Our Team

Dr. E.M. (Ted) Vokes

 

 

 

Executive Partner

Head of Applied Theory Development

Ted has over 30 years of experience as an in-house and external consultant, trainer, and facilitator to a diverse range of for-profit, non-profit, and public sector organizations -- from the automotive, mold making, airline, power generation, petrochemical, agricultural, and telecommunications industries, to corrections, education, mental health, child welfare, hospital, public health and first responder sectors. Ted specializes in leadership development, strategic planning, dispute resolution, intervention in and prevention of workplace violence, identifying and counteracting individual and systemic abuses of power, and culture transformation.

Ted has a Specialized Honours B.A. in Psychology from York University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Applied Social Psychology (specialization in Industrial-Organizational Psychology) from the University of Windsor. His practical leadership and managerial experience include serving as Second-in-Command of an Air Force officer candidate training school, as Executive Director for a mental health centre, and as Executive Partner of Vokes Leadership Group.

Ted teaches undergraduate and graduate students in the Psychology Department and the Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor. In addition, he is a lead Trainer, Facilitator, and Executive Coach for St. Clair College's Micro-Credential Certificate Programs in Leadership & Culture Management.

Ted thinks he’s pretty cool because he likes to use big words like “tumultuous”, "concomitant", and “deleterious” when he writes reports. No one else is impressed.

Dr. Amir Reza Talaei

 

 

 

 

Senior Partner

Head of Psychometrics & Applied Research

Amir has a B.Sc. in Industrial Management, an M.A. in General Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Applied Social Psychology (specializing in Industrial-Organizational Psychology). Prior to becoming a Partner with our Practice, he held a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in the Psychology Department at the University of Windsor.

His main interests and expertise revolve around personality in the workplace (with a focus on ‘personality derailers’ or ‘the dark side’ of personality), leader and employee counterproductive work behaviours, motivational processes, change leadership, and organizational neuroscience. As our Senior Partner, he is responsible for Psychometrics and Applied Research. He keeps us on the cutting-edge of social and neuroscientific advancements. He and his Applied Research Team are responsible for identifying and countermanding management pseudo-science and developing applied theories that translate social and neuroscience advancements into practical solutions for leadership and organizational challenges our clients routinely face. He and his team are skilled in both qualitative and quantitative methods in support of their research and applied theory development.

Amir is a lead Trainer, Facilitator, and Executive Coach for St. Clair College’s Micro-Credential Certificate Programs in Leadership & Culture Management. In addition, he teaches undergraduate and graduate classes in the Psychology Department and Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor.

Amir thinks he is pretty cool because he knows what you are thinking. As it turns out he’s usually right. #howdoesheknowthat? #getoutofmyheaddoc #carefulwhatyouthink

Adrian Deschamps, H.B.A., E.S.

 

 

 

Partner

Head of Theory Advancment & Behavioral Analytics

Adrian has a B.A. (Hons) in Psychology and Disability Studies from the University of Windsor, and an Educational Support Diploma from St. Clair College. He is passionate about facilitating workplace culture transformation by integrating different perspectives of social psychology, neurodivergence, personality theory, social power theory, and cognitive neuroscience. Adrian also has experience working as an educator and disability support worker in a variety of non-profit, educational, and corporate settings.

In the Practice, he is responsible for theory development, leadership training, organizational change management, personnel selection, culture-fit interviewing, workplace culture reviews, and social power analyses. He brings particular expertise to our work in supporting clients as they identify and remedy culturally toxic dynamics in the workplace.

Outside of work Adrian is known for his love of music, movies, coffee, and being an unapologetic extravert first thing in the morning. We introverts manage to endure his morning shenanigans. Mostly.

Halina Hoang, H.B. Comm.

 

 

 

 

Operations & HR Administrator

Head of Finance, HR, & Psychometrics Administration

Halina holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Windsor.

As Head of HR, Finance, Logistics, and Scheduling, Halina plays a key role in keeping day-to-day operations organized and running smoothly. She brings strong business sense, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to everything she does—helping the team stay focused, supported, and on track.

Known for her love of structure and continuous improvement, Halina is always exploring new tools and ideas to streamline processes and make things work better. Her work is grounded in integrity, professionalism, and authenticity—values that guide both her decision-making and how she connects with others.

When she's not working, Halina enjoys spending time with her cats, soaking up the sun, and taking on personal projects—like building her own PC. She's always up for learning something new and finding smart ways to blend creativity with practicality.

Trenton Vokes, Dip. 3DDA

 

 

 

Project Coordinator

Head of Operations & Client Relations

Trent (or Trenton) brings a dynamic blend of technical expertise and creative problem-solving to the Vokes Leadership Group. With advanced training in Computer Game Design and 3D Digital Graphics from Toronto Film School, and foundational studies in Public Relations from St. Clair College, Trent is highly skilled in digital tools including Microsoft Office, Unreal Engine, 3DS Max, Adobe Photoshop, Maya, Blender, and Unity. His background equips him with a keen eye for detail, adaptability to new technologies, and the ability to manage complex digital projects with confidence.

As the Project Coordinator, Trent supports the team through meticulous project management, HRIS software administration, and seamless client communication, ensuring that every virtual meeting, document, and data record is handled with precision and professionalism. Trent's passion for learning and his dedication to excellence help keep our operations running smoothly and our clients well-supported.

Trent thinks he’s pretty cool because he can turn pixels into masterpieces and make government administrators swoon over his work. (But don’t ask him to sing... or for that matter, tap dance.)

Jason Koornneef

Jay Koornneef, H.B.A., Dip.

 

 

 

 

Associate Practitioner

Head of IT Solutions

Jason comes to our Practice with over two decades of business management and consulting experience spanning several continents. He has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Windsor and a Tourism and Travel (High Honours) diploma from Seneca College. Accordingly, he doubles as our in-house travel agent for all of our international work.

 As an Associate Practitioner, Jay is a key member of our Applied Research and Theory Development Team. In this regard, he played a key role in generating content in support of our client's response to the pandemic. In addition, he co-facilitates learning labs with our clients as well as courses that we deliver through the University of Windsor and St. Clair College. He also oversees technical logistics and resource positioning for our Practice in Organization Development and Change Management.

Want to learn more?

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with your leadership development and culture management needs!