Retirement Coaches Association Conference

Ken Dychtwald, Ph.d., Age Wave

Over the past 40+ years, Dr. Ken Dychtwald has emerged as North America’s foremost visionary and original thinker regarding the lifestyle, marketing, health care, economic and workforce implications of the age wave. Ken is a psychologist, gerontologist, and best-selling author of 17 books on aging-related issues. Since 1986, he has been the Founder and CEO of Age Wave, a firm created to guide companies and government groups in product/service development for boomers and mature adults. His client list has included over half the Fortune 500. He has served as a fellow of the World Economic Forum and was a featured speaker at two White House Conferences on Aging. During his career, Ken has addressed more than two million people worldwide in his speeches to corporate, association, social service, and government groups. His strikingly accurate predictions and innovative ideas are regularly featured in leading print and electronic media worldwide and have garnered more than twelve billion media impressions.

Chip Conley, Modern Elder Academy

New York Times bestselling author Chip Conley is the hospitality maverick who helped Airbnb's founders turn their fast-growing tech start-up into a global hospitality brand. In Wisdom@Work: The Making of a Modern Elder he shares his unexpected journey at midlife — from CEO to intern — learning about technology as Airbnb’s Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy, while also mentoring CEO Brian Chesky. Chip is the founder of the Modern Elder Academy, where a new roadmap for midlife is offered at a beautiful oceanfront campus in Baja California Sur, Mexico. He serves on the board of Encore.org and the advisory board for the Stanford Center for Longevity.www.ChipConley.com.

Kerry Hannon, Author, Speaker, & Retirement Personality

Kerry Hannon is a nationally recognized strategist on career transitions, entrepreneurship, personal finance and retirement. She is a frequent keynote speaker and TV and radio commentator. Kerry is the author of 14 books, including the forthcoming Great Pajama Jobs: How to Land a Job Without the Commute, Never Too Old To Get Rich: The Entrepreneurs Guide To Starting a Business Mid-Life, Great Jobs for Everyone 50+, Money Confidence, Getting the Job You Want After 50 and Love Your Job: The New Rules for Career Happiness. She is an expert columnist and regular contributor to The New York Times, MarketWatch, Forbes and the PBS website Next Avenue.org.

Christopher Stevens, Keurig and Inspired Leadership Institute

Chris Stevens is the Co-Founding Director of Notre Dame's Inspired Leadership Initiative and assistant teaching professional in the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame University. He is one of the three original developers of the Keurig Premium Coffee System and previously worked in a variety of senior sales, marketing, and management positions at companies like Procter and Gamble and Anheuser-Busch. Chris is credited as the one who developed the Keurig brand, sales, distribution, and marketing strategies, playing a key role in the success and growth of the company. Chris is also the founder and CEO of CS 74 Ventures LLC, a holding company for more than 20 initiatives, in which Chris invests or owns, that commit at least 50 percent of their profits to charitable and social causes. He has been an angel investor in several start-ups; has done acting, broadcasting, and voice-over work; and produced the award-winning movie Three Days of Hamlet.

Jania Bailey, CEO FranNet

Jania Bailey is the CEO of FranNet, the most respected voice in the franchise consultant industry in North America. Bailey has more than 30 years of experience in the banking and franchise industries. Bailey served for 6 years on the Executive Board of Directors for the International Franchise Association (IFA) and currently serves as Chair of the IFA Membership Committee. She has been a keynote speaker at several national events for organizations such as Skill-Path Seminars and Risk Management Associates. Bailey is the author of “Thriving – The Journey to Success in the Business World. She also has received numerous industry awards and recognitions including “Woman of Achievement,” “Forty Under Forty Business Leaders,” and “Outstanding Volunteerism in the Workplace.

Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, The Flourishing Center

Emiliya Zhivotovskaya is a leading voice in the world of positive psychology and the science of flourishing. She is the CEO and founder of The Flourishing Center, and creator of the acclaimed Certification in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) program that’s been offered in 13 cities across the U.S., Canada and online worldwide (www.GetCertifiedinPP.com), which has trained over 1,400 practitioners to date across 38 countries. She is the creator the Bounce Back Better® (B3®) Resilience Program, Applied Positive Psychology Coaching Certification, Flourishing Skills Group® (FSG®) Program and co-creator of the Positive Education Certification (PEC) Program. Emiliya is one of the first 60 people in the world to hold a Master’s Degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Positive Psychology and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine from Saybrook University, where she is also an adjunct faculty member. Emiliya is one of only 800 people in the world to hold a Master Certified Coach (MCC) credential with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), and holds over a dozen certifications in modalities ranging from coaching to yoga, Reiki, intenSati, Thai massage, biofeedback, motivational interviewing and more.

Robert Laura, Retirement Pioneer, Author & Speaker

Robert Laura is a pioneer of “The New Retirement” which includes planning for both the financial and non-financial aspects. He is also a best-selling author and nationally syndicated columnist for Forbes.com, Next Avenue, and Financial Advisor Magazine. His work has reached millions of readers through five books, twelve guides, and over 500 articles. In addition to his own writings, he frequently appears in major business media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CNBC, MarketWatch, Investor's Business Daily, Yahoo! Finance, TheStreet.com, and more. Robert is the founder of the Wealth & Wellness Group, the RetirementProject.org and Certified Professional Retirement Coach Designation. He holds several designations including Certified Kingdom Advisor, Accredited Asset Management Specialist, Certified Mutual Fund Counselor, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, and Certified Professional Retirement Coach.

Richard Eisenberg, Next Avenue

Richard Eisenberg knows money and career topics can be stressful for Next Avenue readers. That's why he has made it his mission to write and edit stories which are practical and useful to hopefully relieve their stress and put setbacks (whether personal, national or global) into perspective. As the Managing Editor of Next Avenue and the editor of its Money and Work & Purpose channels, Eisenberg, also a frequent blogger for the site, aims to help people manage their personal finances, find jobs, switch fields, volunteer and find purpose in their lives. He is also the author of two books: How to Avoid a Midlife Financial Crisis and The Money Book of Personal Finance.

Julie Halpert, Award-Wining Journalist & Speaker

Julie Halpert Julie Halpert is an award-winning journalist who regularly covers aging, retirement and the parenting of older adults. She has been a freelance journalist for over 20 years. Her work has appeared in dozens of the nation’s most widely read publications including The New York Times, The Atlantic, CNBC, AARP and Good Housekeeping. She writes the "Second Acts" stories for The Wall Street Journal about those who have switched to new types of careers and passions in retirement. She is the co-author of Making Up With Mom, which focuses on inter-generational differences between women and their mothers and how to resolve them. Additionally, for over 20 years, she has been co-teaching an environmental journalism class at the University of Michigan.

Jim Hyde, CPRC

Jim Hyde is the president of the First Responder Retirement Academy. He has 31 years of law enforcement experience with four California police departments. Chief Hyde has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of South Dakota, a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the Professional School of Psychology and is an Executive Coach. Jim is also a doctoral student studying Organizational Psychology. Jim is a co-founder of the West Coast Post-trauma Retreat which is a treatment program for emergency service professionals. He was the California National Guard’s Embedded Behavioral Health Program Coordinator and lead trainer for the Peer To Peer Combat Stress Program for troops deploying to and returning from the Middle East. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California’s Delinquency Control Institute. He is also a alumunus of the Senior Management Institute for Police. Jim has been a family trauma & conflict presenter at the UN Peace Conference at The Hague, Netherlands.

Bob Foley, CPRC

Robert T. Foley Bob chose to leave his "safe" corporate "C Suite" life and traded it in for his calling to "wake up" his peers. Why? Because Ageism gets in the way of Boomers continuing to make the living they must. Ageism is the most widespread and under-challenged form of discrimination in society today. It also is completely ignored by the very advocates that should be coming to their defense - "The Diversity Community". Bob presents radical solutions for Boomers including Lifelong learning, self employment through franchising, completely upending the succession matrix in most companies and pushing the concept of phased retirement. Boomers must also learn to become team players rather than Power Players if they want to outfox the notion that 65 years of age is an employment expiration date. A boomer's wisdom is a value added aspect of their viability and the companies that recognize and take advantage of that value added viability will flourish. All it takes is the right atmosphere and honesty to make it happen.

Dorian Mintzer M.S.W., Ph.D., BCC, CPRC

Dr. Dorian Mintzer is an experienced therapist; retirement, money, relationship, and executive coach; consultant; speaker; and writer. She has been weaving adult development, holistic life planning and positive psychology into programs that tap and shape clients’ energies into roadmaps for wiser, more enhanced living. She hosts the popular monthly Revolutionize Your Retirement Interview with Expert’s Series on the 4th Tuesday of each month. She provides presentations and facilitates workshops for professional and community groups. Dori is co-author of the award winning, The Couples Retirement Puzzle: The 10 Must-Have Conversations for Creating an Amazing New Life Together, co-producer of The Career Playbook: Second Half Plays and has contributed to many other books such as Live Smart After 50!, Not your Mother’s Retirement, 65 Things to do when you Retire, 70 Things to do When you Turn 70, 80 Things To Do When you Turn 80, Out of The Box Retirement and Right Sourcing Retirement. She has been featured in national media such as the NY Times, WSJ, USA Today, CNN Money, Forbes, Next Avenue, The Financial Times, NPR, ABC Evening News and the Today Show and has given a Ted X talk: “Embracing your Bonus Years: A Time to Learn, Grow and Evolve.” Learn more about her at RevolutionizeRetirement.com

Dr. Gillian Leithman

Dr. Gill is a corporate trainer specializing in health and wellness seminars and workshops. She is best known for her pre-retirement workshops which help prepare people for the emotional transition from work to retirement. When she is not facilitating seminars, she teaches in the faculty of management at the John Molson School of Business and the Goodman Institute for Investment Management at Concordia University.Gillian has facilitated programs for organizations such as Bell Canada, Air Canada, Investors Group, Combined Jewish Appeal, Federal Express, Novartis, the RCMP, Telus and Exxon Mobil. She also works with private enterprise, universities, hospitals and entrepreneurs. Her website is RewireToRetire.com

Dr. Sara Geber

Dr. Sara Zeff Geber, 2018 recipient of the “Influencers in Aging” designation by PBS’ Next Avenue, is an author, certified retirement coach, and professional speaker on retirement and aging. Dr. Geber is the author of the 2018 book, Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers: A Retirement and Aging Roadmap for Single and Childless Adults, which was selected as a “best book on aging well” by the WSJ. Sara is a regular contributor to Forbes.com on the topics of aging and retirement and is on the advisory team for Nexus Insights, a consultancy and think tank on the future of aging. Sara lives with her husband and pooch in Santa Rosa, California. .

Beau Henderson

Beau Henderson is the Bestselling Author of several books including The RichLife: Ten Investments for True Wealth, The Roadmap to a RichLife, The 5 Thieves That Will Steal Your RichLife, The RichLife Stewardship Principle and Masterful Communication For Success With Business and Life with Dr. Bill Lampton. He holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia as well as the designations of Retirement Income Certified Planner, National Social Security Advisor, Certified Long-Term Care, Master Certified Success Coach and Certified Master Behavioral Analyst, in addition to his role as CEO of The RichLife Advisors. As a media contributor, Beau’s message of the RichLife has been featured in media outlets including The Huffington Post, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, CNBC, and MarketWatch.

Pete Finlon, Retirement Coach, and Coach The Coach

Pete Finlon is a graduate of the University of Washington. After growing up in a military family Pete returned home to his Seattle roots to attend the U of W. Upon graduation Pete, himself joined the Marine Corps as a lieutenant and began his career. When Pete finished his 4-year commitment he accepted a job with Abbott Labs that began his 18-year career in Healthcare. His various positions and responsibilities took him all over the United States with stops in San Diego, Seattle, Chicago, Detroit, and Los Angeles. When finally calling it a career in 1997, Pete and his family found themselves back in Seattle. In early 2015 Pete, having gone through many of the same challenges that people in retirement and transition go through, found an interesting article on retirement coaching. Utilizing a non-financial approach and clinical assessments Pete combines his insight with the client’s retirement and financial needs to help create a path that provides the most reward for a person’s immediate and long range future. Pete currently works with several clients ranging from all occupations as well as financial advisors, real estate mangers and HR professionals, providing insight to the everchanging world of retirement/transition. In addition, Pete provides a popular Coach the Coach program to help other coaches accelerate their practices. Pete and his wife of 35 years live in the Sammamish, WA. area.

Joanne Waldman, MEd, PCC, BCC, LPC

Joanne, possesses over 30 years’ experience in transition management including career development, coaching and retirement. For the past fifteen years she has served as Director of Training with Retirement Options and has an extensive background as a webinar leader with International Coach Academy, and Coaching Cognition. She is the owner of New Perspective Coaching where she works with baby boomers to plan their second or third reinvention into retirement. A Professional Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation, a Board-Certified Coach through the Center for Credentialing and Education, and through the National Career Development Association in 2009, she was selected as their Career Practitioner of the Year. Joanne is a co-author of Out of the Box Retirement-Creative Ideas, Role Models and Possibilities and has been quoted as a retirement expert in Kiplinger’s, Wall Street Journal and Where to Retire magazine.

Anja Sassenberg-DeGeorgia is a Professional Certified Life Coach and Meditation Teacher who works with clients in the U.S. and Europe. A dynamic speaker, she has taught over one hundred twenty workshops on topics that allow people to live bigger and better lives. Her book, On The Edge of Something Bigger: Empowering Steps for Retirees Who Want More Meaning, Fulfillment and Fun, was published in 2019. Anja is a member of the International Coach Federation, Retirement Coaches Association, International Association of Meditation Instructors, and National Speaker Association. Wildly passionate about helping others create amazing and fulfilling lives, Anja believes all challenges and transitions are always huge opportunities!

Holly McFarland, is Owner of HSM Consultants, Interview Coach with Nolan Branding, and Retirement Coach with Lifelaunch Consulting. With more than 20 years of experience in career services leadership and corporate leadership development, Holly offers expertise in aligning individual, learning, and organizational objectives to achieve desired outcomes. As a Retirement Coach, she helps pre-retirees define and design their next chapter in life with purpose and intention. Holly received her MBA from Franklin University and holds the following coaching qualifications: Certified Career Coach (CCI), Certified Retirement Coach (ROC), and Certified Executive Coach (WABC and Marshall Goldsmith Coaching). Contact information: Holly.Mcfarland5@gmail.com.