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HomeNovember 2026 Newsletter

NOVEMBER 2026  Follow Us!      


Board Message


 


Lisa Seay
ICF North Texas President-Elect

Pres-elect@icf-nt.com

A Chapter for Every Season

As I prepare to step into the role of President of ICF North Texas in 2027, I've found myself reflecting on my journey with this chapter.

I joined ICF North Texas in November 2015, nearly 11 years ago. At the time, I couldn't have imagined how my coaching career would evolve—or the relationships, experiences, and opportunities that would come through being part of this community.

Over the years, my coaching practice has grown, my professional interests have expanded, and my chapter involvement has taken many forms. I've served in leadership roles, helped bring new ideas to life, and worked alongside remarkable people. But there have also been seasons when my involvement looked very different.








Welcome New Members!


We are so happy you have joined us.

Full Members:
Kelleen Lichliter

New Associates:
Julie Williams

Voting Is Now Open

2027 ICF North Texas Slate of Board of Directors and Officers


Voting is Open November 1 through 5:00 PM on November 15
Voting is available to Full Members in Good Standing only

The Slate of Directors and Officers for the 2027 ICF North Texas Board was approved, per the Bylaws, by the current ICF North Texas Board.

To view the 2027 Board Slate bios and vote YES to accept the 2027 slate, click here.

Members must be logged in to www.icf-nt.com to access the ballot.
Board Members Proposed for the 2027 Slate:

Officers:
President: Lisa Seay (Returning, President-Elect)
President-Elect: Kimberly Spikes (Returning, Previous Director of Sponsorships)
Treasurer: DeDrie Sauter
Past-President: Natalie Mendez (Returning, Previous President)

Open Officer Position:
Secretary

Directors:
Alliances: Sheryl Chacko (Returning)
Communications: John Broady
DEIB: Yvonne Howard
Membership: Alma Weaver Jones (Past President)
Programs: Karen Hunt
Sponsorships: Azhar Syed

Finish the Year Strong: Learn, Connect and Thrive!


As we wrap up another great year, there are still opportunities to invest in yourself, strengthen your coaching practice, and build momentum for the year ahead. Join us for several upcoming sessions designed to inspire fresh thinking and support your continued growth!

November 16 | 12:00–1:00 PM
Coaching with AI: Sharper Insights, Stronger Practice

Kristy Busija | Webinar

Explore how AI can support your coaching practice, sharpen your insights, and help you work more effectively.

December 3 | 12:00–1:00 PM
Speak With Presence: Use Your Voice to Build a Thriving Business

Jordan Hirsch | Webinar

Discover how to use your voice and presence to communicate with greater confidence, connect with your audience, and grow your coaching business.

December 11 | 11:15 AM–1:00 PM
Monthly Chapter Meeting: The ICF Code of Ethics

Jim Smith | Virtual Meeting

Close out the year with an important conversation about the ethical foundation of our profession. Explore how the ICF Code of Ethics guides our decisions and supports trust in our coaching relationships.

Check out our calendar of events and watch for upcoming communications to learn more and register!

November Building a Thriving Coaching Business Series

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Final Webinar: Expanding Possibilities: Have You Thought About…?

More ways to build and grow your coaching business

November 2, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM CT


Join us for the final webinar of our 2026 members-only Business Building Series on November 2 at 12:00 PM CT as we explore different ways to create opportunities, focus your efforts, and use your skills and experience to grow your coaching business.


Lisa Ong, PCC, Susan Shapiro MCC, and Casey Hayden, ACC will join us for a panel conversation, sharing their experiences, ideas, and some different ways to think about what building a coaching business can look like. Come ready for practical ideas, fresh perspectives, and maybe a few “I hadn’t thought about that!” moments that spark your next step.

Complete the sign-up form below to join the program and gain access to past session recordings.
Building a Thriving Coaching Business


Register here


November Hybrid Chapter Meeting and Program

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Grateful and Connected
Presented by ICF North Texas Programs Committee

November 13, 2026

Hybrid Meeting | 11:15 AM - 1:15 PM

Networking begins at 11:15 AM | Meeting begins at 11:30 AM

In Person at Las Colinas Country Club or Virtually Via Zoom

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


CCEUs:
TBD


In response to your feedback—and as part of our 2026 theme, Thriving Together: Celebrating Strengths & Expanding Opportunities—we're bringing back one of our favorite chapter networking experiences with a seasonally inspired focus on gratitude, reflection and possibility.

Move beyond traditional networking through guided conversations that foster authentic connections and meaningful dialogue. Whether you join us in person or virtually, you'll celebrate professional and personal wins, reflect on the people and experiences that shaped your year, and explore the opportunities and challenges you're grateful to embrace next.

You'll leave with fresh perspectives, renewed energy, and stronger connections with fellow coaches and potential collaborators. If you've participated in one of our networking events before, you know how energizing and meaningful they can be. If not, you're in for a treat.

Join us as we continue Thriving Together by celebrating our strengths, expanding our possibilities, and strengthening the connections that make our chapter so special.

We can’t wait to see you! To help us get the most out of our time together, if possible, please have your camera on and join from a quiet, well-lit spot with your notifications silenced. If you’re using a phone, just prop it up so you can be fully present and enjoy networking with your fellow coaches!


Register here


Upcoming November Webinar 

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November 16 Chapter Sponsor Webinar
Coaching with AI: Sharper Insights, Stronger Practice
Kristy Busija, ACC, BCC


November 16 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM CT
CCEUs: 1 Resource Development Credit


Curious about AI but not sure where it fits into your coaching? Join Kristy Busija, ICF North Texas Chapter Sponsor and Founder and CEO of Next Conversation Consulting, for a practical session exploring how AI can enhance the work you already do well—while connecting its use directly to the ICF Core Competencies.

We'll start with your own practice. AI can act as a reflective partner, helping you notice patterns in how you listen, ask questions, and show up with clients, so you can keep building a coaching mindset. From there, we'll look at how AI can help you identify themes across client conversations and move beyond surface-level observations to the kind of insight that drives real awareness. Finally, you'll see how AI can jump-start action planning, helping clients turn new awareness into meaningful progress while they stay in charge of their own growth.

To help Kristy tailor the session to your questions, please complete this brief survey when you register: https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/pJDFFI

We can’t wait to see you! To help us get the most out of our time together, if possible, please have your camera on and join from a quiet, well-lit spot with your notifications silenced. If you’re using a phone, just prop it up so you can be fully present and enjoy networking with your fellow coaches!


Register here


Upcoming December Events

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December 3 ICF North Texas Webinar
Speak With Presence: Use Your Voice to Build a Thriving Business
Jordan Hirsch, ACC


Thursday, December 3, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM CT

Webinar Fee: No Cost

CEUS: 1 Resource Development Credit


You already know how to hold space, ask powerful questions, and help clients create real change. But when it comes to speaking in front of a room, something different kicks in for most of us: The nerves. The pressure to sound polished. The gap between who you are in a session and who shows up when all eyes are on you.

Speaking is one of the most powerful ways to grow your coaching business. And presence is what makes it work. Confidence isn't something you wait for. It's something you build.

We can’t wait to see you! To help us get the most out of our time together, if possible, please have your camera on and join from a quiet, well-lit spot with your notifications silenced. If you’re using a phone, just prop it up so you can be fully present and enjoy networking with your fellow coaches!


Register here


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2026 Chapter Members-Only Holiday Party


Saturday, December 5 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Blue Mesa – 14866 Montfort Dr., Addison, TX

Party Cost: Members and 1 Guest – $30 per person


Celebrate the Season with ICF North Texas!

Let's come together to celebrate the holiday season, reconnect with fellow coaches, and enjoy a brunch of fellowship, laughter, and holiday cheer!

Join us at Blue Mesa, where we'll gather in a private room to celebrate our coaching community, reflect on the connections we've made, and close out the year together.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

** Space is limited, so be sure to register early to reserve your spot! **


Register here


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December 11 Chapter Webinar
The ICF Code of Ethics: What’s New, What’s Not, and How to Stay Grounded When It Gets Messy
Jim Smith, PCC


Friday, December 11 | 11:15 – 1:00 PM CT
Webinar Cost: Chapter Members – $10 | Non-Chapter Members – $20
CCEUs: 1.25 Core Competency Credits


Do you know the key clauses of the ICF Code of Ethics? Do you know why we even have a code of ethics? If met with an ethical challenge, what would you do? In this interactive virtual session, Jim Smith, PCC, will help us explore the Code in a practical, interactive, and engaging way.

If you’re facing an ethical question or challenge in your own coaching experience, bring it with you. The goal is not simply to know the Code, but to become more confident applying it.

Before the session, we encourage you to take a few minutes to review these ICF resources, which provide a helpful foundation for the discussion and can help you identify questions or situations you may want to bring to the session.

https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/core-competencies
https://coachingfederation.org/ethics/code-of-ethics
https://coachingfederation.org/resource/insights-and-considerations-for-ethics/


Register here


2026 ICF North Texas Distinguished Service Award (DSA)


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 prior DSA recipients are Steve Hendon, PCC, Cheryl Close, MCC, Alma Weaver Jones, PCC, Beverley Wright, PCC; Judy Feld, MCC; Sara Smith, MCC; and Teresa Pool, MCC.

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/has 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 also self-nominate.

Use this DSA Nomination Form to nominate an ICF North Texas member for the 2026 DSA. Nominations via email will not be accepted.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, Dec 4, 2026 at 12:00 noon CST.

All Texas Retreat and Conference
March 4 – 7, 2027

 

The All Texas Retreat and Conference, hosted by the Texas Coaches Coalition, is the premier statewide gathering created by coaches, for coaches. From March 4 – 7, 2027, coaches from across Texas will come together at the Omni Las Colinas for four days of immersive learning, collaboration, and community. Attendees will earn CCEUs while experiencing a dynamic keynote from Dr. Robert Biswas‑Diener, engaging workshops, coaching demos, hands‑on interactive sessions, and access to pre‑conference webinars that jump‑start the learning experience.

Interested in speaking at the event? Applications are open through September 15 to be a speaker, with opportunities to present a 60‑minute conference session or lead a free pre‑conference coaching webinar.

Interested in getting your business in front of this statewide audience? Consider being a sponsor—a great opportunity to connect with coaches, consultants, and business owners.

Whether you’re new to coaching or a seasoned practitioner, this retreat delivers fresh insights, practical tools, and meaningful networking

Learn more and register today!
www.TexasCoachesCoalition.org

Coaches Circle


Mark your calendars and join an ICF North Texas Coaches Circle across DFW and beyond! Based on your feedback, we launched informal gatherings in smaller spaces—Coaches Circle. These small-group gatherings are a great way to connect, learn, support one another, and have fun with fellow ICF North Texas coaches.

Check out our calendar for the next scheduled Coaches Circle. If one interests you, simply show up! Each event has a designated contact person for RSVPs and any questions.

Don’t see one in your area? Would you like to start your own Coaches Circle in your area? Contact Dara Rossi at past-pres@icf-nt.com to get started.

We’re getting smaller to thrive together!

ICF North Texas LINC Overview


LINC groups are one of the most valuable ways members Learn, Interact, Network, and Contribute in small, special-interest groups designed to foster meaningful engagement among coaches at every stage of their professional journey.

What Are LINCs?
LINCs are member-driven communities built around shared interests, specialties, or developmental goals. They provide a welcoming, discussion-based environment where coaches can deepen skills, exchange insights, and build authentic relationships. As a core benefit of chapter membership, LINCs strengthen both professional capability and community connection.

Why Members Love LINCs
  • Targeted learning: Dive deeper into topics such as credential support, advanced mastery, business building, digital marketing.
  • Group Mentor Hours or CCEUs: Some LINC groups support credentialling requirements by offering group mentoring or CCEUS.
  • Collaborative connection: Engage with peers in a safe, supportive space that encourages multiple points of view.
  • Ongoing growth: Many LINCs include skill drills, demonstrations, guest speakers, and peer practice opportunities. 
  • Community building: Members expand their professional network while contributing their own expertise.
Explore the current LINC offerings on our website here and find the group that supports your goals and interests.

If you don’t see one that fits your needs, or have an idea for a new LINC, let’s chat.

For questions or suggestions, please Dara Rossi, Past President, at dara@workplace-joy.com.

ICF-North Texas Organization Sponsors


 


Learn more at simplygetclients.com




Learn more at SMU.edu


November Monthly Observances


Holidays and Observances:
  • November 1, 2026: All Saints' Day / Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos)
  • November 3, 2026: Election Day
  • November 11, 2026 : Veteran's Day
  • November 26, 2026: Thanksgiving Day

Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events

Contact Information

 

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

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