Board of Directors

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 is currently team lead of 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 received her ACSTH coach training from the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Federal Coach Training Program in 2015. She is a transformative coaching professional who promotes a coach-based leadership style.

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).

She is involved in the nonprofit community serving on advisory boards and in leadership positions with several Boards. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Stephanie came to Hampton Roads (Virginia) in 1995 with her husband who served over 23 years in the United States Navy. She cherishes her family which includes her husband Michael, three adult children (Christian, Marti and Maya) and three grandchildren (Derek, Maddison and Caralyn) and she enjoys traveling, boating, fishing, and gardening.

stephanie@fwdcoach.com

Alexa Beavers, PCC, PMP, a self-proclaimed "pragmatic idealist," has a track record of coaching leaders, cultivating change-making teams and shaping organizational transformations that deliver results. Her career spans public and private sectors, and includes leadership in education, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, animal health, financial services, non-profit, and Fortune 500 companies.

As a coach, Alexa helps her clients leverage their self-awareness, resilience, learning agility and interpersonal skills so they can bring their best selves to work and get amazing results. The Axela Group’s unique SCANTM coaching approach works especially well in these times of rapid change because it helps leaders See, Consider their options, Adapt with a coach there to support them, and “Now do it again” so they can be agile in today’s changing world. Knowing that no two coaching engagements are alike, Alexa taps into her brain-based coaching practice to help individuals uncover the path that will “Axela-rate” their impact most effectively.

As a team and transformation leader, she is recognized for her insights, innovative approaches to complex issues, humanistic leadership and disciplined drive for results as “Industry Rising Star” and “Pharmaceutical Industry Luminary” by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association.

Alexa is founder and managing partner of The Axela Group and sits on the Boards of Community Veterinary Outreach, USA and The International Coaching Federation, Virginia Chapter. Some of her most recent work includes heading Culture, Change and Communications for Boehringer Ingelheim’s deal with Sanofi to acquire its animal health business. Alexa holds a Project Management Professional Certification from the Project Management Institute and has a Master of Arts in Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. She attends Georgetown’s Institute for Transformational Leadership and is looking forward to adding the International Coaching Federation ACC designation to her credentials in the summer of 2019. Alexa lives with her husband (who is her business partner), three children and their dog, Scout, in Richmond, Virginia.

Crystal Slusser, ACC has been with Carilion for a combined 11 years where her previous experience was in General & Trauma Surgery, HR- Education & Organizational Development, and she currently serves in the Institute for Leadership Effectiveness as a Leadership Consultant and Coach. Crystal’s focus is on leadership on-boarding initiating assessments based upon needs and completing debriefs so leaders can utilize the knowledge in the workplace, facilitating individual and team leadership developmental programs, customized individual and team consulting, and serving as a critical thinking partner and coach to help leaders overcome roadblocks to reach their full potential and achieve their professional goals.

To be able to help even more leaders out in the community and the world, Crystal has started a company that specializes in leadership development, consulting and coaching called M&S Leadership Solutions. Crystal attended Strayer University where she graduated as an honors scholar and Suma Cum Laude with a bachelor’s in business administration and a master of science in human resource management with a concentration in Organization and Human Resource Development. Crystal is a certified healthcare leadership coach with her ACC through the International Coaching Federation. Crystal’s detail orientation surrounding project management and process improvement initiatives, collaborative nature and experience running her own business contribute to the skills needed for ICF Virginia.

In her spare time, Crystal spends time with family, loves to ride her horse, workout, do home improvement projects and travel to find the bluest ocean water possible.

Personal Mission Statements and / or Values: "Everything happens for a reason…just enjoy the ride and learn from it."

Charlotte Jacobs, MBA, PCC, CPC, ELI-MP is a globally recognized Leadership and Organizational Strategist and Executive Coach with over 20 years of coaching experience. With the responsible of leading personnel at all levels and with a focus on improving performance and increasing proficiency, she has successfully implemented leadership coaching and performance-based reward programs in contact centers throughout the US and Europe.

She is the Founder of InvestNLead Coaching and Consulting Group, is currently a Leadership Coach at a Fortune 500 company and is a Module Support Coach with the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC). She has held numerous senior leadership roles such as Implementation Manager, Senior Performance Management Coach, Principal Contact Center Consultant, Project Manager and Adjunct Professor.

An energetic facilitator and trainer, Charlotte offers experience in areas such as contact center management, process analysis and design, performance insight and analytics, customer experience strategies, human resources management, DEI, instructional design, adult learning theory, project management, organizational and change management, and risk management reporting.

She is a graduate of the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) where she received her certification as a Certified Professional Coach (CPC), is an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) and is a COR.E Dynamic Specialist in Leadership, Performance, Wellbeing, and Transition. She earned a BS in Systems Organization and Management with a Concentration in Human Resources from Hampton University and an MBA from Averett University. She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

As a community activist, mentor and pro bono Coach, Charlotte enjoys supporting her community. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, PMI of Hampton Roads, ICF Ignite, Urban League of Hampton Roads and currently serves in leadership roles for several nonprofit organizations. She served in past volunteer positions such as the President for an organization with 2,000 members, American Cancer Society - Hampton Relay for Life Executive Board and was a Tutor for Peninsula Reads.

Charlotte encourages maintaining a work-life balance and to do so she enjoys music, comedy, cooking, traveling, meeting new people, hosting events and spending time with family, friends, and her beloved Yorkshire Terrier.

charlotte@investnlead.com

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

Her career spans over 20 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.

She is currently an active member of the International Coaching Federation, as well as the Virginia ICF chapter - where she serves as the Hampton Roads Special Interest Group leader.

In 2019 she founded her own private coaching practice, Currier Coaching LLC, which she continues with today as the founder and principle. In her free time she enjoys spending time in Richmond and Virginia Beach with her husband and little cockapoo puppy named Dolly.

Sara Kagarise is a Certified Coach and Industrial and Organizational Psychology Practitioner with over a decade of experience in the training and development space. Sara has a passion for leadership coaching, as it allows her the opportunity to help leaders leverage their most authentic and effective self. Sara has a goal to improve the work environment for an organization’s most important asset, its human capital.

Sara serves as a Leadership Coach for a large, non-profit healthcare organization and is the co-founder of Strategic Talent Results, LLC. By focusing on the ROI of engagements, Sara has facilitated improved profits via human capital gains including reductions in turnover, increased leadership effectiveness, and increased job satisfaction.

Sara holds credentials as an Associate Certified Coach, Project Management Professional, and a Certified ROI Professional. She holds an A.A.S. degree in Radiologic Sciences from Virginia Western Community College, a B.S. in Health Science and Health Administration from Old Dominion University, and a M.A. degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Adler University.

Sara currently resides in Roanoke where she loves doing anything outdoors including hiking, kayaking, and boating. She loves spending time with her husband and pets that include three dogs and a cat.

sara@strategictalentresults.com

Kathie McGrane, ACC - Professional Development Co/Chair

Kathie McGrane has her coaching niche in positive psychology coaching and focusing on strengths and resilience—using and maximizing what we have and making it work for us. She has worked in leadership development, where she managed and taught leadership development courses; managed an internal coaching program and 360 Feedback Program; and provided coaching services throughout the federal government. Kathie is an ICF ACC certified professional coach. She's earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, and Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Development and Family Studies; certifications in MBTI, Clifton Strengths, Emotional Intelligence, Emergenetics, and Hardiness Resilience Gauge.

How Kathie serves her clients: Through coaching, I like to challenge my clients to move beyond the limits they have set for themselves and know that they have everything they need to be successful and resilient. My approach is strengths based. I am a keen observer of the uniqueness of everyone and their strengths. I look for experiences that will stretch, bring growth, and elevate them to a place where they realize the potential they really do have. In all my interactions as a coach, my goal is to help my clients experience success that is uniquely defined by them.

McGraneK@gao.gov

Becky Arce, PCC - Professional Development Co/Chair

Becky Arce is an accomplished and passionate professional with a diverse background spanning Coaching, Project Management, Leadership, Human Resources, and Business Management. Currently holding the esteemed title of Professional Certified Coach (PCC) from the International Coaching Federation (ICF), Becky is on an inspiring journey towards her ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC) designation, showcasing her commitment to continuous growth and mastery in the coaching realm.

Becky embarked on her coaching career after completing her certification with iPEC in 2015. Eager to make a positive impact, she founded her private practice and joined Better Up in 2017. Specializing in career transitions, personal transformation, and breaking generational destructive cycles, Becky thrives in guiding individuals through life-changing decisions, career reinvention, and the challenges of leadership growth.

With an impressive 25 years in Fortune 500 Financial Services & Human Capital Management, Becky brings a wealth of corporate experience to her coaching practice. Her unique blend of coaching expertise and corporate insight allows her to provide holistic support tailored to the needs of her clients.

Areas of Expertise:
· Career Transition
· Personal Transformation
· Breaking Generational Cycles

Education and Certifications:
· Bachelor's in Business Management: University of Phoenix
· PCC Certification: International Coaching Federation
· PMP Certification: Project Management Institute 

Beyond the boardroom and coaching sessions, Becky has dedicated over 15 years to Yoga and Mindfulness practices. Complementing her coaching approach with holistic well-being, she brings a balanced and mindful perspective to her clients. Excited to contribute to the growth and success of the ICF Virginia Chapter, Becky is devoted to creating unparalleled professional development opportunities for its members. Her unique blend of corporate wisdom, coaching prowess, and commitment to well-being makes her a valuable asset to the coaching community.

In her free time, Becky finds joy in the company of her husband, son, and their four-legged friends. A travel enthusiast, a sports team fanatic, and a beach lover, she cherishes moments that add richness to life.

beckyjp5@yahoo.com

Sara Cummings, MA, ACC - Director of Membership

Sara Cummings has over 30 years of experience accompanying and supporting people as they navigate changes and challenges. She is passionate about helping people discover not only their own solutions, but the steps to implement them and the commitment to see them through.

With an education in psychology (BA) and marriage and family therapy (MA), Sara has worked in human services as a victim advocate, therapist, family life educator, school counselor, DEI learning facilitator, and professional organizer. She brings that experience and understanding to her work as an organizer, coach, and owner of All Sorts Organizing, which she operates out of Virginia Beach, VA.

Sara is credentialed as an ACC level coach through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and is also a Positive Intelligence PQ Certified Coach who facilitates the PQ® Program for individuals and groups.

Sara is a mother of 3 mostly grown children, was a Navy spouse for over 30 years (her husband retired in 2022) and has a side hustle making t-shirt quilts.

www.allsortsorganizing.com
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Jo Ellen Armstrong, MSA, ACC - Director of Marketing

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.

Tim Smith, PCC - Secretary

Tim Smith is a perceptive and analytical solver of problems, who is deeply motivated to make a difference. Tim works as a coach, facilitator, and consultant and has over 25 years of wide-ranging, learning & development experience. Tim believes that results follow relationships, and places a great deal of emphasis on improving emotional intelligence and interpersonal skill development.

As a coach, Tim holds the PCC credential from the ICF and strives to create a safe, supportive environment; flexing to meet each client's individual needs. Inquisitive and insightful, Tim partners with clients to discover impediments to their success, and the powerful actions to overcome them. He often draws on his knowledge of emotional intelligence, and his extensive experience with leadership development. Tim works primarily with "analytical thinkers" and executive/leadership teams. 

As a facilitator, Tim uses a friendly and interactive style to quickly build rapport with participants. His training sessions and presentations are designed to be interactive. He often weaves in personal stories of success and failure that apply to the topic or situation. 

As a consultant, Tim seeks to understand the client's desired future state, as well as the current level of performance. After identifying this gap, he seeks to understand the underlying causes. Tim leverages intuitive analysis and perceptive critical thinking to organize and prioritize the contributing factors and ensure proposed solutions address each cause. 

When he isn't working, Tim enjoys time at home and with family. He is an avid hiker and backpacker and has recently started to explore mountaineering.

Learn more about Tim on LinkedIn 

tim@barrenridgeconsulting.com

Heather Dias, MEd, ACC - Ignite Director

Heather Dias is passionate about encouraging each client to be their most empowered self, especially as they go through periods of transition. She considers it a privilege to walk with each client through the "in-between", helping navigate healthy transitions while always keeping their unique purpose as their guide.

She has a Master's in Counseling Psychology and began her career as a counselor focusing on areas such as self-esteem, parenting concerns, children of divorce, life transitions, and sexual trauma. In 2019, she graduated from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) where she received her certification as a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and is an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP). Heather went on to receive her ACC coaching credential in 2020.

Besides transformational and transitional life coaching, Heather specializes in purpose-driven leadership coaching. She is a part of the Jon Gordon Leadership Development Team bringing leadership training to universities and educational institutions.

She has a heart for pro-bono coaching and has coached leaders with NGOs in Cambodia. Heather’s vision for coaching aligns perfectly with the ICF Foundation Ignite whose goal is to see coaching "accelerate and amplify a positive impact on humanity and the planet." She has thoroughly enjoyed volunteering with Ignite for the past few years.

Heather has recently relocated to the Hampton Roads area where she lives with her husband. She has three grown children (Matthew, Elizabeth, and Rachel). Her life quote is: "We are all just walking each other home."  - Ram Dass.