Tried and Tested Podcast

In this episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier welcomes Kim Cohen, Vice President of Credentialing at ISACA, for a deep dive into the future of certification in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Kim shares her remarkable 30-year journey in the industry and how saying "yes" to opportunity shaped her career. The conversation centers on ISACA’s groundbreaking innovations, including their newly launched Advanced...

What does it take to prove the value of certification in a changing industry, and how do you reconnect with a new generation of workers who aren’t convinced credentials matter?

In this episode of Tried and Tested, PSI’s Chief Assessment Officer, Dr. Isabelle Gonthier, sits down with Rebecca Sutter, Chief Technical Officer at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Together, they explore ASE’s unique role in s...

In this episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier sits down with Amy Farmer, Senior Director of Mobility at the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB), for a dynamic conversation on striking the balance between accessibility and security in credentialing.

Live from PSI’s Olathe, Kansas headquarters, Amy and Isabelle explore how AAVSB's program supports over 10,000 veterinary technician candidates annua...

In this episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier sits down with Janie Schumaker, CEO of the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN), to explore how strategic innovation, authentic leadership, and unwavering commitment to certification are shaping the future of emergency nursing.

Janie shares her unique journey from bedside nurse to CEO, her belief in the life-saving impact of certification, and the power of st...

In this powerful episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier sits down at the ABNS Conference with two influential voices in the nursing certification world: Dr. Kevin Letz, CEO of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and President of the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS), and Dr. Margaret Erickson, CEO of the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation and President of the Accre...

In this inspiring episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier sits down at the COABE Conference with two powerhouse leaders in adult education from New Mexico: Dr. Amber Gallup, State Director of Adult Education, and Jamie Trujillo, Executive Director of the New Mexico Adult Education Association.

Together, they explore how New Mexico is transforming its adult education landscape—tackling systemic barriers, passing groundbre...

In this special Tried and Tested episode recorded live at the ATP conference in Orlando, host Isabelle Gonthier, Chief Assessment Officer at PSI, sits down with Sierra Hampton-Simmons, Vice President of Certification at PMI, to explore what it really takes to operate a globally trusted certification program.

From starting out as a high school teacher designing her own tests to leading one of the most recognized credentialing portfo...

In this episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier, PhD, ICE-CCP sits down with Dr. Manny Straehle, President and Founder of Assessment, Education, and Research Experts, to explore the evolution of competency modeling and its growing influence on credentialing and certification.

Manny shares his journey from clinical psychology to psychometrics, revealing how his passion for competency modeling is shaping the future of asse...

What makes a voluntary certification truly valuable? In this episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier sits down with Kevin Keller, CEO of the CFP Board, to explore the impact of public awareness campaigns on credentialing. Kevin shares the origin story behind the CFP Board’s It’s Gotta Be a CFP® campaign, the strategic decisions that led to its success, and how it transformed demand for the CFP® certification—driving bot...

In this episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier sits down with Jared Zurn, Senior Vice President of Programs at the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), to discuss how certification is evolving to keep pace with an ever-changing profession. Jared shares his journey from practicing architect to credentialing leader and explains how NCARB is rethinking its approach to certification, from integrat...

How does a credentialing organization rebrand successfully while maintaining trust, legacy, and mission alignment? In this episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier sits down with Paul Bishop, President and CEO of Water Professionals International (WPI), to explore the transformative journey of rebranding from the Association of Boards of Certification (ABC) to WPI.

Paul shares the motivations behind the change, the data-...

In this episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier, Chief Assessment Officer at PSI, sits down with Helen Coleman, Chief Operating Officer at ABRSM, to explore the critical role of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in assessments. As a UK-based organization with a rich history in music assessments, ABRSM serves a wide demographic of learners, including young candidates, and has embraced EDI principles to ensure its pr...

In this special live episode of Tried and Tested, recorded at the inaugural Credentialing Leaders Summit in Miami Beach, host Isabelle Gonthier dives into the rapidly evolving world of assessment security and innovation. Joined by an expert panel featuring Dr. Yermie Cohen, CEO of Memorang, Janet Garcia, CEO of PSI, and Wally Dalrymple, Chief Security Officer at PSI and ETS, this dynamic conversation explores the critical challenge...

Join Tried and Tested host, Isabelle Gonthier, as she sits down with Ada Woo, VP of Innovative Learning and Assessment Solutions at Ascend Learning, for an engaging conversation on the evolving role of psychometricians in an AI-driven world. Recorded at the E-ATP Conference in Berlin, this episode dives into Ada's inspiring journey from aspiring clinical psychologist to psychometrician, the impact of assessments on her life, and he...

In this episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier, Chief Assessment Officer at PSI, sits down with Jim Harris, #1 international bestselling author and innovation thought leader, to explore the transformative impact of AI on assessment and education. From personalized, AI-driven assessments to addressing global doctor shortages through creative credentialing solutions, Jim offers fascinating insights into the intersection ...

In episode 16 of the Tried and Tested podcast, host Isabelle Gonthier, Chief Assessment Officer at PSI Services, sits down with Yermie Cohen, CEO of Memorang, to dive into how AI is revolutionizing exam content generation and test development. Yermie discusses his journey from medicine to EdTech and shares insights on Memorang’s work in using AI to streamline content creation and enhance the relevance of test materials. They explor...

In Episode 15 of the Tried and Tested podcast, host Isabelle Gonthier is joined by Ginger Marshall, CEO for Hospice and Palliative Nursing Association (HPNA), the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC), and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation (HPNF), and Heather Richards for a compelling discussion on the value and impact of certification. Ginger shares her journey from palliative care nurse to industry leader,...

In Episode 14 of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier, Chief Assessment Officer at PSI, sits down with Marc Weinstein, Managing Attorney at MJ Weinstein Law, for a compelling discussion on the evolving role of AI in test security. 

Marc shares his journey from a prosecutor to a key figure in the assessment industry, offering valuable insights into how AI can transform test security while navigating the complexities of legal and...

In this exclusive episode of the Tried and Tested Podcast, host Isabelle Gonthier, sits down with Amit Sevak, the visionary CEO of ETS, to explore the future of the assessment industry. As the leader of one of the world's most influential assessment organizations, Amit provides an in-depth look into how standardized testing is transforming in response to rapid changes in education. From the rise of lifelong learning to the impa...