ABOUT US

What is True North?

In scientific and navigational terms, True North is the precise path from your current location toward the geographic North Pole. While compasses point toward the magnetic pole of the earth, that path varies from geographic North – the true axis of the earth. Finding True North is essential for precision navigation.

True North Professional Development LLC will help guide you to the destination you are seeking. We are dedicated to helping businesses and individuals recognize and leverage the talents within their teams, improve communication, foster a coaching culture and improve productivity.

Meet Kevin Barrett

Leadership Coach / Business Educator / President of True North Professional Development LLC

Kevin Barrett is a highly accomplished Leadership Coach and Learning and Development Professional with more than two decades of global experience in leadership coaching, leadership development, strategic planning, and sales performance enhancement. He has a proven track record in building strong strategic and tactical partnerships at all organizational levels.

Kevin asks compelling questions to challenge individual and group think and provides constructive feedback to help guide his clients to their best strategic decision. His collaborative style sets the stage for long-term positive change.

Kevin has developed phenomenally successful sales competency certification programs. His expertise on improving sales competency, sales performance management and sales coaching has resulted in happier customers, a more disciplined sales force, and significant sales increases.

Kevin’s training facilitation, curriculum development and project management capabilities have been recognized by Fortune 500 clients such as IBM, American Express, Getty Images, Pillsbury, Cargill Corporation, General Mills and 3M. He has effectively managed and developed internal and customer-facing training/instructional design teams.

Kevin is currently the Vice President of the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce.

Kevin has been named Alignable’s Local Business Person of the Year in both 2023 and 2024. The award is given to leaders who’ve gone above and beyond guiding peers and supporting entire communities as many small businesses continue to combat major economic challenges.

Business Person

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Great Catalyst for Senior Level Thinking

Kevin is a deep thinker with an “E.F. Hutton” approach. Thoughtful, insightful interjections and dialog that commanded listening. His consistent clarity of input gained deep respect from his peers and the senior management team. Kevin served as a great catalyst for senior level thinking sessions and proved himself able to lead senior leadership through training and development interactions. Any organization would be blessed to have him.

Frank Espinoza
Vice President of Sales

Accelerate Performance

I worked closely with Kevin for over four years, and during that time, his support and leadership were the benchmark of how other departments were measured. Kevin and his team consistently supported the development plans/training plans of over 2600 individuals. He designed development plans for the Senior Leadership team and their direct reports ensuring that they addressed/developed “blind spots” in their skills to accelerate performance and to execute more cohesively as a team. Kevin was also responsible for designing/developing/executing our National Sales Summit managing everything from the agenda to the theme to the P&L.

Mark Dahlquist
Senior Director of Sales and General Manager

Thoughtful, Intelligent, and Insightful

Kevin is a rare individual that is so thoughtful, intelligent, and insightful. Whenever Kevin speaks you should listen carefully, as you will always want to hear what he has to say. I really enjoy working with Kevin. If you have the chance to do so — you’ll be richly rewarded!

Jim Warren
Senior Vice President of Merchandising

More Efficient and Truly Effective

I had the luxury of Kevin as a teacher, coach and mentor. Kevin has been a massive influence in my management and leadership training with a profound impact on how one thinks and leads. He has helped me learn and adapt my style to be more efficient and truly effective. As a leader who truly knows what it means to have an abundant mentality, I truly regard Kevin as a mentor who helped change my career. You will be blessed to work with this outstanding leader if ever given the opportunity!

Jed Vick
Retail Multi-Unit Manager

Effectively Supports Comprehension

Kevin’s expertise in training, developing, coaching and mentoring is far above others I’ve worked with in my career. He utilizes varying approaches with learners and effectively implements steps to support comprehension, and reduce learner fatigue. He has utilized gamification, micro-burst training, etc. to immediately grab and maintain attention, while ensuring content is understood.

Tim Wooton
Auditing and Monitoring Manager, Compliance

Getting Groups to Function as a Team

Kevin brings to the table a wealth of knowledge and know-how in getting groups to function as a team in a way that captures attention, ignites passion, and produces results. Kevin is an engaging leader and a joy to work with!

Sarah Ostby
Director of Commercial Business

Guidance and Support

Kevin’s training and coaching approach is welcoming, and relaxed. I have personally been coached by Kevin and always felt I had not only his ear and guidance, but his support. He has a very unique way of defusing any situation and guiding participants to discover successful solutions.

My career took on a whole new meaning under Kevin’s coaching and mentorship. Although I was in the correct field, Kevin assisted me in finding the specific job duties that allowed me to utilize my gifts and move from a job I enjoyed to a job I love.

Patty Hearns
New Hire and Development Program Lead

Keen Insight

Kevin developed training and workshop modules for the Sales Team in South Asia where I worked. As a direct results of his efforts and his keen insight in the industry, the South Asia Team managed to over achieve their sales targets by 10%. Kevin is well liked by the Sales Team for taking time to understand their needs and issues and coming up with training modules that are pertinent and tailored to each office.

Christopher Wong
Sales Executive (Hong Kong)

Authentic and Adaptable

Kevin’s ability to build trust and engage key stakeholders is one of his greatest qualities. Kevin is transparent, authentic and adaptable in his approach and is incredibly good at listening to his customers to understand their needs and take action. Kevin is one of those individuals you want to work with.

Staci Nowak
Director of Sales Operations

Highest Levels of Development

Kevin was a strong supporter of sales and sales teams, helping us find ways to get the highest levels of development from our people. Approachable, professional, and possessing a ton of ideas on how to train and educate salespeople, Kevin was an asset to our organization.

Matthew (M.J.) Richards
Vice President of Sales

Drive a Cultural Shift

Kevin delivered several key learning initiatives to our organization. A few of these accomplishments included delivering a sales learning strategy which helped drive a cultural shift to a proactive sales environment as well as a leadership program which included 8 modules that were delivered to all managers and above globally to support guiding principles. Kevin is an innovative leader that can deliver the right message to effect change in an organization.

Brian McIlroy
Vice President of Learning and Development

The Style of Training

I liked the style of training. Kevin did a fantastic job – was thorough and moved at a good pace. I like that he walked through the examples in Excel, was helpful to see and learn that way.

Public Excel Class Attendee

Very Thorough

I appreciate the time Kevin took to check in with questions. Kevin was very thorough in his delivery.

Public Excel Class Attendee

Knows His Stuff

Kevin definitely knows his stuff.

Public Excel Class Attendee

The Pace Was Perfect

The pace was perfect and the supporting document was really easy to type notes into for saving, referencing, and helping others.

Public Excel Class Attendee

GREAT Experience!

Referred a member of my team to True North for some professional development. They had a great experience and have been able to bring their new skills back to the workplace!

Jennifer Harjehausen
Director, Data and Project Management

Comprehensive, Practical and Valuable

Kevin Barrett and the True North Professional Development team are truly experts at what they do. Kevin is a great partner and addresses challenges and opportunities with an objective, pragmatic approach that allows you to create actionable steps to refine your leadership and communication skills.

The Success Minded Leader program is by far the most comprehensive, practical and valuable leadership training I have ever participated in. I have learned real life, practical skills – not just theory. Thank you Kevin and team for your patience and guidance through this process. I know my cohort and I will achieve more and reach a higher level of cooperation, communication, and teamwork, thanks to your efforts.

Paul Harjehausen
Operations and Sales Manager