Executive Director
Executive Board Members
Chair - Susan Holt
Susan is a Board-Certified Family Life Coach with a master’s degree in education and 30 years of teaching and coaching 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. In addition, she is privileged to serve as Director of Family Ministry for her church.
Vice Chair - Tiffany Burnette
Tiffany Burnette works to improve family life and prevent negative outcomes for every family member. Through her efforts that include music therapy, family coaching, and education, she aims to bring experiential learning for awareness and practice to enhance physical, spiritual, and mental health and relationships.
Treasurer - Jennifer Perez
Jennifer is from Colombia-South America. She graduated in International Business with a master’s in Financial Management. Jennifer moved to the United States following the dream of having better opportunities and helping her family. She is currently pursuing an associate degree in accounting with the goal of becoming a CPA. She has worked in American companies for 7 years and has learned to function in different roles related to accounting. Jennifer’s dedication to making sure she helps her workplace create success blends well with her welcoming personality. Her goal at FCLA is to help, learn, meet new people, and spread positive motivation.
Executive Secretary – Melissa James
Melissa James is a grief coach and owner of Your Life Helper, LLC. She has a B. S. degree in Marriage and Family Studies from Brigham Young University-Idaho and is a Board Certified Coach and Certified Family Life Coach-Expert. She has completed trainings for grief coaching, grief peer mentor, end of life doula training, and family life coaching working with individuals, couples, and families. Melissa was the chair of Family Life Coaching Association’s Emerging Coaches committee for four years. She is a Certified Strengths Specialist and a People Acuity Certified Guide through the People Acuity company to provide coaching with strengths use.
Executive Board Member-at-Large - OPEN
Are you interested in contributing to the health and wellness of families everywhere in this special way? Contact us at info@flcassociation.org.
Full Board Members
Advocacy Co-Chair - Steve Makofka
Steve Makofka is a master teacher and communicator. He is a Certified Family Life Educator and a member of the National Council on Family Relations. In 2019 He founded Family Dynamics LLC to help provide resources for groups that help build families. Steve has a BS in Education and a Master of Divinity degree.
Previously, he was a pastor of youth and family ministries. His 25 years of pastoral experience have given him knowledge and experience in dealing with a variety of family issues. He has also worked ten years teaching as a psychoeducational group leader on a mental health inpatient unit, teaching life skills to adolescents and adults. He currently works as a group leader for the Partial Hospitalization program at Dayton Children’s Hospital.
He has been married to his wife, Lorrie, for 40 years. Together they have raised four children and are now enjoying their four (so far) grandchildren. Steve’s parents, who have been married for 65 years, live around the corner from him. This extended family network has given him an expertise in multi-generational relationships.
Steve is an active part of the Dayton music scene, having performed extensively as a singer, and as a guitar and keyboard player. He is also a 4th generation accordion player. He has released an album of original children’s music entitled, “Bring the Kids”.
Advocacy Co-Chair - Felisha Burleson
Felisha Burleson is doctoral student at Texas Woman's University in the Family Studies PhD program and a Certified Family Life Educator. Using her education in sociology and background in social services, she established The Patchwork Society, where she offers personal and professional development services. Through the patchwork society, she partners with existing organizations and groups to provide professional development opportunities for staff that include workshops and conferences as well as family development (parent education) and personal development (individual life skills) services for program participants.
2024 Conference Co-Chair - Dr. Kim Allen
Kimberly Allen, Ph.D., BCC, CFLC is Interim Associate Dean and Director of Academic Programs and Professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University as well as Co-Creator of the Family Life Coaching Association and Co-Owner of Sweet Gestalt, LLC. Dr. Allen has over 20 year’s experience working with youth and their families and her research interests include family life coaching, student success, parenting, and relationship education. Dr. Allen is author of the book Theory, Research, and Practical Guidelines for Family Life Coaching. Kim and her husband Chris are the owners of Sweet Gestalt, a coaching and consulting company that helps people reach their goals.
2024 Conference Co-Chair - Chris Allen
Christopher Allen, M.Ed, is the IT Systems Manager in the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University College of Engineering. Chris is currently working on a Ph.D. in Leadership Policy Human Development at NCSU's College of Education. He is also a Gallup Clifton Strengths certified coach. And he is Co-owner of Sweet Gestalt, LLC. Chris has worked for 30 years in technology and has spent the last 6 years in higher education. As a leader of teams for 17 years, he has learned to be a team builder and a coach. Chris and his wife, Dr. Kim Allen, are the owners of Sweet Gestalt, LLC, a coaching and consulting company that helps people reach their goals.
Emerging Coaches Chair - Dr. Autumn Cano-Guin
Autumn Cano-Guin, PhD, BCC teaches Family Life Coaching in the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences and directs healthy living and STEM programs for NC 4-H at NC State University. She serves nationally as a Program Success Coach for the Children, Youth, and Families At-Risk Professional Development and Technical Assistance Center. Her scholarly interests include program development with marginalized audiences, parenting, youth development, family life coaching, adverse childhood experiences, protective factors, nonformal education, and educator professional development. She is a nationally recognized program design and evaluation expert with over 20 years of experience. Autumn also serves as a leader coach and develops curricula at her church. She is most passionate about her family including her partner of 25 years, Michael, 2 adult children, 2 grandchildren, 2 grand dogs, and a bearded dragon.
Autumn H. Cano-Guin, Ph.D., BCC (she, her, hers)
NC 4-H Youth Development Program Design & Evaluation Specialist
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Agricultural & Human Sciences
North Carolina State University
Development Committee Co-Chair - Tiffany Burnette
Tiffany Burnette works to improve family life and prevent negative outcomes for every family member. Through her efforts that include music therapy, family coaching, and education, she aims to bring experiential learning for awareness and practice to enhance physical, spiritual, and mental health and relationships.
Development Committee Co-Chair - Consuelo Bryant
Consuelo Bryant is a Special Education Teacher for students with mild to moderate disabilities for Wake County Public Schools. She serves in the role as a Home Hospital Teacher which requires her to provide instruction, guidance and social interaction to students in their homes who are unable to attend school due to fragility, compromised health conditions and varying disabilities. In 2018 she earned the highest most respected certification a teacher could obtain,
National Board Professional Teacher Standards Certification, solidifying she is accomplished in the classroom, performs at a higher standard in her profession and made her highly sought out to serve in leadership positions like team leader, department chair and teacher mentor.
In 2018, Consuelo was a contributing author to a book anthology, Women Overcome Through Writing, where she writes about her aspirations to become a writer. She grew up reading the Dear Abby sections in the Sunday newspaper and was truly impacted by life changing experiences shared in the published stories. In 2020, she collaborated on a second writing project and wrote an inspiring chapter in the book From Transition to Transformation. In her chapter, she writes about how she was able to overcome diverse circumstances and embrace forgiveness. Her story is moving, heartfelt and uplifting.
Consuelo obtained her Life Coach Certification in 2021 and continuously pursues personal
development for her own growth and the personal growth of others. As a transformation coach, she is passionate about helping individuals embark upon a journey of self-discovery, unlocking their true purpose and taking meaningful action. She leads her clients in creative fun ways to unlock the wisdom of the body and experience life changing results.
Consuelo is empowered to create collaborative supportive processes that allow individuals to tap into their strengths, qualities and capabilities, whether in the classroom as a student or as a coaching client. She is driven to help clients find solutions to their problems and dilemmas just as much as she is in helping students to discover what works for them.
Consuelo earned a BS in Family & Consumer Sciences from North Carolina Central University and a MA in Educational Leadership from Gardner-Webb University.
Marketing Chair - OPEN
Are you interested in contributing to the health and wellness of families everywhere in this special way? Contact us at info@flcassociation.org.
Membership Chair - OPEN
Are you interested in contributing to the health and wellness of families everywhere in this special way? Contact us at info@flcassociation.org.
Professional Enrichment Co-Chair - Kayla Bereijo
As a graduate from Humboldt State University, Kayla holds a bachelors degree in Child Development and Family Studies. With over a decade experience working with youth and families, Kayla has worked in community, education, and multi-cultural based settings. This experience includes serving with the Peace Corps as a Community Development Specialist in Timor-Leste, working as an Early Childhood Education Specialist for a learning center in Spain, and as a Preschool Teacher in California. In her current role, she is a Project Assistant for the Orange County Department of Education where she works with youth to develop leadership skills and prevention education. Kayla is in the process of becoming a fully credentialed Family Life Educator and plans to transition into coaching.
Professional Enrichment Co-Chair - Regina Williams
Regina Natasha Williams CFLE. Earned her BA in Psychology at the University of Delaware her MS in Applied Family Science from Wilmington University. Regina life’s mission, purpose, and goal is to utilize her passions and skills to help bring healing, security, wholeness and love back to families and company clients.
With her certification as a Certified Family Life Educator, she has dedicated her life to fulfilling roles that include engaging youth and peers. She has worked in roles where she was responsible for developing and creating strategies to better reach young people within the community. She had the pleasure of serving as a Resident Director for Upward Bound Classic at the University of Delaware. In this position, she became proficient in Microsoft Office, and Google Docs, while remaining organized and maintaining awareness of community issues to cultivate and direct the development of student leadership, and responsibility through student involvement in programming. She has also dedicated a good portion of her professional career as a Senior Family Service Specialist for the State of DE where she engaged children, youth and their families through the juvenile justice system. Each experience has pushed Regina outside of her comfort zone and has groomed her to be a person who embodies and embraces meeting the needs of others while strengthening her interpersonal and communication skills. In one of her most recent endeavors as an Employment Service Specialist, she has spent time encouraging, informing and enlightening clients to overcome barriers through applying for a Pardon and or Expungment. And as a contracted Mental Health Clinician, Regina was the client’s personal resource agent ensuring that they were successful with reentry into the community after receiving mental health services and support for the whole self.
Research Chair - Russ Smidt
Russ Smidt is in his 7th year as a family life coach. He primarily works with men who deal with sexual compulsivity individually and in group settings. He enjoys working with these men motivated to change. Finding those motivations, identifying strengths and using goal-setting strategies within the framework of his centre’s change model (Faithful and True) is challenging and rewarding work. He also discusses family issues like rebuilding trust with their partners and managing stress with their families. He is interested in working with FLCA as a board member as he believes in the vision and the people at FLCA.
Standards Chair - Dr. Margaret Machara
Margaret E. Machara, PhD, CFLE is a professor of Human Sciences at Tennessee State University and co-creator of the Family Life Coaching Association. She currently oversees the Child Development/Family Studies concentration at TSU and is actively involved in several Family Science professional organizations. Dr. Machara has worked with diverse groups of children, adults, and families in a variety of settings. Her areas of expertise are Human Development, Family Relationships, Parenting, Interpersonal Dynamics, Play-Based Learning, Experiential Education, and Outdoor Activity.
Structure and Sustainability – Susan Holt, Interim
Susan is a Board-Certified Family Life Coach with a master’s degree in education and 30 years of teaching and coaching 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. In addition, she is privileged to serve as Director of Family Ministry for her church.
Full Board Member-at-Large -Molly Feigal
Molly Feigal is a Certified Parent Coach trained in brain science, trauma, and research-proven techniques to shift behaviors. Molly has over twenty years of teaching experience. Molly has over two decades of experience as an elementary music teacher and staff leader at Concordia Language Villages. She is faculty for the SongWorks Summer Certification course for teachers, and she is the parent of two lively children. Molly supports caregivers, educators, and parents in understanding and connecting with their children.
Website Coordinator – Melissa James
Melissa James is a grief coach and owner of Your Life Helper, LLC. She has a B. S. degree in Marriage and Family Studies from Brigham Young University-Idaho and is a Board Certified Coach and Certified Family Life Coach-Expert. She has completed trainings for grief coaching, grief peer mentor, end of life doula training, and family life coaching working with individuals, couples, and families. Melissa was the chair of Family Life Coaching Association’s Emerging Coaches committee for four years. She is a Certified Strengths Specialist and a People Acuity Certified Guide through the People Acuity company to provide coaching with strengths use.
Other Team Members
Administrative Assistant - Fisayo Dayo Samuel
Fisayo Dayo-Samuel is an experienced Family Life Coach specializing in crisis management, a skilled mediator, and holds a master's degree in Media and Communication. She is a Certified Family System Engineering Practitioner from the Institute of Family Engineering & Development in Nigeria. She has had five years of media and public relations experience spread across consulting, social work and education. She has been successful at managing projects for past employers and maintaining meaningful relationships with all of them. She understands the importance of effective communication and efficient administration.
Fisayo is looking forward to contributing toward the development of the FLCA Certification program, promoting our monthly webinars, managing the elections process and developing our newsletters as well as all of the other administrative tasks that come her way!
She and her husband and two little ones live in England.
Would you like to join our team?
Check out our board committee information below
Advocacy
Focus on coaching-related state, national, and global politics/policies
Write policy papers, white papers, position statements
Lobby for reimbursement for FL coaches
Help with securing grants/funding
Establish partnerships w/other entities/organizations to further mission, vision of FLCA
Conference
Logistics: conference location, hotels, food
Presenters: CFPs, correspondence; keynotes
Create & print program
Advertising, inc. booth rentals, program ads
Create budget w/exec board assistance & approval
Website prep & monitoring
CEUs, volunteers
Emerging Coaches
Invite & encourage student & new professionals’ participation, including those new to coaching
Facilitate student-specific activities
Facilitate the FLCA Mentorship Program
Encourage collaboration w/Research Committee
Assist FLCA in identifying needs for graduating students
Development
Set up holistic fundraising plan to include special events, mailings, web posts, product sales, etc.
Work w/Marketing Committee
Work w/Conference Committee
Work to securing grants & other funding opportunities
Marketing
Focus on consistent branding, messaging
Develop & maintain social media accounts
Work w/Membership to encourage & retain members
Work w/Conference to advertise
Work w/Fundraising
Create, distribute promotional materials
Membership
Identify membership process
Announcement & promotion of membership
Connect with & track all new/renewed members
Establish and schedule Coffee Chats for members
Notify VP & committee chairs of new volunteers
Work w/Conference on membership table
Professional Enrichment
Solicit, schedule, & advertise webinar speakers
Participate in webinars (introduce speaker, monitor process & questions, etc.)
Ensure various topics/individuals are included
Establish follow-up procedures (release of recordings, summary for newsletter, etc.)
Research
Review/share pertinent coaching literature
Assist members in writing blogs, short articles
Establish publication guidelines for FLCA
Identify gaps in literature
Assist Advocacy in writing briefs, policy papers
Establish Family Life Coaching Journal
Standards
Compare/research standards of other organizations
Develop, recommend, validate standards
Present info sessions on certification/credentialing
Monitor certification/credentialing processes
Follow-up with members re yearly updating of certification (CEUs to include ethics)
Create & update ethics for FL coaches & FLCA
Continually monitor best practice w/Research
Structure & Sustainability
Update Bylaws, Handbook and Board & Committee Summary
Elections (Executive Board & Board of Directors) with involvement of Full Board and FLCA Admin
Provide Board training
Analyze and follow-up on Strategic planning
(1, 3, 5 year plans)
Website Coordinator
Monitor time-sensitive information and adjust as needed
Work with the web designer to update, make necessary changes & monitor member-only, board-only, and public pages
Perform quality assurance checks on links, documents, etc., preferably no less than on a quarterly basis
Serve as a liaison between the executive board and all committee chairs regarding appropriate website updates, changes, or edits
Participate in bi-monthly board meetings
All committees are volunteer positions. To apply, please send your information to info@flcassociation.org. Include your full name, email address, resume and a brief statement of interest. The Chair will contact you by email or phone.
FLCA complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity).
