DSA nominations must be received by Monday, Dec 2, at 12:00 noon CST.
Nominations are open for the ICF-North Texas Distinguished Service Award (DSA). This annual award is presented to a chapter member in recognition of outstanding service to the coaching profession and to the North Texas Chapter. The award is traditionally presented at the Board’s discretion at our chapter’s Annual Membership Meeting in January. The five prior DSA recipients are Beverley Wright, PCC; Judy Feld, MCC; Sara Smith, MCC; Teresa Pool, MCC; and Alma Weaver Jones, PCC.
DSA nominees will be evaluated for their contributions to ICF-North Texas Chapter and the coaching profession, the example they set as a role model for other coaches, and their professional coaching practice.
To be eligible, DSA Nominees must:
- Be an active member in good standing of ICF-North Texas
- Hold an up-to-date ICF Credential (ACC, PCC, MCC)
- Have or have had an active coaching practice
To make a nomination, you must be a member in good standing of ICF-North Texas and hold an up-to-date ICF credential (ACC, PCC, MCC). You may self-nominate.
To make a nomination for DSA 2024, you must use this
online Nomination Form.
From Your Board
We have a lot of very positive things happening right now within ICF-North Texas. As we move into the fall months, our big project is putting together the annual Chapter Activity Report (CAR). This report tells our story and outlines, in detail, everything we have implemented and achieved from September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2024. It’s a big task, but so rewarding to forward this report to ICF Global. Our report, last year was worthy of a “Distinguished Chapter Award.”
In addition to the CAR report:
- Dara Rossi (our Pres-Elect) and I will facilitate an onboarding and training for our new board members, in December.
- We received our monthly financial report showing strong performance and on track to meet our balanced budget, adopted earlier this year.
- We received a report from the Nomination Committee. They are on schedule to bring us a strong slate of potential candidates.
- We officially approved a new “Sponsorships & Partnerships” committee to be under the umbrella of our Finance committee.
- The Special Events committee provided an update on “Celebrate Coaching.” Registration is open and it should be a wonderful event.
- Our DEIB committee has completed the “Listening Groups” project. They met their goal of ten percent of our membership participating. They have identified eight areas of focus going forward and will provide the board with a detailed report next month, at our board meeting.
- Our LINC Groups are going strong. Our new Connection Crew, ACC LINC Group, and the Internal Coaches LINC are all underway with momentum and participation.
- The YouTube video, “Protecting the Profession of Coaching,” was approved to include in this month’s newsletter. View the video here and let us know what you think. This video was done by Ann Betz and Ursula Pottinga.
As always, if you have any questions or feedback, please reach out to me or any of your board members.
Sincerely,
Steve Hendon, PCC
President – ICF North Texas
Dara Rossi, Facilitator
I would like to extend a special thanks to Staci Witten for her dedication to our chapter and for stepping in to facilitate this month’s Connection Crew. This LINC (Learn, Interact, Network and Contribute) Group supports new Chapter members. We focus on fostering connections among members, helping build relationships, and exchanging ideas.
We share relevant resources, information, and best practices to help new members succeed and navigate the organization effectively.
You are welcome to participate if you have joined ICF-North Texas in the past 12 months. Register
here.
This month's discussion was around three specific topics: ACC renewal, Pro Bono Coaching, and lines of communication. Below is information about each topic.
ACC renewal requirements:
- 40 CCE Credits with at least 24 CCE credits in Core Competencies
- At least three credits must be in coaching ethics. (Coaches can obtain coaching ethics hours from our Nov. Chapter meeting or by completing ICF’s Complimentary Ethics course online.)
- Ten hours of Mentor Coaching with an eligible mentor coach over a minimum of three months
Pro Bono Coaching: Pro bono opportunities are closed for the current year. An application will be available in the new year for 2025 opportunities.
Various channels of communication for ICF-North Texas chapter:
- Monthly newsletter
- Facebook Page
- Facebook Members Only Group
- Instagram
- LinkedIn Page (not group)
Now You Know
Do you want to get your ACC credential from ICF? Do you need more mentor hours? Do you need more practice or coaching hours? Are you hesitant to take the Professional Credentialing Exam?
Come and join us in the ACC LINC (Learn, Interact, Network and Contribute) Group. It is being facilitated by Dr. Dara Rossi, PCC and Cheryl Close, MCC. The group decides what they want to cover the next month. Last month we had part 1 of the Exam Prep. The group decided they wanted to have part 2 of the Exam Prep in October. Members said they already felt better about taking it and passing it. After part 2, they will be ready!
No matter whether you have just started your journey to credentialing or you’re almost there, please come and join the group. It is a great group and we have fun while learning. Another benefit is seven of our LINC meetings can count as seven group mentoring hours. LINCs are a FREE benefit for our members. Save yourself the cost of seven Mentor hours. Then you only need three individual mentoring hours.
We meet on ZOOM on the first Wednesday of the month from 12:00-1:00. Register
here!
IF you are in pursuit of your PCC or MCC, say tuned. We have LINC groups for you, too!
Now you know!
Cheryl Close
Director of Membership
Missing a CCEU Certificate?
Simply complete and submit a
CCEU Reprint Request. Once submitted allow processing time and the reprinted certificate will be emailed to you.
Member Snapshot - Valerie Pelan, PCC
Our Member Snapshot is a glimpse of your fellow members, the great network of resources available to you and the value of belonging to ICF-North Texas. This month our feature is
Valerie Pelan, MBA, PCC, President of Integrated Focus.
Why Coaching? Coaching is a dynamic, one-on-one creative process that provides a safe and trusting environment, empowering clients to achieve their goals.
My clients appreciate my extensive business experience and deep understanding of organizational dynamics. With over 25 years of leadership experience in Telecommunications and IT services at AT&T and HP, I have led cross-functional teams, delivered executive briefings on business and consumer segments, and advised sales teams with customer and market intelligence. My MBA in Economics has equipped me to lead teams in offering innovative functionality and competitive pricing.
Why your niche? I provide high-quality, customized coaching to help clients enhance their effectiveness and leadership capabilities. With over 15 years of experience as a leadership coach, I specialize in working with executives and emerging leaders on Leadership Presence and transformational leadership styles.
I primarily coach leaders in various industries and non-profits and serve as an Executive Coach for EMBA students at the University of Texas, Dallas, Naveen Jindal Graduate School of Management, focusing on their executive soft skills.
As a speaker, I present on topics such as Leadership Presence, employee engagement, and leadership models at companies, non-profits, and professional associations, including PMI-Dallas and the American Society for Quality.
Currently, I am pursuing a Doctorate in Adult Learning and Workforce Development, and my articles have been published in the global coaching publication Choice.
Why are you a member of ICF-North Texas? I have been an active member of ICF-North Texas since 2006, serving on the Board twice and volunteering multiple times during Coaching Week.
Tell us about the LINC group you are in and why you chose it. I was a member of the MCC LINC group for over two years, finding it highly supportive, valuable, and a great use of my time.
What travel/education/mentoring/collaboration opportunities have you enjoyed through ICF? The ICF Communities of Practice and specialized groups are highly informative, offering insights into coaching specialties and emerging topics that have expanded my perspective and toolkit as a coach.
What is your favorite client story? One of my favorite client stories involves a female manager who believed advancing to the next level was nearly impossible. She sought coaching to determine whether her assumptions were valid or if she was her own biggest obstacle. Throughout our sessions, she developed a plan with actionable steps to assess the feasibility of a promotion. Her internal motivation and openness to new ideas were key to her progress. The coaching process was both insightful and iterative, ultimately leading to her successful promotion. She was fully prepared when the opportunity arrived.
Client Focus: I focus on Corporate/Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, and Group Coaching
Credentials and Certifications: I am currently pursuing a Doctorate in Adult Learning and Development, with members of ICF-North Texas participating in my Focus Group research on aligning coaching with Transformative Learning theory.
I am certified in several premium assessments, including Hogan, Stewart Leadership, EQ-i 2.0, and DISC. As a mentor coach and former PCC-level assessor, I have also collaborated with other coaches on client engagements, particularly when specific assessment certifications were required or when leadership coaching was needed for company-wide initiatives.
Feel free to contact me at
vpelan@integratedfocus.com.
