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Executive Board Members
Chair - Amber Harkey, BCC
Amber is the owner of Carolina Family Life Coaching where she works with families going through divorce. Her specialty is in working with families going through the process of a Collaborative Divorce. She is also a graduate researcher and Master's of Science candidate in Youth, Family, and Community Sciences at North Carolina State University. When she's not working, you can find her in the mountains with her husband and fur baby, Finn.
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Vice Chair - Christi Howard
Christi is the owner of Me Time 4 Mom, a life coaching business for mom's. Her passion is seeing happy families, so she helps mom's manage their time. She has a B.S. in Family and Consumer Science and is a Certified Professional Coach.
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Secretary - McKenzie Stokes
McKenzie N. Stokes is a Doctor of Applied Social and Community Psychology candidate at North Carolina State University where she is also pursuing a graduate certificate in Family Life Education and Coaching. McKenzie is a budding researcher who examines how family processes (e.g. cohesion, parent-child relationships, communication) and race-based promotive and protective factors impact the psychological wellbeing of racially marginalized youth. She is particularly devoted to using this research and her knowledge of family life coaching to develop evidence-based programs that enhance family relationships and wellbeing in multiracial families in the United States.
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Treasurer - Alice Chen
Alice is a Youth, Family and Community Science student at North Carolina State and is originally from Taiwan. She is outgoing and enjoys helping people and participating in community services. She developed an interest in becoming a teacher and felt rewarded when she used her free time volunteering to teach basic economics, which she studied in college. She has been a teacher for six years and not only teaches her students professional knowledge but she also helps them to handle peer and family problems. Thus she decided to study further to strengthen her basic knowledge in the field of youth and families as well as to become a professional family life educator in the future.
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Immediate Past Chair & Advocacy Committee Co-Chair - Kimberly Allen, Ph.D., BCC, CFLE
Kimberly is an Associate Professor, Extension Specialist, and Director of Graduate Programs in Youth, Family, and Community Sciences at North Carolina State University. Dr. Allen has research interests in family life coaching, teaching with technology, parenting, and relationship education. Dr. Allen is author of the book Theory, Research, and Practical Guidelines for Family Life Coaching.
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Board of Directors
Advocacy Committee Co-Chair - Travis Bradley, Ed.D.
Travis directs the Bridge to Learning Project in the Early Life Stress and Resilience Program at Stanford University School of Medicine. He also works privately with adolescents and their families as a mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral coach. Previously, he was a clinical researcher for five years studying school-based yoga and mindfulness education. Travis has a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from the University of California, Davis, where he completed his dissertation on mindfulness curriculum development, a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Tech.
Website: bridgetolearning.stanford.edu
Email: travisb@stanford.edu
Conference Committee - Treisha Peterson, MS, CYT
Treisha is the owner of Free & Full where she contracts as a yoga instructor and trauma informed yoga coach; her passion is working with adolescents and their parents as they navigate the transitions and obstacles that often occur on the journey towards developing a healthy sense of ‘self’. As a doctoral student at Texas Woman’s University she is a graduate assistant for a Health and Well-being Initiative that focuses on student wellness education. Treisha’s research interest is on overall well-being for youth, emerging adults, and their families with an emphasis on perfection, religiosity, and identity distress.
http://www.treishapeterson.com/
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Emerging Coaches Committee Co-Chair - Melissa James
Melissa received her bachelor's degree in Marriage and Family Studies from Brigham Young University-Idaho. Melissa is a Board Certified Coach and runs her own business called Your Life Helper, where she engages in coaching and educating those who are struggling with grief and adversity and want to learn to use their strengths more authentically.
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Emerging Coaches Committee Co-Chair - Ali Tepper
Ali is a certified parenting instructor, family coach, and Director of Curriculum at Read to Lead. She is a Fulbright scholar, holds a master’s degree in Elementary Education, and is a former classroom teacher. She has more than a decade of experience developing social-emotional learning curricula and game-based learning products for children and adolescents. She coaches parents struggling with challenging behaviors with their children and is passionate about strengthening the parent-child connection. She is a certified instructor through Hand in Hand Parenting and leads support groups where she teaches trauma-informed practices and listening tools that build confidence, cooperation, and security within the family. She lives in Austin, Texas with her hubby, two children, and Spaniel.
Fundraising Committee - Mary Peeso
I believe in the mission of FLCA and seek to help advance the vision of this organization. As a Family Life Educator, ICF credentialed life coach, certified mental health first responder and soon to be BALM family life recovery coach; my focus is a strength-based approach in working with individuals, families and communities who seek loving solutions to overcome heartaches, challenges and attain recovery by discovering lasting and proven paths for BEING FAMILY STRONG. I have been involved in fundraising activities for the past 10 years in my current position within the University of Rochester. While I do not have direct experience, I believe I have a unique background that would serve FLCA well. My desire is to share my skills and expertise in support of the greater good. I am look forward to the opportunity to support the mission of FLCA. Thank you for your consideration.
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Marketing Committee - Erin Richardson
Erin Richardson is a Raleigh, NC native and is currently employed with Workplace Options in Raleigh as a Case Manager. She has been in the Social Work field for 6 years following receiving her Bachelor's in Social Work from Livingstone College. She enjoys reading and LOVES coaching and helping others. She is a wife and the mother of a beautiful 10 month old baby girl who is full of sass and personality! She is looking forward to serving on the board of such a fine organization as the Family Life Coaching Association!
Email: erinskeith@gmail.com
Membership Committee - Tina Feigal, M.S, Ed.
Tina is a parent coach and the Director of Family Engagement at Anu Family Services/Center for the Challenging Child in St. Paul, MN. A former school psychologist, Tina’s passion is bringing peace to homes, helping adults heal challenging child behavior. Her book Present Moment Parenting: The Guide to a Peaceful Life with Your Intense Child serves to support Tina’s coach trainees and clients and is available on Amazon and Audible.
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Professional Enrichment Committee - Jenny Vazquez
Jenny Vazquez has been working with children and families as an educator for over 11 years. She has worked privately with families as nanny, house manager and behavioral support specialist for 7 years. She recently graduated NCSU as a Master of Youth, Family and Community Science and achieved her CFLE credential. Currently she works as a Nanny Recruiter, Coordinator and Coach with a private childcare provider. Jenny has a passion for working with children and families and helping not only thrive, but grow! She is trained in Conscious Discipline and mindfulness training and in her free time is a member of the NC Zen Center. Recently, she helped coordinate the first ever YFCS Alumni Symposium at NC State, connecting students with professionals in the field. She is excited to bring her energy and new ideas to the FLCA.
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Research Committee - Luz Dalia Sanchez
Dr. LuzDalia holds a Parent Coach certificate from the Concordia University at St. Paul MN. In addition, she is an MD, with a Master’s Degree in Community Psychology and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. She has taught public health courses to medical students for over 20 years. Furthermore, she has been working with multicultural families for over 25 years and she focused on parenting coach. Currently, she is the founder and Executive Director of the Astounding Families Alliance, in Houston TX.
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Structure/Sustainability Committee - Susan Holt
Susan is a Board-Certified Family Life Coach and Director of Everyday Parenting Solutions. She holds a master’s degree in education and 27 years of teaching experience with both children and adults. Her expertise is in building connection in families and classrooms by developing social/emotional intelligence for healthier families and resilient children. She writes a monthly parenting column for Richmond Family Magazine.
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Standards Committee - Margaret Machara
Margaret is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Sciences at Tennessee State University. She teaches research, parenting, development, and family relationships classes. Dr. Machara is also a Certified Family Life Educator and has worked in childcare centers, in group homes for children, and with families of children with severe emotional disorders.
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