Empowering Leaders & Transforming Organizations
DRE Leadership was formed on a simple idea: This world needs as many leaders as possible. The vision they bring to shaping a brighter tomorrow, the commitment they bring to their role on a team, and the energy they bring to engaging their community is what changes the world.
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DRE Leadership brings passion and experience to developing leaders & promoting organizational effectiveness in every team. Our mission is to help leaders and organizations:
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Dream of Possibilities,
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Realize Their Potential, and
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Engage Their Community​​
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DRE Leadership meets this challenge through offering online & hybrid leadership training, CliftonStrengths® coaching, organizational consulting, and data analysis.
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Watch our video to learn more!​
Our Story
This company is five years in the making. Our founder Alex worked ten years in higher education, and left the field in 2019 to move closer to his community of friends & family in Wisconsin. During his five years outside of higher education, Alex has reflected on how impactful his leadership experiences were to making him the person he is today, and how he was able to provide those experiences for countless student leaders & professionals.
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Alex continued to reflect on the idea of leadership programs. He would brainstorm, chat with former colleagues turned friends, and examine how leadership played out in various settings. He even used it to explain to friends how characters operate in one of his favorite shows - Survivor!
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Countless notebooks, Google Docs, and whiteboards held ideas for how a group could help leaders and organizations unlock their potential. To encourage leaders to dream big, build skills to realize their full potential, and take those skills into their community. At the time they were fun thought exercises, but didn't amount to much more than that.
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Alex can't pinpoint the exact moment it all came together. Maybe it was during one of his weekly hikes in the woods. Maybe it was when a new friend asked him about his time in higher education. It was probably after a near-death experience (ask him about Lake Superior!). Regardless of when, Alex knew this to be true: his passion is leadership development, and now was the time to act.
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In 2024, DRE Leadership came to life, and it is ready to help leaders and organizations Dream of Possibilities, Realize Their Potential, and Engage Their Community. While many of DRE Leadership's services are tailored to student leadership and higher education (it's what has Alex's heart, after all!), our vision is to be a premiere leadership development organization for any educational, student, non-profit, corporate, community, or government organization. Services such as CliftonStrengths Coaching and Organizational Consulting can help any leader reach their potential. After all, the world needs as many leaders as possible.
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If you've read our story, thank you. This is only the first chapter, and we plan to continue writing our story as we act on our passions.
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Until then....
Dream of Possibilities.
Realize Your Potential.
Engage Your Community.
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-Alex
Meet The Founder
Alex Dresen (he/him)
Founder
Top 5 Most Impactful Leadership Experiences:
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Marquette University: As I started my leadership journey, I learned that leadership is action, not position. No matter what position I was elected to (or not), I was judged by the action and decisions I made. You can make an impact in any position!
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Cardinal Stritch University: Creating WolfPack-ed Weekends to engage the residential population on weekends. I learned a ton about event management - Live Band Karaoke was a favorite!
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Eastern Illinois University: The last lecture of Dr. James Wallace. In what became his final lecture before his passing, he emphasized the importance of building your legacy, and it remains an important word for me to this day. Love you JAW!
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Indiana State University: Authoring 120 different lesson plans for ISU's first Residential Curriculum. I learned a great deal about community development, learning outcomes, assessment, and setting students & staff up for success.
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Louisiana State University: Serving as the NACURH 2019 Annual Conference Advisor for the National Association of College & University Residence Halls! I have immense gratitude for all the leaders I worked with to make the event a success. Let me know if you were one of the 2,000 that "Discovered Your Inner Leader" on "The Great Expedition"!
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Top 5 Strengths: Achiever | Learner | Maximizer | Woo | Analytical (Coaching Profile)
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Top 5 Interests: Hiking, Wellness, Cheering on my Favorite Sports Teams, Playing Guitar, and Survivor (aspiring contestant!)
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Master's Degree: MS in College Student Affairs - Eastern Illinois University
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Thesis: Effectiveness of diversity training: A mixed methods approach to evaluating a residence life staff training program
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Bachelor's Degree: BS in Business Administration (Finance & Marketing), Minor in Spanish - Marquette University
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Skills: Leadership Development, Team Building, Staff Supervision, Data Analytics, Community Development, Event Planning, Crisis Management, Staff Selection & Training, and Diversity Initiatives
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Student Organization Experience:
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Member:
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Orientation Staff Leader
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Resident Assistant
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Graduate Student Government (President, Student Dean)
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Kappa Sigma Fraternity (Vice President, Membership)
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Relay For Life (Event Chair)
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Hall Council (President)
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Order of Omega (President)
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National Residence Hall Honorary
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Noon Run (Service Organization)
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Advisor
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Student Government Association
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Student Activities Committee
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Residence Hall Association
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National Residence Hall Honorary
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Hall Council
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Relay for Life
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Beta Theta Pi Fraternity (Recruitment)
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NACURH 2019 Annual Conference (Overall Advisor)
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GLACURH 2014 Regional Leadership Conference (Finance Advisor)
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Multicultural Student Leadership Conference (Volunteer Advisor)
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Work Experience
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Data Analyst
Business Operations Analyst
HireVue SME / Candidate Experience Coordinator
Intuit
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Assistant Director of Residential Life & Education, Student Success & Leadership
Louisiana State University
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Area Coordinator
Indiana State University
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Associate Resident Director
Eastern Illinois University
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ACUHO-I Intern, Residential Facilities
Georgia Southern University
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Residence Hall Director
Cardinal Stritch University
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