Our History

About Center for Mentoring Excellence

The Center for Mentoring Excellence (CME), a division of Leadership Development Services LLC, provides mentoring expertise and thought leadership in mentoring for mentors, mentees and organizations. It was founded in 2005 by Dr. Lois J. Zachary, a renowned international mentoring expert and author. Lois developed a deep appreciation and respect for adult learning theory during her doctoral studies at Teachers College, Columbia University. After obtaining her degree, her career focused on applying her knowledge to elevate the standard of mentoring practice.

CME has established a rich and varied framework of resources, tools and best practices to enhance individual and organizational readiness for mentoring in decades of direct engagements throughout the world. It brings expertise to organizations, facilitates training, creates learning environments and offers a unique blend of coaching, consulting, training and facilitation to help organizations deliver more effective mentoring outcomes and better business results.

Lois’s daughter, Lisa Z. Fain, became the new CEO of CME and brings her expertise in coaching and cultural competency, and her passion for creating inclusive work environments with her to her new role. She hopes to honor her mother’s legacy by, assisting companies in creating more inclusive workplaces through mentoring. It is only by bridging differences that we connect to create a better world. And, that is what we are about. Better mentoring. More inclusion. Better world.

Contact us to learn more!