Honoring Impact: Our First W.I.L.L.A. Award Celebrates Coach Willa’s Legacy
Posted by Sue - Admin on Sep. 2, 2026 / Subscribe 0
by Dorisse Shakir-Ullah, Vice President, Community Networking
“Orchestrate Your Vision.” Those words were Coach Willa Edgerton-Chisler’s mantra. They reflected how she lived, served, and empowered others to see what was possible and take action.
A longtime member of ICF and the New Jersey community, Willa was a professional coach, ICF New Jersey’s first Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, mentor, advocate and friend. Authentic, creative, and passionate about DEI, she was also known as a “culture caretaker,” someone committed to people, belonging and community.
Willa’s impact extended well beyond ICF New Jersey. For more than a decade, she founded and led the Steps 2 Success Empowerment program in partnership with Dress for Success Northern New Jersey and ADP, Roseland. Her work touched hundreds of women, helping them to recognize their potential, increase their self-awareness and build confidence to move forward.
We sadly lost Willa on December 18, 2023, but her light continues to shine through the people and communities she influenced.
Turning Legacy into Action
On September 24, 2026, two communities that meant so much to Willa and her work will come together. ICF New Jersey is very proud to partner with Dress for Success Northern New Jersey at its 3rd Annual Evening of Empowerment to present the first W.I.L.L.A. Award: Women Inspiring Leadership, Legacy & Action.
The genesis of this partnership began with the ICF New Jersey DEIB/IDEAS Advisory Council and a desire to honor Willa’s legacy as the chapter’s first Director of DEIB, 2020-2022. Willa embraced this leadership role and mentored others to continue the work she loved.
Bringing the W.I.L.L.A. Award initiative to life is a team led by Melinda Neiman, with Debbie Godfrey, former VP of Strategic Partnerships; Dorisse Shakir-Ullah, VP of Community Networking; Mindy Gewirtz, VP of DEIB/IDEAS; and Kelli Kombat, Chapter President. Their work reflects the DEIB/IDEAS Advisory Council’s vision to embed DEIB into the culture of ICF New Jersey, transforming intent into action and impact for its members and the broader communities!
This year, two Steps 2 Success Empowerment alumni will each receive a $500 W.I.L.L.A. Award from ICF New Jersey, recognizing the leadership, empowerment and spirit of giving forward that Willa inspired.
We are proud to announce our inaugural recipients - Sharon N. Mireku and Katherine Rodriguez.
We hope this is only the beginning.
ICF New Jersey looks forward to continuing and growing its partnership with Dress for Success Northern New Jersey, including exploring opportunities for our coaching community to support participants in the career transition program Willa initiated.
Willa’s legacy lives in the women she empowered and the lives they touch. It also challenges each of us to see what’s possible, take action, and make a difference in our own communities.
Join us September 24 as we celebrate these women, honor Willa’s light, and continue the ripple of impact she set in motion.
Click Here to Learn More and Register to Attend
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