Next Step Coach was founded in 2003 by Brian Dowd to encourage and enhance the personal leadership of those with an entrepreneurial spirit and a vision for more through personal coaching.

 
 
 
 
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Coaches

Brian Dowd


Owner and President of Next Step Coach Inc., Brian has been an Executive Coach since 2003 providing coaching for executives, business owners and high potential leaders to improve business behavior and develop leadership talent.

Brian works alongside senior leaders to reach their own development and performance goals in addition to building the processes and people for a high performing organization. He is an experienced facilitator for teams and executive off-sites and a trusted advisor to leaders in diverse industries that include artificial intelligence, construction, financial services and others

Craig Lomax

Craig develops leaders for the adventure of business. He was the Co-Founder and Executive Director for Rock-N-Water Adventures on the American River in Northern California. He took students, teams and staff to face and overcome their fears and limits on the river or the face of a rock. He sold the company in 2018, stepping away after 30 years of running the business to concentrate on coaching individuals.

Craig has an intuitive sense for the edge of learning and a keen ability to take others up to and beyond it. His work with clients delivers bottom line results, though his clients talk more about the personal transformative effect from their work with him. Craig’s focus is on business leaders and high potentials to accelerate their growth and success. 

Eric Bergen

Eric transitioned as an executive in the healthcare industry to become a professional coach in 2008 as part of an international coaching firm. His strong results with clients led to his role as CEO for the USA division of the firm, continuing his work with clients and supporting other coaches and the organization.

Eric continues coaching impact players, with a particular passion for faith based nonprofits.  His ability to help leaders achieve results, coupled with expertise in executive management, gives his clients a clear direction to success.  His focus is on leaders responsible for organizational effectiveness and operational excellence.

Kim Pace

Kim Pace


A professional coach and facilitator since 2007, Kim is a skilled communicator, connector and strategic thinker. She helps others think outside their box and encourages them to stretch beyond their current circumstances. Kim’s coaching provides a results-oriented, time-sensitive, accountable and measurable process to help individuals achieve results. This process focuses on discernment and maximization of strengths, gaining clarity of direction, and/or crafting and executing strategic goals.

As a Facilitator, Kim provides a neutral facilitation process to navigate the group through ideation session(s), moving from the realm of discovery and possible paths/solutions, to specific, agreed upon action points that move groups to the next step or desired outcome. Kim’s focus is on personal effectiveness, career advancement and organizational coaching.

David Cooke

With over two decades of leadership coaching experience, David is a seasoned professional known for developing leadership effectiveness in diverse arenas, including business, nonprofit and international contexts. He is an adjunct instructor of coaches at the graduate school level and a coach trainer. David employs a holistic approach to leadership that believes healthy leadership results in living better and leading better. The natural outcome is effective teamwork leading to accomplishing organizational objectives. David’s focus is on leadership development, navigating complex challenges and effective teamwork.

Ron Short

Ron Short


Ron is a leadership development specialist with over 30 years of experience. He spent over two decades as a nonprofit leader and high school football coach where he remains a fixture in the community.

With a passion to help bring clarity coupled with strong facilitation skills, Ron excels in helping leaders and leadership teams of all types who are looking to transition to the next level both personally and professionally. Ron has helped leaders, teams and organizations identify desired goals and objectives, all the while focusing on clear measurable results. Ron’s focus is on leadership development, transitions, and high performing teams.