About Evangeline Caridas

ABOUT EVANGELINE CARIDAS

Evangeline Caridas transforms organizations by unleashing the commitment, enthusiasm and creative power of their people for the purpose of producing outstanding business results. Currently she is President of Caridas Consulting International, LLC, an international advisory firm specializing in human capital performance improvement. Ms. Caridas has taken the best from business, social sciences, and positive psychology and conducted field testing and designed practical business models that create excellence in the workplace. She has over twenty years of sales, management and consulting experience. In addition she published the groundbreaking results from her study, “Flow and Optimal Performance in the Workplace,” in Rediscovering the Soul of Business, an anthology that included business futurist Charles Handy. Her latest contribution is to the business anthology Futures that Work. She also contributed to The New Bottom Line by Ken Blanchard and Tom Peters. She has used her methodology to help corporations in fields that vary from manufacturing to telecommunications lead in their respective industries.

Prior to founding Caridas Consulting International, Evangeline possessed over twenty years of management experience. She served as senior manager with the Performance Improvement Group of a Big Six management consulting firm, general manager for a major international consulting firm in the Midwest, and senior sales executive with the Xerox Corporation in the Southwest and Midwest. While at Xerox Corporation (Printing Services division) she focused on the legal market both in Houston and Chicago. She designed creative marketing strategies that set Xerox apart in the legal market, and her business models were utilized nationally by the company.


Evangeline holds a Bachelor’s degree in Retailing, Merchandising and Consumer Sciences from the University of Houston and a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Development from Chicago’s Loyola University, a Master Certification in Neuro-Linguistic Programming and a Certificate from New Mexico State University by Dr. Merrelyn Emery in designing Search Conferences and Participative Design workshops. She was an adjunct professor at the University of Houston-Department of Retailing & Consumer Sciences (RCS) and currently sits on the RCS Advisory Board. Ms. Caridas is fluent in Greek. In addition, she has been a speaker at the World Future Society (Innovations and future trends in business), NEOCON Chicago (international furniture trade show), many business groups and numerous corporate trade shows and conferences.


A Note from Evangeline...

"I started in sales at Xerox Corporation, and I will proudly admit I was good at it. Getting the sale was stimulating for the moment. Sales came naturally to me and what differentiated me at the time was genuinely wanting to help my clients solve their problems. I was with Xerox for over 9 years and was in the top 5% the entire time, winning awards and yet, I felt something was missing. I wanted more than being successful in my job and making great money. I wanted to contribute more to society and make a difference. Maybe I was ahead of my time, back in the 80’s it was all about the drive and the “kill” and no one talked about “purpose”. Today purpose and mission are the drivers in work and life.

 

There are certain events in your life that feel destined. When I was still in Houston before I moved to Chicago with Xerox, a good friend said “you are going to do something important while you are in Chicago!” I had no idea what she was talking about.I soon found out. While at Xerox in Chicago a friend said why don’t you think about getting your master’s degree at Loyola? I thought about it for about a week and decided I was up for the challenge. When I went to my first class I noticed someone with great energy. Before I go on I have to tell you about Frank. He was spectacular athlete and he trained Olympic champions in The Hague, Netherlands. Besides being easy on the eyes this super athlete was always looking to improve his performance.

 

Frank discovers Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihaly(Professor Mike) and I want to be around Frank and Dr. Mike because they both are creative, charming, interesting, and generous.

 

I met these two men who changed my life and I saw the purpose I was looking for and I have been studying “flow” ever since. I now help people access “flow” in their lives and their work. Flow is that creative state where you are totally absorbed in what you are doing, time flies and you are in that super zone space! Flow is the key to high performance and high productivity. When people are in “flow” they are connected to something bigger than themselves!

 

I wanted to be in the “zone” myself, and the joy I get today is seeing the transformation in organizations and in people lives. I finally found my purpose!"

ENDORSEMENTS

Dr. Larry Dossy, another great creative in energy medicine, read my research and sent me a letter encouraging me to continue my work. He commended me for my courage to bring focus on a topic that has such great potential to improve the health, happiness, and productivity of employees in organizations which has been extremely neglected.

Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, originator of Flow Theory, was my mentor in grad school. My idea was to apply Flow in the Workplace. Dr. Mike is a pioneer in the area of "Positive Psychology" and coined the word "Flow". We (CCI) were the first team to apply "Flow in the Workplace".

Dr Merrylyn Emery, a renowned social scientist, read my work and wrote me a letter encouraging me to continue the study and implementation of Flow in organizations. She encouraged me to incorporate her work in Participative Democracy. "Flow" would be a complimentary business model to her research and would assist me in implementing my design in "Flow in the Workplace".

Frank Heckman – MA, MSC (Loyola University of Chicago)  Founder of The Embassy of the Earth Foundation who developed a pathway for social, ecological adaptation and a community lead landscape which results in regeneration. Owner of Spirit in Action. Professor in Sustainable Peformance at Codarts, hogeschool Voorde Kunstan. Frank supported the Dutch Olympic Team to stretch their performance at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004. The project went under the name of Hero’s Journey. Frank encouraged and partnered with me delivering for the first time, "Flow in the Workplace" at Allstate Insurance.


PERSONAL QUALITIES


My favorite client, Dr. Rosemarie Caroll, was an incredible human being. Unfortunately she Is no longer on this earth and was taken at a young age. It was a privilege to coach her until the end of her short life. She told me that I brought out the best in people. She further encouraged me to be courageous and venture in areas that most people are not willing to go. She was ahead of her time and we recognized each other as kindred spirits and encouraged each other to persevere even in very difficult circumstances. I was the coach and yet she was the great teacher. Her last Christmas card said “I want you to promise me you will continue your great work on Flow”. 

 

Dr. Caroll was Superintendent of Palos 118 School District. She was at the top of elementary and secondary schools in Chicago and graduated more valedictorians from her schools than anyone else in her area. She was a gifted and an incredible person and I miss her!

NON-PROFIT INTERESTS


Synthesi Institute


The mission is to blend ancient wisdom with knowledge and technology in our current lifestyle forming a better, socially conscious design and life, for all.


Our purpose is to educate through courses and lectures on innovative practices and methods as well as drawing from ancient wisdom for the purpose of improving world community. This will include multi-disciplines such as ecology, Permaculture, agriculture, business, architecture, archeology, religion and spirituality, social sciences, arts, sciences, health and wellness.


Our goals:

  • provide a learning environment through our yearly community projects
  • expose our students to innovative problem solving methods
  • acquire life skills through involvement with thought leaders


Our educators are interested in making socially conscious contributions to society by bringing creative thinkers together, designing action plans, and producing beneficial results.


The Institute is a gathering place of business owners, scholars, students, consultants, inventors, and innovators. [MORE]


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