2026 Board of Directors

Suzanne Currier, MA, PCC is a certified and credentialed executive and leadership coach. She empowers professionals and organizations to achieve their goals through the practice of coaching.

Her career spans over 25 years of professional experience in Fortune 100 companies, small businesses, and non-profits across marketing, leadership, management, consulting, and coaching domains.

She holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership, a bachelor’s degree in marketing, and a coaching credential from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Suzanne completed her coaches training through The University of Texas at Dallas in 2017, earned her ACC coaching credential in 2017, and earned her PCC coaching credential in 2020.

In 2019 she founded her own private coaching practice, Currier Coaching LLC, which she continues with today as the founder and principle. She resides in the Hampton Roads area. 

Erin Lingo is a certified and credentialed Leadership Coach, somatics practitioner, and longtime nonprofit leader dedicated to helping individuals and teams cultivate grounded, values-aligned leadership. Blending experience in organizational strategy, somatics, and trauma-informed facilitation, she supports clients in developing greater self-awareness, resilience, and connection – within themselves and their communities.

For the past two years, Erin has served as the ICF Virginia Region Leader for Richmond, re-establishing the monthly “Coaches Connection” gatherings and nurturing a culture of collaboration, curiosity, and shared learning among local coaches.

Rooted in a deep commitment to equity and community, Erin is passionate about both supporting coaches and the industry, and expanding access to coaching for emerging and nonprofit leaders, direct-service workers, and others who have traditionally lacked such support. She’s excited about the opportunity to help grow ICF Virginia’s impact and to strengthen our statewide coaching community through connection, care, and continued learning.

She resides in the Richmond area.

Stephanie Brown is a ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), facilitator, speaker, seasoned Human Resources (HR) professional and Principal of FWD Coaching Concepts LLC. Stephanie has held positions in the federal government to include Chief Learning Officer at the United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency and various Human Resources and Civilian Professional Leader Development initiatives with the Department of the Army, TRADOC.

My mission is to empower, motivate and develop leaders and coaches on their continual personal and professional journey. I am honored to be apart of the ICF Virginia commUNITY; an awesome group of coaches and businesses who together work everyday in their organizations and coaching practices to empower Virginia and the world through coaching.

Stephanie is an International Coaching Federation Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and ICF Mentor Coach. She graduated from the University of Maryland Global Campus with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology followed by a master’s degree in Management- Human Resources. She earned a master’s in Theology from St. Leo University in 2018. She holds the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), Senior Certified Professional (SCP) certification and the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) certification of Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

Dr. Saya Sone is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and SAFe® Practice Consultant Trainer (SPCT), a credential held by only 122 professionals worldwide. With a proven track record of excellence, she has contributed her expertise to prominent federal agencies, including USCIS, DHS HQ, USDA, FDIC, HHS CMS, VA, GSA, USPS, FEMA, and TSA.

In addition to her SPCT certification, Dr. Sone is a Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF), and Project Management Professional (PMP). She is deeply committed to empowering individuals, teams, and leaders to realize their full potential. Her coaching approach encourages clients to uncover fresh perspectives and innovative strategies, enabling them to achieve transformative results.

Dr. Sone also shares her expertise as an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University, combining her professional acumen with her passion for teaching and mentoring the next generation of leaders.

She resides in the Northern Virginia area. 

Jo Ellen Armstrong, Senior Leadership Consultant and Coach with Carilion Clinic’s Institute for Leadership Effectiveness, is a service-minded leader who works to put the needs of her customers first.  She is committed to developing others to become the best leader for their teams, their colleagues, and their friends and families. 

With vast experience in healthcare marketing, business development, operations, leadership coaching, and learning and organizational development, she has created and facilitated numerous training programs and team-building initiatives for businesses across an array of industries.  Jo Ellen has a background in clinical work, providing her a foundation of deft assessment skills of people and situations.  Those skills have aided her in helping groups to focus on developing sound solutions and attaining their goals.  Experienced in working with diverse groups, she believes that our differences, when woven together, can lead to richer collaborations.

Jo Ellen holds a BMT, Bachelor of Music Therapy from Radford University and a Master of Healthcare Administration from Central Michigan University.  She is  a certified Executive Coach and holds an ACC accreditation from the International Coaching  Federation and is a certified Lean Green Belt.

She resides in Spotsylvania, VA. 

JR Flatter, PCC - Director of Coach Education

J.R.  Flatter is a leadership practitioner, scholar, professor, coach, and consultant for government and commercial organizations across the globe.  Specifically, regarding coaching, he is an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Professional Certified Coach (PCC). Further, he is the Lead Facilitator of

Flatter, Inc.’s ICF-Accredited leadership coach education programs.  

As the founding owner of Flatter, Inc., J.R. has served as Chairman since their beginning in 2002.

In this position, he governs all programs across a myriad of worldwide customers and capabilities

– with a personal focus on leadership development, coaching, and coach accreditation programs.  

He complements his leadership skills, business experience, and analytical acumen with a strong educational background that includes a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the He complements his leadership skills, business experience, and analytical acumen with a strong

educational background that includes a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Washington – with a concentration in Organizational Design; a Master of Science in Management from the Naval Postgraduate School – with a

concentration in Multi-Variate Regression Analysis; and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from The George Washington University -

with a concentration in Leadership Development.

J.R. is happily married to the former Alicia Flores and has four grown children and eleven growing grandchildren – so far!

He resides in Fredericksburg, VA.

LouAnne Metzger, ACC - Director of Credentialing Support

LouAnne Metzger, ACC, is a retired educator, and founder of EmpowerEd Coaching, LLC. With 33 years of experience as a teacher and administrator, LouAnne is passionate about fostering a kinder, more sustainable, and equitable future by prioritizing the wellbeing of the adults who serve our children. She also serves as a Life Coach trainer for Coach Training EDU, helping to equip the next generation of coaches. When not coaching, LouAnne enjoys growing oysters, hiking, and cooking delicious meals for her family.

She resides in the Hampton Roads area. 

Art Akerman, ACC - Director of Partnerships & Outreach

Art Akerman, ACC has over 30 years of experience as a corporate leader in global companies, coupled with 5+ years of coaching experience. He has successfully built multi-million-dollar products and services, grown a consulting practice from startup to a high-performing 100+ person organization, spent 2 years in the UK leading a $100M+ app modernization program for a major bank, and spearheaded development of a major enterprise software platform utilized by the top 10 global banks.

Following his passion for coaching, Art obtained the ICF certification in 2022, completed 200+ coaching hours and transitioned to a full-time role as coach, working with clients from Microsoft, FICO, Capital One, Elevance Health, and other enterprises.

Art's typical clients are senior technical leaders, ranging from directors to VPs, who are looking to elevate their leadership skills and career trajectories.

He resides in Richmond, VA.

Terry McDougall, PCC - Director of Marketing & Communications

Terry B. McDougall is an executive and career coach who works with high-achieving corporate professionals to help them become happier and more effective in their careers.

Prior to becoming a coach, Terry was a long-time marketing leader in financial services.

She’s the author of Winning the Game of Work: Career Happiness and Success on Your Own Terms. She holds a BA in Economics from William & Mary, an MBA from University of Maryland, and an ICF PCC. She’s been a full time coach since 2017.

She resides in the Hampton Roads area.

Ebony Grey, ACC - Director of Probono Services

Dr. Ebony Grey is an Air Force veteran, executive coach, and CEO of Greys Consulting Group with over 25 years of federal government experience. She is an Associate Certified Coach (ICF) and Certified Federal Career Coach® who has coached senior leaders through the CXO Fellows Program, OPM Leadership Development Programs, and HUD’s Coaching Program, which she helped design and implement in partnership with TEI.

Her career is defined by a passion for empowering professionals and organizations to reach their highest potential. At HUD, she organized the agency’s first Coach Conference, bringing together leaders and coaches to strengthen a culture of leadership development. Beyond government service, Dr. Grey has mentored hundreds of small business owners as a SCORE DC Mentor and Co-Chair for Outreach, with a focus on supporting women, veterans, and people of color in entrepreneurship and professional growth.

As a speaker, strategist, and coach, she combines her military discipline, executive leadership, and coaching expertise to create impactful programs that drive measurable results. She has earned national recognition for her leadership, including the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, and is committed to advancing the coaching profession through innovation, inclusivity, and community engagement.

She resides in the northern Virginia area.