Ballot 2022

Below is the nominated ICFLA Board of Directors Slate for 2022. Please take a moment to read through the bios and qualifications of these members then cast your vote. 

CARRIE WILLIAMS, PCC, Executive and Leadership Coach
President

As a certified professional coach and best-selling Amazon author, Carrie Williams works with individuals and businesses to help them get farther, faster. As a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and one-on-one coach, Carrie works with teams and individuals to reach their goals in leadership, stress management, business growth, and team development. She has worked with top-ranked law firms, entertainment companies, and “Big Four” financial firms.

 Through her workshops, speeches, and coaching, Carrie provides practical tips and inspiration to thousands of lawyers, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals every year. Her Amazon best-selling book Eyes on the Prize: A Kick-Ass Guide to Setting & Achieving G.R.E.A.T. Goals is a tool that enables anyone to tackle their goals at their own pace.

 Carrie is the founder of Los Angeles-based RainShadow Coaching. She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coach Federation (ICF) – the governing body and gold standard for the coaching field. She is a member of SAG/AFTRA, the Television Academy. She holds a graduate certification in evidence-based coaching from Fielding Graduate University, and an MA in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University.

DIANA IDEUS, MCC
President-Elect
 

Diana Ideus has her Master’s in Executive Coaching and Organizational Behavior and is one of only 1300 coaches globally to have attained the level of Master Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. Diana leverages her coaching, consulting, management, and leadership development supporting leaders and entrepreneurs in fast growth for-profit companies in tech, finance, and healthcare.

Diana founded Hawthorne Union with the belief that there was a better way to do business and that if we take care of our people that they will take care of the profits. In addition to her work with leaders and companies, Diana teaches professionals how to coach at the university level and in courses approved by the International Coaching Federation. Her book Listen: Mentor Coaching for Coaches and other resources for coaches and leaders are available at www.hawthorneunion.com

JOHN R. VOLTURO, CPC, ELI-MP, MBA
Immediate Past-President

 John is a former C-suite executive. Having previously worked at startups and publicly traded companies, as a Performance Coach John coaches CEOs and high-performance individuals to clarify vision, build complementary leadership teams, use clear and concise communication and to lead with authenticity with their employees, investors, and other stakeholders. John also conducts workshops on Corporate Diversity and Culture, with a specific focus on the LGBTQ+ community inclusion.

John acts as a mentor to the L.A. tech community through his work at AmplifyLA, and is also a member of Los Angeles Lesbian & Gay Chamber of Commerce (LAGLCC), Vistage Executive Speaker network, CMO Council, Junto Institute, Digital Marketing, International Coaching Federation L.A. and the digital CMO Network. John is passionate about Feeding America’s children.

CAMILLE MCKINNEY, Leadership Coach and Consultant
Executive Advisor

Camille McKinney is a Leadership Coach, consultant and speaker at Leveraged Leaders; she helps women get out of their own way so they can gain the CLARITY and CONFIDENCE to show up as the leader they are meant to be in ALL areas of their life! In Camille’s experience, women often come to coaching with a very specific goal around changing the results they’re currently getting, wanting the ‘how to’ to change those results. What coaching quickly reveals is that it’s less about what you need to do differently, and more about how you are showing up, based on your beliefs, often inaccurate, about who you are. Additionally, what you’ll come to realize is that the changes you make through coaching multiply throughout your life, allowing for an expanded level of transformation.

Before becoming a professional Leadership Coach and Consultant, Camille worked for over 25 years as a training and performance consulting professional in the banking and healthcare industries, most recently leading a team of sales training professionals. Camille’s commitment to demonstrating effective leadership and empowering her team to be their best resulted in Great Place to Work employee engagement scores of 100% two years in a row! Camille brings her experience in leadership, Emotional Intelligence, performance consulting and training to support leaders in revealing your personal leadership advantage, both in business and in life.

She has a degree in Business Management and has completed Coach U’s Core Essentials and advanced coaching programs. She is a licensed facilitator of Corporate Coach U’s Coaching Clinic™, a training program that is delivered as part of a comprehensive, interactive learning experience, Empowering Performance Through Coaching. 

Camille is also a certified facilitator for Linkage’s Advancing Women Leaders Academy, a nine-module learning experience, delivered on site, that seeks to equip women with actionable steps and practices to address the barriers that impede their advancement in the workplace.

RACHEL KARU, MS, PCC , Coach, Speaker, Author 
Executive Advisor 

Rachel Karu’s quest for purpose and passion led her to create Stepping into More – A personal and professional development company dedicated to supporting clients to unleash their purpose and passion in order to live a fulfilling and empowering life! An experienced coach, speaker, facilitator, and singer with over 20 years’ experience, she energizes her clients and creates an affirming environment for personal and professional transformation. Prior to launching Stepping into More, Rachel served as Human Resources Manager at EMI Music Distribution and the Manager of Organization Development and Training at Easton Sports, Inc.  

EDITH HAMILTON, MBA, CPCC, ACC 
Treasurer

As an executive coach, consultant and facilitator, Edith is creative and bold, yet kind as she evokes high-performance results. She combines her background in finance, operations and process improvement with coaching skills to serve as a catalyst that speeds transformation.

With 25 years as a Director, VP, Operations-CFO and later an entrepreneur in the healthcare, IT, transport and service sectors, Edith often works with finance and ops leaders who face expanding responsibilities, transitions or new challenges.  She earned her MBA at Columbia University and holds a B.A. in English from Queens College, along with a Six Sigma Black Belt in process improvement. Edith completed her executive coaching certification at Co-Active Training Institute (CTI), and is ICF certified.

Professional highlights include serving DaVita Healthcare Partners as a Group CFO covering 13 states and 5,000 employees, generating $900M, and having direct operations responsibilities for a $75M Division with 400 employees. Edith was a Faculty Member at DaVita University, and received Nationwide Awards for Team (2013) and creating Fulfillment for others (2006) at this Fortune 500 company. Later Edith served UnitedHealthcare as VP for Benefit Operations / Risk Management, and while at this Fortune 50 firm she co-founded Cars2Charities – a company that was later purchased by Riteway Charities. Today Edith is best known as a CFO Coach, and an Executive Coach for Finance leaders. She typically works with private equity firms and middle-market companies with $75M – $500M revenue.

Personal accomplishments include “that after 34 years together, my husband still LIKES me!” Edith enjoys leading a Life Group with 10-15 members who meet weekly to grow and to serve together, and is active on the Finance Committee for Journey of Faith, a community of 3,000.

SAMANTHA KRAMER, ACC
Secretary

Samantha is a certified coach (ACC), a member of the International Coaching Federation, a certified scrum master, and a human resources professional. With over a decade of experience working in non-profit leadership and higher education, she specializes in working with talented individuals to break down silos in order to improve processes while co-creating a vision of the future and a roadmap to get there.

Samantha is the founder of Kramer Consulting Group, where she provides executive coaching and strategic consulting. She completed her Executive Master of Leadership at the University of Southern California with a focus on strategic planning and social innovation. Samantha was born and raised in Los Angeles and lived and worked in Brazil for 5 years. She provides coaching services in English and Portuguese. 

DIRECTORS

LAUREN MIURA
Director of Communications

Lauren Miura is a coach and communications strategist who helps high-achieving women in career transitions create their next adventure, so they can feel more fulfilled at work and inspire others to do the same. 

Lauren brings a deep understanding of purpose-driven careers and the importance of service to her coaching practice. She believes that giving back to others and being intentional about your career are key to increasing happiness at work. 

Prior to becoming a coach, Lauren had aw, including UCLA, The Nature Conservancy, UNICEF USA, Best Friends Animal Society, and Feeding America. She holds a master’s in public administration from Baruch College and a bachelor’s in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also a Certified Professional Coach through iPEC.

Lauren lives in Los Angeles with her husband Brian and two young daughters.

ADELINE YOONG 
Director, Community Outreach

Adeline M.L. Yoong is a Success and Empowerment Coach who works with rising and seasoned leaders, change makers, advocates, and activists interested in making a positive impact in this world. Adeline’s clients come from the world of business, politics, academia, government, and nonprofits. They are passionate about making a difference in lives and in the future; and do so by influencing or enacting policies and regulations, helping break the bamboo/glass ceiling, serving as mentors and role models, leading or supporting community-based organizations, or advocating social justice causes.

Adeline is naturally intuitive and empathetic, and genuinely wants the best for her clients. She coaches her clients to design and live a life filled with meaning and joy by working with them to quiet negative self-talk, step into and embrace their superpowers, and take inspired and courageous steps and actions. 

Adeline has over thirty years of experience in government relations, public affairs, and marketing in the corporate world, government sector, and political arena. She holds an MBA in Marketing from the University of San Francisco and a BA in Psychology and minor in Women’s Studies from Carleton College.

IRIS GELT WARNER
Advisor, Communications

Iris Gelt Warner is an executive coach and communications strategist with an extensive track record of achieving powerful results. Her clients range from C- suite executives and their teams to individual business leaders.

Drawing on her long and diverse career as a senior corporate executive and consultant, Iris brings a wealth of direct, first-hand experience to helping organizations, teams, and individuals reach new levels of professional development and achievement.

An expert in strategic communications, Iris helps businesses and individuals optimize the measurable impact of strong communications skills to effectively influence audiences and deliver results in all types of meaningful interactions – including pitches, presentations, conferences, negotiations, interviews, media opportunities, and other leadership activities.

Her dynamic, customized communications trainings go beyond typical preparation methodologies by focusing on strategic message-building targeted to specific business objectives. With this strong foundation, Iris conducts focused practice sessions using real-time video playback and critique to develop basic presentation competencies, help increase confidence and ensure that delivery is both authoritative and powerful.

As a business executive, consultant and coach, Iris has worked with a wide variety of organizations, from global corporations to local start-ups. Her diverse experience includes many different business sectors, including retail, technology, entertainment, government, higher education and non-profit. Her career highlights include heading the Corporate Communications department of Universal Studios for 22 years; and creating and heading the Strategic Communications department at Art Center College of Design for seven years.

Iris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education from the University of New York at Albany; a Certificat d’Etudes in French Literature from the University of Nice, France; and a Certificate in Corporate Community Relations from Boston College. Hailing from New York and now living in Los Angeles, Iris brings a unique bi-coastal perspective to her coaching practice. Her fluency in French and Spanish is an added asset when working with global corporations both here and abroad.

Iris earned her certification in Individual and Organizational Coaching in 2002 from the ICF-accredited Hudson Institute of Coaching in Santa Barbara, one of the profession’s premier coaching organizations. She participates annually in Hudson’s community service initiative and is a certified practitioner of the Learning in Action Emotional Intelligence Profile, one of the foremost measurement tools of leadership skills and practices.

JOEL PEREZ
Director, DEI

Joel Pérez is the owner and executive coach at Apoyo Coaching and Consulting. He is a former C-suite executive in higher education where he held various roles in a 20-year career. He is a qualified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory that he uses as the foundation for cultural humility coaching. He works with executives and leaders that want to become stronger DE&I allies and social justice advocates. He also works with organizations in assisting them in developing strategic plans for diversity to implement sustainable DE&I efforts more effectively.

Joel received his certification through the Academy of Creative Coaching now serving as an instructor specializing in helping prospective coaches develop skills to become effective cross-cultural coaches. He has a doctorate in higher education administration from Claremont Graduate University. He also serves as the interim executive director of the Immigration Resource Center of San Gabriel Valley located in Monrovia.

PEDRO PINTO, PCC
Director, IT

Pedro Pinto is a Certified Executive Coach, supporting clients from different walks of life in overcoming their roadblocks while using their strengths, balancing their personal and professional lives, and being the most effective contributors in their companies.

With a solid 17+ years in the corporate world as a CIO, he understands the hurdles of how to navigate across a company, all areas, and across- teams.

With an IT, Digital Marketing, Master in Neuropsychology, and an MBA, and having a solution-focused, feed-forward mindset/approach, he can support, facilitate, and provide solutions in an integrated way assisting clients in achieving the best possible outcome/scenario.

He is an International Coach Federation member, Professional Certified Coach (with two complete ACTP programs under his belt), an NLP Master Practitioner, and an ICF mentor. Pedro was an ICF Charter Chapter Portugal volunteer in the past before ‘crossing the pond’ and being able to call ICF Los Angeles ‘home’ where he served as an AD and Communications Director during a combined period of a year and a half.

He transitioned to coaching more than seven years ago. It was a smooth and seamless transition since he was already doing most of what a Coach does. Furthermore, being a coach allows him to connect with individuals worldwide while providing the best coaching/results and learning with his coachees (clients.)

On a more personal level, he loves languages – he speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian. International economy, politics, and foreign affairs also spike his interest – and he loves to have deep and meaningful conversations.

Being exposed to different cultures and countries throughout his life allows him to have an open, diverse, inclusive, and broad perspective of the world.

If you want to get in touch with him, ‘shoot’ an email to pedro@iamyourcoach.pt – you will get a reply from him for sure.

JEN WILSON, ACC, CPCC
Director, Membership

Jen is a coach, trainer, and non-profit consultant who works with leaders, teams, and organizations to get results. With nearly 20 years of experience developing and leading ethnically and generationally diverse teams, Jen combines her deep experience leading and forming teams and driving results with her training as a certified coach. Her practice focuses on engaging emerging leaders and teams where they are and together with them, crafting a vision of where they will find fulfillment and transformational growth. Her passion for coaching teams, leadership development, and diversity have fueled her career.

Jen comes from an 18-year career in international education, higher education collaboration, and non-profit management. Over this time, she has built and led multiple teams in a global organization and has created breakthroughs with leaders and cross-cultural teams by helping them take stock of today, co-create a vision of tomorrow, and commit to sustained impact over time.

Jen has received her certification as a Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) through The Coaches Training Institute (CTI) and certified in the Team Diagnostic Survey (TSD). She also holds a Master’s degree in International Education Development from Columbia University, Teachers College, and a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Development from Benedict College.

ADAM VENKER
Director of Teleclasses

Adam Venker is the Founder and Lead Coach of The Productive Pause, a leadership, communication, and performance coaching practice. With over three decades of experience, Adam coaches executives,  creatives, and high potential professionals from organizations such as Netflix, Cisco, Nestle, National Public Radio, Chronicle Publishing, and the FBI.

“The key to elevating performance, enhancing influence, and expanding your role is to root down into your deeper purpose. From that fertile, dynamic, and resourceful place, a path appears, your power and intelligence activate, and the future becomes a clear destination on the horizon.”

TIFFANY DEDEAUX 
Director, Volunteers

As an ICF Certified Accredited Career Coach, Tiffany Dedeaux is a career development resource for purpose-driven professionals. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism, a Master of Arts in Psychology focused on cultural transformation, a certification through the Institute of Career Coaching, and is an active member of the International Coach Federation and the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

Tiffany is also an Emmy award-winning Broadcast Journalist with a passion for marketing and a skill set that includes video editing, software training, resume writing, and career advisement across the tech industry. She empowers high performing business leaders to work outside the box of buildings, expectations, and routines through a nature-driven coaching and career services practice, Sacred Time.

Thank you for taking the time to vote; we appreciate your involvement in our community! We invite you to be involved and to volunteer.  If you have any interest or questions, contact info@icflosangeles.com THANK YOU!!!

For your information, listed below are the Associate Directors who have stepped up to support the board and the ICFLA community. You are NOT being asked to vote on Associate Directors.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

ERICA SCHWARTZ-HALL
Co-Associate Director, Chapter Meetings

Erica’s passion is to help leaders shine in life and work by collaborating with them to create meaningful change in their lives and the lives of those they touch.   She works with leaders to align intention and action to create and sustain a culture of leadership, accountability and trust that drives engagement and accelerates performance.

For the last 6 years, she has had the privilege of coaching 500 + leaders through Leadership@MARS 2 North America working with a diversity of talented managers from shift leads in manufacturing plants to a Global Director of Agronomy to Medical Directors for Banfield Pet Hospitals to IT professionals to their leadership development and drive high performing teams.

Erica believes in democratizing leadership – that people everywhere regardless of situation should have access to leadership development.  To that end she has worked with Maplewood Leadership Development, a group that provides leadership programs on a sliding scale to communities in NJ. She coaches in Ethiopia with the Center for Creative Leadership and has co-facilitated TransitionWorks, a ministry for helping people in transition.

Erica also facilitates Accelerated High Performance, a framework for accelerating and sustaining Cultural Leadership in organizations with T2Partners, LLC.  She recently trained as a virtual facilitator on the adobe connect platform and has converted face to face learning into interactive virtual learning modules.

Prior to coaching, she has 16 years of theatrical stage management experience in non-profit regional theater and commercial theater on Broadway.   And two years as the studio manager for a NYC 3-D design firm.  She and her family recently moved to South Pasadena, CA.  When not working, Erica loves spending time with her three sons and hubby, reading, cooking, gardening and helping her sons shine their light on the world.

HEBA TURNER, PCC, CPQC, CPCC
Co-Associate Director, Chapter Meetings

 Heba Turner, principal of The Grace Lab, is an experienced coach, speaker and facilitator who helps her clients connect with their grace compass; their inner navigating wisdom.  Finding balance to color outside the box, to be both bold and graceful. As a thinking partner, she support their purpose, vision and shortens the distance to achieving their wants and goals. She facilitates deep awareness and meaningful breakthroughs with her clients with authentic, powerful, insightful and fiercely courageous individual and group coaching sessions. Clients experience a sense of calm, clarity and connection as a gateway to self-compassion, renewed vitality and grace.

Prior to becoming a professional coach, Heba launched and operated a successful luxury lifestyle design, stationery and event boutique business. Heba brings more than 30 years of retail business development, merchandising and marketing experience. Her leadership fostered a strong collaborative DEI culture and strategically mentored numerous individuals break through the glass ceiling and up the corporate ladder.  Heba holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of San Francisco, is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), a Certified Positive Intelligence Coach (CPQC) and a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

On her days off, she can be found at the Huntington Gardens or at the beach with a good book She has a passion for all expressions of cultural, performance and fine arts; and practices her language skills with new found friends while on bucket list travels.

PAUL SHADI SANBAR, PCC
Associate Director, Coaching Cafes

A Fortunate Series of Over-corrections, both the title to his upcoming book and his personal narrative that sets the foundation for his belief in the possibilities of positive change from the power of small shifts in our mindset, Paul is relentless in his empathic aspiration to live each moment of his life -just above average- and to leave this place just a little better than he found it.

A Launch Coach, BetterUp Associate Coach, workshop facilitator and assistant trainer with his alma mater, Erickson Coaching International, Paul has over a decade of personal and professional development experience, initially as a psychotherapist and now as PCC level coach with the ICF.  Whether as a coach, a writer and performance poet or with his work at The Guerrilla Experience, Paul’s coaching mission has been focused on bringing transformative experiences to the masses and disrupting people’s perception of coaching and development.

Prior to receiving his Master’s in Psychology, Paul attained his BSc from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business and then spent many years in market research and business development for various tech startups in Silicon Beach where he first realized how much he enjoyed finding solutions for our most powerful device, our minds. Learn more about Launch Coaching with Paul www.paulsanbar.coach

KYMBERLY AKOURIS
Associate Director, Communications (Video)

Kymberly is a professional lifestyle coach and small business consultant in the greater Los Angeles area. Her coaching focuses on helping clients find their authentic selves through mindfulness practices, meditation, cognitive-behavioral practices, and time-tested evidence-based principles. Kymberly holds a Certification in Comprehensive Evidence-Based Coaching, a master’s in human development, an MBA in Leadership and Management, and Marketing, and has an ACC designation. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Human Development with a concentration in Evidence-Based Coaching at Fielding Graduate University. Kymberly previously contributed to the workforce in the capacity of Corporate Director of financial aid and, finally, campus president for a local private post-secondary school system. She now works as a small business consultant in social media marketing, coaching clients to social media independence. Kymberly’s research study is around well-being coaching in underserved communities for her dissertation. She lives in Azusa, California, with her husband and dog and enjoys her grandchildren and Catan’s strategy. 

CHRISTY VILLASENOR
Associate Director, Communications (Social Media)

Christy Villasenor is multi-certified coach and strategist – Certified Life Coach, Certified Master Marketer and Certified Dubsado Specialist – currently making her impact in the world helping entrepreneurs discover their unique productivity and motivation needs through self-discovery and success strategies as well as streamlining their business systems so they can enjoy the life they are creating. 

As a coach living in Los Angeles, CA, Christy helps entrepreneurs to step into their power and honor their whole puzzle. She challenges and guides them to see that they are more than a label. With her holistic approach to coaching & consulting, she works with her clients to balance personal and professional goals while keeping the momentum moving forward. You can find her on Facebook & Instagram at Good Things Indeed or www.christyvillasenor.com

Matt Mills, MA, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP
Associate Director, Membership

Matt Mills, MA, PCC, CPC, ELI-MP is an experienced coach, speaker and writer who helps burned-out professionals navigate through the crossroads of their career so they can take bold steps to achieve fulfillment and success in their work and beyond.

Matt has years of experience working with individuals at various stages of their careers, bringing practical expertise in guiding professionals to a thriving career path that is meaningful and more authentic to their best selves.

Prior to becoming a professional coach, Matt has worked in the entertainment industry as a film development executive, and in higher education as a career counselor guiding aspiring creatives in their career paths.

Matt’s background, training and experience as a professional coach has helped hundreds of individuals take leadership to discover more fulfillment, freedom and purpose in their work, and reach the next level of personal and professional success – on their terms.

Matt holds a Master of Arts degree in Guidance and Counseling from Loyola Marymount University, is an iPEC trained Certified Professional Coach (CPC), and is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

When not busy with his professional pursuits, Matt enjoys the Southern California lifestyle with days at the beach, staying active and training for his next marathon, and exploring the diverse culture of Los Angeles with his wife Alyson.

SUSANA RINDERLE 
Associate Director, Membership 

Hi!  My name is Susana (pronounced like “iguana”) and my mission is to help heal what ails us through creativity, heart and insight. I’m a writer, wisdom coach, wellness warrior and workplace wizard! As a Wisdom Coach, I facilitate self-discovery and meaningful breakthroughs in my clients, who then experience greater confidence, clarity, direction and purpose in work and life. I connect clients with their deep internal wisdom, and with abundant external wisdom – in people, science, the natural world, powerful metaphors and even spirituality. My four innate superpowers are insight, empathy, humor and problem solving.  Descended from a long line of oddballs and creatives, I’m both artist and scientist, and a big picture thinker with an eye for detail! 

I’m known among my clients for being knowledgeable, warm, funny, passionate, impeccable, and having high integrity. I’ve spent nearly 30 years garnering meaningful results for my employers and clients across the U.S. and abroad in multiple sectors including nonprofit, corporate, healthcare, education and government. I’m a TEDx Speaker (“Diversity is Necessary for Human Evolution”) and author, published in academic journals, Huffington Post, Workforce Magazine, TLNT.com, Diversity Executive, ERE.net, American Diversity Report and Training Magazine.  I was the co-founder and first Manager of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for University of New Mexico Hospitals (UNMH). For twenty years, I was the President of Susana Rinderle Consulting, LLC, and I’m a former Principal Consultant for Korn Ferry in the leadership development practice. I’m a fluent Spanish speaker, a Los Angeles native, and hold degrees from UCLA and the University of New Mexico. I love trees, furry beings, feathered beings, good food, great music, dance of all kinds, sweaty workouts, anything sci fi, and belly laughs.

KATHY HADIZADEH, MSc, PCC
Co-Associate Director, Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Kathy Hadizadeh, MSc, PCC is the founder of Heart Mind Tuning in Los Angeles and a former IT executive.

Heart Mind Tuning is a coaching and consulting agency focused on human potential development and performance optimization.

She is a certified integral life, leadership, and executive development coach by New Ventures West. Kathy is also a certified neuroscience based emotional intelligence and mindful leadership consultant by Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute (SIYLI).

Using her background in systems thinking and her track record in mind body connection, Kathy developed methods that amplify effectiveness of leaders and boosts innovation in teams.

She builds on two Masters in Engineering and Management and 15+ years of experience leading technology and data initiatives and teams in the corporate world across multiple industries.

LISA PERLMAN, PCC
Co-Associate Director, Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Executive Coach, Facilitator and Organizational Development Leader.

Experienced Leader with a demonstrated history of over 30 years in the hospital & health care industry.

Skilled in Coaching, Team Building, Management, Healthcare Management, and Healthcare Administration. Highly skilled HR professional with a master’s degree in both Social Work and Evidence Based Coaching/Organizational Development and Leadership as well as an ICF Certified PCC Coach.

DEBORAH (SUNNI) SMITH, MS, JD, LLM, PCC
Associate Director, Special Events

Sunni provides transformational executive coaching and consulting around organizational imperatives such as leadership development; change management; Conversational Intelligence®; Team Advantage™; ethics; and cultural competency including, bias, equity, and inclusion principles. Her client list is both domestic and international in scope. She is an adjunct coach and facilitator with Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), while functioning as an affiliate with Executive Coaching Connections (ECC). Sunni holds a Professional Coaching Certification (PCC) with the International Coach Federation (ICF), a certification in individual as well as Group Coaching Supervision, and possesses an EMCC Supervision Quality Award.

HITOMI TAGUCHI, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Teleclasses

Hitomi is a former assistant professor in Chemical Engineering at the University of Rochester (New York). Her research focused on electric-field-based technology to address critical challenges in solar fuels and energy storage devices. She also found delight in sparking students’ excitement in Chemical Engineering disciplines. In addition to lecturing at the university, she developed a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) program with local high school teachers, and worked with professors in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (D/HH) community to provide more opportunities to the D/HH scholars.

After 15 years in academia, Hitomi began exploring industrial sectors as a new phase in her career. She became a business development manager at a life-science equipment service company and served as the primary client-facing role in the Southwestern US territory for almost two years. Through the interaction with her clients—including facility directors, accountants, lawyers, and C-level executives—Hitomi developed a strong passion for nurturing powerful relationships.

Currently, Hitomi is an aspiring career coach and a happy jack-of-all-trades with a great passion for food and cooking. She is going through the Co-Active Training Institute’s programs to become an ICF-certified coach. She combines diverse coaching skills with dynamic leadership, creative brainstorming, and engaging communication skills that she developed through her previous careers. She brings her enthusiasm and experience to her coaching practice to convert her client’s confusion to clarity, doubts to inspiration, and inaction to flourishment.

JASON PRESS
Associate Director, Sponsorships

Jason specializes in “nurturing curiosity” — tapping into clients’ natural desire to explore, grow and lead.

Coming from the mad world of New York advertising, Jason has evolved from being an ad man who knows all the answers to recognize that most leaders are fully capable of making the right decisions – particularly when they have a supportive, collaborative, and creative-minded coach working with them to get past their blind spots and see new possibilities.

Prior to beginning his executive coaching practice, Jason was known for managing fast-growing and profitable creative service companies, delivering year-over-year top-line and bottom-line growth. Within WPP’s Grey Advertising, Jason built a New York-based branding and design company from the ground up and managed a sales promotion network across multiple offices. At MDC, he ran the West Coast office of a global social media agency.

An ICF PCC, Jason consistently brings out the best in people and teams, inspires original and bold ideas, delivers high-ROI value to clients, and cultivates meaningful partnerships. His clients include an array of leaders in technology, retail, communications, apparel, and financial services companies.

Born in London, Jason lives in Southern California and works across the globe.