Cynthia "Cedar" Duerkop

Managing Principal, Executive and Career Coach

​

Cynthia "Cedar" Duerkop is a career professional. After spending the first six years of her professional life in the United States Navy as a Naval Instructor, Cedar moved into civilian education as an instructional designer and corporate trainer. As her career progressed, she was offered the opportunity to build sales and marketing materials in the for-profit education sector and then build an online sales program for a top American group of automotive dealerships. Cedar entered the IT industry as a first-level manager and moved up through the company holding various positions, increasing in responsibility and geographical reach with each new opportunity. She is currently a learning development professional within the health care industry, focused on executive leadership development.

 

Cedar's career, while interesting and challenging, was fraught with obstacles. While employed within a college, her department was eliminated by a newly hired president. While part of a educational consulting firm, her branch office was closed. And, while employed within the IT industry, she faced multiple re-organizations and position eliminations. She knows first-hand the challenges (and liberation) of career management.

 

In 2012, Cedar decided it was time to share her experiences and help others manage their careers. She founded Corporate Time Out, LLC, which is focused on helping individuals design their careers, focus on strategic professional development, address career transitions, and prepare for advancement opportunities. Our clients range from experienced professionals and mid-career changers to executives and entrepreneurs.

 

Cedar holds a B.A. in Technical Communication and a M.B.A. in Global Management. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), and an Professional Certified Coach (PCC). 

 

On a personal note...

 

Cedar is an avid outdoors person who loves to both kayak rushing whitewater and hike quiet forests. She loves to mountain bike, road bike, and sail competitively. She is an animal advocate and regularly participates in animal-assisted therapy events and equine-facilitated coaching. Cedar also enjoys home renovation projects (most of the time) and recently purchased a "tiny" farm in central Wisconsin that promises to provide lots and lots of creative projects.

​