My Advisory Team

Howard Stanton, Leadership Coach

Howard is a relationship and leadership development coach passionate about unleashing the creative power of co-activity within all relationships, personal and professional. An “entrepreneurial seizure” in 2001 marked his transition from clinical and leadership roles in healthcare to three-time businesses owner where he discovered his love for growing leaders and creating teams engaged with a vision greater than themselves. He feels blessed to work with his wife Erin coaching couples and teams. In any season, he can be found walking the New England seacoast with her where their work and life are inspired by the whispers of the sea.

Rachel Holdgrafer, Web Designer

Creating search-optimized, conversion-centric websites for professional service providers and small businesses with heart. I'm a writer, a creator and strategist who loves how digital marketing can drive tangible business results. I help clients make data-driven decisions that will increase sales while focusing on affordability, sustainability, and effectiveness.

Robbie Kaplan, Strategic Advisor

Robbie collaborates with Mark on branding, messaging, social media, and writing projects. Mark relies on Robbie to be a sounding board and to give her honest and detailed feedback. Since 2013, Robbie has extensively traveled the US and Canada by campervan, documenting her adventures at What’s That Rattle? on social media. Robbie spent fifteen years in leadership at a group of Ace hardware stores, primarily as Merchandising Manager. There, she worked with Mark on a daily basis, forming their professional relationship and friendship. Prior to Ace, Robbie was a Senior Associate for a public interest communications firm and a Senior Publicist for a not-for-profit book publisher. Robbie holds a B.S. in both Literature and Business from American University.

Sean Smith, Marketing Mentor

Sean works with Mark to help him develop his online presence, including his content, audience, and programs. Sean a veteran marketing executive who teaches writers, coaches, and consultants how to build their online careers and master the digital marketing skills to attract clients and generate predictable monthly income streams even with minimal marketing experience, resources, or time. He is also the founder of Virtù b2b, an online marketing agency based in Rehoboth Beach DE.

Zell Murphy, Financial and Operations Advisor

A strategic leader and problem solver, Zell Murphy has 30 years of experience in leading organizations to exceed their financial goals, grow their businesses, and successfully execute and build upon their missions.

As the chief finance officer at the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM), Zell has oversight of all financial, HR, IT, and administrative operations, including those of its two for-profit subsidiaries and educational foundation.

Prior to CTAM, Zell served as the VP of Operations at the Association of Independent Corrugated Converters and the Director of Finance & Administration at The Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC.

Zell holds memberships with the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), the DC-based Finance & Administration Roundtable (FAR), the HR Roundtable, and Associations @Work. Zell holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Virginia, an MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business at UVa, a Leadership Management Certificate from the Harvard Business School, and the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from ASAE.

In his spare time, he keeps busy helping out both on and offstage at local community theatres and serves and currently serves as the Director of the Little Theatre of Alexandria Council.

Adam Vogt, Coaching Collaborator

Adam Vogt is a certified life coach trained by the Life Purpose Institute in San Diego, California. He is a graduate of the University of Washington (M.P.A.) and Georgetown University (B.A.), and a native of Washington, DC. He has spent over 20 years in public service working as a writer, editor, social service worker, and life coach. He is a huge Washington Nationals fan and coaches Little League baseball.