Charles L. Fred, author of Breakaway, is a thought leader in performance improvement and an expert in learning speed. He is President and CEO of Avaltus, Inc. (www.avaltus.com), a leading provider of e-learning content management services to the world's largest companies. In this role and previous leadership roles, he has been transforming the corporate education industry. He is considered by many, including Jinny Goldstein, CEO of PBS The Business Channel, as "one of the true thought leaders in adult education and learning speed."

Fred's expertise in leading major change efforts for both the manufacturing and service industries, combined with his recent experience as the CEO of Omega-Performance, a leader in the financial services training industry, create a prominent force in the human-performance arena. Additionally, his previous roles as the President of International Learning Systems, and as President of Kaplan @Work, a division of the Washington Post, reinforce his ability to advance the global education industry. Charles held key operational assignments at the Boeing Company and US West prior to focusing on the education industry. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and Technology from Montana State University and completed the Aerospace Manufacturing Fellowship from the University of Washington's Graduate School of Business. In addition, he is an internationally known speaker and has recently published a book related to the corporate education industry.