Cheryl Close is an expert in leadership development. She began her career in education and was quickly recognized as a leader. She loved teaching/training and discovered she was very successful in helping others achieve and exceed their goals. While serving as a Principal, Cheryl’s leadership abilities were recognized by being named a finalist for District Administrator of the Year and by being honored to accept the No Child Left Behind, National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award in Washington D.C.

In 2008, Cheryl became aware that new leaders needed a different kind of support as they grew into their leadership roles. As a Central Office Administrator in Lewisville ISD, she co-authored a coaching-based leadership development program, Coaching Lewisville Administrators for Student Success (CLASS) which has been adopted and used by one of the largest districts in the state of Texas for 10 years. Cheryl facilitated the CLASS program and served as the Leadership Coach for all new administrators. The International Coach Federation, North Texas Chapter awarded her Leadership Coaching Program the Prism Award for Coaching Excellence.

Since 2011, as President of Close Coaching and Consulting LLC, Cheryl has focused her work on coaching and leadership development for executives from a variety of industries as well as training entire leadership teams to move from dysfunctional to cohesive and powerful. She is passionate about helping leaders do the tough stuff of examining their leadership strengths and weaknesses and those of their organization. Next she partners with her clients to develop goals which drive their leadership to new levels whether it is to improve the organization they are in, get that sought after promotion or make a strategic career change. Clients share that working with Cheryl exceeded all of their expectations and, they found the process to be challenging and enjoyable. Through the use of powerful coaching and training she helps leaders and teams achieve lasting change.

Cheryl has facilitated training to groups of all sizes and can lead training or speak in the following areas: How to be the Leader Everyone Wants to Follow; Growing an Organization of Excellence; It’s All About the People – Building Strong Workplace Relationships; Communication – Why It’s So Challenging and How to Make It Fun and Easy; Decision, Decisions, Decisions; Create and Innovate or Become Stagnant and Archaic; Real Listening – the Best Leadership Secret; and Becoming a Cohesive, Powerful Leadership Team.

Cheryl has successfully coached senior leaders in the finance, non-profit, government, and education sectors, empowering them to reach their goals and significantly improve performance.

Cheryl is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation and also a member of their North Texas Chapter.