Turning Corners Group was founded in early 2005. After much preparation and discussion it was given life by four friends who had been professional colleagues for ten years. TCG offers a verity of services. We are founded to present the Principles, as discovered and articulated by Sydney Banks, to Individuals, Groups and Organizations.

Our Philosophy:

Turning Corners Group is founded to provided another avenue of coaching, counseling, training and intervention using the Principles articulated by Sydney Banks. The success of any of our programs is measured by the increase in health and well-being of the participants.

Our Mission:

Our mission is to help individuals, groups and organizations to release their own potential for innate health and wellness regardless of situational factors or past history.

Our Vision:

Rita J. Shuford, Ph.D.
President and Co-Founder of Turning Corners Group, LLC.

Dr. Shuford received her Ph.D. in CounselingPsychology and her Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Oregon. Dr. Shuford has been providing counseling services to businesses, individuals, families and groups for over 30 years. She is accomplished trainer and public speaker. Dr. Shuford has served on many Boards throughout her professional career. She is currently on the Advisory Board of the Turning Point Cancer Center. She is a respected member of the American Psychological Association and the Hawaii Psychological Association. During the past 7 years, she created and implemented the successful Trainer of Trainers program, for therapists desiring to teach and counsel from a perspective based on the Three Principles. Dr. Shuford has facilitated "intensives" and retreats for individuals and couples. Her other interests include relaxing with 2 canines, 2 felines, and other family members.

Cam Shuford, MS,CSAC
Director of Business Development
Founding Member of Turning Corners Group, LLC.

Cam has had over 25 years experience working in business and mental health arenas. He was an account representative for Xerox Corporation for 7 years; provided time management training to executives and was a marketing consultant for a city sponsored Private Industry Council. In the mental health arena, Cam has worked with at risk adolescents and their families focused on helping teens realize their potential and helping to strengthen family relationships. He has worked as a Mental Health Counselor in several high schools; been an intensive in home family therapist; conducted adult and adolescent substance abuse groups; been a recreation director; director of a Big Brother/Sister Program; been a counselor in a program for runaway teens.; In my past life I was a world champion chariot rider and a Civil War hero. My exploits are well documented in Who's Who in America but humility prevents me from discussing my greatness any further.

Louise Esselstyn, M. Div.
CEO and Co-Founder of Turning Corners Group, LLC

Louise has a distinguished career in the provision of training and seminars to youth and adults both in Hawaii and throughout the Mainland. Her career spans 35 years, and the participants in these seminars have come from all walks of life. She has found success with teachers, county and state employees, therapists, correctional officers, prisoners, graduate students, interns, clerical assistants, and interested community members. The common thread through all of these seminars is to lead the participants to greater insight into their own health and greater well-being. In leading the participants to a clearer vision of their own health, the specific goals of the particular seminar are accomplished. The results of the seminars have been:

• Greater ability to communicate
• Greater sense of self
• Building stronger and more successful relationships
• Increased self-esteem
• Greater enjoyment at work
• Increased skills in resolving conflict
• Increased participation on team
• Personal insights that lead to greater well being
• Personal commitment to excellence

Ms. Esselstyn has also offered counseling and mental health services in the community; in the educational setting from elementary through graduate school; in county, state and federal correctional institutions; and in community adult education programs.

Developing and overseeing program development has been another aspect of Ms. Esselstyn's professional life. She has been able to see a need and create a response to that need through program development, consultation, training and networking with others who share the desire to address the observed need. The programs and responses developed have been quite successful, and in a number of cases they have become permanent programs in institutions and communities.

Community volunteerism has been a hallmark of Ms. Esselstyn's career. She has been involved in developing halfway houses, developing community children's councils, and participating in local and national movements to increase peace and the human rights of persons.

G.F. Robie Lovinger, PHR
Founding Member of Turning Corners Group, LLC
COO

Robie has an extensive background in business, leadership, and emergency disaster operations. She has been a certified Professional in Human Resource Management since 1997 and is a national member of the Society for Human Resource Managers (SHRM).

She began her management career at AT&T in Boston during the transition and split off of the Bell System. While in New England, she next developed and directed the largest WIC Program in Southeastern New England and was twice elected as Chair of the Statewide WIC Advisory Board. Community volunteerism included the areas of hunger, homelessness, domestic violence, human rights, and tennis coaching for at-risk youth.

Following an inspired visit with family in Hawaii, Robie relocated to O'ahu in 1984, working with the City & County of Honolulu, Hawaiian Airlines and Fed Ex, before opening her first entrepreneurial venture, Resumes For $uccess. Among numerous projects, she designed and implemented a unique employment and job readiness program for ex-felons (State and Federal) which successfully prepared job seekers for unsubsidized employment in the Private Sector on O'ahu.

Combining a life-long commitment to diversity and equality, Robie joined the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 1998, contributing her unique abilities to assist disaster survivors and disaster responders throughout the US and her territories.

Known as the "calm in the storm", Robie has worked during post-9/11 in New York City, all 4 back-to-back hurricanes in Florida, and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (MS, LA, TX). At FEMA, she specializes in Equal Rights, Civil Rights, Disabilities and Tribal issues. Family, community, sports, travel, culinary and canines are among her leisure interests.

At TCG, Robie offers Career Coaching, Employment Readiness, Motivational Dynamics and Developing High Performance Management Teams.

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