September 2008
DCF Member Spotlight: Barbara Flood

"The World is as You See It," an Eastern proverb, best illustrates for Barbara Flood, the DCF Member of the Month for September, the magnificence of coaching: "with a clear vision and intent, our world can and will become an expression of that which we focus on." Barbara trained with the Coach Training Alliance and came to coaching after many years of practice as a psychotherapist, retreat and seminar leader. In addition to offering seminars in career development and communications, being a keynote speaker and panelist at conferences in the United States, Austria and Australia, serving as leader of the DCF Special Interest Group "TurboCharge Your Coaching Career", Barbara is also an author. She wrote Illumination: Contemplations for an Awakened Life which won two EVVY awards in 2008. 

As a Professional Life and Business Coach, Barbara specializes in communication and personal and career transitions with an emphasis in the process of aging and retirement. In building on her training from CTA, Barbara received additional training from Elucity, an organization development company committed to bringing the principles of Non Violent Communication (NVC) to businesses. Barbara has been invited to assist Elucity in developing a coaching program that would bring the principles of NVC to executives and managers.

Barbara has extended her skills and training in the principles of Non Violent Communication to a research project on examining the impact of forgiveness on communities that experience violent crime. This research is presently in the process of publication and will create a paradigm for coaches who support communities such as those impacted by the shootings at Columbine or Platte Canyon High School.

One of the recent developments in Barbara’s practice is the creation of Women's Wisdom Emerging (WWE), the not-for-profit arm of her business. The mission of WWE is to provide a vehicle for mature women to pass on the legacy of their wisdom and experience to younger women through leadership development, mentoring, coaching, workshops, trainings, and retreats specific to their industry or profession. Barbara has devoted significant time in researching a topic that revolves around the mission of WWE: re-writing the myth of women and aging. This research is intended to assist in the development of a coaching modality for coaching women in transition as they embrace the issues natural to the aging process. The culmination of this research was presented at a conference in Australia.

Barbara shared that her experience with the Denver Coach Federation has demonstrated to her an example of coaching at its best. When she first attended meetings, she was going through a personal transition on a grand scale. Barbara felt the members of the Denver Coach Federation continually reinforced to her their belief in her ability to attain whatever goals she set for herself and wanted to achieve: "They have coached me into my own personal greatness as a coach. Not only is the DCF an invaluable source for ongoing professional training, it is also a powerful networking opportunity and keeps me informed of the developments of the coaching profession."

To learn more about Barbara, you may visit her website at barbarafloodcoaching.com, email her at info@barbaraflood.com or barbaflood@aol.com or call 303-906-1545.

by Kelly Johnson 

DCF Marketing Committee

August 2008
DCF Member Spotlight: Laurie Valaer

Since joining the Denver Coach Federation in 2002, Laurie Valaer has served our organization in many capacities including Membership Director, Secretary and on the Membership Committee. From the time she served as Membership Director and on the Membership Committee, Laurie had the opportunity to greet many members of DCF; now we have the opportunity to learn more about Laurie as she is the August Member of the Month. 

Laurie completed her coach training through The Coaches Training Institute; she is certified in Assessing, Training, and Coaching Emotional Intelligence through CEO Partnership and is an Inscape Publishing Certified DiSC® Trainer. Spiral of Life Coaching, LLC, which Laurie created in 2002, offers personal development services for women in engineering, science, and technology. Laurie has developed and facilitated transformational workshops on the topics of Effective Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Perspectives, Values, Life Balance, Stress Management, Team Building via Values Exploration, Self-Talk and Beliefs. She also co-founded "Tools For Teamwork" (www.toolsforteamwork.com), a website dedicated to providing a unique and high-quality combination of coaching and business tools to business coaches, life coaches, trainers, and consultants.

During the past year, Laurie realized that her passion to work with groups allowed her to help women in engineering and technical companies on an unexpected and broader scale; from within the company; working not only with the women, but also their peers and leaders and direct reports. In recognition of this newly discovered realization, Laurie
joined forces with two other locally known coaches with DCF ties – Dave Meyer and Frank
Traditi – to create ECI Learning Systems, LLC.

Nelson Mandela said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Certainly education is key. Yet, as coaches, we know that to create lasting change, that learning must be followed by practice. This philosophy is the foundation of ECI Learning Systems and is reflected in their company name, ECI:
Educate, Communicate, Integrate. Laurie, Frank and Dave truly believe that, for any improvement to happen and last, training cannot be a one-time event but, instead,
must be a process. They incorporate tools and structured means of reinforcement, such as individual and group coaching, to help clients integrate their learning into their work and life.

Laurie holds the belief that coaching is a key piece of the equation that can move us beyond simply gaining knowledge and into integrating that knowledge for lasting change. Working with a coach can help raise our awareness to things we might not otherwise
see. It can give us the courage to begin making changes and the accountability, encouragement, and reinforcement to make those changes stick.

You may learn more about Laurie by visiting http://www.ECILearning.com, or contact
her at laurie@ECILearning.com / 303-757-5763.

by Kelly Johnson 

DCF Marketing Committee

July 2008
DCF Member Spotlight: Dean Savoca

Remember the line from the theme song of the TV series Cheers, “where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came?”  That is what came to mind when our July Member of the Month, Dean Savoca, shared that upon attending his first DCF meeting in April of 2004, he felt like he had found a home.  Dean states that the relationships he has formed through DCF have been invaluable to the growth of his business and personal growth. 

Purpose. Passion. Possibility.  These key areas reinforce Dean’s strengths-based coaching philosophy: "We are all given God given talents and gifts to share with the world by contributing to others.  True fulfillment and success are found by identifying what this is for each of us and having the courage to align our lives, careers and organizations accordingly."

With over 14 years experience in the Performance Improvement Industry, Dean earned his coaching certification through the Coach Training Alliance, obtained Advanced Skills Training through Anthony Robbins Companies, is certified in Emotional Intelligence and Appreciative Inquiry (Define, Discover, Dream, Deliver) and holds a Masters Degree in Performance and Positive Change.  Dean’s clients are business owners, sales professionals and people in career transition; he partners with organizations and individuals in improving their performance and making positive changes through a combination of Executive Coaching, Emotional Intelligence and Sales Training and Performance Consulting.

The call to action that Dean provides to his clients?  "Coaching is about getting clarity on what you want, designing a strategy and plan to get you there and providing the tools to overcome anything that gets in the way."

To learn more about Dean and the programs and services he offers, please visit http://www.synergylife.biz/ , or you may contact him at coachdean@synergylife.biz / 303.333.3038.

by Kelly Johnson 

DCF Marketing Committee

June 2008
DCF Member Spotlight: Mike Faber

“Effective coaching is about driving results in an individual's life, and helping them fulfill their professional and personal dreams. Accountability is critical to making these changes, and it's my job as a coach to walk with my clients as a thought and action partner.”  This is the coaching philosophy of Mike Faber, our DCF Member of the Month for June.  Mike’s passion for coaching and enthusiasm with which he approaches all tasks is evident when in his presence.

Many of our member and meeting participants may have had the chance to get to know Mike through attending the TurboCharge Your Coaching Career SIG (Special Interest Group) he co-facilitates with Barbara Flood, or you may have been an audience member for one of his dynamic presentations.  Mike has a wonderful mix of sharing stories and experiences from his personal life and providing strong content and facts in his speaking engagements.  Mike will have you laughing and pondering life’s lessons all at the same time!

This CTA Certified, Fast Track graduate, National Speakers Association member, Anthony Robbins Certified Elite Coach, and an Adjunct Coach with Lee Hecht Harrison focuses on leadership coaching with an emphasis placed on building compelling communication skills.  His experience in coaching extends back to 1994, and he has been in business as an individual coach since 2004.  Mike expressed that he feels this quote from playwright Arthur Miller reflects courage and truly demonstrates what coaching may help a client achieve: "One can't forever stand on the shore. At some point, filled with indecision, skepticism, reservation and doubt, you either jump in or concede that life is elsewhere."

Mike will also be adding “published author” to his list of credentials when not one, but two books he is writing become available October 1^st of this year.  The tentative titles are “The Little Book of BIG SALES IDEAS” and “The Little Book of BIG LEADERSHIP IDEAS.”  The powerful tips and ideas in these books include one-minute-to-read chapters of “putting into action” lessons gathered from experiences in corporate sales and leadership. 

Mike stated that he feels the value of membership in DCF has been a guiding light for him during his independent coaching career. The friendships, professional alliances, support and mentoring have proven priceless.

To learn more about Mike, you may visit his website at www.mikefaber.com, contact him at mike@mikefaber.com, or find him at one of the DCF monthly meetings.  Just look for the big smile and welcoming wave!

by Kelly Johnson and Virg Setzer, DCF Marketing Director

DCF Marketing Committee

May 2008
DCF Member Spotlight:  Judy Sabah

Judy Sabah, MCC, PMC, the Mother of DCF and co-founder, is our "Member of the Month" for the month of May.  Not only is Judy co-founder of the DCF, she also co-founded the Colorado chapter of the National Speakers Association (NSA) in 1982.  Judy's energy, motivation and zest for life is contagious, whether she is talking on the phone, mentoring a fellow coach as part of her Professional Mentor Coach work with CoachU, or presenting at a DCF meeting. 

Thanks to her volunteerism and strong commitment, in May 1996 Judy Sabah and another local coach, Rachelle Disbennett-Lee, answered Thomas Leonard's request to create a Denver chapter of the International Coach Federation. (Judy worked with Thomas Leonard at CoachU, her coaching alma mater.) Thus, our now flourishing organization was born in a booth at a local Mexican restaurant at Colorado Blvd and Mexico. As the first chapter host of DCF, Judy patiently answered the questions of prospective coaches in the early days, as she laid the foundation for the strong, vibrant organization we are all a part of today.

Judy is a leader, communicator, and a relater.  "Leadership is part of my purpose; I definitely do not do anything half-heartedly," she said, and we, as members of DCF, all benefit from her gung-ho, get-it-done attitude. So the next time you see Judy, be sure to introduce yourself if you haven't already met, and thank her for her steadfast vision and leadership!  

Because of her incredible dedication and leadership in both the speaking and coaching communities over the years, Judy Sabah was awarded the District 26 Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership Award in 1999.  This award is particularly noteworthy in that it is awarded each year to one individual who is not a member of Toastmasters. One year later, Judy was also awarded a Lifetime Membership to the Colorado Chapter of the NSA. 

One of the pieces of work that has influenced Judy is a poem written by Marti Belknap.  The poem begins, "Are you singing the song you came to sing?  Are you bringing to earth all the joy you can bring?" Judy "sings her song" through coaching, speaking, and writing, and her career has been touched by three "brilliant" mentors:  Brad Blanton, PhD, speaker and author of Radical Honesty; Thomas Leonard, the father of the coaching profession; and Wayne Carpenter, chairman of Axiometrics International.  Axiology is the science of value, and Judy is one of only five Master Axiological Consultants in the United States. 

When asked to reflect if any part of her vision for the Denver Coach Federation has yet to be fulfilled, Judy answered that our leadership over the years has been "tremendous" and all of the leaders are truly coming from a "heart-felt place." She hopes that the organization will continue to "create specific opportunities in which members and guests can connect and form meaningful relationships regardless of weather they are in positions of leadership or not."

In answer to the question would she be considering retiring "any time soon," Judy quickly replied "Not at all. I am doing what I want to be doing, so there's no reason for me to change anything.  In fact, I really don't relate to my chronological age.  If I didn't know how old I was, I would have to say I feel 42 and often times feel like I'm just getting started." On a personal note, Judy has 4 children and 5 grandchildren. You're an inspiration to us all, Judy.  Thank you!

by Judy Schiller
Member, DCF PR Committee
                        

April 2008
DCF Member Spotlight:  Kelly Johnson

March 2008
DCF Member Spotlight:  Laurie Cameron

"My Mission is to help 10 million people 'wake up' by making conscious choices, communicating with compassion and being powerful, positive role models for healthy relationships.  This is the greatest gift we can give our children, each other, and our world."  When you hear Laurie Cameron say this, there is no doubt of her passion and conviction.  Her new book, "THE JOURNEY FROM FEAR TO LOVE: Waking Up and Walking
the 'Evolutionary Relationship' Path with Your Partner" is one step in making her mission come to life.

Asked to summarize what the book is about, Laurie says, "It's about making more healthy choices with our relationships."  What is a healthy choice?  "It's choosing to be consistent with your core values and takes you towards your vision of your best self.  You and your partner, or the other person in the relationship, are safe enough to learn, grow and evolve more easily and gracefully."

The book is only part of her mission.  She has also set in motion the Fear to Love Project. 
“I want to give back – in a BIG way. Every time a book is sold, I want to create the opportunity for someone to grow and evolve.   My goal for 2008 is to use my book to help 100 service organizations raise funds in order to better achieve their missions,” said Laurie.  “So I’ve named it The Fear to Love Project:  “100 in ‘08.”

The first public step in the Fear to Love Project is the celebration of her book release and a silent auction fundraiser to benefit Community Shares of Colorado on Sunday, March 9, 2008, from 2-5 pm.   You are welcome to attend, though reservations are required.  For more details and to reserve your seat, please visit:  http://www.lauriecameron.com/3-9-08celebration.html.

Laurie also welcomes help if you work with or know of a service organization that supports families, children and/or parents, so she can explore how to collaborate with them.  Anyone with direct connections with the media for this effort would be greatly appreciated.

Laurie’s Background
So how did Laurie get so passionate about relationships?  One can never know for sure, yet her nearly ten years of coaching has always had a constant theme.  It’s ALWAYS about relationships; whether it’s about the relationship we have to our selves, with each other, with work, with money, you name it.  She has been a trainer for Coach Training Alliance since 2002, was the Director of the Singles Program and Trainer for the Relationship Coaching Institute and is a past president of the Denver Coach Federation.  She has coached small businesses, executives, singles, divorced people, and new coaches building their business. 

If you want to reach Laurie directly, her website is www.lauriecameron.com or phone 303-740-0352.

Any Advice?
Laurie’s been around DCF for a while, so she was asked if she had any thoughts for us.  After a long pause, "Remember to listen to what your heart is telling you about what you are here to do, and then keep putting one foot in front of the other to do it."  And then with a heartfelt laugh, "And that’s for me to remember as well."

By Linda Kennedy
Public Relations Director, DCF

February 2008
DCF Member Spotlight:  Vicki Kinney Petersen

Vicki Kinney Petersen is a truly global coach. Vicki met her husband in Costa Rica and they have lived in Costa Rica, Colombia, Indonesia and in various parts of the U.S. Vicki has coached clients in various countries in Africa and Asia, as well as domestically. While living overseas, she continues to coach her U.S. based clients and after returning home, she often continues her work with her international clients.

Vicki’s exposure to and interaction with poor women in Colombia and with lower class women in Costa Rica influenced her to complete a Masters in Social Work, establish and run her own business, and eventually pursue coaching as a career. She desired a profession where she could pursue her passion and utilize her abilities and experience to help people to grow and develop skills to positively impact their own lives and those of others. In 2001 Vicki established her coaching business. Her clients are usually professionals who are in transition, need help in their personal and/or professional development, and/or desire to see their leadership focused and strengthened.

During their most recent expatriate adventure, Vicki and her husband lived in Indonesia for 10 months in 2006, where she coached the international staff on a tsunami relief team.  She worked with more than 30 international executives to combat burnout, lack of community, intercultural differences and the feeling of discrimination. These were some of the inherent challenges of working in a trauma zone trying to implement and effect change in an environment with immense cultural differences. She also designed a Staff Care program which included training and workshops in cross-cultural differences, team building, self-care, time management, writing and art.

By creating space and time for the relief team to explore and release the trauma they experienced every day, Vicki helped them release tears and emotions and validated that their trauma mattered also.  For some relief workers, living under strict Sharia law, this was the first time they had ever been supported in exploring and expressing their emotions.  One said, “ I didn’t think anyone really cared this happened to me.”

Occasionally Vicki uses writing and other creative workshops as a tool in her coaching, believing that these innovative methods help people to reduce stress, and to discover and claim dreams, purpose and personal power. "It's deeply satisfying to help uncover and cultivate skills and passions that may have been forgotten, dormant, or unexplored."

Vicki received her coaching certification from LCTI (Life Coach Training Institute), regularly takes classes to upgrade her skills and is currently enrolled in the Newfield Network Personal Transformation Foundations Program. She is happy to be serving on the Education Committee of the DCF. Vicki finds “great joy in being a servant leader.”

by Lauren Still
Membership Director, DCF

January 2008
DCF Member Spotlight:  Brenda Cody

"You never know what, who, or what opportunity is going to show up. 
Be open.  Keep showing up."  So are the words of advice from Brenda Cody,
2007 Member of the Year.  And does she keep showing up!  She gave these
words of advice without knowing she had been selected DCF's Member of
the Year.

Brenda has been selected as DCF's Member of the Year because of her
outstanding contributions to the field of coaching and to DCF.  Within DCF,
Brenda has co-chaired the Build Your Coaching Business Special Interest
Group with Karen Van Cleve for the last 3 years.  For the last 2 years, she
has been the Resource Librarian and has just volunteered to serve as the
DCF partner/manager of the Jobing.com Career Expo coaches.

Outside of DCF, Brenda has conducted career coaching on KYGO, a local
Denver radio station, written articles for the prestigious coaching
publication Choice, and been a guest speaker at conferences and
CTI Coaching in Organization Niche. 

It's not only what Brenda does, but how she does it that earned her this
recognition.  As her SIG co-chair said, "Brenda personifies a great coach
– always willing to listen, holding people to a high standard and
contributing at her best level."

Brenda discovered coaching by surfing the web late at night back in
2001.  She landed at www.coachville.com and was delighted to see what
people were doing.  She immersed herself into learning everything about
coaching and as she said, "signing up for everything."

When 9/11 hit, she was impressed with how the coaching community
responded.  She took pause to re-examine her own life and decided
that coaching was her passion.   Brenda maintained her corporate job
while developing her skills, confidence and client base until heading out
on her own in 2005.  Her coaching journey has taken many twists and
turns; Brenda initially focused on life coaching and eventually came back
to her background and experience in corporations, now focusing career
and work.  Her website is www.worksolutionsgroup.com. 

She is looking forward to her newest role, working with Jobing.com
Career Expo and DCF coaches.  To her it was synchronistic, "This is
another way to give back to DCF and my community while doing work
I love.  It’s a perfect fit."  The next Jobing.com Career Expo is scheduled
for January 31, 2008.  If you'd like to volunteer, please contact Brenda at Brenda@worksolutionsgroup.com. 

Just because Brenda's been named Member of the Year, there's no slowing
her down. She will continue to "show up and be open to opportunities." 

Congratulations for all your work Brenda.  It's greatly appreciated!

By Linda Kennedy
Public Relations Director, DCF