MY MISSION

My mission is to serve as a catalyst to help others achieve principled success in times of choice, challenge and change.  I thrive on supporting individuals and organizations to make decisions and to achieve their goals in the context of their values. 

I work with organizations to support executives and small business owners in attaining personal leadership success and achieving business results.  I also help those business leaders develop others, lead high-impact teams, and design professional environments to support the achievement of others.

I work with individuals to enhance their professional performance and to bridge any gaps between their professional success and their personal fulfillment.

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Who I Am. I am a natural mentor and coach. I am an honest communicator and an effective facilitator. I am a trusted sounding board, advisor and confidant.  I find great personal reward in the development and achievement of others as a coach and trainer. Intellectually, I am energized when serving as a consultant on strategic planning, collaborative problem-solving, and individual and organizational transformation.

In launching this business, I have discovered a way to combine my passion for personal growth, mentoring, leadership and organization development, with my many years of business experience. 

How I Work. My pragmatic, goal-oriented approach means my clients achieve their goals in the context of who they are and what is important to them. It is the clients who determine how success will be measured and who determine to what extent the engagement has been successful.

My approach to both career coaching and executive coaching begins with an exploration of an individual’s knowledge, talents, interests, values and priorities.

When an organization engages me as a consultant, coach or trainer for its employees, managers and leaders, my focus begins with the business strategy and the desired business outcomes. 

Typically, I meet with my clients over the phone. This allows my clients to receive support at their convenience—from home, from the office, or even on vacation. This tends to be the most cost-effective for most people.  Paraphrasing Drew Rozell, it allows you "to relax in the privacy of wherever you are—physically, intellectually or emotionally".

Face-to-face meetings may be more appropriate for certain engagements, particularly those involving several individuals or teams within an organization. I am also available for special on-site workshops, meetings or presentations.   

I am based in the Midwest, but I am able to serve clients across the United States and internationally. 

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I have over twenty years of leadership and business experience. For five years, I served as the Vice President of Human Resources for a large, privately-owned corporation. Prior to my senior leadership position, I served as an in-house counsel with large, publicly-held global corporations. My legal career began as an attorney in large Chicago law firms, where I specialized in labor relations, employee benefits and executive compensation. 

During my career, I have been exposed to a variety of industries, including, food and food service; consumer and decorative products, industrial equipment, defense and railcar manufacturing, entertainment, as well as the service sector.  I have been involved with organizations that have existed for generations and that were just being created.  I have been involved in numerous corporate transactions and transitions, including mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, sales and closings.  These experiences helped me to appreciate the delicate balance of corporate and individual interests.

From 1996 through mid-2005, I served on the Board of Advisors to the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Institute of Psychology. Since 2000, I have been a guest lecturer and special event speaker for the Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah High School’s Leadership Class.   I have also shared my expertise and enthusiasm for leadership and organization development in my involvement with several not-for-profit organizations.       

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MY EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

I am passionate about life-long learning.  I continue to invest in my own education and development.

In 1979, I graduated, summa cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a B. A. in Criminal Justice (a comprehensive major in psychology, sociology and political science). In 1982, I earned my J. D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Later, in 1989, I earned my M.B.A. from the Executive Management Program of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business. 

I am an International Association of Coaches Certified Coach, as well as a certified career coach, earning my certification in May of 2002, from from the Life Purpose Institute™. In addition, I have taken almost 200 hours of specialized coach training with the Thomas Leonard Coaching School, the Graduate School of Corporate Coaching and the School of Small Business Coaching.  I also participate in continuing education programs offered by the International Coach Federation. 

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MY PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

I am a member of the International Association of Coaches (IAC) and currently serve on its Board of Governors as Corporate Secretary, as well as participate on several committees.  I am also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM),  the International Coach Federation (ICF), the Chicago Coach Federation (CCF), and CoachVille.  I am a member of the Elkhart Lake Chamber of Commerce and the Northwestern Kellogg School's EMP Women's Leadership Network. I also maintain my membership in the Wisconsin and Illinois Bar Associations.

The International Coach Federation (ICF) is the world's largest nonprofit professional association of coaches, with more than 7,500 members in more than 29 countries.  Its purpose is to build, support and preserve the integrity of the coaching profession around the globe and ensure public confidence in the profession.

For more information about ICF members' and credentialed coaches' commitment to international recognized standards of excellence, professionalism and self-governance, click here (www.coachfederation.org/brochure).

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