— About Clarity Central

Professor. Trainer.
Educator.

Built on three decades of applied mastery.

Founder & CEO

Michael Foley

—

Michael Foley knows how to tell a story. Whether leading expeditions during his tenure as an Outward Bound instructor in Montana, sailing across the North Atlantic, or helping executives bring their very best to the boardroom, Michael is committed to living outside of his comfort zone while encouraging others to do the same. As a result, he has a catalog of humorous tales and insights that have been at the core of his success during his thirty years as an educator, corporate trainer, consultant and coach.

In 1996, Michael founded Clarity Central®, a consulting firm dedicated to helping professionals and academics communicate complex ideas with clarity, rigor, and impact. Through Clarity Central’s programs, he has worked with more than 50,000 participants across a variety of industries including finance, private equity, manufacturing, military, software, pharmaceuticals, food service, and non-profits.

At Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Michael is a clinical assistant professor and teaches the Executive Presentations class for MBA Students and Presenting Academic Research with Excellence for Ph.D students.

Michael holds a B.S. in Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an M.A. in Human Development from St. Mary's University, an M.B.A. from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management, and a certificate in Executive Coaching from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland. He is a contributor to the Harvard Business Review, Kellogg Insight, and in 2014 he was recognized by the National Speakers Association as a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), the highest international recognition for professional speakers.

A man in a suit and tie is standing in front of a classroom, smiling and clapping his hands. There are several students sitting at tables and listening. A large screen displays a presentation slide with red and black text on the left, and a whiteboard with handwritten notes on the right side of the room.

  Northwestern · Kellogg
  NSA-Certified Speaking Professional
  Harvard Business Review
  30 Years

The Team

Three Practitioners, One Standard

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Every Clarity Central facilitator brings decades of practical experience.

Miki Huntington

Corporate Trainer & Executive Coach

Miki Huntington is an educator, coach, and military veteran. With 25 years of military service and more than a decade as a higher education professional, Miki is an experienced and engaging speaker, workshop facilitator, and
leadership coach. She has a BA in political science from UCLA, and MA in International Relations/Asian Studies from the University of Washington, and a Post-Master’s Certificate in College teaching from Capella University. Miki is also a certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor. Miki is credentialed by the Institute for Professional Excellence (iPEC) as a Certified Professional Coach (CPC). She provides 1:1 and group coaching focused on topics ranging from leader coach mindsets and skillsets, navigating change, new leader integration, and living intentionally.

Mark Ourada

Corporate Trainer & Executive Coach

Mark Ourada is a retired Fortune 500 executive with nearly 40 years of experience and more than a decade in senior strategic leadership at Hormel Foods, where he served as Group Vice President He led a 200+ person organization and drove performance... through clear strategy, disciplined execution, and a strong culture of accountability. He guided complex, multi-channel teams to deliver growth, innovation, and measurable business results across diverse markets.

He is recognized for developing leaders, building high-performing teams, and fostering coaching-based cultures that improve engagement and results. He brings deep experience in strategic alignment, organizational transformation, and cross-functional collaboration, supported by board experience and executive education at Kellogg.