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Board of Directors
Randy Coats, DBA, PCC President
Amy Childs, PCC Vice President
Kerri Burchill, PhD, MCC Director of Development | Dr. Randy Coats’ passion for coaching is grounded in three beliefs: - Everybody wants to grow and achieve more Through the Coats Leadership Group, Randy offers clients ICF-certified coaching fueled by 35+ years in many leadership roles as a military officer/commander and civilian leader. His journey has taken him from a rural upbringing to amazing experiences living and working with diverse professionals in five countries. He holds three graduate degrees, including a DBA in Strategy and Innovation, and coached part-time (pro bono) for seven years. In 2023, Randy left an executive position to focus full-time on serving others through coaching. For any questions about our chapter, contact president@ICFSA.org Amy Childs is a certified professional coach with over 18 years of experience in coaching, leadership development, and business growth. She is founder of Align Executive Coaching, where she works with leaders to optimize their effectiveness at home and work through group and individual coaching. As a coach, Amy leverages her expertise in emotional intelligence, change management, and life transitions to help her clients overcome challenges and seize opportunities. She is passionate about supporting individuals and teams to advance their personal growth and leadership skills. She is also a board member of the San Antonio Women's Chamber and a co-chair of the Bloomberg Business Program. She holds a master's degree in political science from Texas A&M University, a graduate certificate in executive and professional coaching from UT - Dallas, and certifications in EQi 2.0, PCC, and change management. You can contact Amy Childs at vp@ICFSA.org Dr. Kerri Burchill is President of North Star Coaching, a leadership development company that specializes in helping leaders slow down to go fast and achieve ambitious goals through coaching, leadership training and team development. While Kerri is an entrepreneur now, she didn’t start off that way. Her career began as a middle school teacher, then administrator, next professor, followed by director of organizational development and finally to her work now as speaker, coach, consultant and facilitator. Along that journey, she has spent 15 years in university, with master’s degrees in education and in Human Resource Management, plus a PhD in educational leadership. Kerri entertains audiences with stories from her experiences living in three countries and her insights working with a variety of leaders and industries. You can contact Kerri Burchill at professionaldevelopment@icfsa.org |
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Pepper Wilson Director of Membership | Pepper has 15+ years of experience in leading a learning organization for a Fortune 100 company. She partners with executive leaders interested in making a leadership transition, or those experiencing a leadership challenge. She believes: -To educate is to empower. -People want to do and be their best. -Coaching is a transformational process. Pepper maintains a fierce focus on her family and friends. You will find her cheering in the stands at basketball and volleyball games or catching her guilty pleasure TV show, Moonshine Masters. She’s currently working on honing her coaching skills and working toward her coaching certification. You can contact Pepper Wilson at membership@icfsa.org |
Cathryn Baker, CPC, ACC Director of Marketing
Mario Ortiz Director of Partnerships
Martha Tween, MOD, PCC Director of Credentialing Support
Colleen Russell, ACC Treasurer |
Cathryn Baker is a seasoned leader and entrepreneur with a career spanning over 35 years in the staffing industry. Cathryn co-founded two successful Texas-based staffing companies and served on the board of the Texas Association of Staffing. She had several roles during her board tenure, including President. Today, Cathryn is the co-founder of Avanzara’, a coaching and consulting firm that empowers businesses and individuals to reach their full potential. Drawing upon her extensive business knowledge and leadership experience, Cathryn guides clients towards achieving their goals, enhancing their team dynamics, and optimizing their business acceleration. Cathryn holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Minnesota. She is pursuing a Certified Professional Coach certification through iPEC’s ICF accredited program and is a certified Energy Leadership Index (ELI) Master Practitioner. She is also a certified Predictive Index Master Analyst. She currently lives with her husband on a ranch in the Texas Hill Country. You can reach Cathryn Baker at marketing@icfsa.org Mario is a dual Certified Professional Coach and proud member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF). He brings several years of coaching experience with customer service professionals, entrepreneurs, and senior government officials. He founded The Chestnut Group, LLC in 2023 to champion a coaching philosophy rooted in empowering each client with practical, actionable strategies designed for sustainable growth and measurable results. His approach is highly personalized— believing that every leader’s journey is unique, he is committed to providing tailored guidance that equips clients to overcome challenges, unlock potential, and achieve their highest aspirations with clarity and confidence. Mario feels privileged to have an extensive career that spans public service, media, and executive leadership, consistently marked by innovation and a results-driven focus. He has led large organizations through transformative initiatives that delivered measurable impact. His teams were known for pioneering creative solutions, building strategic partnerships over a three-state U.S. Southern Border region and fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. Mario is a former District Director for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services within the Department of Homeland Security and retired in September 2025 from the rank of Senior Executive Service, the highest level in the Federal Government. He championed the career development of hundreds of colleagues, ensuring that teams not only met but exceeded performance benchmarks. From 2000 to 2004, he served in a diplomatic capacity at the American Embassy in Singapore, where a forward-thinking approach strengthened international collaboration and advanced U.S. interests abroad. You can reach Mario Ortiz at chestnutortiz1@gmail.com Martha's journey began at the U.S. Embassy, serving in Mexico, Chile, and Austria, where she learned firsthand how to navigate complex cultural landscapes and drive results across borders. Three of her initiatives were recognized as Success Stories by the U.S. Congress. She has also served at the United Nations in Vienna and held leadership roles across Guatemala and Latin America. Academically grounded with a Finance degree from Universidad Francisco Marroquín and an M.S. in Organizational Development from University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, she combines business acumen with people expertise. Her credentials include certifications as a Gallup Strengths Coach, Team Coach, and assessments in Leadership Circle Profile, DISC, and EQ, plus recent completion of Cornell's Executive Women in Leadership Program. Martha brings 25+ years of experience in leadership and 10+ years of experience in coaching. She is passionate about helping coaches navigate the ICF credentialing process and building supportive peer learning communities.You can reach Martha Tween at credentialsupport@icfsa.org Colleen is an executive and leadership coach with over 25 years of corporate experience, including 18 years in progressive, transformational leadership roles at Southwest Airlines. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with the C-Suite and Board of Directors, led high-impact teams, and driven strategic initiatives. Now, as the founder of Colleen Russell Coaching, she helps leaders and professionals navigate change, enhance their leadership capabilities, and achieve their career goals with clarity and confidence. Her expertise is backed by extensive executive experience and professional coaching credentials. She is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) with multiple coaching certifications from the Center for Executive Coaching, including Executive Coaching, Career Coaching, Change Leadership, Strategic Planning & Execution, and Power & Influence. You can reach Colleen Russell at treasurer@icfsa.org |
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Past Presidents of ICF-SA serve as Executive Advisors to the Board. Click to view Past Presidents |