Authentic Encounters LLC

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES of Heritage Pointe Communities

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Heritage Pointe Communities is a Senior Living Organization with the service lines of Independent Living, Assisted Living, Rehab, Healthcare, and Memory Care. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Authentic Encounters LLC to accomplish?

• Strengthen leadership communication among the executive team Improve executive alignment and collaboration Support leadership culture transformation

SOLUTION

How did you find Authentic Encounters LLC?

A member of our executive team had taken a previous training with Lena.

Why did you select Authentic Encounters LLC over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Authentic Encounters LLC were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The scope of work that we engaged Authentic Encounters to complete with us includes leadership development and culture training. Leadership focus was facilitated in two parts, self and adapative. Through this process we have used assessments to understand our leadership style and how we can adapt to those around us. We've worked on communication strategies, communication through change, running effective meetings, bias, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. Key deliverables include: formalized culture statement with values, customized action plan that identifies individual and team talents, enhanced cultural competence, and practical strategies to priortize the needs of others and the organization. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Executive leadership engagement in leadership assessments Identification of leadership behavioral patterns affecting organizational culture Development of stronger leadership communication practices

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Authentic Encounters has delivered everything that was expected. As an organization we had to make a change to a training date and Lena was very accommodating. We've also had an executive team member leave the organization and she was very patient and helpful in getting our new team member up to speed. 

What was your primary form of communication with Authentic Encounters LLC?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Not unique, certainly impressive though - the Authenticity. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something Authentic Encounters LLC could have done differently?

Assessment delivery was not always on time. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Chief Financial Officer of One Southern Indiana

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Local Chamber of Commerce for Clark and Floyd Counties and Economic Development Organization for Clark, Floyd and Scott Counties.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Authentic Encounters LLC to accomplish?

• Strengthen collaboration across departments Improve leadership communication within the organization Foster stronger trust among leadership and staff Enhance internal culture through team development
• Develop a unified vision for the executive team and improve communication skills within said team

SOLUTION

How did you find Authentic Encounters LLC?

Referral

Why did you select Authentic Encounters LLC over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Authentic Encounters LLC were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

With the arrival of a new CEO, the organization recognized the need to align the executive team around a shared vision and strategic direction. This initiative focused on clarifying organizational priorities, including focus areas, goal setting, and corporate responsibility.

As part of this effort, we developed a comprehensive internal culture statement along with clearly defined core values. These values were supported by practical guidance outlining expected behaviors—both in terms of how they should be demonstrated (“what it looks like”) and communicated (“what it sounds like”) across the organization.

To strengthen team effectiveness, the executive group participated in a series of communication and leadership assessments, including StrengthsFinder, DISC, and Predictive Index. These tools provided valuable insights into individual working styles and team dynamics.

In addition, the team engaged in courageous leadership development, building the skills necessary to navigate difficult conversations in a constructive, professional, and non-threatening manner. Each executive also received individualized coaching through Authentic Leadership, further reinforcing personal growth and leadership capability.

Due to the success of this six-month engagement, the organization extended its partnership with Authentic Leadership to deliver six additional staff-wide training sessions. These sessions focused on key areas such as communication, leadership presence, customer service, team building, and employee appreciation, helping to embed these principles throughout the broader organization.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Engagement of the entire organizational staff in development sessions Increased cross-team collaboration and communication Improved alignment around leadership expectations Strengthened culture of teamwork and shared responsibility

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

We found Authentic Encounters to be highly invested in our organization’s mission and strategic goals. Their approach was intentional and collaborative, particularly in the development of staff training sessions that were thoughtfully aligned with our objectives.

They also encouraged active involvement from the executive team, reinforcing leadership engagement by supporting executives in co-facilitating training sessions. This approach strengthened internal ownership and credibility across the organization.

In addition, Authentic Encounters consistently demonstrated professionalism through their timeliness and punctuality. They maintained strong follow-through on established timelines and deliverables, ensuring that all commitments were met with a high level of reliability and accountability.

We found Authentic Encounters to be highly accessible, responsive, and collaborative throughout our engagement. Their team was consistently open and willing to address questions, navigate challenges, and support individual development needs.

They demonstrated flexibility in communication, making themselves available through email, virtual meetings, and in-person conversations as needed. This accessibility ensured timely support and fostered a strong, trust-based working relationship.

What was your primary form of communication with Authentic Encounters LLC?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What set Authentic Encounters apart was their nimbleness and ability to quickly understand and adapt to both individual and team needs. They demonstrated a strong capacity to interpret organizational dynamics and tailor their approach accordingly.

A distinguishing strength was their willingness to engage in and facilitate difficult conversations, offering candid insights that encouraged transparency and growth. They fostered a culture of honesty and courageous leadership at all levels of the organization.

Their sessions were consistently engaging, relevant, and well-delivered, striking an effective balance between professionalism and approachability. Most importantly, Authentic Encounters invested the time to deeply understand our organization, enabling them to customize training and communication strategies that directly supported alignment with our goals, mission, and culture.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Authentic Encounters LLC could have done differently?

Overall, we were extremely pleased with their services and the impact they had on our organization. We would highly recommend Authentic Encounters to any organization seeking leadership development, organizational alignment, or individualized training and coaching.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of HR at a telecommunications company. We provide communication solutions and services to businesses of all sizes across Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Authentic Encounters LLC?

We’ve been phenomenal at investing and equipping our employees with technical skills. However, we’ve been lacking in emotional intelligence and leadership qualities.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We participated in four sessions with Authentic Encounters LLC. The sessions were about turning disagreements into opportunities, emotional intelligence at work, cultivating personal and team accountability in the workplace, and bridging the generation gap for a thriving workplace culture. We also received printouts of each session, a participant workbook, personal assessment testing, 1:1 coaching, and a final personalized team assessment.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 6–10 teammates from Authentic Encounters LLC.

How did you come to work with Authentic Encounters LLC?

I’ve known Lena for years since we were once coworkers. We chose Authentic Encounters LLC because they were a great culture fit and their company values aligned with ours.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together in September 2025.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve seen growth in our leadership team and how they handle and manage conflict and day-to-day decision-making. Our employees are experiencing personal growth not just inside our business walls but outside as well. They’re self-reflecting in heated situations and evaluating their own actions. They’re learning from these situations instead of blaming others. This has helped our culture tremendously.

How did Authentic Encounters LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

Authentic Encounters LLC delivered on time. We communicated through in-person meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve been impressed with Authentic Encounters LLC’s ability to deliver training with authenticity and realness. They don’t say what we want to hear; they state what we need to hear. That’s not always easy or glamorous, but we respect them so much more.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, it was wonderful.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the communication and member services manager at Decatur County REMC, a member-owned electric cooperative. We provide reliable and affordable electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Decatur and surrounding counties in Indiana.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Authentic Encounters LLC?

We wanted to align the culture within our department.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We wanted full alignment, and Authentic Encounters LLC has helped us create values as a team and set clear expectations for our SOPs, which were previously unclear. Everyone has participated in a 360° assessment. We’ve had monthly workshops with the entire team and individual 1–1 meetings to have deeper discussions on a more personal level.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with one teammate from Authentic Encounters LLC.

How did you come to work with Authentic Encounters LLC?

Lena was an old colleague that I had worked with in the past. We chose them over other options because they had high ratings, were a great culture fit, offered good value for the cost, and had company values aligned with ours. Moreover, Lena  was an amazing facilitator.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2025, and the engagement will wrap-up soon. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve had significant growth with most of our employees. We’re now able to work as a team after setting clear expectations. Our employees are now working together without conflict. They have a comfort level now that they didn’t have before. Overall, we’ve seen significant changes in engagement and performance.

How did Authentic Encounters LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything that we’ve done with Authentic Encounters LLC has been professional and prompt. We mainly communicate through in-person meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Lena’s ability to bring out the hard questions that we needed to resolve is impressive. She has created a safe environment where everyone feels they can be open and honest.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any.