The Coaching Group's leadership team consists of:
Jennifer Ladek, Principal
Jennifer Ladek is the President of The Coaching Group. At any given time Ms. Ladek is involved in a number of assignments, which include counseling clients on crisis, media relations, presentation strategy as well as development of customized training programs.
Prior to The Coaching Group, Ms. Ladek was the Director of Executive Training for Citigate Sard Verbinnen (formerly Citigate Communications and MSI Strategic Communications).
Previously, Ms. Ladek worked with the Missouri Legislature, managing special projects for Missouri’s Lieutenant Governor, Roger Wilson, and conducted research for the Missouri Women’s Caucus. She went on to work as a government affairs manager for an association and spent some time in insurance before getting involved with professional development and training.
Michael Ladek, Principal
Michael Ladek is the VP of The Coaching Group. He is the financial officer, assists in the day to day management and oversees all technical aspects.
Mr. Ladek has served St. Leonard Ministries as a mathematics instructor for the past 10 years.
Mary Gannon, Senior Facilitator
Mary Gannon delivers communications coaching sessions described as, “highly energized, insightful, confidence building and impactful.” She has extensive experience with CEO’s and other top-level executives, helping them hone their messages, deliver with impact and answer questions most effectively.
A University of Illinois graduate, Ms. Gannon draws upon her nearly 20 years in broadcasting to help her clients communicate confidently, even in challenging situations. She was an on air reporter at WGN-TV, Channel 9 in Chicago, covering breaking news, features and sports. Ms. Gannon was also a show producer and news writer during her 10 years at Channel 9. She was a writer, news producer and reporter at CNN television in Atlanta and also filed live reports for CNN radio. Other radio jobs included writing and producing at WBBM Radio and WIND Radio in Chicago.
Ms. Gannon offers customized coaching and constructive critique in one-on-one sessions, small group meetings and large-scale workshops in these specialties: Media Spokesperson Training, Presentation Skills Coaching, Executive Presence Coaching, Crisis Communications & Investor Relations.
Cindy Richards, Senior Facilitator
Ms. Richards is a veteran Chicago journalist who has worked with The Coaching Group and its predecessor companies as a facilitator since 2000. During her career, she has worked as a reporter, editor and/or columnist for both of the city's major newspapers, the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune, and as an editor for two nationally respected regional magazines, Chicago Parent and Catalyst-Chicago. She currently is a full-time freelance writer who also serves as the editor for TravelingMom.com and teaches in the graduate program at Northwestern University's prestigious Medill School of Journalism. She has won numerous awards for her journalistic work, including being nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her coverage of workplace issues.
Andi Wiley, Senior Facilitator
Ms. Wiley is a senior training facilitator with The Coaching Group. Ms. Wiley has been a media consultant for the last sixteen years. She has served in a variety of training roles including, facilitating Executive Media Spokesperson and Crisis Communication training programs, serving as a reporter during role-playing simulations and preparing customized training curriculums.
Prior to her work at The Coaching Group, Ms. Wiley worked in the communications and broadcast arena for 18 years. She held the positions of planning editor for WBBM-TV in Chicago, Midwest bureau reporter for National Public Radio and writer/producer, on- air reporter and so much more for WBBM radio in Chicago. She also served as the assistant staff director of communications for the American Bar Association where she was the traveling press secretary for the Association’s elected presidents. She also conducted media and community outreach activities on behalf of the association’s members.
Chuck Coppola, Reporter
Chuck Coppola brings 30 years of news reporting experience to his role of reporter/investor/analyst for media spokesperson, presentation and crisis communication training programs. Mr. Coppola’s journalistic background contributes to the authenticity of the role-play exercises regardless of whether he’s simulating a scenario as a reporter, investor or analyst.
A graduate of the University of Southern California, Coppola reported news in San Francisco, Chicago and for CNN, with national correspondent duties at the White House and Pentagon and overseas during the war in Iraq. He coordinated San Francisco Bay Area news coverage for KCRA-TV and contributed to national investigative stories that exposed design flaws in US military equipment.
Chuck is currently producing independent documentaries. His latest project about the first sunken US Navy submarine from WWII found since the war was distributed nationally to PBS stations, last year. Throughout his career, his work has earned eight Emmy Awards for news reporting, writing and documentary production.
