Meet our coaches
Welcome to a new way of investing in your team’s personal and professional growth. At the Coaches Gallery, we believe that the right coach—or team of coaches—can empower you to achieve your goals, overcome challenges, and unlock your full potential. That’s why we’ve carefully curated a diverse selection of top-tier development coaches.
Select up to five coaches you’d like to work with and let us know via our request form. From there, we’ll schedule a group info session so you can select your final coaches and get started.
Nick Kittle
CEO, Sustainovation
Specialties: civic innovation, strategic facilitation, leadership training, process improvement, etc.
Nick Kittle is the CEO of Sustainovation, a dynamic thought leader in local government innovation, the co-founder of Beyond The Smoke, and the creator of the Coaches Gallery. He has worked with 100+ communities across the country and has spoken in front of audiences as large as 4,500 people. With 15 years of experience in local government and nearly 23 years of working with local governments, he has helped nearly 100 cities drive innovative governmental initiatives, including collaborations with organizations such as NASA, ICMA, and GFOA. As the author of "Sustainovation," Nick has received three national awards for innovation and is a sought-after keynote speaker.
Sarah Schillerstrom
President & CEO, SRSD Consulting, LLC
Specialties: employee retention strategies, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness
Sarah believes public servants deserve a workplace where they have opportunities to grow and develop, are supported by strong leaders, and are valued for their contributions. Sarah is a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and an experienced local gov professional, holding positions across public works, admin services, HR, and the village manager’s office. During her tenure, she served as the HR director for almost a decade and concluded her service as the deputy village manager.
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Demetrius Parker (“D”)
Founder, Trust Leadership Collective
Specialties: leadership development, self-awareness assessments, DEIAB facilitation discussions and strategies
With over 30 years of leadership experience, Demetrius empowers organizations to embrace self-awareness to build better trust and leadership. Through Trust Leadership Collective’s pragmatically thought-provoking, engaging, and interactive programs, workshops, and coaching, he aims to equip leaders with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to enhance their self-awareness and build a culture of trust.
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Have a coach or two in mind?
Request a group info session now to find your perfect fit!
Mark Funkhouser
President, Funkhouser & Associates
Specialties: strategic planning with fiscal analysis, performance assessments, governance
Mark founded Funkhouser & Associates in 2019 and is a municipal finance and government performance expert who has spent decades in government service. As the mayor of Kansas City, MO during the Great Recession, Mark made the tough choices to put his city on the path to fiscal sustainability and focused on “smart with the money” policy approaches to make the city work for regular people.
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Cory Poris Plasch
President & CEO, CP2 Consulting
Specialties: strategic planning with stakeholder engagement, organizational culture development, strategic plan implementation
Cory is an experienced local government and nonprofit leader passionate about helping organizations achieve significant impact and results. Cory has a master’s degree in public administration with an emphasis on leadership and strategic management. She started her career as a 911 dispatcher and has served in various leadership positions, including executive director of the Wisconsin City/County Management Association, membership director for the Alliance for Innovation, and most recently VP of Strategic Initiatives at POLCO.
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Danny Langloss
President & CEO, Langloss Consulting, LLC
Specialties: organizational culture, supercharged communication skills, purpose-driven ownership, change leadership, custom leadership development
Danny is an innovative and forward-thinking leader renowned for his ability to cultivate winning cultures and championship teams, powered by the transformative force of purpose-driven ownership. Danny believes leadership isn't just a role; it's a calling to serve others. Through his real-world experience and unique insights, he inspires private and public organizations alike to reach new heights of achievement, fostering inclusive cultures of excellence and championing the cause of purpose-driven leadership.
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Ready to meet with our coaches?
Brian Potts
Mental Health & Wellbeing Advocate
Specialties: managing workplace stress, burnout and anxiety
Brian Potts is a nationally renowned mental health professional with over 24 years of experience. As the client development manager at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, he’s built key partnerships to enhance mental health programs. His career includes roles at Therapy Brands, Cordant Health Solutions, Ameritox, and Eli Lilly, showcasing his expertise in relationship building, strategic account management, and program development. Brian holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Purdue University.
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Lauren Panameno
CEO, Belle Epoque (BE) Consulting
Specialties: engagement strategies, strategic planning, custom workshops, and team building
Through iterative discovery and tailored collaborative workshops, Lauren helps stakeholders grow their perspectives and establish a consultative mindset. Lauren sparks action in each group she works with by fostering and strengthening participants’ skills and talents. Lauren’s passion for supporting the growth of local governments comes to life through a strategy that bridges gaps and a thoughtful process that identifies pathways to short and long-term success.
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Tucker Wannamaker
CXO, Thrive Impact
Specialties: high-performance leadership without burning out, neuroscience and mindfulness, experience and facilitation design, co-creative strategic planning
Through neuroscience, mindfulness, and positive psychology-based leadership approaches, Tucker helps impact-driven leaders crush burnout—the enemy of creating positive change, excavate the strengths of their teams, and align them to co-create healthier, more whole, and more agile workplaces. With 15+ years of experience, Tucker has developed impactful leadership programs and co-creative strategic planning processes with organizations like the City of Colorado Springs, Rochester Area Community Foundation, St Charles Center for Faith & Action, United Way of Buffalo, and the Alaska Community Foundation.