Faculty and Staff

Anita Miller, PhD

Dr. Anita Miller spent her illustrious career in education as the Director of the Teacher Expectation & Student Achievement (TESA) program for the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE). TESA is a teacher in-service program developed from over 50 years of research and 350 references. Its purpose is to train teachers to become effective conduits of information, not merely technical experts. After Dr. Miller attained her doctorate at Claremont College, she created the parenting program, Parent Expectation Supports Achievement (PESA), to complement TESA. She successfully implemented both programs nationally and internationally while at LACOE. Anita’s undeniable brilliance stems from her education and experience, yet her personal grace and elegance coalesce all four traits into ultimate efficacy as an educator; therefore, JB Whitney and Associates proudly named her Director of Curriculum in 2011. She trains new entry-level teachers, presenters, and assistant teachers.

Linda Fetzer

Ms. Fetzer’s foundation in the wine industry provides her with unparalleled marketing and promoting skills. Her later experience as a successful realtor in Orange County adds a further layer to her incomparable business acumen. Linda joined JB Whitney and Associates in 2014 to promote off-site seminars throughout the country. She truly personifies savoir faire and capably models elegance in all her communication.

Juliana de Beers

University of La Verne, BA English Cal Poly, Pomona, MA English

My parents insisted that I have a “Plan B” for my dream of being a professional dancer so I reluctantly pursued a teaching career. Interestingly though, my first job of teaching high school English was life-changing and pivotal. It provided me with an incredible education about inspiring people that no college could offer. I became a leader. I learned how to motivate 17-year-olds who did not want to be led, did not want the information I was giving to them, and/or did not want to be in the same room with me. I learned the importance of respect and vulnerability when trying to earn trust. I broke up their fights, stifled their gossip, helped them to dream big dreams, taught them to write perfect English, and taught them to love learning--I tried to teach them to love themselves. In training terms, I learned resolving conflict, inspiring followers, building trust, respecting differences, listening empathically, building and maintaining teams, managing time, welcoming cultural diversity, identifying/eradicating racism, and shunning social elitism. The high school was a microcosm of society’s strengths and weaknesses and my own. I bounced ineffective techniques off of brutally honest kids and learned that if they showed up and no spit wads were in sight, I had gotten into their heads. I left public school teaching with a few awards, but the lessons that I learned about leading people changed my life forever.

I design JB Whitney and Associates courses out of my love to empower people. I want to do more than provide skills; I want to inspire people who attend my workshops to dream again and to dream BIGGER. I want to provide them with a positive mindset, assertive body language, professional vocal tones, and the perfect words so that they can have whatever they desire, do whatever they desire, and be whomever they desire.

Matt Mercier

Matt Mercier received his computer science degree from the University of Georgia and subsequently joined JB Whitney in 2013 as the IT Specialist. His responsibilities include presentation slide creation, video and audio transferring, and systems set up for all seminars, workshops, and classes. He comprises the calm, collected energy required to ensure seamless presentations regardless of medium or modality.