About Us
Ready Training Inc. (RTO) was founded in 2004 by Jeff Kahler and George Rivers. Jeff was seeking a cost effective training solution for his Mustang Pizza business. His goal was to improve employee retention and streamline the flow of information to reach all franchise employees and managers in a consistent, timely manner. He looked to longtime friend George Rivers, an expert in the IT field for help in developing a program that could be delivered via the internet; this set the foundation for RTO. Michael Finlayson, an expert in audio and visual engineering and Terry Finlayson, an expert in content development and script writing rounded out the talented team. Equipped with decades of experience, the RTO team quickly developed a unique training concept that has since established RTO as a leader in the e-Learning industry.
RTO has global reach and specializes in web-based training programs for companies of all shapes and sizes. We offer packages that combine courses specific to your business and others that include more general topics such as Sexual Harassment and Diversity/Violence in the Workplace. We also offer courses to keep your stores and business compliant, such as: PCI Compliance, Stage II Vapor Recovery, Age Restricted Sales, Underground Storage Tank (UST) training and many more.
RTO’s mission is to connect with companies and offer them solutions. RTO will work closely with your management team to save your company money - in time, travel and print by building and delivering a training network customized to your needs. Our solution will allow you to share information, goals, and objectives with your franchisees, employees and managers - locally, nationally or globally.
Building a strong bond between business and community is the core of RTO’s business philosophy. Jeff and his team are active within their respective communities and often give of their own time to assist in efforts to improve community life.
Executive Team
Jeffery E. Kahler
CEO/President
Jeff is the Founding Principal at Ready Training, Inc. (RTO). At the age of 15, Jeff began his career in the restaurant business. His strong enthusiasm for sales and marketing and business enterprise served him well, at 18 he purchased his first pizza shop. Over the next 20+ years, Jeff expanded that single store into an 5 store franchise in Baltimore, Maryland. Seeking more consistent and cost effective training to handle his franchisees, employees and managers, along with the desire to improve employee retention, he began to investigate the feasibility of positioning a team of experts to create training using the latest technologies available. Ready Training, Inc. was born. His strong work ethic, dedication and commitment to his clients, compassion for his employees and an unwavering search for superior technology and methods have made him a life-long success story in a challenging, competitive business environment. Jeff travels the country to meet with clients and find resolution to the most challenging training needs. Jeff’s mission in life is to connect with people, and help them anyway he can. If you've known him for five minutes, you know that. Building a strong bond between business and community is an essential part of Jeff’s management philosophy. As an active member of the community, Jeff works to improve his community, contributes to local organizations and mentors and encourages the youth - our employees and employers of the future.
George R. Rivers, III
Director, Information Systems and Technology
George R. Rivers, III is a Founding Principal at Ready Training, Inc. (RTO) and brings 25 years of comprehensive IT experience to the company. Equipped with an educational background in Political Science and Technical Theatre, he began his career as a magician; he worked for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey at Circus World, Walt Disney World, and for the Mike Piel Show Ring. In 1981, he joined the US Army as a Morale Support Specialist and toured bases all over the world performing for the troops. His extensive IT experience is as diverse as it is broad. It includes corporate programming and maintenance for Johnson & Johnson, Inc., DuPont Chemical, Nortel, Wells Fargo, Talk America, and Shelia's Collectibles as well as contracted projects with individual clients, and designing and building video games. At RTO George is the man behind the curtain. He designs, builds, and maintains the unique online training system that RTO is proud to offer its clients.
Michael Finlayson
Director, Media Production
Michael is a Principal at Ready Training, Inc. (RTO); he offers over 40 years of diversified production experience, At RTO, he is responsible for all things audio and video. From pre-production meetings through the final edit of training, Michael leads clients through the sometimes daunting and unfamiliar media production process. Michael earned an Education degree from James Madison University, with a concentration in music; then relocated to New York City. After beginning a career as a record producer and engineer, he became technical director on several music television shows. Parallel careers in audio and video resulted. Computers became an important tool in both. In 1992, he became VP of Music & System Automation with a Charleston, SC production company. He scored & engineered projects, and co-designed an automated videotape editing system. Going freelance, he divided his time between audio, video and web design. He was a founder and designer of InnerMuse, an online music creation & delivery site. In his spare time, he teaches students to engineer their songs on a computer music station he designed. Michael serves on the School Improvement Council of Academic Magnet High School, the #1 magnet school in the US; ranked in the top ten of all public high schools.
Terry Finlayson
Director, Content Development
Terry is a Principal at RTO. Due to her vast and diverse work experience in training and development, she understands how people learn. Terry works directly with the client to convert existing material to e-training and to research and develop training to meet new standards or compliance issues. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from James Madison University in Virginia. Upon graduation, Terry was manager at the Office of Personnel Management (US GOVT) where she wrote management training and oversaw supervisor development. Her strong background in food service and hospitality began as a young adult when she worked for several years at a conference center in the Shenandoah Valley. She later returned to that passion when she attended Peter Kump's New York Cooking school. Terry has cooked and trained staff in colleges, hospital kitchens, bars and restaurants, resorts, and in fast-food operations. She spent more than 20 years employed in a variety of positions, including waitress, pot washer, sous chef, pastry chef, and manager. At Hilton International, she managed the Big Kitchen Restaurant, a landmark food court at The World Trade Center concourse. She researched, wrote, and edited textbooks at the Culinary Institute of America. At RTO, Terry heads the team of writers who work closely with our clients to ensure our training will meet their needs. In her spare time, Terry volunteers at the Delaware Water Gap NP and teaches cooking courses through her local community education program.