ICF New Jersey Coach Connect - May 2025 
Thank You, Volunteers!
In recognition of National Volunteer Appreciation Week, we celebrate the extraordinary professionals who power the International Coaching Federation and the ICF New Jersey Charter Chapter through service, leadership, and heart: our Volunteers!
As Elizabeth Andrew said, “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” That’s you.
To all volunteers, thank you for everything you do for us and in the broader community. The rippling impact causes real change, and we truly appreciate you.
❤️With gratitude,
ICF New Jersey President Kelli Kombat and the Chapter Board of Directors
🌱Explore how you can get involved: https://icf-nj.org/Get_Involved_ICF_NJ
Opportunity with Veterans Coaching Project (VCP)
Volunteer as a coach with the Veterans Coaching Project - https://www.veteranscoachingproject.org/ - to provide pro-bono coaching services for veterans, their spouses and caregivers. Applications are being accepted for the Summer Cohort now! Scroll down on the VCP page and click on the Coach button to apply, if you are interested in serving this worthwhile program.
The mission of VCP is to optimize the transition experience by preparing America’s veterans to enable, empower, and elevate their lives.
Member Spotlight
Member Engagement is shining a spotlight on our incredible coaches and their stories, opening opportunity to get curious about our members. Our goal is to share stories and insights to build connections and inspire engagement. Click on the images below to find out more about Debra Levy and Divya Manchanda, Co-Leaders of the Life and Career Coaching Community Group.
IDEAS Matter
The DEIB/IDEAS Committee’s mission is to embed the values, behaviors, and activities associated with DEIB/IDEAS into the culture of the ICF New Jersey Charter Chapter. It is part of our strategic plan that drives our transformation.
The IDEAS/DEIB Committee and Community Group members will contribute five columns of IDEAS Matter each month on our new website page (coming soon). Each column will explore the relevance to coaching clients, fostering engagement, and how we can embed the values and behavior anchors into our chapter’s culture to create spaces where every member feels seen, heard, respected and diversity of every kind is welcomed. Reflect on how these behaviors and ones that you identify show up in your coaching practice, your conversations, and your leadership.
Let’s start this journey with the letter I in IDEAS, which stands for Inclusion.
Inclusion in Action:
Explore these key behaviors for the letter I for Inclusion
- Greet clients and others authentically and acknowledge individual differences — show genuine interest in their unique experiences and ways of thinking from the very first interaction.
- Ask instead of assuming by checking your biases to inquire about preferred ways of processing information, taking notes, or interacting during sessions (e.g., camera use, movement).
- Practice active listening by linking to clients’ experiences — validate what they share by connecting it to their own goals, interests, and strengths.
- Build a safe space for self-disclosure — foster an environment where clients feel safe to share diagnoses, challenges, or preferences without fear of stigma or judgment.
We invite you to become part of the transformation! What else would you add to “Bringing IDEAS to Life” for the letter ‘I’?
Your DEIB/IDEAS Advisory Committee:
Tynisha Coleman
Malina Poshtova Delamere
Louis Fioccola
Patricia “Patti” Lee
Linda Leonard
Walter Slade
Dorisse Shakir-Ullah
Ellen Wagner
*Save the Date: We hope to see you at our DEIB/IDEAS Community Group meeting on Monday, May 19th from 12-1pm ET (held one week earlier than usual because of Memorial Day) to learn about Allowing Space for Our Clients, Even if It’s Hard, with facilitator Denise Yosafat.
Credentialing Corner
From the Desk of Joyce Heckman, Director of Credentialing
Did you know that only 30% of the ICF chapters globally have a role dedicated to credentialing? My position is new to ICF New Jersey, and I am excited to support you along your credentialing journey.
To begin this focused effort, I hosted two sessions on April 16 to kick off the conversation about our members' priorities for credentialing. One of the ideas that generated a lot of excitement was the creation of cohort groups focused on studying for the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) exam and ICF Credentialing exam.
If you are interested in joining a study group, please email [email protected] by May 19. Let me know which exam you are preparing for (ACC or ICF Credentialing exam).
Explore more about the power of credentialing from ICF Global:
ICF credentials are more than just letters after your name — they’re a symbol of your commitment to excellence, ethics, and professional growth as a coach. Now, through the ICF Credentialing Webinar Series, you can bring that message to life.
Available on demand in the ICF Learning Portal, this engaging webinar series is designed to help highlight the value of ICF credentials and make the credentialing process clearer and more accessible than ever.
Each session dives into key topics, including:
- An Investment in YOU: The Value of ICF Credentialing – Understand the personal and professional value credentials bring to your practice.
- Moving Toward Your ICF Credential – Get clear on requirements and resources for earning your credential.
- Your Professional Development Journey – Learn how to renew your credential and earn Continuing Coach Education (CCE) credits along the way.
- An Introduction to the ICF Written Exams – Understand the structure, content, and preparation needed for success.
- Go Team: Earning the ICF Advanced Certification in Team Coaching (ACTC) – Explore the pathway to this specialized certification.
- Ethics: Updates to the ICF Code of Ethics – Stay informed about important updates that guide our profession.
Together, let’s elevate the coaching profession — one credential at a time.
Reach me any time by email at [email protected] for any credentialing questions.
Joyce Heckman
Director of Credentialing
Stay tuned — we will be sharing details soon about our first webinar on a credentialing topic!
International Coaching Week (ICW)
For all ICF New Jersey events being held during ICW, from May 12-18th, click here.
Member Engagement Campaign to Boost Our Member's Visibility
Have you completed your ICF New Jersey Member Profile on our website?
Members are encouraged to update their Member Profile on the ICF New Jersey website (ICF NJ Member Area). By completing and including a photo and bio, you can:
- Boost visibility among members and prospective clients.
- Increase awareness of our community of coaches to build relationships.
- Improve searchability by coaching specialty, county location, credential level, and business.
- Highlight fellow coaches as potential referral partners for projects, business, and exposure.
ICF New Jersey Life & Career Coaches Ignite Connections at the In-Person Meetup on May 9th!
Let's come together to share insights, spark collaborations, and simply connect on a deeper level. This is a fantastic opportunity to network with fellow coaches in our community, exchange best practices, and recharge our coaching batteries.
Date: Friday, May 9th, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Location: Panera Bread, Paramus Design Center, 770 Route 17, Paramus, NJ 07652.
Phone: (210) 389-0503
We envision this as a dynamic and informal session where we can:
- Share and learn about fellow coaches - who we are, what shaped us, what is our superpower and what's currently energizing us in our coaching practices.
- Explore innovative ways to deepen our impact with clients, in the safe space of community.
- Forge stronger relationships, get inspired and takeaway actionable insights from collective wisdom.
Please RSVP so we know how many people to expect - click here to add your info into the RSVP document.
Come ready to connect, share, and leave feeling inspired!
Stay Connected
Please keep up with all the chapter's exciting events and updates by following us on social media platforms like LinkedIn. Don’t forget to register for upcoming events through the events email to secure your spot.
