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CEO
Profile
Philadelphia
Business Journal
Mia Geiger
April 9-15, 2004
 Personal
information
Name:
Elizabeth
N. Treher
Title:
President
and CEO
Company: The
Learning Key Inc., based in Washington Crossing, with
offices in New Mexico, Ohio and Minnesota.
Type of company: Services
for technology-based organizations, including games and
simulations design; corporate university plans and implementation;
and consulting.
Education:
B.A., M.A., chemistry, radiochemistry, Northwestern University
and Washington University; Ph.D, nuclear and radiochemistry,
Washington University.
First
job: Summer
secretary in a doctor's office while in high school.
Little known fact: Before
founding The Learning Key, I worked in nine different
fields and published/patented in five of them.
Home:
About half the time we live in the Philly area, 10 minutes
from our Washington Crossing office. Also, Los ranchos
de Albuquerque, New Mexico in the winter; and Cotton/Duluth,
Minn., in the summer.
Business
philosophy
Essential
business philosophy: Dedication
to listen, clarify the real issue, recognize that each
organization is unique and develop sustainable solutions
to fit the organization and culture.
Best way to keep a competitive edge: Continue
to learn and try new approaches, challenge and support
others, laugh a lot and have fun.
Yardstick of success: The percent of new business
attained through client referrals and expansion of our
work.
Goal yet to be achieved: The Learning Key runs
better without me than with me.
Judgment
calls
Best decision: Hiring great staff and at no
time working just on my own, as many people suggested.
In sharing ideas, and working closely with others who
may look at things differently, one can truly achieve
a better outcome.
Worst decision: Hiring an executive who wasn't
suited for working in a small business. He left.
Toughest decision: Turning down work when we realized
that the client's goals were unattainable through the
approach they were hiring us to use.
Mentor: My dad. He showed me the magic of science
and encouraged me to do whatever I wanted. He modeled
wonderful listening skills, compassion for others and
persistence. He also introduced me to people from all
over the world and shared his love of books, learning
and humor.
True
confessions
Word that best describes you: Energetic.
Like best about your job: Flexibility, meeting
new people, and the constant variety.
Like least about your job: Frequent travel away
from home.
Most important lesson learned: Persistence pays.
Life motto: Life is short. Don't spend it all in
one place or doing one thing.
Greatest fear: Life will be too short to accomplish
everything I would like.
Person most interested in meeting: Mark Twain.
I love his wit and wisdom and also if I met him it would
mean that I could experience time travel.
Most respected company: The National Aquarium in
Baltimore.
First choice for a new career: Architect.
Greatest extravagance: Two vacation homes.
Etc.
Award/honor most proud of: Being part of the first
U.S. Delegation for Education and Training to China.
Most influential books: "The Tipping Point,"
The Little Engine that Could."
Favorite movie: "Star Wars."
Favorite restaurant: High Finance, Albuquerque,
N.M.
Favorite vacation spot: Northern Minnesota Boundary
Waters.
Favorite way to spend free time: Camping with my
husband.
Automobile: 1999 VW New Beetle (yellow).
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