Meet the Watermark Learning Team

Chris Anderson, President of Operations

Chris Anderson Vice President of Operations

It was Richard and Elizabeth Larson's dedication to learning and teamwork that convinced Chris Anderson to join Watermark Learning in 1997. "Teamwork is the backbone of Watermark and my watchword as well," noted Anderson. Chris has over 25 years of total sales and customer service experience, with 23 of those in the training industry, and knows well the value of teamwork in developing long lasting client relationships.

His roots in training go back to 1990, when he also worked with Watermark Learning President and founder Richard Larson in a previous training/consulting venture before joining the company. Chris also holds a firm belief that customer service is at the heart of any organization’s success, and as such, considers himself Watermark Learning’s chief customer service officer.

Chris is responsible for Sales, Customer Relations, and Delivery of training to Watermark’s clients. He truly cares about his customers and is committed to providing training that is fitted to the customer, whether it is an individual or an organization.

Chris is an active member of the International Institute of Business Analysis – Minneapolis/St. Paul Chapter (IIBA MSP), and served as Chapter Treasurer for four years.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management.

Andrea Brockmeier, Director of Project Management

Andrea Brockmeier Director of Project Management

Andrea Brockmeier has managed technical, operational, and financial projects for over 15 years, including developing and leading technical project teams. Since joining Watermark Learning, her energy has focused on curriculum development and training delivery.

Much of her project management work over the years has been in IT. One of her favorite projects included developing a Project Management Office that provided training, processes, and tools to turn a service IT department into a project-driven IT department. The results dramatically realigned the department’s efforts with the organization’s business objectives and resulted in the highest rate of technical deliverables in the organization’s history.

Other projects have included things ranging from proprietary software migration to new office space and, more recently, project-related work around online training platforms and process.

Andrea’s passion for project management works equally well in the workplace or the classroom. Her energy, enthusiasm and rapport with students create a lively and interactive learning experience, whether through teaching, mentoring, or consulting. She is also a talented course developer who brings years of academic and business experience to any development project.

Andrea earned a BA degree in Sociology from North Dakota State University and an MA in Cultural Anthropology from Southern Methodist University. She is also certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP)®, a Certified Scrum Master (CSM), a PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®, a PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)®, a Business Relationship Management Professional (BRMP), and an IIBA® Agile Analysis Certification (IIBA-AAC).

Susan Heidorn, Director of Business Solutions

Dr. Susan Heidorn Director of Business Solutions

Dr. Susan Heidorn is responsible for the business relationship management certification program and new business analysis products and services at Watermark Learning. She is an experienced consultant, facilitator, speaker, and trainer, with over twenty years of experience in business relationship management, project management, business analysis, strategic thinking & planning, leadership development, facilitation, process improvement, change management, and team development.

Susan works on creating positive impacts for the organizations she serves, and brings high energy and creativity into the workplace. Her focus is on experiential and adaptive learning and consulting that assists organizations in gaining insight, alignment, and developing effective action plans to move forward.

Susan has been a speaker at a number of IIBA and PMI conferences, as well as local and regional organizations, boards, and is a popular instructor for public and private clients. She is a lifelong learner whose passion is to guide people into achieving excellence in their personal and professional lives.

Susan holds a BA degree in Psychology from Augsburg College and a Master’s Degree in International Management and a Doctorate in Organization Development from the University of St. Thomas. Her certifications include Project Management Professional (PMP)®, Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Business Relationship Management Professional (BRMP), and IIBA® Agile Analysis Certification (IIBA-AAC).

Elizabeth Larson, Consultant

Elizabeth Larson Consultant

Elizabeth Larson is a consultant and advisor for Watermark Learning / Project Management Academy. She has over 35 years of experience in project management and business analysis. Elizabeth has co-authored four books and published chapters in five additional books, as well as articles that appear regularly in BA Times, Project Times, and Modern Analyst. Elizabeth was a lead author/expert reviewer on all editions of the BABOK® Guide, as well as several of the PMI standards.

Elizabeth also enjoys giving presentations, and her speaking history includes repeat keynotes and presentations for national and international conferences on five continents. Elizabeth enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, theater, and spending time with her 7 grandkids.

Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Arizona, and a Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Minnesota. Her certifications include Project Management Professional (PMP)®, Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)®, and Certified Scrum Master (CSM).

Richard Larson, Consultant

Richard Larson Consultant

Richard Larson is the founder of and is now a consultant for Watermark Learning. He is a successful entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience in product development, business analysis, project management, training, and consulting. As an internal entrepreneur, Rich led the development of several Watermark Learning online products as a business analyst and product owner.

Rich is a frequent speaker at Business Analysis and Project Management national conferences and IIBA® and PMI® chapters around the world. He has contributed as a lead author to the BA Body of Knowledge (BABOK® Guide) version 2.0 and 3.0 and was a lead author on PMI’s Business Analysis Practice Guide. He and his wife Elizabeth Larson have co-authored five books on business analysis.

Richard is a Founding Board Member of the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN and Phoenix, AZ chapters of IIBA®, a PMI-Minnesota chapter colleague-of-the-year award winner, and he holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota. His certifications include Project Management Professional (PMP)®, Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), and PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)®.