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3375 Edison Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Brad Taft, MBA, CMF, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CFLC
Managing Director
Brad is also the Chief Career Strategist of
Taft Career Group, a career management
consulting firm that supports individuals in
planning and implementing effective job search campaigns.
Prior to founding Taft Vocational Experts LLC and Taft Career Group,
Brad worked with firms such as Korn/Ferry International, Lee Hecht
Harrison, Right Management Consultants, and Spherion. He has
provided recruitment and talent management services for companies
in a large number of service and manufacturing industries, and he has
provided career consulting to individuals in all functions and all levels of
organizations.
Brad holds certifications in the human resources and career consulting fields: Career
Management Fellow (CMF), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and
Senior Certified Professional – Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP). He
also is a Certified Forensic Litigation Consultant (CFLC).
He is the co-author of two books: Boom or Bust!: New Career Strategies in a New America, a career management guide for mature workers, and Return of the Boomers, a leader’s guide
to managing the mature workforce. He has written numerous articles and delivered keynote
speeches and workshops on employment, workforce, and career issues.
Brad received a B.A. in Communications and a M.B.A. from the University of Southern
California.
Brad Taft has over 40 years experience in the employment, human resources, and vocational consulting fields. Positions include recruiter, human resources director, career counselor and outplacement consultant.
He possesses a strong understanding of employment and HR issues, including compensation, the labor market, career planning, job search strategies, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
CAREER CERTIFICATION INT'L
INSTITUTE OF
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Taft Vocational Experts LLC's Consultants include:
Marilyn Bechtold, MS, NCCC, CMF
Marilyn Bechtold has an extensive background in career assessment and consulting, executive career management, corporate outplacement, executive coaching, and training with an emphasis on career and change management programs. She is a National Certified Career Counselor and a member of the prestigious National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). She is a certified Career Management Fellow with the Institute of Career Certification International (ICCI). Marilyn is certified in The Birkman executive assessment method used for executive coaching and team building. She is a member of the Career Planning and Adult Development Network.
She has coached executives from a wide variety of industries including financial services, legal, aerospace, high-tech, health care, real estate development, manufacturing, advertising, and insurance. She taught classes at the College of Business at Arizona State University on career assessment, resume development and self-marketing. Prior to moving to Arizona, Marilyn spent twenty years at Stanford University where she was instrumental in the development, design, and delivery of career development and transition programs. She also developed, managed and facilitated the University’s outplacement program.
Marilyn has a Master of Science in Education and a Bachelor of Science in Business Education from Northern Illinois University.
Christopher Payne, MS
Chris Payne has extensive experience in vocational evaluation, coaching, and human resources with private and non-profit organizations of all sizes where he has worked to assist individuals, teams and organizations to achieve their highest level of performance and success. He has also made significant contributions within the vocational rehabilitation field providing vocational assessment and counseling services to individuals having various physical and/or mental disabilities. He has been a consultant to numerous organizations, including Phoenix College, Ameriprise Financial, Hexcel Composites, Francisco Grande Hotel and Golf Resort, Arizona Children’s Home, and Tatum Partners.
In addition to consulting with Taft Vocational Experts, Chris provides coaching and human resources consulting through his own firm, Payne Consulting Group. Previously, he held executive positions in Human Resources at Ventana Medical Systems, Inc and Lasertel Inc in Tucson, Arizona. He also worked at Raytheon Missile Systems Group, Goodwill Industries of Tucson and The Utah State Board of Education, Rehabilitation Services Division.
Chris obtained his Masters Degree in Vocational Evaluation and Counseling from the University of Arizona. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Pre-Medicine with a minor in Psychology from Purdue University.
