January 2026 Newsletter - ICF-North Texas

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JANUARY 2026

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Board Message

Natalie Mendez, PCC

ICF North Texas President

president@icf-nt.com

Happy New Year, ICF North Texas – Natalie Mendez, PCC

As we open 2026, I’m honored to step into the role of President and to help guide our coaching community into a year of meaningful connection and growth. Our chapter has always been defined by the strength of its members - and this year, we will build on that foundation with intention and purpose.

Another strength of our chapter is consistent and excellent leadership. I’m thrilled to introduce our 2026 Board of Directors—an exceptional group of coaches and leaders. This year we welcome three new Directors: Lara Burnside, Membership; Sheryl Chacko, ACC, Alliances; and Robin Fox, ACC, Programs. We welcome back: Reeshemah Davis, PCC, President-Elect; Dara Rossi, PCC, Past President; Rory Brannum, ACC, Treasurer; Tara Hesson, ACC, Secretary; Nick Dillon, DEIB; and Kim Spikes, ACC, Sponsorships. I encourage you to connect with them and get involved in the exciting work they’ll be doing in 2026.

Welcome New Members!

We are so happy you have joined us.

Full Member:
Samantha Guajardo
Donna Williams
Tony Bryson

New Associates:
Antoinette Lollis-Watson

New Partners:
Mario Ortiz

Congratulations to Our New Credential Holders!

Brian Rosenberg, PCC
Nathan Swenson-Reinhold, MCC

Upcoming Chapter Meetings

January 9 ICF North Texas 2026 Annual Chapter Meeting
Natalie Mendez, PCC
Dara Rossi, PhD, PCC

Hybrid Meeting | 11:15 AM – 1:15 PM CT

In Person at Las Colinas Country Club, 4400 N O’Connor Road, Irving, TX 75061
Or Virtually Via Zoom

In-Person Attendees Registering by January 4: Members - $40 | Non-Members - $50
In-Person Attendees Registering after January 4: Members - $50 | Non-Members: - $60
Virtual Attendees: Members – $30 | Non-Members - $40

CCEUs: 1 Core Competency Credit | 1 Resource Development Credit

Join us at our January meeting as we celebrate what we accomplished together in 2025 and set the stage for a year of thriving as a community. This annual gathering is your chance to reconnect with fellow members, reflect on our shared progress, and have a voice in shaping the priorities that will guide our chapter in 2026. Together, we’ll identify the strengths that make ICF North Texas unique and explore new possibilities for growth. You’ll leave with fresh connections, inspiration, and a clear view of how we can continue Thriving Together in the year ahead.

February 13 Hybrid Chapter Meeting and Program
Coaches Networking and Expertise Session
ICF North Texas Programs Committee

Hybrid Meeting | 11:15 AM – 1:15 PM CT

In Person at Las Colinas Country Club, 4400 N O’Connor Road, Irving, TX 75061
Or Virtually Via Zoom

In-Person Attendees Registering by February 8: Members - $40 | Non-Members - $50
In-Person Attendees Registering after February 8: Members - $50 | Non-Members: - $60
Virtual Attendees: Members – $30 | Non-Members - $40

CCEUs: 1 Core Competency Credit

Elevate your coaching practice and connect with the vibrant ICF-North Texas community at our annual Coaches Networking and Expertise Session! We’re bringing back this beloved gathering—with a fresh twist—to create an energizing, collaborative space for coaches to learn from one another and build meaningful professional relationships.

This is more than a networking meetup—through dynamic activities, coach-led conversations, and peer-to-peer learning, you’ll walk away with new ideas, new connections, and renewed inspiration. Hear from fellow coaches as they share practical wisdom, personal lessons, and strategies that elevate client impact. Explore diverse coaching approaches, tools, and trends shaping our profession. Leave with new ideas, actionable takeaways, and a stronger sense of community—ready to bring even more value to your clients and your coaching practice.

March 13 Hybrid Chapter Meeting and Program
Follow Up Strategies That Will Get More Clients and Close More Sales
Wanda Allen

Hybrid Meeting | 11:15 AM – 1:15 PM CT

In Person at Las Colinas Country Club, 4400 N O’Connor Road, Irving, TX 75061
Or Virtually Via Zoom

In-Person Attendees Registering by March 8: Members - $40 | Non-Members - $50
In-Person Attendees Registering after March 8: Members - $50 | Non-Members: - $60
Virtual Attendees: Members – $30 | Non-Members - $40

CCEUs: 0.5 Core Competency Credit | 0.5 Resource Development Credit

Follow-up is one of the most overlooked yet most profitable parts of the sales process. Too often, it becomes a burdensome “to-do” or gets pushed aside entirely. In this powerful presentation, Wanda cuts through the noise and gets to the heart of why follow-up gets neglected and how to fix it. Your audience will walk away with a proven, easy-to-implement approach that turns follow-up into a consistent, results-generating habit. Whether you're struggling to stay organized, afraid of being pushy, or just not seeing results, this session delivers the clarity and motivation you need to take action.

Get Involved

Make 2026 the year you get even more from your ICF-North Texas membership! From one-time projects to ongoing committee roles, there are many ways to plug in, share your strengths, and build deeper connections. Volunteering grows your network, amplifies your impact, and helps our community Thrive Together. Curious how your strengths can make an impact? Connect with 2026 President Natalie Mendez at natalie@mendezcoaching.com to discover ways to get involved in 2026.

Join a LINC

Learn Interact Network Contribute

Members are welcome to join these LINC groups:

ACC Credential Support LINC
PCC Credential Support LINC
MCC Credential Support LINC
Business Building LINC
Digital Marketing LINC
Ready to Retire - Now, Later, or Never? LINC
Road to Advanced Coaching Mastery LINC
Connection Crew LINC
Internal Coaches LINC

If you are interested in learning more about the currently active LINC groups, contact Lara Burnside for more information.

National Mentor Month

In honor of National Mentoring Month, I invite you to pause and reflect on how mentorship has supported, or continues to support, our coaching journey. Whether through formal mentor coaching or informal relationships, mentorship is woven into the fabric of our growth as coaches. It reminds us that none of us develops in isolation.

Mentorship is at the heart of what makes coaching meaningful. At its best, coaching is grounded in connection, trust, and growth. This connection creates intentional space for us to deepen our practice.

Mentor coaching plays an essential role in developing and demonstrating coaching competencies. Yet beyond meeting a requirement, it offers a supportive, reflective partnership rooted in honest feedback and curiosity. Mentorship relationships help us pause, practice, and integrate insights into our coaching conversations.

For me, mentor coaching was deeply affirming. I learned so much from my mentor—not only about the competencies, but about trusting my insights and showing up more fully and authentically as a coach. The reflective conversations helped me slow down, listen more deeply, and strengthen my ability to build genuine trust with clients. Being supported while thoughtfully challenged made a meaningful difference in my growth.

My invitation to you this month is simple: reach out to a current or former mentor.
Celebrate the relationship. Thank them for the ways they’ve poured into you.
Happy National Mentoring Month!

Reeshemah Davis, PCC
ICF-NT President-Elect
2026-2027

New Opportunity: Founding Membership with DFW FREE Speakers Bureau

We have a new visibility opportunity for our chapter members through our emerging partnership with the DFW Speakers Bureau, an external, community-facing directory that connects speakers with organizations, associations, and events looking for presenters. The DFW Speakers Bureau has extended their Founding Member lifetime membership opportunity through the end of January, specifically for our chapter.

How This Differs from the ICF-North Texas Speakers Bureau:

DFW Speakers Bureau is an external platform that you may join individually to increase your visibility as a speaker in the broader community.
The ICF-North Texas Speakers Bureau remains our own chapter initiative, focused on ICF-branded programming and chapter-driven opportunities.

This potential partnership would complement, not replace, our internal Speakers Bureau. Review the opportunity here: Partnership Document.

Cultivate Clarity. Create Momentum. Join Us at the All Texas Coaches Conference and Retreat
March 5-8, 2026 | Irving, Texas

Registration is open for the Texas Coaches Coalition Conference and Retreat—right here in our own backyard at the Omni Las Colinas. Click on the link to register and to find information on inspiring keynotes, hands-on workshops, live coaching demos, and a variety of breakout sessions to spark insight and strengthen your practice.

ICF-North Texas Organization Sponsor

Learn more at SMU.edu

January Monthly Observances

Holidays and Observances:

National Mentoring Month
National Blood Donor Month
Jan 6 - Orthodox Christmas Observed
Jan 19 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan 27 - International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Contact Information

President Natalie Mendez, PCC	President-Elect Reeshemah Davis, PCC	Secretary Tara Hesson, ACC
Treasurer Rory Brannum, ACC	Past President Dr. Dara Rossi, PCC	Alliances Sheryl Chacko
Communications OPEN	Diversity Equity Inclusion Belonging Nicholas Dillon	Membership Lara Burnside
Programs Robin Fox, ACC	Sponsorships Kimberly Spikes, ACC	Special Events OPEN