About
We believe the frontline professionals doing society’s hardest work deserve tools built with the same care they bring to every client conversation.
Why We Started Conversation Dynamics
Our leadership team has spent years in the field—volunteering and working inside shelters, transition centers, community health clinics, and housing agencies. We saw firsthand how frontline workers face high-stakes moments without a real chance to prepare for difficult and challenging conversations. Too often, they learn through trial and error and find themselves in the “deep end” of the pool sooner than expected. This can affect their confidence and, at times, their clients’ well-being.
We knew there had to be a better way.
Drawing on decades of experience in human performance improvement, learning technology, and frontline social work, we created Conversation Dynamics so staff can safely practice challenging conversations before facing them in real life. When people build skill and confidence in a low-risk environment, everyone benefits: teams grow stronger, and clients receive the steady, compassionate care they deserve.
Why it matters: Because confident, well-supported staff are the foundation of strong client outcomes.
Our Approach
Our platform reflects the realities of frontline work. It’s built on trauma-informed approaches and informed by people who know the challenges firsthand. When staff grow in confidence and competence, they experience less burnout and have more consistent and impactful conversations.
Our simulation-based platform was built by people who know the work firsthand, so every scenario reflects real situations, not theory. Unlike traditional role-plays that can feel awkward or performative, it creates a safe space where learning comes through reflection, not perfection. Staff can pause, adjust, and try again to help build muscle memory that carries into real conversations.
Leadership Team
Steve Conrad (he/him) leads strategy and operations at Conversation Dynamics, bringing 25 years of corporate learning expertise and over 15 years of hands-on social service engagement. As the former CEO of MediaPro, he oversaw the development of skills-training and behavior-change programs for over 500 organizations nationwide, including healthcare systems, public health agencies, nonprofits, and social service agencies.
Steve has volunteered with shelters, food banks, and family service centers by: serving as a board advisor, providing frontline assistance, and strengthening the organizations’ learning and technology capabilities. Now retired from corporate life, he dedicates his expertise and time to creating solutions for the professionals doing the most challenging work in our communities.
Dave Kester (he/him) leads technology and product strategy at Conversation Dynamics, bringing over 25 years of technology leadership in healthcare, education, and learning systems. His experience building products for high-stakes environments shapes his approach to creating tools specifically designed for frontline social service professionals.
Dave’s personal experience navigating housing and food insecurity during his youth grounds his understanding of the challenges faced by both staff and the communities they serve. This perspective drives his commitment to building technology that not only works technically, but also works for the people who need it most, in the moments that matter most.
Maureen Wishkoski (she/her) leads partnerships and engagement at Conversation Dynamics, bringing more than 15 years of direct service and leadership experience in the nonprofit sector. Her background spans the fields of housing, education, gender-based violence, and social-emotional learning.
Maureen has worked in shelter, courthouse, and agency settings; as a trainer for service professionals on trauma-informed care; pioneered resources and processes that combined neuroscience with principles of persuasive communication, behavioral design, and design thinking; and helped pass legislation at the state level in Idaho. With a master’s degree in nonprofit leadership, Maureen is passionate about the sector and the capacity for trauma-informed care to benefit both client service and nonprofit staff.