Gary Rush has been awarded the IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator | Master designation. He is among the first to achieve the CPF | Master level. read Creative Achievements.
In 2023, Gary Rush, IAF CPF | Master discusses "Why Facilitation Skills"...
See entire Interview: Gary Rush Certified Professional Facilitator Master by Aaron Hoffman and Gerald Foulis of JCTM.
Gary Rush, IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator | Master (CPF | M), is Founder & CEO of MGRconsulting previously named MG Rush Systems. Over the past 40+ years he has been a leading Group Facilitator and Facilitator Trainer. He is the only person, still working, to create his own facilitation techniques - FAST and FoCuSeD™ a revolution from FAST - a unique approach to structured facilitation transforming the facilitation industry. He has trained thousands of people from more than 18 countries, and has delivered his structured facilitation class in 8 countries within North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. His alumni have gone on to become CEOs and CIOs, crediting their success to the people and process skills gained in his Facilitator training classes - read JAD | FAST | FoCuSeD™ Holistic Structured Facilitation Technique.
"Training more Facilitators worldwide in structured facilitation than just about anyone else."
"I Don't Just Provide Instruction..."
He coaches individuals helping them grow their skills, improve their performance, and achieve their professional goals. He has written numerous "how to" books along with "The FoCuSeD™ Facilitator Guide" - a comprehensive reference manual, provided to students of his FoCuSeD™ Facilitator Academy class.
"Influencing thousands of companies because of the consulting firms that he trains who use Group Facilitation with their clients."
Gary has facilitated significant workshops. He is an IAF CPF Assessor, an IAF Endorsed Training Programmes Assessor, and former IAF Chair. He also formed and led the IAF Chicago Chapter - the 2nd IAF Chapter to be established in the U.S. 
"He continues to be the leading edge in the industry by continuing as a practicing Group Facilitator."
"Can really tell that Gary is super experienced - really great speaker and facilitator. Really insightful training. It's hard to keep a room of people engaged for the entire class and he mastered it!"
Joe, Project Manager - 2018 FoCuSeD™ Facilitator Academy alumnus
History
Prior to starting MG Rush Systems in 1985, Gary worked at CNA Insurance as a Business Analyst, Programmer, Project Manager, and JAD Facilitator in their IT department. He successfully implemented and managed a Development Center and assisted in developing the handbook on Development Centers and started the JAD Project at GUIDE (IBM User Group).
In 1985, Gary formed MG Rush Systems, now named MGR Consulting, to offer consulting and Facilitator services. After extensive research into various facilitated workshop techniques and many hours of experience leading meeting facilitation, he created and developed his own structured facilitation technique FAST - Facilitated Application Specification Technique - and became widely recognized as a leader in the movement towards structured facilitation - transforming the facilitation industry. He wrote a facilitation "how to" manual - The FAST Session Leader Reference Manual - and developed training on "how to" be a Facilitator - FAST Session Leader Workshop class. While writing the manual, he wrote an article, published in Computerworld - "A FAST Way to Define System Requirements", describing the different variations of JAD.
read Certificate vs. Certification
In 2004, Gary sold to Morgan Madison & Co. the non-exclusive rights to reproduce the FAST and FORM class materials and use them to provide The FAST Session Leader Workshop class - subject to royalties from 2004 to 2009 along with the use of the "MG Rush" name. Gary transferred his facilitation know how to Terrence Metz - 1999 FAST Session Leader Workshop class alumnus - to provide FAST public and in-house Facilitator training as of June 2004 as "MG Rush Performance Learning" a division of Morgan Madison & Co. (not affiliated with Gary Rush Facilitation).
In 2004, Gary ceased operations of MG Rush Systems and left the U.S. to pursue his dream of becoming a restaurateur - MG Rush dba Miracles Restaurant in Puerto Rico. In 2005, he returned to training and consulting to continue his legacy as a recognized leader in the field of Structured Facilitation and Facilitator Training, changing his company name from MG Rush Systems, Inc. to MGR Consulting, Inc.
In 2006, the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) awarded Gary the IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator (CPF) designation. In 2007, he became an IAF CPF Assessor, was nominated IAF Incoming Chair. From 2008 - 2011, he Chaired the IAF. In 2011, he, along with other IAF members, formed the IAF Chicago Chapter, the second IAF chapter in the U.S.A. In 2019, he was awarded the IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator | Master designation.
In 2007, Gary created and developed FoCuSeD™ - 1st Holistic Structured Facilitation Technique - Facilitation of Collaborative useful Solutions embracing Diversity - and the FoCuSeD™ Facilitator Academy with an understanding of the two parallel developments occurring - the workshop process and the emotional group cycles that must be holistically planned to achieve collaborative useful solutions.
Certifications | Education
- International Association of Facilitators (IAF)
- IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator (CPF) since 2006
- IAF Endorsed™ Assessor since 2007
- IAF Endorsed™ Training Programmes Assessor since 2015
- IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator | Master designation since 2019
- Thiagi Certified Trainer - enhancing his FoCuSeD™ Facilitator training through effective, highly interactive learning activities.
- U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
- Excelsior College
Gary values what he does because he believes that the power and wisdom of people can change the world through Facilitation as his company Mission states, "Leading Innovation 'n Collaboration thru Facilitation". Besides his family, his passion is cooking. He envisions a collaborative society that respects individualism and embraces diversity.
Creative Achievements
Business Ethics - "Scarcity versus Abundance"
Unabridged History of Gary Rush, MG Rush Systems now MGR Consulting
Dealing with Adversity
September 2016 - "We hired Gary Rush at Aetna to provide training to our Enterprise Business Architecture team in 2011. I also individually attended his facilitation training in the late 80's/early 90's, worked as an independent consultant professional facilitator for many years, and earned a Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF) designation through the International Association of Facilitators (IAF). I highly recommend him as a trainer. He is a recognized leader in facilitation, and has adapted and responded to evolving changes in the business climate."
Nancy, Architect Advisor O&T: EA Business Architecture - alumnus FAST Session Leader Workshop by Gary Rush, IAF CPF & FoCuSeD™ Facilitator Academy alumnus
