Director at Large

Lisa Laughter, ACC

Introducing Lisa Laughter, an accomplished ICF ACC coach who is passionate about empowering individuals to lead joyful and intentional lives. With over 20 years of experience in higher education as a student services professional, Lisa has dedicated her career to supporting others on their personal and professional journeys.

As a dynamic speaker and coach, Lisa founded her own coaching and speaking business, where she partners with clients in a transformative process of self-discovery. Through her work, she emphasizes the importance of self-love, connection, and compassion, empowering individuals to embrace their true potential and live fulfilling lives.

With a captivating presence and a knack for connecting with audiences, Lisa is a sought-after speaker in various settings. Her engaging style and insightful messages resonate deeply, inspiring others to cultivate gratitude, find balance, and live with intention. She brings humor and authenticity to her presentations, creating an uplifting and memorable experience for her listeners.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Lisa finds joy in being a devoted soccer mom to her 15-year-old daughter. She also nurtures her love for the outdoors through activities like hiking and kayaking. In her leisure time, she immerses herself in reading, unleashes her creativity through dance and arts and crafts, and embraces personal growth experiences as a lifelong learner.

Lisa Laughter's vibrant energy, empathy, and expertise as a coach and speaker make her a beacon of inspiration. Her ability to connect with others, coupled with her passion for empowering individuals, has touched the lives of many, making her a trusted guide on the path to personal fulfillment and happiness.

Email: lisa.laughter(at)icfsacramento.org

Associate Director of Communications

Natalia Levin

Natalia Levin, CPC, ELI-MP, COR.E Leadership Dynamics Specialist, and Kundalini and Vinyasa Yoga Teacher, discovered her passion for self-mastery through her own experience of feeling disconnected from herself and repeatedly finding herself in environments and relationships that were draining and unsustainable. That period of her life led her inward, toward deeper self-awareness, emotional responsibility, and a commitment to understanding ourselves first as the foundation for leading and relating well with others.

Highly empathetic by nature, Natalia learned early on how easily empathy can become self-abandonment without the tools to stay grounded. This understanding now shapes how she supports others in cultivating healthier dynamics with themselves and with others, as well as more conscious approaches to leadership.

Natalia believes that self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and relational awareness are not "soft skills," but fundamental human capacities required to lead our lives, our teams, and our communities with integrity. Her work centers on supporting women and professionals in moving beyond performance and reactivity and into more intentional, values-aligned ways of living, working, and relating.

Natalia is committed to creating safe environments where individuals can regulate their emotions and nervous systems, allowing them to respond by choice rather than unconscious patterns. Through this work, she seeks to elevate how we understand ourselves and one another so we can create more conscious, connected, and compassionate environments.

Email: assocdircommunications(at)icfsacramento.org

Associate Director of Membership

Julie Martin, ACC

Julie is an executive leadership and career design coach who helps purpose driven leaders and organizations create positive change in their lives and the world. As a nonprofit executive leader turned coach with cross-sector professional experience spanning  nonprofit, philanthropic, academic, government, and corporate settings, she brings a unique perspective to coaching that is grounded in both practical experience and a deep understanding of the challenges her clients are facing today. She brings that expertise to her clients, helping them unleash their potential to create positive change in their lives and the world.

Julie is an Advanced Certified Personal & Executive Coach through the College of Executive Coaching and holds an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential from the International Coaching Federation (ICF), a master's degree in environmental engineering from Stanford University, and bachelor's degrees in hydrology and economics from UC Davis.

Associate Director of Program Development

Melissa Barnett, ACC

Dr. Melissa Barnett is an eye doctor turned coach. She is energized by her passion for helping people improve their lives by optimizing their vision, health, and wellness with a customized approach. After many years of mentoring, she followed her passion for empowering others by stepping into coaching and absolutely loves it.

As an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credentialed by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), Melissa specializes in mindful leadership, wellness, and public speaking, guiding individuals to become their best selves in both their personal and professional lives. 

Melissa also co-hosts the Starting Strong podcast, alongside Master Certified Coaches Laurie Cozart and Michelle Payne, where they provide practical strategies, inspiration, and guidance to help new coaches succeed in their coaching journeys.

In her free time, she enjoys yoga, hiking, traveling, and especially cheering on her two teenage sons from the pool deck during water polo games.

Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships

Elissa Kennedy, PCC

Elissa Kennedy is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) serving as the Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships for the ICF Sacramento Chapter. In this role, she will nurture existing partnerships and cultivate values-aligned relationships with organizations, community leaders, and coaching professionals to expand access to high-quality coaching, strengthen the local coaching ecosystem, and increase opportunities for collaboration and sponsorship.

Elissa brings an interdisciplinary coaching approach grounded in adaptability and lifelong learning. Through a holistic lens, she integrates insights from mental fitness, positive psychology, neuroscience, systems thinking, and holistic well-being to support individuals and organizations navigating transitions in a rapidly changing professional landscape. Her work emphasizes future-proof skills, cross-cultural collaboration, and leadership practices that advance social equity, diversity, and inclusion.

She also serves as an Ambassador for the Science of Coaching Community of Practice with ICF Global, where she promotes the integration of research and evidence-based practices to advance coaching excellence and professional credibility.

In addition to her professional work, Elissa is an active community leader, known for building an inclusive local network that fosters connection, leadership development, and collaboration, particularly for women.

Outside of her professional work, Elissa enjoys time with her family, walks in nature, travel, gardening, and meaningful conversations with friends.

Elissa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, with a focus on Creative Leadership Coaching for Community Wellness, and is an ICF Certified Master Coach with advanced training in executive and leadership coaching, organizational development, change management, mental fitness, and AI Coaching and AI Prompt Engineering.