Meet our Coaches

Marc V. Weiner MHA, FACHE, PCC, AELC
Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer
Professional Certified Executive Coach

Marc provides Executive Coaching, business consulting and advisory services to Chief Executive Officers and Boards of Directors in the areas of strategic planning, business growth and development, complex business challenges, turnarounds and senior executive career/life transition.

Marc has over twenty-five years of experience in executive management, acquisitions/mergers, major expansion phases and new business development. His expertise includes strategic partnering, strategic and long term planning, operations and financial management, revenue enhancement/cost reduction, program/service line development and implementation and team building, recruiting and mentoring.

He has served as President of a major division of a billion dollar national physician practice Management Company, as well as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for several major organizations. He actively serves on numerous local, regional and national Boards & Committees.

His teaching and mentoring experience includes the Pfeiffer University School of Graduate Studies, Adjunct Professor with the University of New Haven, and Program Co-Chair as well as Faculty and frequent Lecturer with the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Marc is senior faculty with iPEC Coaching providing accredited education and training for individuals desiring to become certified life and corporate coaches in its schools located in New Jersey, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Illinois, California, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC.

His publications include “Departmental Organizational Structure”: Managing to Get it Right: The ACEP User’s Guide to Management; “Developing a Business Plan”, Principles and Applications; and “Business Plans Can Provide Focus, Increase Efficiency”, Management Journal.

Marc is a Professional Certified Executive Coach, Accredited Energy Leadership Coach, Dana Scholar and Guilford Fellow. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, has a Master’s in Public Health and Health Care Administration from Tulane University and a Bachelor of Arts cum laude in Psychology from Guilford College.

Louise Clark CEC
Certified Empowerment & Transition Coach

Following a highly successful career in the field of Human Resource Management, Louise’s commitment to empower others in achieving their full potential, both personally and professionally, has drawn her into the inspiring world of Corporate and Life Coaching.

Louise spent many years dealing with the challenges and opportunities of organizational development and transformation, strategic planning and program management; a skill-set that serves her perfectly in her current role as a coach.

Solution-focused, and highly driven, Louise has achieved her own life-goals by using the methods and tools she now passionately shares with others. As a coach, her goal is to support and encourage; listen and plan; partner with her clients to achieve lasting change, and make their spiritual, personal and professional dreams a reality.

Louise holds a Bachelors degree with honors in Theology from Manchester University and a post graduate degree in Human Resource Management from Middlesex University (a London Business School). She is a recognized member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development and is a member of the International Coaching Federation. Louise has undertaken extensive training in effective communication skills, the use of assessment tools, successful team working, career mapping and corporate and life coaching.

Sarah J. Collie, R.N.
Empowerment Coach

Sarah brings 15 years of expertise as a practicing Registered Nurse to Empowerment Associates. Sarah began her career at the bedside in Cardiovascular Intensive Care. She continued to impact the quality of life of patients and peers by expanding her nursing role as a Hospital Critical Care Nursing Director. In her roles as an Administrative Nurse and later as Clinical Nurse Liaison, she has coached those in needs within her reach. Sarah, firsthand, has seen the impact of coaching relating to healthcare workers of all types, from housekeeping on up through the ranks to physicians and chief executives.

Sarah has combined specialties with her husband, William, to directly impact their patients across the United States and abroad. Having been Chief Administrator of their own sedulous clinic, they have enjoyed success coaching colleagues and patients alike. The Collies have traveled both domestically and internationally and taught other healthcare personnel how to improve their own patients’ quality of life through healthy holistic choices.

Having had the pleasure of experiencing coaching first hand as clients, the Collies came to realize the importance of coaching as an innovative life-changing concept. Observing far superior clinical outcomes with coaching (versus other modalities) in their patients’ lives; William and Sarah have moved away from less successful traditional medical therapies and fully embrace coaching as the way of life for themselves as well as the clients they serve.

Jeffrey M. Dunn
Executive Coach & Business Consultant

Jeff Dunn is an operational expert and management executive with over 20 years of success. Jeff is the Principal in SageGuild, LLC, a business conglomerate with partnerships across a wide range of industries. The company’s core specialty is strategic, operational, and tactical enhancement of medium and small organizations. Advanced technology; aerospace and defense; information technology; and corporate financial valuation and appraisal are focus areas. Jeff has a host of contacts nationally and provides key clients with a clear vision for strategic business development. He has assisted his clients with the tactical execution of initiatives and has made a substantial impact on business growth, production, morale, efficiency and profitability.

Jeff's military career began as an AV-8B Harrier pilot & mission commander. He exhibits an enviable record of advancement in both rank and capacity. In his current role as Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) Transition Director for the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, Jeff acts as liaison and chief facilitator for collaboration between the Marines and the Department of Defense’s multi-billion dollar advanced research entity. Jeff is also Project Manager for the Wasp Micro Air Vehicle Project and the BigDog Quadruped Robot Project. He is in the final stages of his military career and will be shifting 100% of his time to the private sector in 2008.

Highly effective as a communicator, Jeff is an expert in analysis, consensus building, and nurturing delicate and complex relationships with thousands of senior executives, government officials, politicians and staff. He exhibits exceptional demeanor while conducting professional inquiries and is fully capable of meeting shifting management and marketplace demands. He has professionally managed a wide variety of projects, initiatives and engagements both in the United States and abroad.

Jeff's core competencies include: creating nexuses with enthusiasm and élan; fostering teams and building pride; nurturing strategic alliances and business relationships; managing federal acquisitions; budgeting analysis and justification; government and regulatory compliance; project management and implementation; designing and implementing performance metrics; designing and implementing process improvement and interpersonal/multicultural communication.

His holds an MBA from The George Washington University (Beta Gamma Sigma), a Master degree of Military Studies and an undergraduate degree in Criminology from Florida State University. Jeff is also a certified Program Management Professional, PMP.

Jeff has an outstanding work ethic and holds both superb and verifiable references. He has also received the following awards in recognition of service to his country: A Bronze Star, a Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal and several Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medals. He is a 2007 recipient of the DARPA Sustained Excellence by a Government Agent Award.

Sarita Felder MBA, CEC
Certified Executive Leadership Coach & Business Development Consultant

Sarita was a corporate executive and now is the principal of Sarita Felder & Associates, LLC, a coaching and consulting enterprise. She provides strategic thought partnership, executive leadership coaching and business development consulting to senior and middle-level executives as well as business owners. She partners with her clients to crystallize and prioritize goals, expand their leadership and operational expertise, propel their careers and drive increased organizational effectiveness, efficiency and productivity. The result: accelerated achievement of business outcomes.

Her coaching and consulting approach is customized based on the nature and scope of the engagement. It, however, is consistently characterized by strategic thought partnership with the client wherein communications are candid and direct, delivered in a safe environment within which clients can face their truths, fears and obstacles, embrace change and take risks. A variety of methodologies and philosophies are leveraged, including action inquiry, as well as healthy doses of creativity, consultation and humor.

Sarita has a proven track record in a variety of areas. As a leader she instituted department-wide strategic plan with milestones, metrics, and budget parameters. In the area of Organizational Development she created in-house agency advertising and promotion division. In marketing and sales Sarita led more than 10 agency brand launches and re-launches and directed and managed accounts in excess of $15,000,000. In Finance and Management she built and preserved fiduciary responsibility for multimillion dollar budgets and direct management responsibility for 75+ individuals in 7 departments.

Her industry experience includes Pharmaceutical, Financial, Public Accounting, Advertising and Nonprofit.

Sarita holds an MBA in International Marketing from the Zicklin School of Business and a BA in French and Spanish from Barnard College, Columbia University. She is a Certified Empowerment Coach and serves on the Advisory Board of the Institute for Sustainable Enterprise with Fairleigh Dickinson University. She has conducted Creative Leadership seminars for the Center for Creative Leadership and a Leading Creativity workshop for Synectics. Her hobbies include: Meditation, boating, weightlifting, creative communication, lifelong learning.

Leigh Higgins M.Ed, CEC, AELC
Certified Executive Coach

Leigh is a Certified Executive Coach, Accredited Energy Leadership Coach and Founder of the coaching firm Arête Partners based in Northern New Jersey. The company’s primary focus is supporting senior-level executives in the financial industry, not only to maximize success in job performance, but to also integrate a whole-brain process of self awareness that creates a powerful feeling of fulfillment in each day and in all areas of their lives.

Leigh brings a combination of 14 successful years in the financial markets, two years of not-for-profit experience as a fundraising consultant, multiple life transition experiences and skills, and a passionate commitment to helping people discover and live their life’s purpose.

Leigh’s skills lie in helping people discover what will make them effective leaders, thrive in their careers and feel excited about all aspects of their lives. Leigh believes that highly successful leaders and their organizations thrive when personal excellence and balance are combined with creative positive thinking that asks: What's the opportunity here? He also believes that how we respond to change and the degree of creative positive energy that is present in that response determines our experience of life. As we explore the idea that our outer circumstances are a reflection of our inner lives we discover the power we have to create the lives we dream of.

Leigh is a graduate of Rutgers University with a BA in Economics. He earned an M. Ed. from The University of London, graduating with honors and a distinction on his thesis. He has traveled extensively throughout Europe and in India, Nepal, South Africa and Mexico. He spent a year between careers in Mexico teaching English as a certified ESL instructor and studying Spanish.

Lou Iorio J.D., CEC, AELC
Certified Executive Coach

Whether in a corporate, personal or entrepreneurial role, Lou has always demonstrated a passion for setting goals, implementing the action steps to achieve those goals and, stretching for higher goals when the earlier ones have been accomplished. At the same time, he recognized and was driven by helping the individual to build on their strengths, embrace opportunities for growth and breakthrough any resistance and limiting beliefs and behaviors that held them back.

The passion was first exhibited in his 20 years of corporate life. His roles and responsibilities centered around strategic and corporate planning, management reporting and analysis to assess the progress in reaching established goals; and, to react to and adjust to inevitable change. But it was never simply about the numbers because people were involved, from senior management to extensive staffs. He believed in creating an environment for personal growth and achievement within that corporate setting.

Throughout much of this time frame, Lou also consulted for a series of family businesses. Growing up in an entrepreneurial environment provided both the thirst for his own business as well as an appreciation and empathy for the entrepreneur / small business owner. In 1988, he founded Corporate Investment International, a business sales and acquisitions firm specializing in businesses with revenues up to $30 million. As a Business Intermediary, Lou blended his financial and legal background in an area in which he saw an important need. He had seen too often the difficulties encountered by entrepreneurs as they worked to achieve their goals and dreams. This market called out for a level of professionalism not often available to the small business owner.

Lou is a Certified Executive Coach and Accredited Energy Leadership Coach. He holds a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center and a BS in Business Administration from Seton Hall University.

But in addition to his formal training, he has essentially served as a coach throughout his corporate and entrepreneurial years - because it has always been about the people. Lou thoroughly enjoys working with entrepreneurs at all stages of their business life cycle - from start up to sale. It's the journey, growth and success of his clients that drives his work.

Stephen Naughton LCSW, MSW, CEC
Certified Executive Coach

Steve is a highly accomplished professional with over 30 years experience in profit and non-profit organizations. His expertise includes strategic and long term planning, customer service, operational management, project management, revenue enhancement/cost reduction, union negotiations, program development, staff development, team building, recruiting, mentoring and individual and group psychotherapy.

Steve started his business career with a Wall Street financial services firm quickly rising to Vice President. He was responsible for the operations of information systems that provided services 24/7 to domestic and international clients. Steve participated in the firm’s merger and acquisition with the responsibility for information system operational integration. After leaving Wall Street Steve consulted internationally for the Peace Corps. In that role, he provided consulting and training to executives in government and non-government organizations throughout the South Pacific.

Steve is President of the Manhattan-Westchester division of Empowerment Associates, LLC providing consulting and Executive Coaching to senior executives.

He holds a Masters degree from Fordham University, a Bachelor of Arts cum laude from the College of Mount St. Vincent, is a Certified Executive Coach and a Licensed Psychotherapist. Steve continues to be active in his community, providing workshops on a variety of topic to both seniors and youth groups.

Karen Proffitt CEC
Certified Executive Coach

Karen is President and Founder of Pinnacle Performance LLC.

Pinnacle Performance LLC partners with companies to help them achieve better business results and increase their bottom-line. Pinnacle Performance focuses on helping individuals achieve their full potential, and organizations achieve a measurable Return On Investment through strategic planning and people development.

As a Certified Executive Coach she works one-on-one with individuals to change their lives in a positive, meaningful way, to help set more effective goals and live a more fulfilling more purposeful life.

Over her 26 year business career Karen has gained extensive experience in strategic planning, marketing, sales, sales management, training and development, marketing strategy, product development, and project management.

Karen spent 17 years with a Fortune 200 company as well as mid-sized organizations plus smaller entrepreneurial companies. She has experience in various industries such as medical, market research, software, office systems, telephony, and retail gaining experience in all areas of management, sales and leadership.

She has received numerous awards for sales excellence as a top performer in addition to marketing awards for her “out of box” thinking achieving record breaking revenues. Her leadership skills brought 17 new products to market on or ahead of schedule.

Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and German from Rutgers College. Karen works with organizations to have a profound impact on revenue attainment, customer satisfaction, overall business growth, increased market share, employee morale and overall sustained organizational success.

Steven Yorra MBA, BM, CEC
Certified Executive Coach

Steven’s passion is to help business executives tap into what they truly want and unleash their energy and passion to create a balanced and more fulfilled life, both professionally and personally.

With over 20 years of corporate experience as a marketing consultant and senior advertising executive, Steven has helped many Fortune 500 senior executives achieve their visions to drive business growth and catapult their brands to new heights – across a wide range of industries – from consumer goods and insurance to toys, tourism, retail and entertainment/media. He specializes in business development, strategic branding stewardship, leadership development and communications training. He helped launch W Hotels, Road Runner High Speed Online, Worth.com, line extensions for Carnation, Sara Lee, 3M, P&G and Unilever – and created “Legomania” - an innovative marketing/communications idea that helped revitalize the Lego Company and drive double-digit sales growth for five years.

Steven understands the unique dynamics and challenges facing business executives today. Working with a diverse range of corporations, cultures and personalities has enabled him to provide unique insight and perspective for his clients. Steven has worked closely with CEOs and senior executives from companies as diverse as Procter & Gamble, Unilever, W Hotels, Lego Company, and Clear Channel, to Broadway producers, entrepreneurial internet start-up companies and small business owners.

Steven holds an MBA in Strategic Marketing from Northeastern University, as well as a Bachelor of Music from the University of Massachusetts.

Cheryl L. Zurovchak, MS, CEC, CMT, CPFT
Certified Energy Coach & Trainer

Cheryl is a Certified Coach and Trainer with over twenty-five years of experience in the health and wellness industry as a certified personal trainer and fitness consultant.

She is the President of The Zone Advantage, Inc. helping thousands of people manage their pain, stress, and find solutions to various life challenges using state-of-the-art techniques and programs.

For the past five years she has managed and operated a successful massage therapy practice and has trained with the masters in her industry whether it is in the massage therapy industry, the fitness industry or the coaching industry. Working and being mentored by the leaders in her industry has been the key to her success, along with her determination and passion to help others manage their physical, mental, and emotional energy and live to their highest potential.

Cheryl is also the Director of Operations & Training of iPEC Coaching, providing accredited education and training for individuals desiring to become certified life and corporate coaches in its schools located in New Jersey, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Illinois, California, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC. She is a certified trainer and offers various educational seminars for the health and wellness community.

Cheryl has a Master's Degree in Computer Science from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Science cum laude in Computer Science from Allegheny College. She spent 15 years working in Corporate America in the telecommunications industry as a software developer. The last part of those years she served as the district manager leading the creation, development and administration of software systems which support the telecommunication customers.