About Us
Leadership Center is a global leadership consulting and coaching firm. Our mission is to generously grow love, creativity, and risk-taking in the world through leadership development and activation.
Our Story
Leadership Center was founded in 2012 as a leadership development organization, providing mentorship opportunities for leaders through internships and coaching. Since our inception, we have been committed to helping leaders gain clarity on their personal identity in order to better serve their communities, both within and beyond the workplace. We have mentored college and graduate students through our internship program, coached emerging leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs to deepen their impact as influencers who lead from their authentic selves. With over twenty years of experience, our team remains up-to-date with industry trends while staying grounded in our practice. This means that we employ innovative approaches to leadership development, incorporating modern tools like online assessments and software, while remaining true to our core value of helping leaders root themselves in their identity and create sustainable success in their endeavors.
We know that healthy leaders heal the world. Our mission is to support every leader we work with to engage their ability to generously grow love, creativity, and risk-taking in the world through leadership development and activation.
Our Team
Our team is comprised of incredible individuals who deeply value partnering alongside each other and our clients to cultivate a thriving community of courageous, grounded, and purposeful leaders. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we invest in their personal and professional growth, fostering an inclusive and supportive culture that empowers them to thrive and grow.
Trisha Welstad
(Founder & CEO)
Trisha founded Leadership Center in 2012, and brings over twenty-five years of leadership experience to her work as a coach, consultant, and ordained minister. She holds a doctorate in Leadership from George Fox University and is an ICF-certified coach. Trisha’s leadership background includes serving as an executive, founding multiple nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and guiding leadership development initiatives for clients across the U.S.
With a passion for leadership development, Trisha has taught at the collegiate, graduate, and doctoral levels. She has also co-created and facilitated grant-funded programs designed to help leaders and organizations thrive. Her work is driven by the belief that effective leadership fosters lasting impact, and she is dedicated to helping leaders realize their full potential.
Hannah Stuckey
(Project Manager)
Hannah Stuckey is our Project Manager for the Leadership Center. She has a masters in Ministry Leadership from Portland Seminary and thrives in helping people grow in personal and organizational wellness. From spreadsheets to strategy, Hannah brings a unique combination of the administrative and the strategic to our team. She has worked in church leadership, community development, and higher education. Hannah is an experienced curator—passionate about creating joyful, formative experiences and brings that focus to her work with Leadership Center clients. Hannah is married to Mark and they live in Portland, Oregon with his son Sawyer and dog Teva.
Kayin Griffith
(Strategy and Business Development)
Kayin brings a unique blend of marketing, project management and change management to the Leadership Center team. With a keen eye for person-centered design, she always strives to develop and execute innovative business strategies that empower and celebrate the aspirations of those around her. Equipped with a Bachelor's in Design and an MBA, Kayin combines her experience with her desire to champion the strengths of her colleagues. She brings experience from multiple industries including non-profits, education, corporate consulting, and utilities and technology. When she's not working, Kayin devotes her time to parenting her two amazing children (Amalea and Anaya) with her partner, Cary.
Carlos Fernandez
(Coach & Facilitator)
Carlos is a Los Angeles native, and it is growing up there that he cultivated an early love for film and music. His undergraduate focus was in Communication and Film Studies. Carlos then pursued graduate work in Leadership Studies. Carlos has a combined 20+ years of experience in Higher Ed and ministry leadership, serving in both local and global contexts. He and his family moved to Portland in 2012 and he thrives in the city’s live music scene, food and beverage culture, and running trails. He continues to indulge his love for film by hosting a film discussion club and getting out to Portland’s various independent movie theaters every chance he gets.
Chris Lee
(Intercultural Development Coach)
Chris (he/him) is a Certified Diversity Professional and Qualified Administrator/Coach for the Intercultural Development Inventory. Chris is a leader in strategy and change management, using his skillset and equity mindset to create sustainable change and progress within organizations. After spending 7 years working in higher education, Chris now works as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Consultant at Providence Health Services. Chris holds a BA in Christian Ministries from George Fox University, a MA in Higher Education from Geneva College, and is a PhD candidate at Indiana State University in Educational Administration - Leadership in Higher Education. Chris lives in Sherwood, Oregon with his wife Shannon and their dog Kona.
Deborah Loyd
(Coach & Facilitator)
Dr. Loyd brings a lifetime of experience to Leadership Center. By helping clients discern purpose, passion, and establish their legacy, she supports those seeking greater impact and stability in this changing world. As an experienced church planter, pastor and serial entrepreneur, Dr. Loyd brings strategic and creative gifts to help clients find their way forward. She has a Bachelors in Business, a Masters in Theology, and a Doctorate in Leadership. Dr. Loyd has taught at Portland Seminary since 2009. She authored Your Vocational Credo, Practical Steps to Discover Your Unique Purpose and co-authored Dynamic Adventure, A Guide to Starting and Shaping Missional Churches. Her fervent desire is to inspire clients to develop their own stories and live into them so they can effectively change their world. Dr. Loyd is married to Ken and lives in Portland, Oregon.
Gaby Viesca
(Coach & Facilitator)
Gaby hails from a desert-like city in northern Mexico called Torreón. She has a degree in International Business (Universidad de las Américas) and a master’s degree in Biblical Studies (Regent University). In addition to coaching with Leadership Center, Gaby works as the Director of Strategy & Partnerships at Missio Alliance.
Gaby has designed global strategies for General Electric, worked as junior business consultant in southern Mexico, and promoted several start-ups with young entrepreneurs in the city of Puebla. She also worked as a pastor in Portland and as the Director of Masters Programs at Portland Seminary. She lives in Portland, OR with her husband, Daniel.
Jamie Noling-Auth
(Coach & Facilitator)
Dr. Jamie Noling-Auth is an experienced educator and ordained minister. She has been a leader in five different universities, in roles such as Dean for Spiritual Life, Inclusion, and Leadership; University Chaplain, and as a professor for courses in Leadership, Communication, and Theology. Jamie's doctoral research focus as well as her publications are related to women in leadership.
Jenny Dickson
(Coach)
With 30 years of leadership experience in public education, ministry, and as Executive Director of an urban nonprofit, Jenny is dedicated to motivating leaders to thrive. Driven by a passion to empower others, she partners with clients to build confidence and reach new levels in their personal and professional lives. Her firsthand insights guiding organizations, navigating transitions and balancing a family fuels her empathetic and strategic coaching approach. She holds a Bachelor’s in Education and a Master’s in Educational Administration. In her free time, Jenny enjoys traveling with her husband and their three teenagers.
Jenny Elsey
(Cultural Development Lead and Coach)
Dr. Jenny Lei Elsey identifies as a 1.5 generation Taiwanese-American. She has worked in higher education for twenty years and has gained experience in community, non-profit, and organizational leadership development. She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and a M.Ed. in College Student Affairs from Azusa Pacific University, as well as an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from George Fox University. Her personal and professional motto is to create environments where people can do their best work.
Paul LeFeber
(Coach & Facilitator)
Paul LeFeber has worked in the nonprofit sector for over twenty years. After playing music professionally, Paul began his nonprofit career working for local faith communities, particularly in the areas of arts and team development. Recently, the nonprofits he has worked with focus on individuals and families experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, refugee resettlement, immigration, HIV/AIDS, and ecumenism. He works as a freelance consultant, helping organizations with development, communications, strategic planning, and management. Paul loves to be at the intersection of creativity, operational excellence, and personal development. He is a father to Adah and Junia and is married to Mariah, a professional counselor.
Trey Doty
(Coach)
Trey Doty is the Employee Support Specialist and Employee Assistance Program Coordinator for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Portland Division. He serves as a Chaplain for the FBI and Oregon State Police Resilience Team and Lead Chaplain for West Coast Post Trauma Retreat (Oregon).
Trey is an ICF-certified coach and has worked with executive leaders across government, nonprofit, church, and private sectors. He has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology/Social Work and a Master of Divinity from Portland Seminary. His post-graduate studies include a Certificate of Nonprofit Development from Portland State University, a Certificate of Leader Development from National Security Seminar at the US Army War College, and a 12-month residency in Clinical Pastoral Education with Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Medical Center. He is a recorded (ordained) minister in the Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends (Quaker) Churches.
Vanilda Reyes de Noyes
(Coach)
Vanilda Reyes de Noyes is a Licensed Independent Social Worker in the state of Ohio and ordained minister. Through her work in a variety of settings including community mental health centers, hospitals, and churches, Vanilda has seen the need to create an environment where people can experience support and healing. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Social Work and Psychology) from Greenville University and a Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. She was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in NYC and Cleveland, Ohio and is passionate about creating multiethnic and multigenerational spaces where everyone can thrive. Vanilda lives in Cleveland, Ohio with her husband Topher, 3 children and their dog Roxie.
Our Values
Joy
Joyful leaders inspire optimism, resilience, and enthusiasm in their teams and organizations. We promote playfulness, curiosity, and wonder, connecting leaders to their passions and purpose.
Innovation
Innovation is key in today's rapidly evolving landscape. We foster creativity, experimentation, and risk-taking, empowering leaders to think outside the box.
Truth-telling
A culture of integrity, clarity, and accountability enables organizations to take informed, healing action. We train leaders to communicate openly and authentically even when it's hard.
Holistic wellness
Healthy leaders heal the world. We design and encourage practices that promote both personal and professional thriving.
Risk-taking
Strategic, value-driven risks generate growth and innovation. We develop the skills and confidence necessary for leaders to take risks and grow.
We coach and consult with individuals and organizations to clarify, activate and stay aligned with their calling.
Why?
To help you thrive in all you are and do.
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