In this issue
ICF New Jersey Coach Connect - December 2025 
Closing the Year with Gratitude and Looking Ahead with Confidence
ICF New Jersey Members,
This year of transformation offered much to reflect on with gratitude.
I want to thank our Board, community group leaders, volunteers, committees, facilitators, hosts, and every member who invested time and energy in supporting the chapter’s continued growth.
Looking ahead to 2026, the work continues across our strategic focus areas that support high-quality professional development and credentialing, strengthen governance and engagement, expand brand awareness, and improve technology and systems, while embedding IDEAS into the fabric of everything we do.
Thank you for being part of ICF New Jersey. I am incredibly proud of this community and inspired by what we will create together in the new year.
Wishing you a healthy and prosperous season.
With appreciation and optimism,
Kelli Kombat
President, ICF New Jersey Charter Chapter
A Year of Connection: Celebrating Our 2025 Coffee with Coaches Hosts
As we close out 2025, we want to pause and give a special shout-out to the volunteer hosts who opened their towns and counties, favorite spots, and their warm, welcoming hearts to make Coffee with Coaches such a energizing experience.
Each gathering brought its own awesome ripple of appreciation. A conversation that sparked connection and curiosity, fresh ideas, moments of reflection. These moments of “being” are what keep our ICF New Jersey community thriving.
To our 2025 hosts, thank you. Because of you, Coffee with Coaches became a space of belonging and a favorite event to attend when schedules align. You modeled how anyone can “get in where they fit in,” as Kelli Kombat and Kathleen Cashman Walter often say, with your support.
We’re grateful for every gathering that lifted spirits, sparked connection, and strengthened community because you said yes!
January: Pooja Patel | Halo Coffee, Springfield (Union)
February: Ken Jacobs | Panera Bread, Wall Township (Monmouth)
March: Bernice Caruso-Donato | Ethan & The Bean, Morristown (Bergen)
April: Anshuma Arora Mukkamala & Michael Tiger | Forum Coffee, Livingston (Essex)
June: Marian Janes | The Stone Bean, Basking Ridge (Somerset)
July: Aliya Levinson | Café @ Journal Square, Jersey City (Hudson)
August: Latha Dandu | The Edison Automat, Edison (Middlesex)
September: Angela Goldman | Paris Baguette, Paramus (Bergen)
October: Sean R. McCarron | High Grounds, Glassboro (Gloucester)
November: Connie Teng & Michael Tiger | The Joyful Shoppe, Madison (Morris)
December: Amy P. Wilkins | Qahwah House, Montclair (Essex)
Also, I want to acknowledge my Co-Vice President, Member Engagement, Lisa Chenofsky Singer, for being a thoughtful partner in shaping Coffee with Coaches initiative.
Connect in 2026 Across New Jersey
As we look to 2026, all counties are open for hosting in-person events. If you feel called to bring Coffee with Coaches to your town or county, choose the venue and Community Networking will support you with everything you need. Email: [email protected]
Dorisse Shakir-Ullah
Co-Vice President, Membership
IDEAS Matter
The International Coaching Federation DEIB Department, led by Dr. Aikyna Finch, will present The Motivation to Success Tree on January 13, 2026, from 12:00-1:00 pm (ET). If you’re ready to start 2026 with purpose, clarity, and the kind of motivation that actually sticks, this model from Dr. Finch is your sign to join the event and step into the year with intention.
You must sign in to ICF Engage to register for this program: ICF Engage
DEIB Department:
Dr. Aikyna Finch, PCC, Vice President
Sarah Masoud, Training Coordinator
Rise Up,
Your Voice Matters,
You Matter.
Dr. Mindy Gewirtz, MCC
VP of DEIB/IDEAS Advisory Council
[email protected]
DEIB/IDEAS Advisory Council
Tynisha Coleman
Patricia “Patti” Lee
Linda Leonard
Malina Poshtova Delamere
Dorisse Shakir-Ullah
Walter Slade
Ellen Wagner
Check out all IDEAS resources on our website: IDEAS Matter
See all Global DEIB events, groups, and resources in ICF ENGAGE:
https://engage.coachingfederation.org/communities/communities-deib
➡️To view, login is required.
Jewish Cross-Cultural Competency: Beyond Bagels and Lox
Mindy Gewirtz, VP of DEIB/IDEAS Advisory Council
In the spirit of cross-cultural competency, and in memory of the Jews who died or were wounded on the Bondi beach in Australia while celebrating Chanukah, the following is a brief context of the Chanukah holiday.
WHAT IS CHANUKAH?
This past Monday night Jews around the world lit the first light of Chanukah to celebrate the miracle of defeating, in 165 BCE, King Antiochus of the Assyrian Greek Dynasty, who had conquered Jerusalem and sacrificed pigs to Zeus, defiling the Holy Temple.
The high priest and his 12 sons, the Maccabees, led the three-year revolt, clearing out the Temple and lighting the Menorah, a very tall, eight-arm candelabra. They found one flask of pure olive oil, enough to light for one night, miraculously lasted for eight days until more pure olive oil could be pressed into use.
Two thousand years later, after countless attempts to annihilate the Jewish people—by the Assyrians, the Greeks, the Persians, and the Romans; through expulsion from England; the Spanish Inquisition's hundred years of torture; Italy's Jewish Ghetto; the Ottoman Empire's forced expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Jews from the Middle East; the Holocaust; and the oppression of Russian Jewry—the violence continues today in the form of the terrifying increase of anti-Jewish name-calling; punching and stabbings on the street; denial of service; firebombing a Jewish Governor's home; attacks in restaurants; the targeting of synagogues; and now the horrific Bondi attack and today's choking of a visibly Jewish man on a crowded subway. With the exception of World War II, no allies intervened. Anti-Jewish behavior is, once again, being normalized.
Yet here we are joyfully lighting the second and third lights of the Chanukah Menorah 2,000 plus years later. No time for woe is me.
We find the light and the joy in the world and remain true to our faith.
Ways to Get Involved
Looking for ways to deepen your connection with ICF New Jersey? There are many ways to engage that fit different interests, schedules, and experience levels.
- Attend events and learning opportunities to build relationships and earn CCEs.
- Join a committee - Get Involved - or Community Group to contribute your skills and ideas.
- Volunteer behind the scenes to support programs and initiatives.
- Participate in peer networking experiences like virtual coffee with coaches.
- Stay connected through conversations, surveys, and chapter communications,
Whether you prefer to lead, collaborate, or explore quietly, there is a place for you here.
Development Opportunity
PQ Grant Program $1,000 Gift of Professional Development
Coach Shizard of Positive Intelligence announced a $1,000 holiday gift for you to build your business, transform your clients, and increase your impact with their seven-week PQ Coaching Grant Program. The application is open for enrollment at no cost for those who qualify.
Application enrollment ends January 12. Program starts January 13, 2026. See details on PQ coaching grant program: https://www.
Free Resource
YearCompass is a free digital and downloadable booklet that helps you reflect on the year and plan the next one. Find thought-provoking exercises to move reflection to action. This resource can be used for self and to share with those you serve. Multiple languages are available. Click here to download your copy of YearCompass.
LinkedIn Private Group
We'd love to have you to join us in our LinkedIn private group to keep up-to-date on Chapter news and events!
