Andrea Chilcote

“When I was a very young girl, I came home from school each afternoon and taught my dolls everything I learned that day. I didn’t have a name for it at the time, but I started ‘coaching’ during college as a tutor, then later as a teaching assistant. Early leadership roles gave me clues about my eventual realization that guiding other people in their growth and development is what I am here to do.”

A Lifelong Guide

Andrea holds nearly three decades of experience in the organizational development, coaching and consulting field. Her notable work includes enterprise-wide organizational development initiatives as well as executive coaching, partnering with executives and their teams across a variety of Fortune 500 companies and diverse business sectors.

As a recognized, trusted partner who gets results, Andrea focuses on her client relationships. She has a track record of longevity and sustainability in connections with her clients. She meets leaders where they are on their development path, moving them beyond the superficial to integrated and sustainable growth and change.

Andrea’s valuable insight and no-nonsense, unbiased approach enable leaders to take the courageous steps needed to transform their work and their lives. She is direct and clear, yet listens and guides her clients through a process of self-discovery and reflection. What makes Andrea’s coaching work effective and unique? Here’s what her clients say:

My Inspiration

I get my inspiration from my clients’ determination and success. Their willingness to self-reflect, accept feedback, and cast new visions at all stages of their lives and careers inspires me to guide them. I never tire of working with one who is committed.

Energy for my work is derived from my environment: the ocean, the forest, hiking with my dogs. Nature is restorative for me. It clears my mind and opens me to new possibilities.

My integrity as a coach comes from growing myself. If I expect others to be on a journey of self-development, I must travel one as well. I am continually learning, reflecting, and examining my own life and leadership. I have a coach. This work is not a job for me, it is a way of being.

About Morningstar Ventures

Andrea created Morningstar Ventures in 2000 upon moving to Arizona from Georgia, after leaving the leadership development firm she founded there in 1991. Morningstar Ventures serves clients large and small across diverse industries, many with treasured partnerships of over two decades. Our team of collaborators and contributors work together to deliver executive coaching, team transformation, and development programs for leaders.

Our team’s presence is virtual and everywhere. Andrea resides in Cambria, California with her husband and two Siberian Huskies.

Meet The Team

Laura Roccaforte

“In my own career, I was intensely attracted to working in organizations that lived their values, wanted to build strong teams, and wanted to engage employees at all levels. I thrived in those environments, and I grew both personally and professionally. Because of the leaders who developed me and the organizations I was a part of, I was given the skill and capability to be a leader who collaborated, cared for and engaged my teams, and served as a model for other teams. As a leadership coach and facilitator, I bring compassionate understanding and a belief in each person’s resourcefulness and inner wisdom. Together with clients, we create a disciplined focus to achieve more of what each person needs most.”

Laura Roccaforte, M.Ed., SPHR, is an executive coach and organizational development consultant, who works with individuals and leadership teams to create inclusive environments.

For over 35 years, Laura has supported a variety of organizations both as the owner of The Learning Exchange and as an internal consultant for companies including Cox Communications, Denny’s Restaurants, Lincoln Financial Company, Oriental Trading, and PayPal. She enjoys helping clients to imagine the best future for themselves and their organizations, build high-performing teams, and create environments where each person uniquely belongs.

Laura has worked globally in Europe and Asia and is known for helping leaders create a plan for managing change and fostering collaborative relationships across an enterprise. Laura is a certified coach and certified in various development tools including The Ethical Lens Inventory™, ValueMatch, emotional intelligence, and Emergenetics ®. She holds an M.Ed. from the University of Nebraska Lincoln, a BA in organizational communication from California State University, Sacramento, and is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources.

Originally from Sacramento, CA, Laura has lived in Omaha, Nebraska for over 30 years with her husband Rich. She enjoys a variety of activities including community involvement, exercise, traveling, continuous learning, and building lasting connections wherever she goes.

Partial Client List: AIM Institute, Board of Athletic Trainers, Boys Town, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, CommonSpirit Health, Children’s Hospital, ConAgra Foods, Creighton University, EducationQuest First National Bank of Omaha, Habitat for Humanity, Hudl, ICAN, Lamp Rynearson, Midland University, Olsson, STRATCOM, Streck Laboratories, Union Pacific Railroad.

Laura Roccaforte

“In my own career, I was intensely attracted to working in organizations that lived their values, wanted to build strong teams, and wanted to engage employees at all levels. I thrived in those environments, and I grew both personally and professionally. Because of the leaders who developed me and the organizations I was a part of, I was given the skill and capability to be a leader who collaborated, cared for and engaged my teams, and served as a model for other teams. As a leadership coach and facilitator, I bring compassionate understanding and a belief in each person’s resourcefulness and inner wisdom. Together with clients, we create a disciplined focus to achieve more of what each person needs most.”

Sheppard Lake

“I believe leadership is more about being than doing. And it’s not limited to people who lead other people or organizations. We are all leaders of our own experience in work and life – and how we influence the world around us. Leaders are most effective when they truly know themselves and can consistently show up authentically as opposed to how they think others want them to be. I firmly believe that it is in our vulnerability that we show strength. Vulnerability allows us to show compassion, make better decisions and build stronger relationships. Finally, I think nature and wildlife – especially the work I do with horses! – have a lot to share with us about living and leading.”

Sheppard Lake is an executive coach and facilitator with over 20 years of experience in organizational and leadership development. Through engaging clients in their own problem-solving, she influences deeper learning and more sustainable behavior changes. This provides an environment for greater self-awareness, authenticity, and enhanced effectiveness to achieve specified results. She is expert in helping clients rewire unhelpful learning and creating accountability toward established personal and professional goals. Sheppard has worked with small and large organizations in multiple industries, including, but not limited to, medical, telecommunications, IT, financial, government, real estate, oil and gas, retail, and hospitality. Her areas of specialty with organizations include leadership development, employee engagement, and team dynamics.

Sheppard’s clients describe her as dynamic, engaging, inspirational, and savvy. She is a master facilitator who combines professionalism, perspective, and a little fun. She has a unique ability to know where a group is emotionally and adjusts accordingly. One-on-one, Sheppard has been described as present, an exceptional listener, and willing to go to the root of the situation in a way that maintains connection and trust with the client.

Sheppard holds a master’s degree in organizational and social psychology from The London School of Economics as well as multiple certifications including a Master Coach Certification. In addition, Sheppard studied under Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield to obtain her Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification. She attended Meredith College for her bachelor’s degree in business management and psychology. Finally, Sheppard holds a Master Facilitator Certification and acts as a mentor in Equus Coaching (partnering with horses from the ground to assist in self-discovery and awareness).

Native to Winston-Salem, NC, Sheppard currently lives in Boulder, CO. She has traveled extensively and lived in London, Barbados, Arizona, and the Washington DC metro area. She enjoys hiking with her favorite dog, cooking, traveling, and time in nature.

Sheppard Lake

"I believe leadership is more about being than doing. And it’s not limited to people who lead other people or organizations. We are all leaders of our own experience in work and life – and how we influence the world around us. Leaders are most effective when they truly know themselves and can consistently show up authentically as opposed to how they think others want them to be. I firmly believe that it is in our vulnerability that we show strength. Vulnerability allows us to show compassion, make better decisions and build stronger relationships. Finally, I think nature and wildlife – especially the work I do with horses! – have a lot to share with us about living and leading."

Carol Horner

“I believe in people first. You can have all the best technology, processes, and “stuff,” but if your people are not connecting and building stronger relationships, it doesn’t matter. My job is to help those connections and relationships grow.”

Carol Horner is the founder and president of Synchronicity, Inc. She works with companies and organizations that want their employees, teams, and leaders to “be in synch” and make an impact.

Carol affects positive and productive changes in people’s attitudes, behaviors, and relationships and creates a direct connection between the vision, values, and strategies of a company and the day-to-day activities of its people. She integrates diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging learning into all her consulting and talent development work.

Carol is an Everything DiSC® Certified and Authorized Partner, Five Behaviors® Accredited and Authorized Partner, and PXTSelect® Certified Professional and Authorized Partner. She also holds a certificate in Advanced Consulting Skills.

Carol is the author of the Spiral of Accountability™ model and upcoming book.

Carol Horner

"I believe in people first. You can have all the best technology, processes, and "stuff," but if your people are not connecting and building stronger relationships, it doesn't matter. My job is to help those connections and relationships grow."

Dianne Earley

“These days, leaders must be equipped to meet the complex needs and expectations of a multigenerational, multi-diverse workforce in order to deliver the bottom-line results their companies require. So, it’s not enough anymore to just “be” a leader. You need to champion the success of your team members to help them unleash their full potential. And for that, you need the heart of a leader … and the soul of a coach.”

Dianne Earley is the principal of D. Earley Coaching & Consulting, LLC. Her client list includes corporate executives, aspiring senior leaders, and business owners. With over two decades of sales and leadership experience at major media companies like ABC, Gannett, Comcast, and Cox, she is skilled at driving results and helping teams and individuals thrive in highly competitive environments. And she’s been a torchbearer for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

She is a Northwestern University graduate (go Wildcats), an Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC)-trained Certified Professional Coach, and an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach. In her practice, she merges her business insights and understanding of workplace dynamics with a desire to empower her clients to strategically define, achieve and measure their “next level” success. These things, along with sunsets on the beach, bring her joy!

Dianne Earley

"These days, leaders must be equipped to meet the complex needs and expectations of a multigenerational, multi-diverse workforce in order to deliver the bottom-line results their companies require. So, it's not enough anymore to just “be” a leader. You need to champion the success of your team members to help them unleash their full potential. And for that, you need the heart of a leader … and the soul of a coach.”

Sue Robach

“I am passionate about helping individuals and organizations create environments that are positive and improvement-oriented. One of the best things we can do as coaches, leaders, and consultants is to help others become internally motivated to do their best work! If we help individuals to “better their best,” then that moves relationships, teams, and organizations forward … always has; always will.”

Sue Robach is a management trainer, coach, and consultant with expertise in the areas of leadership, organizational development, and team effectiveness. Sue was previously a corporate trainer and communications director for a global automotive manufacturer and former Director of Communications for the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants. She is the owner of Robach & Associates, LLC, and has worked as an independent contractor for over 25 years throughout the US, Europe, and Asia.

Sue is also an accomplished trainer/facilitator and executive coach in both in-person and virtual environments and provides 360-degree assessments, training/performance needs analyses, and personal development assessments, among others. She provides customized learning solutions for teams, working with real-world situations in leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, customer service, and process improvement. Sue holds a Master of Science Business Administration in leadership and a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism. She is a member of the International Coaches Federation and an Associated Certified Coach (ACC).

Specialization Areas

  • Organizational development
  • Leadership and staff development
  • Coaching and 360 feedback
  • Team building
  • Process improvement
  • Root cause analysis and problem-solving
  • Writing and communications
  • Strategic planning
  • Performance management

Certifications And Instrument Expertise

  • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® Qualification Program
  • The EQ-i 2.0® – The Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory
  • Life Styles Inventory®
  • Global 8D® – Root Cause Analysis and Data-Driven Decision Making
  • PACE® 360-degree assessment
  • DDI® (Development Dimensions International) Interactive Management
  • Dale Carnegie Training®
  • Whole Brain® Thinking – Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument® (HBDI®)
  • ACC-Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation

Clients describe Sue’s work as thorough and engaging. She enjoys living in Michigan and traveling everywhere!

Sue Robach

"I am passionate about helping individuals and organizations create environments that are positive and improvement-oriented. One of the best things we can do as coaches, leaders, and consultants is to help others become internally motivated to do their best work! If we help individuals to "better their best," then that moves relationships, teams, and organizations forward ... always has; always will."

Kathy Gauthier

“Being real has never been more necessary. In addition to expertise and the expected fundamentals, today’s leader is called to inspire through authenticity and truly relating with others. This outward connection begins by going inward and making sense of all that lives there. Such reflection can be complex. That’s where I come in!”

Born and raised in Connecticut, Kathy graduated magna cum laude from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; after which, she went on to earn a master’s degree in English education/curriculum design from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville by the age of 22.

Kathy began her career teaching English and ESL at the middle school, high school, and community college levels before joining Motorola. There, she worked in a variety of global training, learning and development, organizational effectiveness, and human resources leadership roles. She partnered with global business divisions and led various worldwide people functions. Before leaving Motorola, Kathy was part of a select team who developed and implemented the first worldwide leadership curriculum for the company which was later delivered through Motorola University for over a decade.

Next, Kathy assumed an HR/OD director position with Arthur Andersen. First, she managed the HR function for the Desert Southwest Region; and then, through the firm’s business consulting practice, she consulted with numerous corporations in the Western U.S. Region. While there, she was pivotal in establishing and leading the HR organization for General Motors Financial Services, taking this new organization from one employee to 500 in a six-month period.

With 30 years working in the people arena, Kathy is a recognized expert in human resources, leadership, executive coaching, and cultural architecting. She founded her consulting firm, Connective Living, 20 years ago, drawing on her previous corporate and academic experience in some of the finest schools and Fortune 100 companies. Kathy is highly referred by her clients, including several Law firms for her compliance expertise, clear application of employment laws, and true understanding of how today’s complexities translate into the real leader organizations are seeking in order to foster an ideal culture that elevates people. Her client list spans diverse industries, from start-ups to large global corporations, in both the private and public sectors, and for-profit or non-profit.

Kathy weaves her understanding of people with her life experience which especially grew from a remarkable health journey that lasted seven years. Kathy has been married for over 22 years and is a grateful mother to a teenage son and daughter.

Sharing all that she knows, Kathy dedicates her expertise to nurturing the leader in each individual and to inspiring cohesive work teams. Kathy is a sought-after speaker both nationally and internationally, and her first book will be released in 2024!

Kathy Gauthier

“Being real has never been more necessary. In addition to expertise and the expected fundamentals, today’s leader is called to inspire through authenticity and truly relating with others. This outward connection begins by going inward and making sense of all that lives there. Such reflection can be complex. That’s where I come in!”