Shawn Banzhaf [Bon-zof] (he/him/his) is a highly innovative trainer who inspires others around him to learn. He is considered by many to be an experienced developer of people, which is appropriate to the origin of his name: Banz in German (South) is a maker of vats and drinking vessels, and hafen means “pot.” He longs to help form people (vessels) to be most receptive to great things in life.

 

For twenty-one years Shawn served the United States in the Army National Guard*. He retired as the acting First Sergeant of the 1057th Transportation Company. He is an Iraqi War Veteran, during which he earned the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge during 100 combat missions in and around Baghdad, Ramadi and Fallujah. His unit, the 1074th Transportation Company, was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation during their year long campaign. Training Soldiers was his passion and he was afforded the opportunity to train thousands of them during his military career. Shawn also brings nearly a decade of law enforcement experience and training to the team, as he served his community as a police sergeant before becoming a full-time pastor. 

 

Most recently, Shawn has been connected to the Trauma Informed Movement across Arizona, through which he has been a guest trainer on the topics of PTSD and suicide prevention within the veteran community.      

 

Since 2015, Shawn has been connected both through volunteer work and full-time staff at Arizona State University*. For two years he volunteered as the Chaplain for the Pat Tillman Veterans Center and was hired as the Senior Military Advocate for their center in 2017. He continues now as Executive Director, serving the over 10,000 military-affiliated students at the largest public institution in the U.S.

 

Shawn is the creator of the 5 Ls: A Practical Guide for Helping Loved Ones Heal After Trauma. He has trained over a thousand individuals on how using this method is a tool anyone can use with a loved one struggling with PTSD, whether veteran or not. 

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He is also an Enneagram enthusiast, type 3, and certified trainer. 

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He is husband to Jodi, with whom he partners to serve communities through The Common Table. Shawn enjoys cooking and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

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*Shawn Banzhaf's services provided through Culturally Intelligent Training & Consulting, LLC are not connected to his professional, educational, or private affiliations.