Meet Dr. Porthan

Anyone who meets Dr. Ed Porthan immediately recognizes that he has a passion for learning. He’s a lifelong educator with a mission to make a positive difference in the lives of people. Through his knowledge and experience, he will “inspire to perspire”. He’ll empower you to grow in your work environment and personal life. His friendly, open and sometimes humorous manner will engage your mind. He will challenge you to “learn…do…be…” your best.

Ed was born and raised in Ely, Minnesota, the heart of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This is where Ed developed his love of the outdoors. It’s where he realized the values of adventure, risk, and effort.

Ed’s undergraduate degree was at Hamline University. He was also a collegiate diver, winning the Minnesota Intercollegiate diving championship. His master’s degree is from the University of St. Thomas. His doctorate degree is from the University of Northern Colorado in experiential education. His post doctoral work was done at UCLA.

Ed was a high school teacher and swimming coach for 18 years. He was the first coach in Minnesota to win state championships in both boys and girls athletics. He’s a recent inductee into the Minnesota Swim Coaches Hall of Fame. With his knowledge of performance and productivity, Ed can coach you and your organization to a higher level of success.

As an educator, Ed has worked in urban, suburban, and rural environments. He has served as a principal, assistant superintendent, director of curriculum and instruction, and director of training and development. He was also the Executive Director of the Minnesota Administrator’s Academy. Leaving the private sector in 1993, Ed worked as a senior partner for Designs for Learning, and then began Designs for Learning-West, a private training and consulting firm; now known as Embracing Excellence. He focuses on human learning, performance, and using the brain to attain maximum productivity. These are examplified in EXPO for Excellence, a public school he created in St. Paul, MN. Ed’s presentations and programs are developed from a combination of actual first-hand experiences, up-to-date research, and the knowledge of how to produce powerful learning. Each seminar is built on the success, failures, excitement, frustration, and exhilaration of reaching upward.

Ed’s most recent adventure is the development of “Boats, Streams, and Dreams”, a motivational video guaranteed to be a memorable learning experience. The video identifies six dimensions essential to a successful life, a successful business, a successful relationship, or a successful organization. Video available soon.  Don't forget to order yours!  You'll be glad you did.

As a lifetime learner, Ed continues to enjoy outdoor adventure. Ed ran his first marathon at the age of 40. Since then he has ran triathlons, climbed the Grand Teton in Wyoming and guided canoe trips in the Minnesota Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. What next?