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Board of Advisors Bios

Joanna Bare has worked with SYMC since July 2003. She serves as an adjunct coach, chairs the SYMC Board of Advisors, and serves as Dean of Curriculum for the SYMC School of Coaching. In addition, she spends a great deal of time on the SYMC Village forums. Much of her work centers around helping clients find the compassion and wisdom to build the stable structures needed for their lives, their marriages, and their children to be secure. She has also been known to contribute such extraordinary wisdom as "Ooooooooo. PRETTY."

When she's not walking through the dark night of the soul with a coaching client, Joanna is a management consultant and coach for federal government clients. For her work with the Federal Government, she has received a Commissioner's Special Citation from the Food and Drug Administration, an Associate Commissioner's Citation from the Social Security Administration, and a beautiful clock from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. She likes the clock best, even if she can't put it on her resume. She is Phase One certified by the International Association of Coaches and is a member of Coachville. Joanna has more than ten years management consulting and coaching experience.

Joanna was married to her former partner (also a woman) for 14 years. She shares custody of her young daughter. Her daughter recently began preschool and has also started speaking in sentences worthy of a college professor.

Because of her unique background, Joanna is particularly passionate about same-sex couples who are dealing with infidelity, and the crises that custody battles cause for the children of gay and lesbian parents. Joanna's former partner has committed to working toward Joanna's adoption of their daughter in the future. Joanna's own view of parenting is reflected in Maryanne K. Cusimano's lovely book You Are My I Love You. It begins with these words:

"I am your parent; you are my child
I am your quiet place; you are my wild."

and ends with

"I am your lullaby; you are my peekabo.
I am your goodnight kiss; you are my I love you."

"Once you've BEEN a lullaby and goodnight kiss for someone," she says, "it's tough -- and wrong -- for someone else to get in the way of that. I want to make sure that all the moms and dads out there have the right to be the goodnight kiss for their children."

Richard Derksen has been a staff member since September 2003. He serves as a member of the Board of Advisors, Email Intermediary, and Mentor, and is a second year student in the SYMC SoC (School of Coaching). He has two years experience with advising couples on marital crises.

In Rich's primary job he might be observed wearing two cell phone holsters and a pocket protector. All kidding aside, he works as an engineer solving problems related to agricultural crop protection and environmental stewardship. Rich works closely with federal regulatory agencies and good and ornamental producer groups. As an engineer in touch with his farming roots his passion is working with producers and demonstrating how to apply his research finding to help improve production practices.

Rich was married for twenty years. He describes the months just before and following his divorce as, "the most painful and trying time in my entire life, full of hurt and self doubt." In 2004 Rich attended a Smart Marriages conference adn started his healing journey. Through SYMC SoC studies, particularly studies on ethics and compassion, Rich has begun a journey of growth and healing that he shares with others through his coaching and mentoring. Describing the differences he says, "I let go control of my ex wife and all of the external sources I blamed for my internal chaos and instead embraced compassion for myself and my family. I recognized my value and started acting from my value rather than my core hurts."

Rich's marriage produced three wonderful boys with incredible talents. Rich is very active in his children's activities, serving as a 4-H advisor and coaching some of their athletic teams. he play guitar and dabble in the magic of illusion, just so he can see a child smile. Rich finds joy and comfort in his kitchen where he sometimes disappears to create wonderful treats for his sons and friends.