Meet Our TEAM
John Lankford, President & Founder
John graduated from Samford University, where he founded a Greek organization that has produced leaders across business, politics, medicine, and the arts for over four decades. His early career spanned Fortune 100 and Inc. 500 healthcare innovators, building sales, marketing, and operations teams. Driven by a passion for leadership and organizational precision, he founded The Parnassus Group in 2012 to advance healthcare through senior leadership recruitment. In 2020, he launched The Palladium Forum, a trusted circle where senior health leaders strengthen adaptive leadership and become storytellers of meaningful change.
Sheldon Buckingham, program manager
As Program Manager at Palladium Forum, Sheldon Buckingham brings a values-driven approach to leadership development. Her work is grounded in a commitment to fostering authentic connections, encouraging curiosity, and helping others discover their potential. Sheldon believes that true leadership is built on trust, empathy, and a willingness to grow alongside others. At Palladium Forum, she designs and supports programs that equip leaders with the tools to navigate challenges and inspire positive change in their organizations and communities. Guided by the conviction that leadership is less about titles and more about influence, Sheldon prioritizes collaboration and purpose in every aspect of her work.
Doug Crandall
Doug Crandall is the founding partner of Blue Rudder, a leadership development consultancy. A graduate of West Point, Stanford GSB, and the University of Washington, he has led Army units, worked in operations at Amazon, and taught leadership at West Point, where he earned the Excellence in Teaching Award. Doug helped shape Walmart’s Leadership Academy, coauthored Hope Unseen, and edited Leadership Lessons from West Point. He serves as VP of Teaching for The Referent Group and partners with The Parnassus Group to guide teaching in The Palladium Forum.
Tom Hustead
Tom graduated in the top 3% of his class at West Point and later from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Over a 24-year Army career, he rose to Colonel and commanded a NATO medical facility at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. Appointed by the Army Surgeon General as the “face of military medicine,” he discovered a passion for teaching physicians and leaders to expand their impact. After retiring, Tom co-founded The Referent Group to help leaders rise, cultures improve, and people thrive.