Meet Us
Joan M. Starkowsky, MA, BCC
Joan M. Starkowsky is the Founder and Principal of Sirocco Coach-Consulting, LLC. She is a Board Certified leadership and engagement coach, consultant, teacher and speaker. She is a Certified PI Talent Optimization Partner and Consultant. She inspires people to maximize their strengths and talents and find passion, energy and purpose in life and work. Joan uses her extensive business, leadership and coaching experience to cultivate growth, expansion and engagement in others.
Joan has been captivating audiences with her unique and transforming message of becoming an authentic person and leader. Her message is a catalyst for people to take charge of their lives, find their purpose and draw upon their gifts and talents to become their authentic self.
Joan is the former President and founder of the Roadway Reverse Logistics, Inc., subsidiary of the previous Fortune 500 Company, Roadway Express. She is an entrepreneur and inventor who holds a patent for an innovative business process and web portal. She designed the reverse logistics product portfolio that not only started and became the reverse logistics company , but also an industrywide product marketed by her competitors. She has held multiple leadership positions in business organizations for over 30 years. She has been in executive and senior management, marketing, operations and sales management in transportation, logistics and retail.
Joan's extensive coaching and mentoring proficiency began as a young sales manager in retailing and expanded as a master's level rehabilitation counselor and became the signature of her leadership. Throughout her career, she has helped many people find direction, growth and success in life and work.
She holds an MA in Counseling and Special Services from Seton Hall University and a BA in English from Bloomfield College. She has earned Certificates in Executive Leadership from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western University and Logistics from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is a graduate of the Newfield Network Coaching and Organizational Learning Program. She is Certified as a Talent Optimization Partner and Consultant by Predictive Index, LLC. Joan attended the American Hypnosis Academy for Neuro-Linguistic Programming and is a certified practitioner.
Joan is a Board Certified Coach credentialed through the Center for Credentialing & Education. She was certified in Equine Experiential Learning through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association.
Joan has been a member of the Cleveland Clinic Caring Canine Program for seven years making regular visits on the heart, vascular and heart/lung transplant floors with her therapy dogs. In addition to being certified by Therapy Dogs International, her dogs have earned AKC titles for obedience and agility performing on Excellent and Master's levels.
Joan has been quoted in many industry periodicals such as Forbes.com, The Journal of Commerce, Industry Week, Global Logistics & Supply Chain Management and InBound Logistics to name a few.
Testimonial
Joan Starkowsky is a professional of excellence who has successfully carried the mantle of business leadership. It is her proven excellence that allows her to know how to coach and consult to leaders who are looking to succeed in today's business environment.
Dorothy E. Siminovitch, Ph.D. MCC
Executive Coaching and Program Chairperson
International Gestalt Coaching Program
Gestalt Center for Organization Systems Development
Mary Ellen Garofalo, MSN, RN, CRRN, SPHR
Mary Ellen Garofalo is Managing Consultant at Sirocco Coach-Consulting, LLC . She is an integrative health nurse, health and well-being coach and consultant. . In her current role, she is a Certified Talent Optimization Consultant, educator, speaker and designs and facilitates integrative health and well-being programs, along with engagement coaching programs.
She has held leadership positions in human resources in manufacturing, construction, and the baking industry. She is a Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources.
In healthcare, Mary Ellen served in multiple leadership roles. She was the Director of the Transitional Care Program for a national home health care company. She led an engaged team of nurse managers in nine states, transitioning catastrophically ill and injured adults and children from hospitals to live at home for ongoing nursing care. The program was developed through strong, long term relationships, strategic account management, rehabilitative knowledge and clinical management in conjunction with patient and family centered care.
Mary Ellen has nursing experience in rehabilitation, home health care, case management, complex patient management and integrative nursing. When human beings experience injury, illness, trauma or stress, Mary Ellen’s passion is to empower them to unleash their own energy. Through problem solving, her positive “can do” spirit, humor and respect, she motivates clients with life changing circumstances to refocus, and leverage their strengths to move forward in life.
As a speaker, Mary Ellen weaves in poignant stories about life. She writes and presents a large variety of webinars and educational programs for health care, talent optimization, human resources, well-being and stress management. She can teach difficult subjects with humor, create enthusiasm and empower people to face their challenges with confidence. She is known for her dynamic meetings and unforgettable retreats. Mary Ellen has been a speaker for Case Management Society of America, Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, well known insurance companies and hospitals, and the Society for Human Resource Professionals.
Her educational background includes an MS in Nursing Leadership from Excelsior University, and a BA from Bloomfield College where she studied nursing and sociology. She holds an ASN from Excelsior University. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse, and Senior Professional Human Resource Leader. She attended Multiple Sclerosis Advanced Nurses Training through the NY National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Management of Complex Medical Conditions and Catastrophic Injuries through Paradigm Health, and Strictly Business Immersion through Dale Carnegie.
Mary Ellen is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, Society for Human Resource Management, and She has published articles for Nursing Spectrum, NY/NJ; Advance for Nurses, Northeast, and the Massachusetts Group Health Insurance Magazine.
Testimonial
Mary Ellen Garofalo is one of the most hard working, passionate, committed, and grounded people I have had the pleasure of working with.
Mary Ellen’s tenacity to develop relationships with all whom she comes in contact with, learn every market that her program serviced, create start- up programs in hospitals throughout the country, and really nurture those relationships with the utmost of care, are some of the reasons for her success.
As a nurse, Mary Ellen’s compassion is evident in everything that she does. She is such a hard worker, an innovator, super creative, and has a great sense of humor. Her knowledge of the home care industry is excellent, given her years in the business.
I would highly recommend Mary Ellen. She is a passionate professional and a true asset to any organization!
Susan Ingalls
Regional Director
BAYADA Home Health Care
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