ABOUT ME

2001

Graduated high-school and began college.

I love learning and did really well in school, but nothing I studied in college excited me. I went to community college part-time (and for some periods, not at all) while I worked and tried to figure out what my major should be.

I remember saying, “if Oprah can get by without a degree, so can I!”. I still think I was right about that, but I did eventually get my degree.

2005

I began working as a receptionist and later a project assistant at a civil engineering firm. Thought a bit about becoming an engineer. Then the economy tanked…

2008

Fearing the engineering firm I was working for was going to close my office (which it eventually did), I took a position working in downtown Sacramento as office manager at a public affairs firm. Not exactly what I had in mind, but the hours were flexible and I went back to Sacramento State University in the evenings (for a while, but still didn’t graduate).

2009

I followed my boss to go to work for a large environmental non-profit. I loved doing work that had a meaningful purpose - ya know, like saving the planet.

2011

Ready for a change, I pursued a position at the organization that manages California’s electricity grid. In my first interview, I was told that without my degree, I wouldn’t have any opportunity for growth. So I went home and enrolled in Arizona State University’s online-degree program. Things fell into place nicely. I got the job I wanted. While there, I finally finished my degree. I had job security and potential for growth. I earned a generous salary, had great health and retirement benefits, and I worked with fun people doing really impressive work... but, I wasn’t happy. I tried to convince myself to be grateful, but by mid-2015 I knew I couldn’t do it much longer.

2015

At a work event, I randomly sat at a table with an executive coach. When someone at the table shared about a negative work experience, I was captivated watching the coach help her get clear on what to do next. I took her business card and scheduled our first session a few weeks later. I knew she was going to change my life.

With my coach’s support, I was able to articulate a vision for my life, own that vision with pride, get past what was holding me back, and make the changes I needed to make. Many people thought I was crazy, some told me that it wasn’t going to work out. I reassured myself that I had never failed before and I kept moving in the direction of my dream.

2016

I left my job on July 1, 2016 for a position that allowed me to live a life that so closely resembles the vision my coach helped me to see for myself, I can’t believe it’s real sometimes. When I’m not coaching, I am the executive director of a non-profit association that supports women working in the water, energy and environment fields.

2018

After two years of advocating the benefits of coaching to pretty much anyone who would listen, I realized how passionate about coaching I had become. After researching coach training programs, I found the Academy of Coaching Excellence in Sacramento. I began the Coach Training Program in March of 2018. I have completed over 125 hours of in-person and web-based training courses. To continue to develop my coaching skills, I will complete additional training courses, as well as regularly participate in practice coaching with fellow training program participants and work with a mentor coach to fine tune my approach.

My goal is receive my Associate Certified Coach credential by the end of 2020.