RGI Key Executives and Speakers

Mr. Hoban is President of RGI. He is a speaker, writer and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the U.S. Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). He has led over 500 workshops and seminars around the world. He has addressed the FBI, universities, and other government and private organizations on ethics and martial arts over the last two decades. His business and military experiences, as well as an extensive 30-year background in martial arts, give him a unique and interesting perspective. More...

Margarita Tapia is RGI's Vice President of Communications and a seasoned public affairs professional. She has worked on numerous state and national political campaigns, and served as press secretary to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary during the chairmanship of Sen. Orrin Hatch. She also taught mass communication at Lane College in Jackson, Tenn. Margarita leads the "Interacting With The Media" module at the RGI certification courses, and is also a martial artist.

Jim Challender is a United States Marine, who served 27 years with the New Jersey State Police, and later ran police and investigative operations for the Waterfront and Airport Commission of New York and New Jersey. He is the only State Police Trooper ever to earn a New Jersey State "Senate Resolution."

In 1972 Jim uncovered a money-laundering scheme involving top state officials as well as several politicians connected to the National Watergate scandal which ultimately brought down the Governor's administration. As a trooper assigned to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority he arrested a revolutionary, Joanne Chesimard, aka Assata Chakur, who had killed a state trooper. Jim was the lead detective on this case and earned accolades from his contemporaries and NYPD.

In 1988 he was promoted to Captain and made Commandant of the two New Jersey Police Academies. He served as Commandant until his retirement in 1991.

Jim attended The College of New Jersey at night, graduating cum laude with a BS in Criminal Justice/Psychology. He continued his education at Rutgers University, completing the Certified Public Manager Program.

Craig Gray is a businessman, speaker, trainer and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for numerous law enforcement agencies, including the West Michigan Criminal Justice Training Consortium, the Allegan County Sheriff's Department, and many others. Craig is responsible for creating the MCOLES (Michigan Commission of Law Enforcement Standards) approved Self Defense for Law Enforcement Training Program. He is an adjunct instructor for hand to hand combatives and warrior ethics at the Homeland Security and Protective Services Academy.

Mr. Hayes, Founder of To-Shin Do Martial Arts and an inductee into the Black Belt Hall of Fame, has spent his entire adult life in the study of the Asian martial arts and spiritual traditions, living and traveling throughout North America, Japan, Europe, the Arctic, China, Tibet, Nepal, and India. He travels the world as teacher, seminar leader, and lecturer, inspiring others by translating his extensive background in martial arts and meditation into practical lessons for handling the pressures, uncertainties, and stresses of life.

Gary T. Klugiewicz is employed by PoliceOne as a police and corrections subject matter expert. He is retired from the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department after 25 years of service where he was promoted to the rank of captain. Gary has been a Verbal Judo Instructor for the last fifteen years. For the last five years, he has been closely associated with Dr. George Thompson, the CEO and founder of the Verbal Judo Institute, in developing new training methodologies for the classic Verbal Judo concepts and tactics.

Joseph Lau, RN is an emergency room nurse and long-time practitioner of martial arts. He has taught workshops on Dr. Robert L. Humphrey's Dual Live Value Theory in the U.S. and Japan. Joe was also the Senior Instructor for many years at the Tom Brown Tracker School. Joe is a member of the Emergency Nurses Association and the International Association of Genocide Scholars.

Arthur D. Mark is a retired NYPD detective with over 20 years experience.  He has numerous awards and citations and served in an elite plainclothes gun unit for many of those years.  Based upon his experiences, Mr. Mark has developed an effective street smart communication style that those in the protector professions can utilize to facilitate more peaceful outcomes when dealing with conflict.  Mr. Mark has also been an avid student and teacher of traditional Japanese martial arts for over 30 years.

Mr. Malmstrom, a former US Marine Sergeant and black belt martial artist, attended the Public Safety Training Institute and became a P.O.S.T. certified police officer in Georgia, as well as a certified police instructor of Defensive Tactics, Mechanics of Arrest, and Firearms. He graduated from the Executive Protection Institute in Virginia in 1995 and received his credentials as a certified Executive Protection Specialist. Bud has been the detail leader and an agent for details domestically and abroad. In 1992 he was invited to join the President's Council on Physical Fitness in Atlanta representing Law Enforcement. He is Basic SWAT qualified and was lead instructor for a course on Immediate Takedowns during dynamic entry of SWAT teams.

Mr. Metcalf is an author, columnist, former national syndicated radio talk show host and popular speaker. Metcalf has an extensive media and management background in radio, television, newspapers, magazines and the Internet. In addition to his global writing audience, he has worked in several major markets (including New York City, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles and Dallas). His weekly opinion columns (over 600) are seen in NewsMax, FamilySecurityMatters, NewsWithViews and other news sites.

James Morganelli is a Chicago-based writer, consultant, teacher, and trainer. He has studied martial arts for more than 30 years, including Eastern and Western styles, and lived and trained in Japan for three years. A prolific writer, James’ article, “Ethical Warrior” appeared in Black Belt Magazine’s 50^th anniversary issue His blog “KOSSHI” is read around the world, and he is currently working on several books. James has a Master of Arts in Social Philosophy from Loyola University Chicago, with a concentration in Applied Ethics and Natural Law. James holds a certification in Verbal Defense and Influence from the Verbal Judo Institute and is a master instructor in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu.

Brian K. Pensak is a retired 30 year veteran of the United States Marine Corps. An infantry Marine with combat, Foreign Military Exchange Program, and Marine Security Guard tours in over 20 countries. He is Marine Corps Martial Arts Program Instructor Trainer and Subject Matter Expert (SME). He currently serves as the Executive Officer, Weapons Training Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. An eternal student, the Sergeant Major continues to learn from, and teach Values, Leadership, and Mentoring to Marines and others.

Joseph C. Shusko is a decorated veteran who served the United States Marine Corps for over 35 years. He is an accomplished aviator who spent the majority of his career flying helicopters. While serving as a White House Liaison Officer (WHLO) at HMX-1, he was designated a Presidential Helicopter Pilot under the Reagan Administration. In August of 2003 he assumed command of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Center of Excellence. He is now serving as the Deputy overseeing the Corps' Martial Arts Program. He is also a Stafford Sheriff Department volunteer Officer. He has taught "Values" throughout the United States and abroad. He has been instructing and participating in martial arts and physical fitness since the early 1970's. Joe earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Rider College. He is also a 3rd Degree Instructor Trainer in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program.

Dr. Thompson ("Doc Rhino") was the President and Founder of the Verbal Judo Institute. He passed away in 2011, but his spirit and influence lives on at RGI and many other places. A memorial page is here. Everyone in heaven is a little safer because he is there.

Doug Wilson is a Tokyo-based businessman who is co-founder and owner of Adept Group Inc., a mission critical executive search and market entry firm. Doug is fluent in Japanese and is an accomplished translator and interpreter. Doug is actively supporting RGI in it's APAC regional development, especially in the areas of ethical business leadership and cross cultural communication strategies. Doug has an international business degree from San Diego State University, and is a long time practitioner of Martial Arts having moved to Japan to pursue a life long dream of studying at the source.