JUMP START
To set in motion
Connection to an external power source to impart fresh or renewed energy
Jump Start Training & Development exists to put good people and good work in motion.
I work with mission-driven organizations across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to develop bold, grounded leaders and thriving teams.
I’m Shannon Stober, a nationally recognized trainer, speaker, and coach with a background in sociology and two decades of experience in leadership, public service, and community-building. From boardrooms to backyard barns, I bring sharp insight, humor, and heart to every room I enter. My work centers on authenticity, agency, and audacity because that’s what it takes to lead well and live fully.
I started facilitating in 2002 while serving in AmeriCorps, and I knew right away I had found my lane. Over the next decade, I took every opportunity I could to lead workshops, retreats, and trainings while holding senior leadership roles in government and nonprofit organizations. In 2015, the side hustle became the main hustle, and I launched my own consulting practice. What began as Verve Exchange Consulting became Jump Start Training & Development in 2021.
The idea behind the name is simple. Sometimes you don’t need an overhaul. You just need a spark. Someone to pop the hood, see what’s underneath, and get things moving again with clarity and confidence.
That is where I come in.
At the core of my work is the Jump Start triangle; a model I have carried with me since the early days. It reflects the three dimensions of effective facilitation: relationships, process, and outcomes. I build environments where people can learn through experience, make meaning together, and walk away with tools that actually work.
You can find the full list of degrees, credentials, job titles, and awards on LinkedIn. They’re real, I’m proud of them, and if you like a tidy timeline, it’s all there.
HOW I WORK
I design every session around the principles of adult and experiential learning. That means we move quickly, stay active, and root everything in real life. You won’t sit through a lecture or watch me click through slides. You’ll reflect, discuss, try things, and connect ideas to your lived experience—because that’s where real learning happens.
My LEAD framework—Learn, Engage, Act, Develop—is built from these principles. It shapes how I guide groups, structure sessions, and support growth over time.
To support that work, I draw from the Jump Start Playbook—80 hours of curriculum I’ve authored based on two decades of lived experience. It was built from what teams actually needed, what worked in the field, and what helped people grow. The Playbook outlines eight core leadership domains and allows me to move fluidly across them to meet the moment, not just the agenda.
I’m not here to explain everything to you. I’m here to offer tools that help you explain something to yourself or your team. I’ll bring the frameworks, questions, and structure. I ask that you bring your honesty, energy, and insight.
Together, we’ll move fast. We’ll laugh. And we’ll get to the heart of the matter.