Meet Beth

I live in beautiful Tacoma, Washington in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. My husband and I moved here from Traverse City, Michigan in November 2007. Prior to that, I lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for six years.

My life has included many transitions in my personal and professional life. I recently moved across the country and had to leave my friends, my job and my church. I’ve spent the past year establishing myself in a new community, not knowing a soul. The adventure wasn’t what I expected; that said, it’s more than I expected! I never could have predicted the twists and turns my life has taken (some were painful, some very joyful), and all have made me stronger and more appreciative of the abundance of blessings in my life.

I enjoy music (from Mahler to U2 to Lyle Lovett) and playing my clarinet; making and eating good food (especially Thai and Indian); laughing at my cats, Tommy and Fiona; hiking new trails around our neighborhood and the local National Parks; sailing and being near the water; reading three books at any given time (and sometimes actually finishing them!) about coaching, intention and personal development, politics and theology/spirituality; writing for business and for pleasure; and spending time with my husband, Andy.

Professionally, I bring more than 13 years of leadership, professional success, compassion and insight to my coaching partnerships. My natural curiosity and desire to help others, combined with extensive experience in marketing, arts administration, fundraising, public relations and music, have led me to my true calling:  To coach, empower, collaborate and inspire.

I am a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF), Puget Sound Coaches Association and volunteer for numerous nonprofits in the Puget Sound area. My training is through the highly-respected, ICF-accredited inviteCHANGE/Academy for Coach Training in Edmonds, WA.

My academic background includes a Bachelor of Music Performance from the University of Louisville; a Master of Music Performance from Northwestern University; and a Master of Arts Administration from Indiana University. I have worked in a variety of professional settings and roles, including business manager for two small arts organizations; fundraiser at an international religious order; marketer and web strategist at an international arts education organization; and as program officer with a regional foundation.

Through Intentional Talk, my passion is working with individuals and teams to raise awareness of patterns of thought, speech and action that are disempowering and/or not in alignment with their core values. I support them in developing new habits and ways of being that are intentional, authentic and about prosperity and conscious choice. Programs and services include individual and team coaching, workshops, teleclasses, book discussion groups and presentations.

My strengths as a coach include creating a safe, trusting relationship; gentle directness; ability to peel back the layers to get to the root; being able to not know; laughter!

Volunteer activities include serving on the Resource Development Committee for the Boys & Girls Club of South Puget Sound, as well as work with Washington Women’s Employment & Education and Catherine Place. I am an active member of the coaching corps with Executive Service Corps in Seattle.

My Vision & Purpose

As part of my coach training through inviteCHANGE, I went through a process called “Living Your Vision®.” Over the course of three days, 16 coaches worked together to support the development of a vision and purpose statement. As inviteCHANGE describes it, “Living Your Vision® is the signature inviteCHANGE course providing participants with a personal experience of “inside out” living through the transformative coaching paradigm… participants explore their essential selves and give language to the expression of their personal vision and fundamental life purpose.”

The intention of the process was not to create a public or marketing statement; it was meant for personal reflection and affirmation. My goal as a coach and leader is to show up as authentically and transparently as possible. Because I will be asking you, as a client or program participant of Intentional Talk, to be open to similar exploration, it feels natural to share my personal statements with you.

My Vision: I AM Shekhinah, dwelling place of divine expression, powerful feline grace, soft forgiving earth, wellspring of perception, humor and peace, river of deeply felt compassion and joy. Loyal Sherpa and Spiritual Midwife.

My Purpose: is to live within the questions, hold the sacred space between the words, gratefully and courageously receive and create possibility, and inspire others to fully realize their essence.