letters of recommendation

frank forencich

To Whom It May Concern,

I am pleased to provide a wholehearted recommendation for Frank Forencich for the position of Coordinator of Experiential Education. As the Executive Director of The American Institute of Stress, I had the privilege of working closely with Frank, who presented webinars and contributed to our online publications.

Frank's contributions to our organization have consistently exceeded expectations. We received positive feedback on his engaging and informative webinars from our audience, showcasing his exceptional ability to distill complex concepts into accessible and actionable insights. Furthermore, Frank's articles for our online publication demonstrated his deep understanding of stress-related issues and his talent for conveying practical solutions.

Beyond his professional expertise, Frank's collaborative and adaptable nature made him a valuable team member. His passion for promoting stress awareness aligns seamlessly with our organization's mission, and I am confident that he would excel in the role of Coordinator of Experiential Education. Frank Forencich's commitment to education and well-being would undoubtedly make a positive impact on your team, and I wholeheartedly endorse his candidacy. Please feel free to contact me if you require any additional information.

William C. Heckman, MS, DAIS 

Executive Director, American Institute of Stress


To Whom It May Concern,

I wholeheartedly recommend Frank Forencich for the role of Coordinator of Experiential Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. My experiences with Frank, both through his extensive work in the field of health and human development and his leadership at Exuberant Animal, have consistently demonstrated his exceptional skills and qualifications that align perfectly with the demands of this position.

Frank's expertise as an educator and facilitator is evident in his numerous publications and presentations aimed at addressing our society's core health and wellness challenges. His ability to articulate complex ideas in a clear and engaging manner makes him a superb public speaker and an effective communicator, essential qualities for managing and advising the student staff in the Adventure Learning Programs (ALPs)​

Moreover, Frank's specialization in health and the human predicament, combined with his role as a martial art teacher and activist, showcases his comprehensive understanding of functional movement and experiential learning. This background is invaluable for the development and implementation of an experiential education curriculum at UW-Madison​

Frank's extensive experience in teaching functional movement and martial arts, as highlighted in his instructional guide for trainers and educators, provides a practical and transformational approach to movement experiences. This aligns seamlessly with the role's requirement to manage UW-Madison's High and Low Challenge Course and support the training and development of student staff​

Additionally, Frank's recognition as one of the "Five Visionaries leading the charge to better health, and a healthier world" by Experience Life magazine speaks volumes about his commitment to promoting health and wellbeing. This commitment, coupled with his strong oral and written skills and basic computer literacy, makes him an ideal candidate for the position​

In summary, Frank Forencich's diverse skills, profound knowledge, and practical experience in health, wellness, and experiential education make him an outstanding candidate for the Coordinator of Experiential Education at UW-Madison. His passion for teaching and ability to inspire and lead others will undoubtedly contribute to the success of the university's Recreation & Wellbeing Department.

Sincerely,


Dr. Rodney King PhD, MScRES, MA, FRSA, FinstLM, F.ISRM, RSME
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
• Fellow of the Institute of Leadership & Management
• Fellow of the Institute of Strategic Risk Management


RE: Enthusiastic Endorsement for Frank Forencich for the Role of Coordinator of Experiential Education

Dear Hiring Committee,

I write to you with great enthusiasm to recommend Frank Forencich for the position of Coordinator of Experiential Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Over the past 18 months, I have had the privilege of collaborating with Frank on several educational programs focused on environmental, human-animal, and stress-related topics. Additionally, I have reviewed and read several professional offerings, public presentations, and training sessions conducted by him. Based on these experiences, I can say that Frank possesses a rich and diverse blend of education and experience, enabling him to create innovative, engaging, and impactful experiential educational programs and events.

Frank is not only a dynamic and easy-to-listen and learn-from public speaker but also an inventive program developer and an approachable, inclusive teacher and trainer. His talent for simplifying complex concepts into relatable metaphors, stories, and experiences results in practical, hands-on learning opportunities. This approach is particularly valuable for young people, offering a necessary balance to our increasingly digital world. Moreover, Frank's skill in curriculum development is clearly reflected in his well-crafted course materials, program designs, and multiple, exceptional books.

As a visionary educator, Frank's leadership and expertise in experiential education, stress reduction, and understanding the human experience are assets that would significantly benefit the Recreation & Wellbeing Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His commitment to these fields, coupled with his educational background, professional accomplishments, and personal qualities, makes him an exemplary candidate for the role of Coordinator of Experiential Education.

In conclusion, appointing Frank Forencich to this position would not only enhance the university's educational offerings but also enrich the entire university community.

Kind regards,
Jonathan W. Logan, JD


Ms. Theisen,

My name is Amelia, I live in Bend, OR and I'm a junior in high school. I am writing to tell you how great my friend Frank Forencich is! 

I first met Frank when I started doing local environmental and policy work. I was looking for some people to join me who were passionate about activism, the climate crisis, and making a difference in the world. Frank reached out to me and was immediately so excited and ready to help out the group! He is such an integral part of the activism community in Bend and really did help the local youth climate community in so many ways. He really welcomed me into the scene, gave me advice, told me about his experiences, and showed me different ways people can make change and participate in activism. 

Last summer, Frank very generously offered me a temporary research assistant position to help him with his books, activism work, and learn helpful software. He is so experienced in what he does. Not only is he a wonderful writer. But he is so knowledgeable with technology and how to maximize efficiency on a computer. He knows so much about social science and human interaction. He had such clear expectations from me, knew what I was and wasn't capable of, and pushed me to be a better worker, activist and human. He has so much grace and has taught me how to have a job and do well at a job.

I am so grateful to Frank for everything he has done for me and our community. We are so sad to see him leave Bend, but I can't wait to see what he does next! Frank is an excellent choice for the Coordinator of Experiential Education at the UW and I hope you think so too!

Sincerely,

Amelia (she/her)


My name is David Rakel. I am professor and chair of the department of family medicine and community health. Our focus is to empower health in our communities through salutogenic health care, particularly for our most vulnerable populations.

I wanted to put a good word out for my colleague Frank Forencich who has applied for the Director of Experiential Education. It seems that this position was written for him. He is a gifted educator who has taught programs across the globe. It would be exciting to work with Frank and your program to expand experiential education from our UW community to our Wisconsin Communities with the help of UW Extension (The Wisconsin Idea). I feel Frank could lead this here and beyond.

Thank you for strongly considering him for this position.

Sincerely,

Dave Rakel, MD


Dear Cameron Theisen,

I'm Paul Landon, CEO of a training center in France, I've had the pleasure of working with Frank on several projects, including book publishing and producing a very successful workshop here in France...

The workshop participants really appreciate Frank's ability to teach on both a theoretical and physical level. Frank's enthusiasm and expertise were very much appreciated.

He is well suited to design and implement an experiential education program.

As a CEO, I especially appreciate working and communicating with Mr. Forencich and I highly recommend his services. In fact, I wish he lived in Europe so I could work with him more closely.

Sincerely,

Paul Landon