Insights from Our Clients

At Wingstop, we take great care in developing our people. When it came to investing in

leadership development for our General Managers and District Managers, we knew we needed

a partner who could deliver something truly exceptional. 

SolutionSpark has exceeded our expectations by deeply embedding themselves in our culture, operations, and people. From day one, they have taken the time to truly understand our business—going beyond surface-level learning needs to ensure that every component of our leadership programs is aligned with the realities of our restaurants, our leaders, and our fast-paced, guest-focused environment. Their

approach to Discovery is more than just research—it feels like they’ve become part of our team,

making their insights and recommendations relevant and impactful.

What sets SolutionSpark apart is their ability to design and deliver leadership development in a

way that will truly resonate with our teams. They don’t rely on generic training models; instead,

they craft highly interactive, engaging experiences that meet our leaders where they are—both

in their careers and in their day-to-day roles. 

They take the time to work with us, so that they speak our operational language, ensuring that learning is immediately applicable and feels authentic to our brand. Their ability to innovate with multimedia, gamification, and real-world application techniques makes learning feel natural, not forced, while reinforcing key leadership competencies in a way that drives real change.

Partnering with SolutionSpark has been one of the best decisions we've made in our leadership

development journey, and we’re excited to see the long-term impact of their work on our people

and our business.

Alissa Church, Global Learning Leader, Wingstop

Working with SolutionSpark has been an incredibly valuable partnership for Solventum as we

build out our talent systems during a time of organizational change and growth. The

SolutionSpark team brought a practical, experienced, and deeply collaborative approach that

helped us move from ideas to action across several core areas—succession planning,

performance enablement, and leadership development.

They took the time to understand our business, our structure, and our cultural ambitions—and

used that insight to co-create solutions that felt tailored and scalable. The work on succession

planning, in particular, helped us move away from a static process and toward a more dynamic,

development-driven model that our leaders are genuinely engaging with. It’s rare to see

something click this quickly across a range of stakeholders.

SolutionSpark was never prescriptive or overly theoretical. Instead, they brought thoughtful

frameworks, clear communications, and a roll-up-their-sleeves style that made it easy to make

progress. They’ve become trusted thought partners to me, and I’ve really valued the flexibility

and insight they’ve brought to this phase of our transformation.

Olivia Walsh, VP, Talent, Solventum (spin-off from 3M)

When the rapid emergence of AI began to reshape the modern workplace, National Life needed more than a primer on the technology — we needed a trusted partner who could help us educate our people on its potential - safely, intelligently, and in alignment with our mission. SolutionSpark quickly became that partner. They worked with us to craft a message and education program that was clear, practical and aligned to our culture.

The SolutionSpark team delivered a foundational AI learning program that balanced urgency with excellence. Their ability to listen, adapt, and execute under tight timelines allowed us to launch a high-quality, interactive learning experience that did more than train against a policy — it educated and informed them on how to use AI safely. The program struck the right balance between compliance and curiosity, empowering our teams to engage responsibly while recognizing the productivity and creativity AI can unlock.

What impressed me most was SolutionSpark’s understanding of both the technology and the culture required to adopt it. They helped us not only meet the moment but get ahead of it, establishing a foundation that allows us to build future programs confidently. Their thoughtful design, alignment to our policies, and collaborative approach have made SolutionSpark an invaluable partner in our journey toward an AI-enabled, data-smart organization.

Patrick Meany, AVP Data, National Life Group

I've been working with SolutionSpark for almost 18 months, and they've been instrumental in our journey to modernize HR at World Education Services. Pete Sackleh and Alan Brush lead a fantastic team that's all about innovative and strategic talent investments, especially in leadership development.

When we were tasked with modernizing our HR organization, SolutionSpark was there from the beginning helping us design, develop, and implement a new talent management and L&D ecosystem that is fully aligned with our business goals. This ecosystem is bespoke, comprehensive, and works thoughtfully to integrate talent management and learning development. SolutionSpark is helping WES rethink, post-COVID, remote work challenges like reshaping performance management to a performance enablement system and elevating leadership skills of the people managers to better enable skills like emotional intelligence, coaching, and communication.

Their "Learning Lifecycle" methodology is particularly impressive. It starts with a deep Discovery phase to understand our needs, followed by the design and delivery of custom learning solutions. This approach ensures that our learning programs are impactful and aligned with our organizational strategy. The Extended Learning phase, with continued support and coaching beyond the program, reinforces skills and knowledge, leading to sustained performance improvement.

SolutionSpark also created and delivered foundational leadership development programs for all our people managers. These learning concepts and methods have been embraced by the WES management team, equipping our leaders with these skills and capabilities needed to inspire and engage their teams effectively. The focus on critical skills like emotional intelligence has started to change the way we think about creating a learning culture.

I highly recommend SolutionSpark for their expertise, innovative solutions, and commitment to helping organizations achieve their talent development goals. Their work has truly enabled WES to maximize our talent investments and support business growth.

Abbie Cowan, Chief People Officer, World Education Services

I've had the pleasure of working with SolutionSpark for over a year, and they are truly innovative in strategic talent investments. Pete Sackleh and Alan Brush lead a dynamic team dedicated to helping organizations invest wisely in all aspects of talent management and development, particularly in leadership development.

SolutionSpark's "Learning Lifecycle" is a standout. This comprehensive process aligns with an organization’s mission and strategy to maximize learning impact and effectiveness. From their deep Discovery phase to the design and delivery of custom learning solutions, they ensure that the programs are tailored to address real performance gaps. Their Extended Learning phase, which includes continuous support and coaching, guarantees that the skills and knowledge gained are applied and reinforced in the workplace.

We've collaborated on a leadership development course for an industrial organization, and I've seen firsthand the impact of their work. SolutionSpark’s methods not only enhance performance but also improve retention, driving significant value for the bottom line.

I wholeheartedly recommend SolutionSpark for their expertise, innovative solutions, and commitment to helping organizations achieve their talent development goals.

 Kim Koonce, AEA Investors

I retained Solution Spark based on their experience with the world’s leading firms to provide strategic guidance in the positioning of UVU’s executive and professional education programs. It is often said that 50% of the solution is in asking the right questions. The principals at Solution Spark, Pete and Alan, were able to rapidly zero in on our current state and formulate the right questions out of the gate – saving time and money and getting us to the right solutions the first time around. 

Best of all, their assessment and recommendations were tailored to our strengths and target markets. This team demonstrates excellence in their knowledge and in their deliverables. I look forward to working with them long into the future as we launch new products and services. 

Jim Mortensen, VP of Finance and Auxiliary Services, Utah Valley University

I've had the great opportunity to work with SolutionSpark while serving as the head of HR with Singer Industrial. Pete Sackleh and Alan Brush lead an exceptionally innovative team that's all about strategic talent investments and leadership development.

At Singer Industrial, our CEO tasked us with modernizing our HR and learning processes. SolutionSpark stepped in as our partner and brought fresh ideas to the table. They helped us create a custom foundational leadership development program tailored for all of their managers. This program is already making a difference in how their managers lead, emphasizing essential skills and emotional intelligence.

What stands out about SolutionSpark is their innovative "Learning Lifecycle" approach. It's a thorough process starting with a deep dive into our specific needs, followed by the design and delivery of bespoke learning solutions. This method ensures our programs are not only effective but also perfectly aligned with company goals. Their Extended Learning phase, which includes ongoing support and coaching, truly helps in reinforcing the skills learned and boosts both performance and retention.

I can wholeheartedly recommend SolutionSpark for their innovative solutions and dedication. They’ve played a key role in transforming how we approach leadership and talent management, making a lasting impact on our organization.

Kathy Franklin, Head of HR, Singer Industrial