About David

“My 17% Chance of Graduating”

I started off in college like most students do, by choosing the best school for my situation, Penn State, and trying to adjust to the dramatic difference between high school and college. Balancing a huge course load and working part-time was a big challenge, one that I saw many students struggle with.

My first reality check was during orientation when the college informed me that, based on my admission exams, I only stood a 17% chance of ever graduating! Well, thanks for bolstering my confidence!

When a subject sparked my curiosity and held my interest I always performed well in the classes. But required courses aren’t always meant to be fun, and my grades reflected when I didn’t like a subject. I really struggled to apply myself at times, and it made me wonder, “Are my emotions going to control my grades, or am I?” I began to think that maybe the 17% figure was more than just a statistic! It turns out that the majority of people who enrolled with me did not in fact make it; but I did.

I chose to major in business because I eventually wanted to establish my own company. I believe that people are the most important asset in any business, and I wanted to make sure my company embodied that ideal. But first, I needed to find a job.

“The Startling ‘Real’ World”

The placement program at school was not as helpful as I would have liked, but I had to realize it is essentially a value-added feature the college offers. It’s not the school's responsibility to get me a job. Plus I graduated during a recession, which was adding to the job-search frustration. I did get a job so I could pay my bills while seeking more fulfilling work, and I proceeded to land a variety of management positions.

I began hitting my career stride while working with one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. It was during this time that I noticed how many co-workers and subordinates didn't exactly have their act together. Even though they had degrees, they lacked skills in planning, communication, decision-making, and most important of all, people skills. These "soft skills" are what separate you from the pack, and I learned that a college degree doesn't necessarily mean someone is ready for the work force.

As I saw many people struggle with these challenges, I began developing in-depth skills in listening and communicating to deal with the issues that often arose. Soon, I became the guy people at all levels turned to for help when they had problems seeing the big picture, not just at work, but also in life. It seems that my philosophy of “people first” was beginning to manifest itself in my career.

One day when I arrived at work it was announced that they had decided to shut down our facility. All at once 800 individuals were permanently laid off – just like that. People I had worked with side-by-side, who had reported to me and shared their frustrations and concerns were suddenly all walking out the front door together for the last time. I don’t really remember the drive home that day. This was a taste of the real world.

The layoff opened my eyes to the reality of the corporate world. No matter how great your contributions have been, your job is just an economic input into the company’s financial statements. When the numbers no longer add up, things can change quickly.

“Professional Coaching Evolves”

But it did give me a valuable opportunity to revisit the direction of my career. Years before, because of my interest in putting people first, I had researched the field of professional career coaching and this gave me a chance to reconnect and see how the profession had evolved. When I was in college the term coaching only applied to sports, and was unheard of in business circles - so there was certainly no chance of choosing it as a major.

When I began to learn what the coaching profession now offered to people I quickly realized that I had actually been doing it on an informal basis for several years during my management jobs. “Coaching” gave a name to what I had been doing all along! After attending a seminar on Empowerment Coaching at, of all places, a local college, my vision for The College Coach concept was born. I soon began the Certified Coaching Program at IPEC, the Institute for Professional Empowerment Coaching.  Becoming a Certified Empowerment Coach was a powerful life transformation.

"Far Reaching Results"

My work with students has helped me see how very different my own college years could have been with the aid of a coach. I condensed the soft skills it took me a decade to learn into programs and methods a student could apply while still in college. No more allowing emotions to determine their grades; no more postponing the selection of a major because of doubts and uncertainty; and now they have the ability to incorporate important habits into their life before they ever toss a graduation cap in the air.

This has allowed me to witness amazing results among my student clients as they are:

• Prepared to face real world challenges.

• Clear on the choices that create the life they want.

• Experienced in making wiser decisions about their life.

• Developing richer relationships and deeper communication skills.

• Advancing the "soft skills" that lead to quicker career advancement.

• Fostering a deeper understanding of themselves.

“Rewards That Matter”

It’s rewarding for me to see my clients move so much faster than their peers and get a jump start on a fulfilling life.

Imagine the satisfaction I get from hearing the excitement in a student who knows they have chosen the right college major. Or the student who just landed their dream summer internship. Or the college graduate who just landed the job we prepared them for, making the money they deserve, in a career they love.

It’s exciting to hear glowing reports from parents who are amazed at the growth of their son or daughter, who went from complete frustration to having direction in life, or found the major they truly want, or just accepted their new dream job. Imagine the satisfaction I get when I hear about the stronger relationship developing between parent and child as they see maturity grow in their son or daughter. The confidence and pride resounds in their voice.

I am very disturbed by the 50% drop out rate in this country because I know it is unnecessarily high. I know coaching can change that, and my vision includes developing coaching programs on college campuses, to provide a pool of trained coaches available to more than a select few students.

I feel privileged to be serving students, jump starting their life, fostering careers that will last long after I retire. So my dream of running a company where people come first has truly become reality, and I’m helping to insure that future generations succeed in making the most of the opportunities life presents them.