I’m a strategic life coach based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who welcomes phone-based clients from around the world. I also offer face-to-face local events.

My coaching is influenced by more than eight years of training in general psychology, management, counseling psychology, and coaching/positive psychology, outlined below.

Background and Interests

As I often encourage clients to do, I enjoy breaking through stereotypes and labels. This is often a necessary step toward expressing ideals. I grew up in a financially limited environment, doing custodial, fast-food, and factory assembly line work for my first jobs. I later attended some of the world’s wealthiest schools, and learned that many with exceptional financial wealth simply face a different set of challenges. There are many types of poverty and wealth, and much of coaching is about balancing the riches across the areas of one’s life.

Once the “last pick” for school sports teams, I later bicycled across the continent, ran a half-marathon, and grew to love many outdoor athletic activities. Once frequently taunted about abnormal speech patterns, I later won public speaking competitions. This happened not only because of hard work and determination, but also the support and encouragement of others. Not one of us is entirely “self made.” Whatever sets you apart, despite the opinions of the world, I’d like to help you express it. In coaching, we explore development of new social networks to assist you in your goals.

Alongside reading  psychology and personal development books, I enjoy music composition, writing, vocal percussion emulation, cycling, running, camping, hiking, gardening, cooking and landscaping. I’m interested in social justice, environmental and public health issues. Furthermore, my own overachiever tendencies help me to understand life balance issues.

Media Coverage

My professional work has been covered in several publications including the Mansfield News Journal, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Pennsylvania Sierra Club’s Sylvanian, and the Pittsburgh City Paper. My volunteer work with others has appeared in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Vegcast.com.

Education and Training

Alongside important elements of my coach-specific training, I sometimes draw upon concepts from counseling, strategic planning, social networking, management science, and economics.

Certified Life Coach (CLC), Institute for Life Coach Training

M.A., Community Counseling, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Phi Kappa Phi, Spinelli Memorial Merit Scholarship

M.S., Public Policy and Management, Carnegie Mellon University
Highest Distinction, Phi Kappa Phi, Heinz Fellowship

B.A., Psychology, Yale University
Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society

Phillips Andover Academy

Additional Training and Workshops

Solution-Focused Approaches, Leadership Behavioral Competency Assessment, Fundamentals of Conflict Resolution, Choice Theory, Bowen Family and Organizational Systems

Select Work Experience

Outside of coaching, I’ve served others in a range of settings, providing an appreciation for statements like, “I’m interested in several things, but I’m not sure which way to go.” My people-oriented work is balanced by a technical and analytical side. My experience has a common thread of improving quality of life, catalyzing change, and maximizing potential.

• Designed and taught a self-development class for graduate leadership students.
• With a leadership consulting firm, observed and assessed corporate managers’ behavior, communications, and personality profile data, and crafted developmental feedback messages.
• Counseled formerly incarcerated men using coaching-related approaches.
• Managed a multi-agency initiative on family health and wellness.
• Conducted research and evaluation on environmental health, youth civic participation, and urban economic development.
• Presented at national and state professional/academic conferences on topics linking leadership, psychology and social responsibility.

Select Activities and Memberships, Past and Present

• Pittsburgh Coaches Association (local chapter of International Coach Federation)
• North American Vegetarian Society
• Co-op America Green Business Network
• American Mensa
• Cross-Continental Cyclist, Habitat for Humanity Bicycle Challenge
• Diversity Committee member, Carnegie Mellon Heinz School
• Lead organizer, Rainbow Ride public education event on issues facing same-sex families
• Prospective student interviewer and Governing Board member, Yale Club of Pittsburgh
• Student mentor, Carnegie Mellon Heinz School
• Vice-President of Community Service, Yale Club of Maryland
• American Counseling Association and Counselors for Social Justice
• Bike Pittsburgh
• Highmark Subcommittee on Obesity and the Built Environment