2025 Board of Directors

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.

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

Bio and Headshot Coming Soon

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

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, 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.

Kathie McGrane, ACC - Directors of Coach Education

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 - Director of Coach Education

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

Heather Dias, MEd, ACC - Director of Pro Bono Service

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.

JR Flatter, Ph.D., PCC - Director of Credentialing Support

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 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!

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.

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.