Our Team
About Alicia Santamaria
Alicia Santamaria is CEO and Founder of Adelante Coaching + Consulting. She chose the Spanish word “Adelante” as both a metaphor for her own forward growth and her belief that learning and action go hand in hand. She is committed to her clients having both a transformational learning experience and seeing measurable forward results.
Alicia started her career as a conflict resolution trainer and team facilitator over 25 years ago. She currently focuses her workplace coaching and consulting on positive organizational culture-building through leadership development, increasing manager effectiveness, strengths-based employee engagement and helping teams develop high performing and high trust cultures. She has worked with a wide range of organizations – small to large, start-up to corporate, non-profit to government, local to national and prides herself on the ability to meet each client’s unique needs.
To maximize learning and accelerate strength-based development, Alicia is certified in several well-respected and high-quality learning and development tools to support and complement her workplace coaching and consulting. These include Gallup’s CliftonStrengths assessments and Wiley’s Everything DiSC’s suite of tools.
Alicia holds a master’s degree in communication and is an Advanced Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. She has also earned the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential from the International Coach Federation, the gold standard for accreditation of coaching professionals.
Alicia is also mom to two young adults who continue to be her greatest teachers. She finds great joy in her work, family, and travelling internationally. Born and raised in Syracuse, NY where she also completed her undergraduate degree (Go Orange!), she also lived in Madrid, Spain as a child. Her winding path took her to Washington, DC. and Albuquerque, New Mexico where she completed her graduate studies. Although a proud South San Francisco resident for more than 20 years, she has been know to say “you can take the girl out of New York but you can’t take the New York out of the girl!”
TOP 5 STRENGTHS
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Communication ®
People who are especially talented in the Communication theme generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters.
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Individualization ®
People who are especially talented in the Individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person. They have a gift for figuring out how people who are different can work together productively.
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Learner ®
People who are especially talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.
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Input ®
People who are especially talented in the Input theme have a craving to know more. Often they like to collect and archive all kinds of information.
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Woo ®
People who are especially talented in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with another person.
Dorie Cross
Web Design + Graphic Design
Dorie is a multi-faceted creative who specifically helps Adelante Coaching + Consulting in the areas of web and graphic design. In her heart she is a passionate creator and curator, who truly loves helping others amplify their online presence and stand out in the crowd. Dorie is the owner of her creative agency, The Loud Lab, where she offers other services such as social media management, videography, and branding.
TOP 5 STRENGTHS
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Restorative ®
People exceptionally talented in the Restorative theme are adept at dealing with problems. They are good at figuring out what is wrong and resolving it.
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Futuristic
People exceptionally talented in the Futuristic theme are inspired by the future and what could be. They energize others with their visions of the future.
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Intellection ®
People exceptionally talented in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions.
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Discipline ®
People exceptionally talented in the Discipline theme enjoy routine and structure. Their world is best described by the order they create.
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Input ®
People exceptionally talented in the Input theme have a need to collect and archive. They may accumulate information, ideas, artifacts or even relationships.
Nora Espinoza
Operations + Strategic Advising
Nora is a contract, program, budget, and compliance manager with over 20 years of professional experience working mostly with human development and education nonprofits. She helps keep Adelante’s business operations running smoothly. As an S Corp, there are a lot of details that need Nora’s meticulous attention and commitment to the highest of standards. In addition to keeping track of all the financials and paperwork, Nora is a trusted, strategic advisor to Adelante’s Founder and CEO.
TOP 5 STRENGTHS
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Learner ®
People exceptionally talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. The process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.
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Intellection ®
People exceptionally talented in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions.
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Deliberative ®
People exceptionally talented in the Deliberative theme are best described by the serious care they take in making decisions or choices. They anticipate obstacles.
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Relator ®
People exceptionally talented in the Relator theme enjoy close relationships with others. They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal.
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Input ®
People exceptionally talented in the Input theme have a need to collect and archive. They may accumulate information, ideas, artifacts or even relationships.
Perla Milan
Marketing Strategist + Content Creator
Perla is a multi-passionate creator who helps service-based businesses in strategizing and implementing effective marketing solutions within their businesses. She helps keep Adelante’s information and resources up to date, following market trends and the release of new studies. Perla also enjoys creating content for small businesses via social media, email newsletters, and other outlets. Perla is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she earned a Bachelor’s in Marketing and a Minor in Entrepreneurship.
TOP 5 STRENGTHS
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Analytical ®
People exceptionally talented in the Analytical theme search for reasons and causes. They have the ability to think about all of the factors that might affect a situation.
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Empathy ®
People exceptionally talented in the Empathy theme can sense other people’s feelings by imagining themselves in others’ lives or situations.
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Activator ®
People exceptionally talented in the Input theme have a need to collect and archive. They may accumulate information, ideas, artifacts or even relationships.
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Consistency ®
People exceptionally talented in the Input theme have a need to collect and archive. They may accumulate information, ideas, artifacts or even relationships.
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Responsibility ®
People exceptionally talented in the Input theme have a need to collect and archive. They may accumulate information, ideas, artifacts or even relationships.
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