USDA-FNS Executive Coaching Program
Step 1: Meet Your Coaches
Gerald (Jerry) Edgley
Background
Jerry Edgley has 45 years of experience with Fortune 200 companies, electric utilities, government agencies and non-profit organizations. He has experience in providing practical solutions to leadership, organizational and business issues for organizations such a Dames and Moore, Booz Allen Hamilton and Edison Electric Institute. His solutions are based on expertise in leadership coaching, management assessments, strategic planning, program planning, change management, training and program design. Jerry has worked with individuals and teams at management and executive levels to support leadership excellence, performance improvement, organizational development, and related management objectives.
Coaching Approach
As an ICF (International Coach Federation) credentialed Leadership/Executive Coach (PCC level), Jerry is committed to masterful, action-oriented coaching that moves clients and their organizations forward in more holistic, dynamic, balanced and meaningful ways. During his career in strategic planning and process improvement and as a professional coach and trainer, Jerry has helped Federal government and commercial clients think more strategically and be more effective leaders and team members. Jerry draws on a wealth of experience working with people from diverse backgrounds and interests to solve technical, personal and business challenges through appreciative inquiry. He is particularly adept at helping leaders articulate a vision, strategies, clarify strengths and align resources, map a path forward to overcome impediments, and successfully execute action plans. Jerry delivers practical solutions to help teams and individuals develop personally and professionally while meeting the vision and mission of their organization.
Areas of Expertise
Leadership and Executive Coaching
Leadership Development
Individual and Organizational Assessments
Leadership Training
Strategic Planning
Change Management
Relevant Experience
In addition to his years of experience as a leader in the private and non-profit sector, Jerry has over 1200 hours of Leadership and Executive Coaching for executives in both the private and the public sectors. In addition to coaching, Jerry has also managed a coaching program for a Federal agency and developed leadership training for Federal agencies and commercial clients.
Jerry has wide experience in helping leaders understand their leadership competences using an array of leader assessment tools to help a leader identify their strengths to build upon and challenges to address. Jerry believes each client has the ability to build on his/her strengths in order to obtain personal and leadership goals. This is accomplished by asking powerful questions in a trusting, open and non-judgmental environment that leads to self-discovery. Jerry helps the leader discover how to obtain his/her full potential as a leader and have balance with other demands. Jerry helps clients discover their passions, unique talents and abilities, and assists clients in realizing their goals.
Education
MBA, George Washington University
MA, Urban and Regional Planning, George Washington University
Conservation and Resource Development, The University of Maryland
Leadership Coaching Certification, Georgetown University
Change Management Advanced Practitioner Certification, Georgetown University and Booz Allen Hamilton
*Paula is at capacity for this program and no longer available.
Paula Lowe
Background
Paula Lowe has over 25 years of experience in the field of leadership development and career development. For more than 15 years she served as Director with responsibility for staff, budgets and multiple functional areas in large organizations. Prior to launching her full-time coaching practice in 2004, Paula created NASD/FINRA/Nasdaq’s first formal training function which she grew from its first course offerings to an organizational development department with comprehensive capabilities including leadership development, management and interpersonal skills training, team building, group facilitation and change management services. Additional experiences include managing the Management Training function at Crum and Forster, a Xerox Financial Services Organization and creating the first Career Center for adult students and mid-career professionals at the University of Maryland.
Coaching Approach
Paula helps leaders to build upon their natural strengths so they can make their greatest impact on their organization. She also works with them to clarify and attain their professional goals and increase their satisfaction with their career and life.
Her clients comment that her approach is practical and balances a style of personal warmth with a strong focus on helping her clients attain tangible results. They find her extensive management and leadership experience to be very valuable in her coaching.
Based on her deep experience in the field of leadership and management development, Paula is able to provide a variety of tools, models and frameworks to enhance the coaching. She works on a very broad variety of coaching goals. Some of the most common are: motivating staff, providing feedback, executive presence, managing stress and emotions, difficult conversations, delegation and career satisfaction.
Areas of Expertise
Leadership and Executive Coaching
Leadership Development
Management Development
Performance Management
Career Development
Relevant Experience
Paula’s entire career has been devoted to helping individuals gain mastery over the direction of their lives and achieve their goals … first as a career counselor, then as a management trainer, as a director of leadership development functions and finally as a coach. She has coached approximately 500 leaders and has over 4,500 hours of coaching experience. Paula has presented at national and regional conferences, including a presentation on Executive Coaching at an international conference of the Association of Talent Development (ATD). She was a founding coach for the NIH Clinical Center and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and received the Prism Award for Excellence in Coaching as part of these agency’s recognitions.
Education
Leadership Coaching certification, Georgetown University
MA, Counseling, George Washington University
BS, Education, University of Maryland
Donna Pearring
Background
Donna Pearring is an ICF (International Coach Federation) credentialed Leadership/Executive Coach (PCC level), Instructor and Facilitator, and Program Manager with over 25 years of practical business, managerial, and leadership experience in Fortune 500 companies, such as IBM and Siemens. During Donna’s career in IT and Telecommunications, she gained experience and appreciation for the entire business continuum, from sales through service. This experience, as well as her experience as a program manager, enables Donna to relate to today’s business challenges and allows her to incorporate real-life experience with organization and leadership best practices for more effective and sustainable results.
Coaching Approach
Donna is focused on developing leaders to utilize their strengths, abilities, resources, and challenges to break through self-imposed limitations. Donna has a strong ability to help her clients improve their interpersonal skills and communications to achieve their desired results. Her clients have reported successful development in their ability to build stronger relationships, make better decisions, influence and motivate others, be focused, and show up at their best more often.
Donna has an extensive track record in achieving game-changing results with her clients. She utilizes a wide variety of techniques and tools to assist the client in achieving an identified set of goals to improve his/her professional performance and personal satisfaction. She helps clients discover their core strengths and how to best utilize them to achieve desired and sustainable results.
Areas of Expertise
Leadership and Executive Coaching
Career Management and Transition
Leadership Development
Team Development
Relevant Experience
In addition to her years of experience as a leadership in the private sector, Donna has over 2,000 hours of leadership, executive and professional coaching from both the private and public sectors. In addition to coaching, Donna has also managed coaching programs and Leadership Development programs.
Donna also has over 16 years of experience in leadership development training. She has taught over 200 programs, touching over 5,000 participants. In addition, Donna has led off-site events programs such as Leadership Potential Programs, focusing on leadership competencies and team development skills. She has led teambuilding workshops for intact teams to enhance communications, build relationships, and understand different working, learning and leadership styles in order to subsequently work more effectively together.
Education
MS, Organizational Development & Knowledge Management, George Mason University
BS, Psychology, Dickinson College
Natalya Pestalozzi
Background
As an International Coach Federation credentialed coach, Natalya has coached over 100 managers, supervisors, emerging and Senior Executive leaders during critical transitions in their leadership journey, whether participating in a Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program, navigating organizational restructuring or culture change, or taking on new executive responsibilities. In her previous role as Coaching and Mentoring Practice Lead, she led coach recruitment, carried out the coach/client matching processes, and managed the coaching program life-cycle to ensure coaching program goals were met and completed. She supported business development and led proposal responses resulting in the award or re-award of more than 10 Federal and private sector contracts.
Coaching Approach
Natalya is committed to masterful coaching that delivers results to clients in their organizations. She addresses the whole person, engaging strengths with assessment tools such as OPM 360 Feedback, the Leadership Circle Profile, MBTI, Strengths-Based Leadership, and VIA Character Strengths Inventory. With a background in the science of well-being, Natalya coaches across executives’ life domains, helping clients gain greater awareness and insight so they may be in active choice about thought patterns, beliefs, and behaviors they exhibit which impact the people and organizations they lead. Her warm yet direct coaching style provides a model to clients for developing high quality connections with others. She challenges clients to create positive impact, consider how their personal development should benefit their broad network of stakeholders in and beyond the organization, and take thoughtful action in alignment with personal and organizational values.
Areas of Expertise
Systemic Coaching — creating value beyond the benefit of the individual coachee
Work-Life Integration
Recognizing and Leveraging Strengths
Transition, Boundaries and Delegation
Relevant Experience
With over 1,000 hours of coaching experience with Federal employees, Natalya’s recent experience includes:
Government Accountability Office Senior Executive Service leader executive coaching and SES Candidate Development Program participant coaching
U.S. Postal Service Executive Foundations and Executive Leadership programs, providing 360 feedback debriefing and ongoing coaching to incorporate leadership training content and learning for new and experienced executives
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission executive coaching for aspiring and newly promoted Senior Officers
In nearly every coaching engagement, the intersection of the coachee’s personal and professional worlds present development opportunities through such coaching topics as personal confidence, vulnerability, courage, identity, purpose, engagement, self-regulation, finding one’s executive voice and presence, boundaries, trust building, and communication.
Education
MA, Applied Positive Psychology, University of Pennsylvania
BA, International Studies, Ohio State University
Dianne Rankin
Background
Leadership coach and consultant Dianne Rankin brings over 20 years’ experience as a Federal executive to her work with individuals and groups. She uses that experience to support leaders and their teams in enhancing their leadership competencies and creating organizations that ignite the best in their people and exceed the expectations of their customers. As a senior executive, she held leadership positions overseeing planning and budgeting, facilities management, and other support services. She led customer-focused organizations characterized by collaborative teams, continuous improvement, and demonstrated results.
Coaching Approach
An ICF (International Coach Federation) Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Dianne considers coaching a privileged partnership between coach and client, focused on the clients’ professional and personal growth. She strives to increase their capacity to take effective and purposeful actions to achieve desired results and experience fulfillment. As her clients’ thinking partner, she supports and challenges them in assessing where they are and where they choose to be—be it a more inspiring leader, a more productive team member, or a more skilled individual contributor. She uses data from 360s, interviews, and observations to determine strengths to leverage and areas for growth. She then supports her clients in determining new practices to adopt.
Areas of Expertise
Adult Development Theory and Practices
Enhancing Leadership Capabilities
On-Boarding New Executives
360 Assessment Feedback
Career and Life Transitions
Leveraging Polarities
Relevant Experience
Dianne has provided coaching services to a diverse population of clients, including emerging, mid-level, and senior executive leaders at five Intelligence Community (IC) agencies, including CIA, DIA, NGA, NSA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. She has also coached professionals at numerous other Federal Departments and Agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Homeland Security, Navy, and Veterans Affairs, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Environmental Protection Agency Internal Revenue Service, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, US Security and Exchange Commission, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the US Agency for International Development IG. Not for Profit clients have included The International Center for Research on Women and the Women’s Center of Vienna, VA. She was a member of an IC coaching team awarded the PRISM Award of Excellence for coaching impact on organization results. She took part in a Department of Navy Pilot Executive Coaching Program and coached additional Navy executives in the follow-on program, as well as newly promoted Admirals.
A trained Mentor Coach and Assessor of ICF competencies, as an Adjunct Faculty member of the Georgetown Leadership Coaching Program, Dianne evaluates students’ practice coaching sessions for meeting ICF standards. Dianne is also a Co-Founder and Coordinator of the DC Somatics Learning Community of Practice. She facilitates learning sessions for local coaches and trainers, often featuring nationally known speakers.
A passionate community service advocate, while Chair of Community Outreach on the Board of Directors of the ICF DC Metro chapter, Dianne initiated and administered an award-winning pro bono coaching program for staff and clients of nonprofit organizations. She has also served on the Boards of the Federal Executive Institute Alumni Association and two organizations that provide education enrichment programs for at-risk youth in the District of Columbia.
Education
MS, Special Studies, George Washington University
MA, Political Science, George Washington University
BA, International Affairs, George Washington University
Advanced Coaching Certificate, Leadership and Well Being, George Mason University
Master Somatic Coach, Strozzi Institute
Leadership Coaching, Georgetown University
Organization Development, Georgetown University
Dr. Shirley Ann Turner, PhD
Background
Dr. Shirley Turner is an Executive Leadership Coach and the CEO of In Touch Consulting LLC. She holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, an Executive Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University, a certificate in DISC Facilitation from the Christian Coach Institute, and a certificate in EQ-i 2.0/ EQ 360 from Otto Kroeger Associates/Multi-Health Systems Inc.
She is a retired educator with over 30 years of experience as an instructor and Instructional Coach in DC Public Schools, private schools, and institutions of higher learning. She has also been an adjunct professor and the Graduate Writing Coordinator in the School of Education at Howard University. Dr. Turner is a published author of the book, “Catch the Spirit and Be Set Free” and several articles, including the peer-reviewed article “Building Condition and Student Achievement: The Paradox” in Educational Facility Planner, 2014.
Coaching Approach
As an executive coach, Dr. Turner provides leadership coaching for government employees (GS-12 and above), who are supervisors, managers, and team leaders within their organizations. Dr. Turner provides evaluative analysis and feedback through Mile Marker 360 (a 360 Degree Assessment Program) and her one-on-one sessions help clients maximize personal and professional potential. Through collaborative partnerships, Dr. Turner’s clients are able to create appropriate next steps in their journey to reaching their professional and personal goals. Her clients have been able to develop people management skills; thereby, creating high performing teams. They are also able to manage change, both externally and internally, by recognizing and responding to self-awareness and self-discovery.
Areas of Expertise
Leadership and Executive Coaching
Leadership Development
Management Development
Career Development
Relevant Experience
Dr. Turner is committed to helping individuals, leaders, managers, groups, and teams move forward. Through goal-setting, thoughtful questioning, engaging exercises, and thought- provoking discoveries, Dr. Turner helps her clients get “unstuck”. She seeks to coach the person, not the problem that the person brings to the coaching engagement. As a result, clients are able to take the next step toward resolving personal and organizational issues while maintaining self-care.
As a result of her leadership experiences, Dr. Turner is equipped to help clients maximize personal and professional potential. Through collaborative partnerships, she and her clients are able to co-create strategies to deepen self-awareness, intensify creative ability, promote personal accomplishment, and cultivate a pathway to possibility for individuals, as well as their organizations.
Education
Leadership Coaching certification, Georgetown University
PhD, Organizational Leadership, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
MA, English, Mississippi University for Women
BA, English, Alcorn State University
Step 2: Select Your Preferences
Step 3: Review Coaching Agreement & Coaching Goals Forms
Coaching Agreement
During your pre-coaching support session, you and your coach will review and sign a coaching agreement. Prior to that conversation, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with this sample coaching agreement.
Coaching Objectives Form
Also during your pre-coaching support session, you and your coach will also discuss setting objectives and outcomes that will, in part, guide your coaching relationship.
Additional Resources
Program Structure
Introduction to Coaching
This primer provides a slightly more detailed overview of the topics and concepts of executive coaching.