Executive Coaching Testimonials

Judy York has had a significant influence on my life. In her role as my executive coach, Judy was an excellent listener, a resourceful helper, and a wise teacher. I always looked forward to our sessions and walked away with something valuable to use in my organization.

When the opportunity to sell my business appeared unexpectedly, Judy was an incredible advisor: she helped me to not only navigate the business, but also the personal implications of such a significant decision.

I cannot understate how much I have reflected upon Judy’s advice, both professionally and personally, as I transitioned away from my existing enterprise and into another chapter of my life.

Judy offers the brain of an executive, the voice of experience, and the concern of a friend to her clients. She’s a fabulous coach!

Aaron Blight, Ed.D., Founder, Caregiving Kinetics

Judy is one of the most approachable yet constructive leadership coaches I’ve ever worked with. During our work together, she helped me to identify not only what the problem was, but what the root of the issue was. This helped me to work on healing and growing from the inside, creating lasting changes in my personal and business life.

And because of her business background, I felt like she was able to relate to some of my growing pains, providing constructive exercises and feedback to guide me through them.

I’d recommend Judy any day, she’s become one of my favorite people to turn to!

Laura Wallace, CEO + Creative Director, Worx & Co

I have worked with Judy York for the last several years both as my CEO coach, as well as in her capacity as the chair of our local Vistage group.

In that same timeframe, my company has transitioned from a small “Mom and Pop” operation, with a huge reliance upon me as an individual principle, to a growing scalable firm. I am now a CEO who can focus on the strategic growth of Innovative vs. being entrenched in day-to-day tactical operations.

It is absolutely no coincidence that the transition of our company and me as a leader has occurred in the same timeframe that I’ve had the opportunity to work with Judy.

I view Judy as an integral part of my continued education and growth, and would highly recommend her to anyone with the desire to improve and grow in any capacity.

Jason Rappaport, President & CEO, Innovative, Inc.

Judy York is a terrific executive coach and has helped me greatly in the growing pains of our company. She’s been helpful in getting me focused on long term strategic goals. Her insights have given us the foundation on which to grow our business in the right way, where we can build a community of internal staff with clients we feel passionate about.

Judy has allowed me to look at problems from different angles and come up with unique solutions that would have never occurred to me. She has also been a very strong sounding board for ideas related to our growth. I credit her with getting us through my (and the company’s) ups and downs. She is extremely patient, experienced and knowledgeable and is able to provide advice, combined with a spirit of helping. I hope to be working with her for a long time into the future!

Sanjay Patel, CEO, WebFirst, Inc

As the leader of an educational technology firm I’ve worked closely with Judy York over the past year as my executive coach. Judy has helped me to visualize and establish a new foundation for operating which I can build on. Her coaching has been especially valuable through challenging circumstances that arise. She pulls from her own significant executive experience and provides direct and insightful guidance that is results-oriented.

I view my journey with Judy as one of the most significant periods of growth in my entire career. I would highly recommend working with Judy to anyone with the desire to become a more effective, balanced and compassionate leader.

Mason Scuderi, COO, d’Vinci Interactive

I was challenged with leading a young, diverse team in a growing company. Through different exercises over the last year, Judy taught me how to step back from emotionally driven, heated situations so I could refocus before reacting. I learned how to clear my mindset and make time to touch base with each team member. I communicate much better now with my team and they now communicate better with each other. Judy is fantastic. She’s very friendly and centered and a great listener. If you want to be a better leader, work with Judy and go through the exercises. It will pay off.

Joannah Hy Kim, Director Lab America, indivumed

Judy’s executive coaching flows easily and effectively between personal and business, helping me work through problems while learning sound management and business strategies along with differing and creative ways of addressing problems.

The competencies and confidences I’ve achieved through my work with Judy have made running my business easier, more enjoyable, and increased our success.

Judy brings a caring, concerned, mentoring perspective and approach to our discussions which helps me quickly separate and focus on the true problem at hand while deciding on the best strategy to resolve the issue permanently.

When my organization is stressed, or I am stressed (and the two often go hand-in-hand), Judy continues to be instrumental in helping me clear away the mental debris and noise that often surrounds, and obscures, the root cause to business problems so we can address the real issues holding us back.

Through my work with Judy, I’ve recognized the importance of combining a robust strategic plan with a healthy and dynamic company culture. With Judy’s help, expertise, guidance, and the plethora of resources she brings to my organization, I am now miles ahead of where I would have been.

Judy recognizes that business challenges are most often complex, multifaceted, and rarely, if ever, solved through flavor of the month “quick fixes” and fast theories.

The time and dollars I’ve invested with her are paying dividends that are compounding over time.

Randy Duane, CEO, ChemPak

In 1978, my father established Safeware, a safety products company that serves state and local agencies. I started working with Judy in 2019 so I could smoothly move from VP to COO and then CEO at his retirement in 2021. I was known as a headstrong change agent who made most business decisions independently.

Judy helped me empower others and be more inclusive of the whole team, which helped make the transition flawless. She has experienced tremendous growth throughout her career and was able to share a great perspective on what I was going through. At quarterly meetings with my father, she helped us both focus by coming up with specific talking points. She supported me through all the mayhem of incredible revenue growth during the pandemic.

I am now much more of a team-oriented leader who can be trusted to help my people flourish. I am also a better husband because whatever I learned about how to communicate at work can also be applied to my personal life. I continue to work with Judy so she can help me navigate this next stage.

Daric Simons, CEO, Safeware, Inc.

As a young entrepreneur, I saw myself as the captain of my ship who knew best how to manage my business. Judy taught me how to be a good listener and how to welcome employee feedback that leads to meaningful changes. Judy is amazing. She’s open, honest, and very resourceful. She can also be stern and hold you accountable for what you say is important to you—professionally and personally. When you work with an executive coach like Judy, it’s like investing in an account that helps you grow faster, in revenue and also in enjoyment.

Lynch Christian, IV, President, Monarch Development Group

Judy helped me build my brand and analyze my long term goals in my new business launch. She was integral in pushing through the “noise” and getting right to the importance of the “why’s”. Her coaching style held me accountable at each of our meetings to take an important deep dive at what I was doing in my current methods.

We explored how I might design and utilize systems that would allow me to get out of my own way in order for my business to reach it’s full potential. Judy is a thoughtful listener, a task master and has had a significant impact on my business processes and my outlook in general.

I highly recommend her to those looking for an executive coach to help grow, expand and/or better their business.

Tara Sanders Lowe; WV, MD and PA Realtor

Since Judy started coaching me, my business has grown 400%. Judy often plays ‘devil’s advocate’ with me. She knows how to ask the right questions to get me to figure out the answers. Every business owner needs someone like Judy to see the best in you. For example, she helped me see that I stand out by being relentless and dedicated to clear communications, which helps me seize the right opportunities. Judy will always be a part of my team.

Jason Singer, President, Countertop Solutions

Judy really cares about her executive coaching clients. She’s smart, been there and done that, and has a great reputation for growing small businesses. I used to hire hundreds of people when I worked for a big corporation. As a business owner, I learned that one bad hire can destroy a business. That’s why I rely on Judy’s help to get clear about who I need on my team so I can identify the right people who plan to stay. Judy taught me how to coach each of my employees, based on their experience and personalities, so they can advance within my company. She’s always open to help in any way she can.

Steve Quantock, President, Somerset Fire Alarm and Security, LLC

While working with Judy York, as my executive coach and Vistage chair, I grew my commercial and residential glass company from $2.1 to $7 million and from 17 to 39 employees.

Judy is kind and giving, with strong emotional intelligence. She sets clear expectations and holds people accountable. Judy helped me define our company culture and develop a mission statement and corporate values. She also worked with me to build our organizational chart and annual budget, and facilitated a leadership development class for my team.

I can always depend on Judy to ask the right questions, offer wise advice and step in whenever I need her.

Shaun Dunn, President, Berkeley Glass

My grandfather started this HVAC company in 1909 and I continue that legacy as the third-generation president. Through Judy’s one-on-one executive coaching, I now have clear strategic goals and key performance indicators, including tracking customer satisfaction. Judy is refreshing, easy going and respectful. On many occasions, she has encouraged me to address issues in my business that I might have overlooked.

Mike Johnston, President, MS Johnston Co.

You have run your own successful business for more than a decade and liked every aspect of it. Even during the not-so-good-days you managed to stand on top.

You have amassed a wealth of knowledge, industry insights, and experience. Now, you are at a point in your professional life that you want to do something different and are struggling with how to connect the dots.

Judy will help you connect the dots. She will guide you in the process to figure out how to harness your valuable accumulated resources to pursue and build something that brings you joy while benefiting a more extensive body.

Haroun Hallack, Organic Farmer & Sustainable Food Production Consultant

Beachley Furniture Company was in the midst of its most significant changes in its 130-year history. I hired Judy to work with senior management to develop a strategic plan – the first for the Company.

While we are a close team, Judy led us through thought-provoking exercises that forced us to address issues which had significant near and long-term implications.

Judy’s patience, willingness to learn our business and experience of building a successful business led to an efficient and comprehensive strategic plan that we executed immediately.

Now nearly two years into the plan, the benefits of that process have been immeasurable as it reduced our business risk and gave us a solid path for change.

We are a better company with Judy’s experience and guidance.

Frankie Corsi, Chairman and President, Beachley Furniture Company, Inc.

Judy’s coaching was highly motivational and provided me with practical knowledge about how to market my lawyer coaching business. I am so grateful for her help!

Martha M. Newman, J.D., PCC; Owner of Top Lawyer Coach LLC

Judy has helped our company with many struggles through our growing process. She’s helped us create a short term and long-term business strategy, as well has helped put a plan in place to achieve those goals. Judy continues to be an asset to our company by providing help with problems that we come across on a regular basis. Judy has been the right executive coach for us because she has a different view on things and knows how to tackle and fix problems.

Bobby Hyatt, President, Hagerstown Metal Fabrication, Inc.

Working with Judy is the best thing I’ve done in 36 years in business! With her guidance, I know now how I can reach for the stars!

Rhonda Wiles Mellow, Founder & CEO, W.I.L.E.S. Commercial Cleaning

When I started working with Judy, I operated my own business for 5 years and was still struggling with the leap from being my own boss to being a business owner.

Judy has worked with me to uncover a number of strategies that have helped me make the transition. She is a top notch coach because she listens, monitors my progress, and provides valuable advice based on my needs.

We started out on an agenda-based process, but have since moved to a true advisory relationship. Judy has always understood my objectives and continues to work with me to achieve them.

Shawn Duffy, CEO & Principal Security Consultant, Duffy Compliance Services, LLC

One of the aspects about Judy’s coaching sessions that had the most profound impact on my life was the recommendation from her to begin accepting who I was right now 100%. It is not until we do this, that we can truly move through the resistance into a new stage of life.

We gave a name to who I was right now, and a separate name to who I was to become, which helped me to look at myself from an outside perspective.

When I saw myself as the Overwhelmed Assembly Line Worker, I was able to have compassion for myself, instead of judgement.

When I saw myself striving towards becoming the Intuitively-Sourced Architectural Student, I had a clear vision of what I really wanted for myself, and for my family.

And that will look different for everyone. For me, putting a name to it, helped immensely. When I can see it, I can achieve it.

Morgan Sell, Community Organizer

Working with Judy allowed me to look at my challenges in a way that I had never before considered. She is a gifted listener, and she offered creative strategies that guided me to find the best solution.

Her compassion and attentiveness, coupled with her knowledge and ambition, create an invaluable partner in your journey. I would highly recommend Judy York as your Leadership Coach.

Sara Hampton, Career and Technical Educator

As a higher education administrator, I found working with Judy York to be invaluable.

I had worked my way up through the ranks from an assistant professor to a senior level dean with more than 15 direct reports and very little leadership training.

Judy provided me with a fresh perspective on how to more efficiently handle issues and achieve results without sacrificing my own well-being. I highly recommend her for any teacher in a leadership role.

Laura Renninger, Dean of Teaching, Learning, and Instructional Resources, Shepherd University

I really appreciated Judy’s thoughtful and gentle way throughout the time we spent together.

She was laser-focused and listened well. She responded in ways that let you know she more than heard every word you said, she understood who you were and where you were coming from.

What impacted me the most was I believed she really cared about me and her time with me was about me. She really wanted to develop a plan that was best suited for me.

Judy is very creative, bright, disciplined and will meet the deadlines she states. I would tell other clients to welcome Judy, be receptive to what she has to offer and she will not disappoint.

Heidi Dobish, Associate Professor of Psychology, Shepherd University

What I appreciate most about Judy York is the support and guidance she gave me on my recent journey of self-reflection through her coaching.

The most impactful change in me was being able to put words and visualization to describe my barriers. Using Judy’s visualization coaching techniques helped me “see” my barriers and in the end helped me push through them. I am now able to process the steps needed to see the space of possibility of moving forward in my life.

What I learned most about working with Judy is how she can quickly see the root of the matter… whatever it may be. She put a “name and a face” to my barriers, and that information makes it possible for me to push through them.

What I would tell other clients about working with Judy is that she is smart, compassionate, intuitive, clear and concise. She saw things in me that I did not know where barriers. Once she “framed the picture” for me, I was able to take the steps necessary to move forward.

Elaine Comer, Educator