Pat – Background Bio
You've got a few choices here in how you'd like to learn more about Pat's background. Take your pick or skip around.
- Show me the bio – short & sweet
- Show me the background narrative
- Show me the complete bio details
Pat – The Short Bio
In over two decades as a speaker and consultant, Patricia Katz of Optimus Consulting has inspired tens of thousands of people to accomplish what matters most in ways that bring more peace of mind. By reducing the impact of overload and overwhelm in the workplace, Pat helps organizations and their leaders generate stronger results while creating a more satisfying work and life experience for all.
Pat is the bestselling author of four books who also writes Pause, a weekly online newsletter enjoyed by over 5000 subscribers. As a productivity and balance strategist, she is a frequent media guest expert on issues of balance, stress, time, and organization.
Pat holds a Masters degree in Continuing Education and a CHRP designation as a Certified Human Resource Professional. She has served in many executive leadership roles in regional, provincial and national professional associations.
Pat – The Background Narrative
Throughout my professional life, I've always been a developer, a communicator, an encourager, and an educator.
In the first half of my professional life, I worked in rural youth programming with the University of Saskatchewan. That work expanded to include staff and volunteer development.
When I launched my own consulting business in 1986, I carried that development focus with me into the programming. I delivered countless seminars on time, organization and stress skills through many and varied community groups and corporations.
After years of helping people enhance productivity, I realized that many highly productive individuals continue to feel overwhelmed by their loads and disappointed with their accomplishments. This led me to investigate – through research and Masters level study – the concept of time starvation.
The work and the study led me to focus on balance – helping individuals and organizations restore a rhythm of renewal – balancing the press for performance with an equally critical pause for renewal.
At this stage in my professional life, I've come to understand more completely the over-arching focus of my work over the last two decades. My role is to help organizations and individuals find ways to reduce the impact of overload and overwhelm in their workplaces and their personal lives. In short, to press pause and think again.
Those who rewire the collective mindset to integrate healthy, sustainable pause, make more thoughtful, strategic choices. These changes generate stronger corporate results while creating a more satisfying work and life experience for all.
Pat – The Complete Bio Details
Educator:
- Clients of Optimus Consulting report increasing the effectiveness of their coping skills by an average of 54% after being introduced to stress relieving, time optimizing, life balancing strategies.
- Since 1986, has delivered conference keynotes, seminars, and follow up support to over 50,000 individuals.
- University Extension Specialist/Provincial Supervisor – Youth, Staff, and Volunteer Development – 14 years
Best Selling Author:
- Four books on time, stress, organization & life balance
- Over 20,000 copies sold
Syndicated Columnist:
- 7 years providing weekly newspaper columns to Canadian dailies
- 8 years authoring a weekly e-zine, Pause – currently over 5,000 subscribers.
Media Resource:
- Featured in print publications ranging from the Neighborhood Express to the Calgary Herald to the national Globe & Mail
- Served as a contributing expert for articles in: Your Workplace Magazine, The National Post, Investment Executive, Homemakers' Magazine, CMHA Balance Magazine, Home Business Report, Costco Connection, Woman's World, Family Practice, Today's Parent, Western Living
- Featured as a guest expert on Report on Business TV and CTV's Balance Website
- Served as spokesperson for a Proctor & Gamble product release
- Guest expert on 24 episodes of CBC's nationally syndicated television program, What On Earth
- Featured time specialist on TV program, The Simple Way
Lifelong Learner:
- Masters In Continuing Education from University of Calgary – 1999 – Learning In The Workplace specialty. Masters final project focused on Time Starvation
- Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from University of Saskatchewan – 1973 – Communications & Group Development specialty
- An inveterate reader, web surfer, conference and seminar junkie, Patricia constantly challenges herself to learn, and it shows in the depth of her work
Innovator:
- Pioneer in satellite broadcasting for educational purposes:
- Facilitated 16 management development modules for Credit Union Central
- Co-wrote & produced 'The Instructor Road Test – Featuring The Bumbling Educator' – a distance learning event for adult educators
- Designed and hosted interactive broadcast on Distance Learning, for Canadian Association of University Continuing Educators Conference
Committed Professional:
- First woman President of the National Board of CAPS (the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers), and served on the National Board and its committees for many years
- CHRP (Certified Human Resource Professional)
- Past President of the Saskatchewan Training & Development Association and Past Program Chair for Saskatchewan Association of Human Resource Professionals (Saskatoon)
Honored Contributor:
- 2010 YWCA Women of Distinction Award in Leadership & Management
- 2009 Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Existing Business Of The Year
- 2007 & 2008 RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur Awards Nominee
- 2002 YWCA Women of Distinction Award Nominee in Entrepreneurship category
- 2001 Canadian Association of Professional Speakers Service Award
- 1999 Nominee for Saskatchewan Home Based Business Association – Business of the Year Award
- 1995 Nominee for Rotary Clubs of Saskatoon Golden Wheel Award For Excellence in Commerce & Industry
- 1993 Nominee for National HRD Canada Award of Excellence, Human Resource Practitioner Of The Year
Patricia at work in the garden – the early years
Woman With A Life Beyond Work:
- Wife of over 35 years
- Mother of two grown daughters, and a recent grandmom
- Enthusiastic traveler, committed gardener, aspiring artist
What's Your Next Step?
Pat would love to help you and your organization address your overload, stress and performance challenges. Contact her to see how you might work together.
If you're partial to the story behind the scenes and enjoy a bit of color commentary, check out Pat – The Inside Scoop. Or enjoy checking out Video Clips, Candid Photos or the Art Gallery.
Explore out Pat's offerings for Conference Keynotes and Concurrent & Breakout Sessions.
Engage Pat to restore sanity and boost productivity in your overloaded workforce by delivering Skill Building Seminars in the areas of time, organization, balance, stress, team, recognition, and meetings.
Call on Pat's Consulting, Facilitating & Coaching Services to design and lead a customized retreat program to help your team strengthen connections, build skills, and realign your short term actions and long term objectives.
Review Pat's Service Sampler Overview for a more complete list of suggestions for how to put Pat's programs and services to work for you.
