Home2023 Fall Conference

2023 Fall Conference

Speakers and Sessions

Morning Keynote

Amy Shuman, PCC

Bio:
Amy Shuman, MA, PCC, serves as the Workforce Development Director for the Division of Student Affairs at UC Davis. She is a Gallup certified Strengths coach, a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation, and was the ICF Sacramento Chapter Board President in 2022. She leads workshops and coaches employees to help them maximize their potential. She holds a Master of Arts in Leadership from University of the Pacific, and is passionate about empowering people to create a positive workplace culture. Amy has over 15 years of human resources management experience and works with leadership on people management, communication, employee engagement and overall workplace climate. Amy believes we are all on a quest to become the best versions of ourselves, and that process takes time, reflection, feedback, practice and, of course, coaching!

The Ethical Edge: Effective Strategies for Coaching Clients with Mental Health Concerns

Katie Kanowsky, PCC

Discover how to overcome discomfort and confidently coach clients with mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, or neuro-diversities such as ADHD. Join Katie Kanowsky, PCC, for an insightful presentation that addresses the ethical concerns coaches often face in supporting these clients. Gain a deeper understanding of the distinctions between coaching and therapy, and learn practical strategies to support this growing population. Through real-life examples, this session will equip you with the tools and knowledge to support clients without blurring the line of therapy. Don't let fear hold you back from making a positive impact. Join us for this enlightening presentation and gain the confidence to coach clients with mental health challenges and neuro-diversities, unlocking their true potential while honoring the ethical boundaries of your coaching practice.

Bio:
Katie Kanowsky is a dynamic educator, business consultant, and focus coach. She combines her expertise as a coach and cognitive scientist to help clients find their strengths and passion, then integrates them to create the life and work they love. Her passion is to help children and teens in the public education system learn to harness this information in their formative years instead of after having chosen a life path. Her mission is to create a sustainable psychological support system within the public education system that serves all individuals at the school site, helping them grow into their unique potential. She earned her BS in Organizational Behavior and Leadership at the University of the Pacific, completed coach training through University California, Davis, and holds multiple certifications in the coaching field, including Values2Wellbeing, HeartMath, and Sovereign Mind.

Every Day Counts! 5 Daily Practices to Live Life Well

Robin Matthews, ACC and Steve Matthews, ACC

This interactive workshop is designed to renew your sense of purpose and well-being. Robin and Steve will share with you 5 easy practices using your hand as a guide. And, you will walk away with a handout that will help you incorporate these research based strategies in your life. It’s time to take control back for your life and move forward intentionally because, YOU COUNT!

Bios:
Steve Matthews, ACC, MBA has been coaching people throughout his personal and professional life but only recently became an ICF certified coach with a focus on technology leaders. He has worked in sales and management for Sprint & Verizon supporting Fortune 500 companies, States, Municipalities, and Educational institutions. With his wife Robin he started The Life Coach Approach to help educate and coach others by applying the core competencies to everyday living. Serving on the Board is Steve's way of giving back and supporting others who are on a similar mission. When not in the office you will find him in the mountains; on a lake, river, or trail!

Robin Matthews, ACC: Coach, Parent, Partner, Communications Professor, Entrepreneur, Volunteer, and ICF Sacramento Board Member; these roles all encompass Robin’s passion for growth, connection, and forward momentum. Together with her husband, Steve Matthews, their coaching practice "The Life Coach Approach" focuses on helping people lead a more integrated, balanced, and fulfilling life through coaching, workshops, and talks. Having completed the UC Davis Professional and Life Coaching Program and with a master’s degree in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication, Robin enjoys working with people in various stages of life from young adults to those reaching retirement.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Coaching

Gayle Guest Brown, PCC

As coaches we will at some point, coach someone of another race, culture, nationality, sexuality, or ability (Identity).

Are you creating a safe enough container for your client to show up in their magnificent uniqueness and challenges?

We’ll talk about coaching Identity authentically.

Coaching the whole person includes seeing and understanding the influences of race, power, and structural inequities in your client’s situation and or life. In this workshop, we’ll take the first two steps. We will talk about sensitive and deliberate Identity coaching practices and review what the ICF guidelines say about this. I’ll provide you with a tool you can use right upfront as you are creating “conscious” relationships in the contracting phase.

What does Identity have to do DEI… let’s connect the dots!

Bio:

Gayle Guest-Brown is a ICF credentialed profession coach (PCC), Equity Leadership Strategist, Author, Speaker, Executive Leadership Coach and CEO of Guest Brown Impact (GBI), an award-winning leadership development firm. Fueled by strong values for equity and justice, she coaches women of color to command their worth at work and overcome challenges to pay equity, purpose, and leadership development. Guest Brown Impact also helps businesses with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) goals to overcome challenges to implementation of their vision.

Gayle holds an MBA, and a certification in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion from Cornell University. She has decades of leadership at global Fortune 100 companies, successfully motivating people and maximizing project potential in Corporate, Technology, Non-Profit, Faith, Social Justice, and Higher Education segments.

She is the author of Girl Get it Right! an I.M.P.A.C.T. guide to creating the life and work you dream of.

Gayle has been honored by the Sac Cultural Hub, receiving its Exceptional Women of Color Award. She is a 2023 Champions of Diversity Honoree and a 2019 Women Who Mean Business Award honoree both by the Sac Biz Journal.

Nurturing Personal Growth: Unveiling the Power of Values in Coaching

Lisa Laughter, ACC

In this presentation, we delve into the transformative power of values within the realm of coaching. Discover how coaches leverage the guiding principles and deep-seated beliefs of individuals to unlock their true potential. Join us as we explore the profound impact that aligning with one’s values can have on personal growth, motivation, and decision-making. Gain insights into how values serve as a compass for individuals seeking purpose, fulfillment, and lasting change. Uncover the vital role values play in the coaching process and understand why they are a fundamental tool for empowering clients on their journey towards self-discovery and achievement.

Bio:
Introducing Lisa Laughter, an accomplished ICF ACC coach who is passionate about empowering individuals to lead joyful and intentional lives. With over 20 years of experience in higher education as a student services professional, Lisa has dedicated her career to supporting others on their personal and professional journeys.

As a dynamic speaker and coach, Lisa founded her own coaching and speaking business, where she partners with clients in a transformative process of self-discovery. Through her work, she emphasizes the importance of self-love, connection, and compassion, empowering individuals to embrace their true potential and live fulfilling lives.

With a captivating presence and a knack for connecting with audiences, Lisa is a sought-after speaker in various settings. Her engaging style and insightful messages resonate deeply, inspiring others to cultivate gratitude, find balance, and live with intention. She brings humor and authenticity to her presentations, creating an uplifting and memorable experience for her listeners.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Lisa finds joy in being a devoted soccer mom to her 15-year-old daughter. She also nurtures her love for the outdoors through activities like hiking and kayaking. In her leisure time, she immerses herself in reading, unleashes her creativity through dance and arts and crafts, and embraces personal growth experiences as a lifelong learner.

Lisa Laughter's vibrant energy, empathy, and expertise as a coach and speaker make her a beacon of inspiration. Her ability to connect with others, coupled with her passion for empowering individuals, has touched the lives of many, making her a trusted guide on the path to personal fulfillment and happiness.

Coaching Clients Through Career Trauma and Drama

Helen Horyza, ACC

Come join this highly interactive session to learn how to navigate both the strategic and psychological stages of a successful career transition. Learn how anxiety operates during a career crisis and how to coach your clients to a calmer, more rational perspective. Find out how and why clients lose their identity when they feel stuck, unappreciated, or under attack in the workplace. Understand the inevitable rollercoaster clients ride as the good days become rarer and the bad days become unbearable. Partner with your clients, helping them find the courage to step out of the crossroad and into a period of restorative introspection. Receive tools and resources to ask powerful questions that promote self-esteem and self-awareness. Be the catalyst to motivate clients to an elevated career, deeply aligned with their potential and natural strengths.

Bio:
Helen Horyza, ACC, is an award-winning author and founder of the Career Coach Entrepreneur Academy, a Level One ICF accredited, live virtual coaching school. Helen holds a Master of Science degree in Career Counseling from California State University, Sacramento (CSUS), and is a professionally trained coach through Coach Training International. If you are curious about Helen’s work, pick up her book Elevate Your Career: Live a Life You’re Truly Proud Of. You can also find Helen on YouTube, just search for her name. She is here to Elevate Your Career!

Addressing Burnout, Building Resilience, and Cultivating Connection

Donna Justice, PCC

Life’s challenges have a way of catching up with us. Too often, we are so busy trying to show up for all of our responsibilities that we lose sight of what really matters. Before we know it, we can find ourselves overwhelmed with to-do lists and "shoulds." Long term, burnout and exhaustion can lead us to lose sight of our strengths and neglect or even damage our personal and professional relationships. This interactive workshop will provide tips for noticing and addressing the signs of burnout, and offer techniques for re-centering our focus on resilience and connection.

Bio:
Donna Justice, PCC, Coach and Owner, JustUs Coaching and Consulting, LLC, is a professional ICF-certified coach with 30 years’ experience as a leader in international development and public higher education. She has extensive expertise in mentoring and coaching leaders, college students, early career professionals, peers, and direct reports, and is a specialist in culturally relevant coaching, mentoring, and instruction on interpersonal and external communications, strategic planning, performance management, professional development, leadership skills, career strategies, team building, conflict management, and work-life balance. For the past five years, Donna has coached over 500 managers, directors, and senior executives working in healthcare, information and financial technology, law, social services, and higher education through her work with Modern Health and in her private practice.

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