William J. Rothwell, PhD, SPHR, is the president of Rothwell & Associates (www.rothwellandassociates.com) and professor in the Workforce Education and Development Program at the University Park campus of Penn State University. As a researcher he has been involved with the last five competency studies conducted by Association for Talent Development (ATD, formerly ASTD).In 2012 he won the association's prestigious Distinguished Contribution Award. He is author of 81 books and 250 articles in the field and had 20 years of experience in government and the private sector before becoming a college professor in 1993.Jim M.

Graber is an organizational psychologist with over 30 years of experience in private and public sector organizations, including many Fortune 500 firms. As president of Business Decisions, his current areas of expertise include competency modeling, career development, performance management, and employee assessment and certification.Graber has taught at the graduate and undergraduate level for three universities, frequently presents at conferences, and has contributed to countless professional journals and books. A born innovator, he spearheaded the development of Focus Software, a comprehensive talent and performance management solution used worldwide.Graber holds a PhD in psychology from Claremont Graduate University and resides in the Chicago area.