Professional Development Training & Courses for the Virginia Retirement System
Virginia Retirement System · Professional Development Program
Professional development, coaching, and training for VRS employees and teams.
Goose Creek Consulting, in partnership with Bloomsburie Inc., has been selected by the Virginia Retirement System to provide specialized consulting, team building, executive coaching, and professional development services to the VRS workforce — helping the system's employees grow as leaders and professionals in service of VRS's mission to deliver retirement benefits through superior customer service and sound financial stewardship.
Program provided by Goose Creek Consulting in partnership with Bloomsburie Inc.
Executive Coaching
Team Building
Professional Development
Training & Facilitation
Contract
Professional Development Training and Courses · Contract No. CTR044367
Period of Performance
October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2030 · Two optional one-year renewals
Purchasing Agency
Virginia Retirement System
Four ways to invest in your professional growth.
The VRS program offers a full suite of professional development services — from individual coaching to team development to customized training. All services are tailored to your specific needs and goals. You and your program office will work together with Goose Creek to design the right engagement.
Individual
Executive Coaching
One-on-one coaching with a certified executive coach — focused on your leadership challenges, career development, and professional growth goals. Sessions are customized to where you are and where you want to go. Available virtually and in-person for VRS employees in the Richmond area.
Team
Team Building & Consulting
Facilitated team development sessions and organizational consulting designed to strengthen team dynamics, build trust, clarify roles and norms, and improve collective performance. Custom-designed around your team's specific composition and challenges.
Group
Professional Development & Training
Workshops, facilitations, and training sessions drawn from a robust catalog of proven professional development courses — all customizable to VRS's specific needs, workforce, and priorities. Available in-person, virtual, and eLearning formats.
Ongoing
Post-Activity Follow-Up Resources
Development doesn't end when a coaching engagement or training session concludes. Our team provides VRS employees with resources to continue learning and building self-awareness — sustaining growth and amplifying the impact of each engagement over time.
A selection of available training courses.
The Goose Creek Team offers a broad catalog of professional development courses — all available in multiple formats and customizable to VRS's specific needs. The courses below represent a selection of our most frequently requested offerings. Additional topics are available upon request.
Course
Format
Duration
Building Resilience and Self-Care for Workplace Wellbeing
eLearning
1 hour
Sexual Harassment Prevention
eLearning
1 hour
Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
eLearning / Workshop
1–4 hours
Leadership Development
Workshop / Facilitation
Half-day / Full-day
Team Building & Collaboration
Facilitation
Half-day / Full-day
Change Management & Organizational Resilience
Workshop
Half-day / Full-day
Communication & Interpersonal Effectiveness
Workshop
Half-day / Full-day
Conflict Resolution & Difficult Conversations
Workshop
Half-day / Full-day
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
Workshop / eLearning
1–4 hours
Stress Management & Workplace Wellbeing
Workshop / eLearning
1–2 hours
Custom Topics & Bespoke Facilitations
Any format
Varies
From inquiry to engagement in four steps.
Getting started is straightforward. Reach out to Goose Creek and we'll work with you and your program office to design the right engagement for your needs.
01
Reach Out
Contact Jayson Blair at Goose Creek to express your interest and discuss what you're looking for.
02
Discover & Design
We work with you and your program office to understand your goals and design the right engagement — coaching, training, or team development.
03
Get Matched
You're matched with the right coach, facilitator, or trainer from our team based on your context, needs, and goals.
04
Begin & Sustain
Your engagement launches with a structured kickoff — and concludes with follow-up resources to sustain your growth beyond the formal engagement.
25 coaches, facilitators, trainers, and consultants — ready to serve VRS.
The Goose Creek Team brings together highly credentialed coaches, facilitators, trainers, and organizational development consultants from Goose Creek Consulting and Bloomsburie Inc. — with deep experience serving state and local government organizations in Virginia and across the country. Every practitioner is selected for their credentials, track record, and ability to deliver bespoke, impactful development experiences.
Jayson Blair
Managing Partner and Founder of Goose Creek Consulting. 19+ years in leadership development, executive coaching, and organizational change. A former national correspondent for The New York Times, he combines deep expertise in personality science, psychology, and organizational systems with the storytelling instincts of a journalist. Member of the Hogan Coaching Network. Fellow, Harvard Medical School Institute of Coaching. Board of Visitors, McLean Hospital.
Teresa Brodin
30+ years in leadership development, coaching, and large-scale organizational change. Former Director of OD at Novant Health and Senior Consultant at the Logistics Management Institute. Graduate of the Leadership Coaching for Improved Performance program at George Mason University. CTI Certified Coach. M.Ed., Counseling & Development, George Mason University.
Lisa Chenofsky Singer, MCC
20+ years developing human potential through coaching, facilitation, and organizational change. Former HR executive and Master Certified Coach (MCC). Leadership Coach for The Doerr Institute at Rice University and Cohort Leader for Rutgers University's Certified Public Managers Program. Published over 125 articles on leadership and career topics. ICF NJ Board Member.
Belinda Chiu, Ed.D.
25+ years in executive coaching, facilitation, and leadership development with a global perspective on authentic leadership and applied behavioral psychology. Lecturer at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Contract Liaison for the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program. ICF-PCC, Hogan, ESCI, and DiSC certified. Ed.D., International Educational Development, Columbia University.
Leanne Cusumano-Roque, PCC
20+ years supporting federal, scientific, and technical professionals through leadership transitions and complex dynamics. Graduate of the Federal Executive Institute's Leadership for a Democratic Society program. Former Supervisory Attorney at NSF and Regulatory Attorney at the FDA. Published author. ICF-PCC certified. J.D., College of William & Mary.
Sharròn Dean, ACC
Human capital strategist and leadership coach with deep expertise in equity, inclusion, and cultural awareness. Former Chief Human Resources Officer at the Air & Space Forces Association and HR Director at Walmart. Taught Industrial Psychology at the University of Maryland. Georgetown-certified executive coach and certified MBTI facilitator. M.S., Organizational Management, Antioch University.
Tammy Ditzel, GCDF-I, CPRW
Nearly 20 years leading growth and change across hundreds of organizations through training, facilitation, coaching, and consulting. Founder and CEO of Inesse Consulting. Certified Everything DiSC Administrator/Facilitator, Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team Practitioner, and Global Career Development Facilitator Instructor. B.A., Psychology, University of Maryland.
Lynne Feingold
Recognized pioneer of coaching in the federal government — started the first government-wide Coaching Cadre in 2010 and co-founded the Federal Coaching Network. 20+ years coaching C-Suite leaders across IT, law, healthcare, and financial services. Has taught at Yale University, George Mason, and George Washington University. Designer of the award-winning ICF Certified Coach Training Program for the federal government.
Dan Feldman, Ph.D.
30+ years developing coaching programs and working hands-on with leaders across sectors. Certified Professional Facilitator and ICF Team Coach. Author of books on critical thinking, workplace coaching, and emotionally intelligent leadership. Holds the ICF Advanced Certification in Team Coaching. PCC & ACTC, ICF. Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University. Hogan, KF & LCP certified.
Matt Florence
Creative and adaptable leadership development professional with 10 years in coaching, facilitation, program design, and assessment delivery. Formerly Learning & Development Manager at Edison Electric Institute. Expertise in C-Suite development, high-potential leaders, DEI initiatives, and team effectiveness. M.A., I/O Psychology, West Chester University. Hogan, Korn Ferry, and Conflict Dynamics Profile certified.
Charles Hart, J.D.
Executive coach and civil rights attorney with 16 years in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice — where his team received USDOJ's highest award for the Ferguson Police Department investigation. Founder of Abiri Consulting. Expertise in high-stakes leadership, resilience, and values-driven reform. J.D., New York University. Hogan certified, ICF member, Certified Resilience Coach, Working Genius Certified Facilitator.
Rita Hilton, Ph.D.
Experienced executive coach, senior leader, and published leadership expert who has led strategic OD and talent development programs at the National Science Foundation, Millennium Challenge Corporation, and WMATA. Former Senior Advisor at the World Bank and faculty at George Washington University. Ph.D., Public Administration, Syracuse University. Hogan, CCL, ESCI & LCP certified. ICF-PCC.
Marsha Hughes-Rease
26+ years of leadership experience and 15+ years coaching executives and senior leaders in federal government, healthcare, higher education, and nonprofit organizations. Former Deputy Director of the Navy Medicine Center for Organization Development. Evidence-based coaching approach drawing on adult development, neuroscience, and organizational psychology. M.S., Organization Development, Johns Hopkins University. Hogan certified.
Deb Klotz, Ed.D.
Decades of experience helping leaders enhance their careers and strengthen organizational performance. Author of three books on workplace leadership including the third edition of Mastering Virtual Teams. Deep expertise in executive coaching, organizational strategy, culture evolution, and competency modeling. Ed.D., Human & Organizational Development, George Washington University. Hogan and Conflict Dynamics Profile certified.
Lisa Krull
15+ years helping clients create positive change for themselves and their organizations. Former Human Capital Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton. Played a key role in creating an internal coaching certification program at the IRS and supported coaching programs at NSF, NRC, and DHS. Founder of NeXT GenLeadership LLC. M.A., Organizational Management, George Washington University.
Sande Lehrer, Ph.D.
30+ years working with leaders on skill development, conflict, and leadership effectiveness. Former faculty at Johns Hopkins University for over 25 years. Former Director of Learning and Development at the United States Mint, Chief of Performance & Career Development at OPM, and OD Specialist at the Government Accountability Office. Ph.D., Administration & Supervision, University of Southern Mississippi.
John Lybarger, Ph.D., MCC
30+ years helping senior leaders navigate complexity, drive transformation, and lead with authenticity. Master Certified Coach and former Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry and full-time faculty at the Federal Executive Institute. Specializes in C-Suite leaders, federal executives, and mission-critical teams. Ph.D., I/O Psychology, Grand Canyon University. Hogan certified. ICF-MCC.
Jeanne Oliver
Nearly 30 years of leadership and management experience with individual coaching and training delivered to over 4,600 clients — including senior federal executives, private sector leaders, and small business owners. Extensive international and cross-cultural experience across 26 countries and five years with the United Nations. Expertise in applied neuroscience and global leadership dynamics. M.B.A., International Development, Arizona State University.
David Polmer
25 years shaping organizational, team, and personal narratives — helping leaders find their authentic voice and align people and strategy to drive growth. ICF-certified coach bridging personal transformation and organizational impact through deep listening, emotional intelligence, and narrative strategy. Former Consulting Director at Gagen MacDonald and Senior Manager of International Strategic Communications at US Cellular.
Christine Rabaja
20+ years of leadership expertise as a retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel, Helicopter Aircraft Commander, and Space Systems Operator — applied to coaching executives, VPs, directors, and emerging leaders across federal and commercial organizations. Specializes in scientific, technical, and federal environments. M.S., Space Systems Operations, Naval Postgraduate School. M.B.A., Webster University.
Marion Smith
20+ years as executive and group coach, instructor, and facilitator with prior experience as a senior leader across scientific research, biosciences, and technology. Deep expertise in individual and team performance improvement, organizational development, and strategic thinking. Author of the audio program Performance Improvement through Building Confidence and Managing Stress. Leadership Coaching Certificate, Georgetown University.
Dan Stevens
30+ years working with private companies and federal and state governments as a consultant and coach. ICF-certified coach with a personable, holistic approach informed by cognitive-behavioral methods and neuroscience. Founder of Mindful Coaching. Specializes in serving clients as an adjunct to counseling and recovery programs. M.P.A., University of Southern California.
Vicki Swisher
25+ years in leadership development. Former executive at UnitedHealth Group and Cargill, led product development at Korn Ferry, and served as an Organizational Leadership Practitioner at the Center for Creative Leadership. Author of Becoming an Agile Leader. Work featured in The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, and BusinessWeek. ICF certified. Prosci, Hogan & KF certified. M.Ed., HR Development, University of Minnesota.
Bridgit Wald, PCC
PCC-level executive coach specializing in helping leaders drive change through individual and organizational systems transformation. Since 2017, has worked with leaders across nonprofits, educational institutions, and Fortune 100 companies. Adjunct faculty at the New Ventures West coaching program. Graduate Certificate, Leading from the Emerging Future, MIT. B.A., Liberal Arts, McGill University.
Jennifer Whitcomb, MCC
Senior global leadership and executive coach with 25+ years driving organizational effectiveness across five continents. One of the 4% of worldwide coaches to attain the ICF Master Coach Certification. Former Co-Director of the Leadership Coaching Certificate Program and Director of the OD Certificate Program at Georgetown University. Hogan, Korn Ferry 360, Leadership Circle Profile, MBTI, TAIS, and CCL certified. M.A., HR Development, Marymount University.
Christa White, PCC
25+ years in leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and talent optimization across government, nonprofit, and commercial sectors. Former Deputy Assistant Administrator at USAID, Senior Advisor at the Pentagon, and Sr. Vice President for Global Development at Special Olympics International. ICF-PCC. Hogan certified. M.A., International Relations, Tufts University.
Bloomsburie Inc. Team
Teaming Partner
Washington, DC Metro Area
Bloomsburie is a pre-eminent training firm with more than 30 prime government contracts, $37M+ in managed projects, and 500+ customized training solutions. Recipients of the U.S. Secretary of Energy Achievement Award and recognized by the Department of Homeland Security as a finalist for its 8(a) Contractor of the Year Award. Bloomsburie brings a robust catalog of customized and off-the-shelf professional development courses to the VRS program.
Ready to get started?
Reach out to Jayson Blair, Managing Partner at Goose Creek Consulting, to learn more about the program or discuss your development needs. He'll connect you with the right resources and work with your program office to design an engagement that fits.
Contact
Jayson Blair
Managing Partner, Goose Creek Consulting
