association has been significant especially to our Leadership Development initiatives.
Shea took an idea and ran with it and created an amazing program called the Emerging Leadership Institute designed for employees younger in their career. He demonstrated such excellent leadership skills during his facilitation sessions that everyone who participated in this program was greatly inspired.
Shea’s level of leadership abilities and high emotional intelligence goes far beyond his age, like an old soul. I am so proud of him and all his accomplishments. I highly, highly recommend Shea. He is a fantastic collaborator, a great listener and an absolute pleasure to work with.
-Deborah Caldeira, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Farm Credit of Florida
"Engaging Shea Booster for work with our association was like providing a master class to our membership. We brought Shea in to do leadership training and a keynote speech to newly minted leaders in our organization. Shea’s ability to quickly develop meaningful relationships, paired with his incredible talent in speaking and facilitation, took our event to the next level. His workshops and keynote speech were the highest rated portions of our event evaluation. He is extremely adept at designing learner-focused sessions, and his personal presentation style engages everyone in the learning process. If you bring Shea to work with your team, I guarantee that members of your organization will leave your event as better people and leaders, and they will laugh…A LOT! I would hire Shea again in a heartbeat."
-Austin Large, Director of Membership & Organization Development at the American Farm Bureau Federation
I have had the pleasure of following Shea's leadership progression for the past ten years. I can confidently say that he has a true desire to serve others and help them reach their goals. I have personally seen him coordinate leadership workshops for youth and adults. He is able to adapt to all ages and will focus his content on the goals requested by the hiring organization. Shea is passionate about building teamwork and communication skills amongst groups, I have seen him make connections with numerous individuals as he is genuine with each participant and finds more value in assisting others find the success they desire. During the beginning of his leadership experience, I witnessed Shea provide a keynote speech to all staff of the Bend-LaPine School District during the opening session of in-service week. His words of encouragement were exactly what the staff needed to kick off the school year. Shea is talented with his leadership coaching skills and will provide a motivating and inspiring message that will be practical and useful for your company or school needs.
-Traci Dulany, Oregon Ag Teacher's Association President
People First Leadership is new to the leadership consulting and facilitation industry, but Shea is a seasoned veteran. Having held numerous leadership positions in other organizations, he has garnered more reps speaking, consulting, and training people than most business professionals gain in a lifetime. When working with PFLS you can rest assured that you won't get a canned product. Shea knows to tailor content to specific audiences to ensure he is meeting their needs, not just checking a box. Shea is charismatic and cares about content. My organization consistently partners with Shea and PFLS when planning multi-day, intensive leadership trainings, and we've never been disappointed. I highly recommend Shea for any audience in the leadership and personal development world.
-Jason Wetzler, Jason Wetzler Leadership
If you're looking for the epitome of what it means to be a true leader, look no further than Shea Booster. I've had the privilege of working with Shea for a number of years in a number of arenas, and in each of them--I've seen him flourish. He is a relationship builder, a masterful facilitator, and an inspiring yet attainable speaker. Beyond all of this, Shea is the model of what it means to be a good person. He does right by everyone he meets, sticks to his word, and wants to spread good everywhere he goes. When it comes to leadership development, you really can't do much better than Shea.
-Eric Duarte, Program Specialist at the National FFA Organization
While working with Shea this is what I have experienced -- he has exceeded the expectations set forth in our meetings. He excels working with students one-on-one, was exceptional in making connections, building relationships, and working to identify student’s interests, motivations and goals. Shea goes the extra mile to do what is right and truly wants what is best for everyone he comes in contact with. I believe you will be happy if you chose to work with him in your leadership training.
-Keith Dietzschold, Director of Missouri Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education and Missouri State FFA Advisor
Shea is poised and confident – reflecting a variety of experiences and opportunities in his life to date; this translates to maturity and wisdom beyond his years. You can certainly review his impressive resume which highlights those experiences and opportunities. What you may not see between the lines of such an impressive resume is the integrity, compassion, and heart to serve that undergirds every decision he makes day in and day out.
-Dr. Natalie Coers, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication at the University of Florida
Shea is an experienced, unique, professional with the skills to engage young and seasoned groups and individuals! His vision for leadership activities, situational learning and meaningful conversations is innovative and genuine. Shea is relatable and authentic in nature and has the ability to engage all members of a group or team. His knowledge and application of the subject matter is second to none while his enthusiasm and good nature is evident.