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The 2008 Sherpa recertification
conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, set new records for attendance and elegance.
Attendance at this third annual event exceeded 2006 and 2007 combined. The Savannah Center, newly opened last November, proved to be a wonderful environment: a high-tech conference center with old world style and grace. Graduates from every university program attended. Those who participated were re-certified until July 2009, by fulfilling the requirement for continuing education. (scroll down for more articles and the photo galleries) |
| Sunday drew
attendees for bonus sessions on internal coaching and on marketing. Sandra
Thomas, CSC, Penn State 2007, led the program on internal coaching,
accompanied by Sherpa VP Rubi Ho. Bill Smith, CSC, Xavier 2005, led
the marketing breakout, along with Sherpa Managing Partner Karl Corbett.
The evening wine and cheese reception at the conference hotel was a full house: over 90% of conference attendees were there, joined by local luminaries, including the architect who designed the Savannah Center. Dave Stewart, keyboardist for Midnight Star, provided music, accompanied by 'Duck' Stewart on bass. The Stewart brothers have been a feature at Sherpa events since 1999. Given Midnight Star's touring schedule, we were lucky to find them off the road. |
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Conference sponsor
Sherpa Coaching LLC announced a new award for 2008: The Trailblazer.
CSC Brian McConnell earned the prize for his innovative rollout of executive
coaching across the enterprise at Idearc Media.
The third Sherpa of the Year award went to CSC Sandra Thomas from the National Cancer Institute. Since graduating from Penn State along with four other NCI coaches, she has led a dynamic team that's coached over 100 clients. Sandra Thomas has also worked with Sherpa Coaching to create custom programs and materials for NCI's doctors, researchers and top line leaders. |
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| The conference again
welcomed international guests. Gitte Hegelund (photo, right front)
from Work Partners Denmark, CSC Texas Christian 2007, was attending
her second conference in a row.
Chailai Komarakul Na Nagara (photo, left) , a CSC from Penn State, joined us from Thailand. She coaches in her executive position at Osotspa, a leading Asian beverage maker. Coaches from 14 US states were also in attendance. Overall, Sherpa has certified coaches in Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico and 32 US states. |
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click on a gallery to get started. ( Presentations
)
If
you like a photo, right click and
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In late
2007, Sherpa Guide authors Brenda Corbett and Judith Colemon went on a
university speaking tour with Marshall Goldsmith, the world's number
one executive coach. This year, in 2008, conference attendees
heard Sherpa's Managing Partner reveal how the Goldsmith partnership was
secured, then saw footage from the Texas Christian tour stop.
Those in attendance also experienced Marshall Goldsmith's 'feed forward' exercise in person, taking away profound suggestions on how to solve a behavioral issue, and leaving others with the same kind of suggestions. |
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Monday's opening
session had authors Corbett and Colemon take the stage with new material,
in a session called: "Living Like A Coach". The challenge they issued:
if you are not in 'coaching mode' all the time, you'll miss opportunities
to practice the skill and develop coaching habits that serve you
well under stress.
The next session
was a drill-down on new material introduced at last year's conference:
"Asking Great Questions". Video cameras rolled during these two programs,
so Sherpas not in attendance will have a chance to stay close to the Sherpa
community.
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| In other action
on Day One, a new set of 'master level' certifications was unveiled, offering
CSC's the opportunity to act as support specialists and instructors for
'coaching skills' classes and for the Sherpa Certification itself. Details
are posted on the university page of the Sherpa web site.
A 'fishbowl' review of a challenging client case study allowed a rotating panel of coaches from the audience to listen, learn and advise Brian McConnell as he shared the story, and a surprising 'happy ending' that had taken place just 48 hours before the conference began. |
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Tuesday kicked off with expanded material from author/educators Corbett and Colemon, adding new depth to the way Sherpas can teach expectations. Following the morning session, which was captured for video, the authors team split up, presenting two intimate breakouts on 'Hammering Down to the Weakness' and 'Finding Why It Matters'. Joined by Sherpa practitioners, these small group presentations were among the most popular at the conference. |
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quite popular were practitioner keynotes on 'Coaching the Millennial' and
'Client Mind Mapping'. Altogether, nine co-presenters were recognized at
conference close ( eight are pictured here), showing how much this
coaching community has to share. Charles Clute, CSC University of Cincinnati,
20006, closed the proceedings with his original “Sherpa Song”, as he has
now for all three annual conferences.
The 2009 Sherpa recertification conference will be held June 7-9, again at Savannah Center, in northern Cincinnati's Union Centre business district. Expect announcements about additional opportunities for CSC's in the second half of that week. |
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2006 Sherpa Coaching
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2007 Sherpa Coaching
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