Honoring Kay Cannon, Executive Coach
Kay was a force of nature, contributed tremendously to the field and profession of executive coaching, and sadly lost her courageous battle with cancer on October 29, 2018. She exemplified the qualities that caused us to create the Gordon Lee Salmon Sustainable Leadership Award in the first place, and we are pleased to honor Kay Cannon with this award. She described herself on her website as:
…a bona fide member of the Type A tribe, battle-hardened by 25 years in the executive trenches. She can reasonably predict when a top Type A performer is on the path to a train wreck long before any visible signs appear. Since 1999, her no-nonsense executive coaching helped countless Type A titans correct course and launch on a smoother, faster trajectory to success – without any catastrophic side-effects.
An expert in leading organizations through challenging times, Kay’s known for her stellar turnaround track record. As a former healthcare executive, she played a key role in growing a start-up from $5M in venture capital to a company that sold for $79M within five years. Most recently, under her leadership, a nearly bankrupt non-profit organization became the global industry leader within three years.
It is our pleasure to award Kay Cannon the Lee Salmon Award because of her extensive contributions to and sustainable leadership of the coaching profession. You can visit Kay’s site to learn more about her as well as read case studies of those she helped.
Now, a bit about Kay, from those who knew her best:
Dearest Lynn,
~ Dorothy Siminovitch, via Facebook
My deepest sadness and sense of loss over the passing of your/our beloved Kay. There are no words to capture the tremendous spirit, nimble intellect, awesome leader, inspiring executive coach, fearless thinker and remarkable human being that was Kay. To say that her spirit endures means that she lives in all of us who love her..and, because we love her, I like so many, find our world poorer without her physical presence.
I celebrate her life.
I celebrate how how Kay was so loved by Lynn
And loved Lynn and her family
And was so loved and admired by all who came to know Kay.
With a sense of brokenness-I join the circle of love sending Kay towards all she has earned..the rest and the sense of love…the liberation from pain
May we rejoice that we knew Kay and that Kay lived amongst us.
Pamela was also kind enough to share with us one of Kay’s coaching models: The Three Sources of Power:
(Please continue to the next page for more)
ICF Remembers Kay Cannon, MCC (1958–2018)
Kay Cannon, MCC, ICF Global Past President, passed away on October 29, 2018, at her home in Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Kay was an ICF Member for nearly two decades, joining in 1999 after the launch of her Executive Leadership Coaching and Consulting practice. In 2003, she earned her Master Certified Coach Credential. Her clients included Fortune 500 leaders, entrepreneurs and government and nonprofit executives.
As a volunteer leader for ICF, Kay played a vital role in advancing the Association’s high standards globally. She developed ICF’s Continuing Coaching Education standards and co-led ICF’s first coach credentialing initiative in non-English-speaking countries. In 2006, she participated in the historic 2006 Future of Coaching Summit, a gathering of global thought leaders.
Kay led the ICF Board of Directors through a comprehensive strategic planning process that established a vital map for the future of ICF and the coaching profession. During Kay’s 2007 term as ICF President, the Association achieved key milestones for credentialing (exceeding 3,200 ICF Credential-holders in October of that year) and membership (exceeding 13,000 ICF Members in November). Kay also presided over the publication of the 2007 ICF Global Coaching Study, a benchmarking piece of signature research conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
As a member of the coaching team for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Kay played an integral role in the organization’s successful bid for an ICF International Prism Award. In 2014, Kay’s regional colleagues celebrated her impacts on ICF and the coaching profession by honoring her with the Thomas Leonard Achievement Award at ICF Global 2014—North America Midwest.
Kay will be remembered by her colleagues, clients and loved ones for her outstanding sense of humor, her ability to navigate tough conversations with grace, and her generous and supportive presence. Kay was an animal lover with a home full of four-legged friends. With her gifted green thumb, she served as a Master Gardener with the University of Kentucky Extension Office and a founding member of the board of directors for America in Bloom – Lexington.
Earlier this year, she married her partner, supporter and friend of more than 15 years, Lynn M. Griffis, during an intimate ceremony at home.
Kay held a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Kentucky, where she was a Singletary Scholar. A Texas native, Kay earned her bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
~From International Coach Federation
Lynn Griffis:
It has been a painful and heartbreaking almost 7 months. Kay and I were finally able to get legally married on 4-4-18…pure joy! I now have to figure out how to navigate life without my beloved Kay and three of our precious furry loves. But, I still have our rescued 3-yr old hound Harper, our 15 yr old Tabby cat, Idgy and have welcomed a new Schnauzer puppy, Teagan to my smaller, sadder (at the moment) family.
She put up one of the most heroic fights anyone possibly could have in dealing with a terminal Glioblastoma brain tumor diagnosis similar to Senator John McCain’s, Senator Ted Kennedy’s and Beau Biden’s. However, hers was in her Thalamus which meant that any attempt to dissect or manipulate it would have left her with life-threatening physical and mental deficits. She did try both chemo and radiation for 15 days but both created two completely imminently life-threatening situations and she then chose to come home to be in Hospice care and to live as fully as possible until she died.
It has been the honor and privilege of my entire lifetime to ensure that she received the best care possible and that she knew she was deeply loved, supported and celebrated every day.
We also, sadly, lost our beloved 14 yr old Aussie Kellan, our precious 12 yr old Schnauzer Maya and our 15 yr old cat, Sakari. This is why I have been so absent here for so long. I have no adequate words to convey both my own and Kay’s deepest gratitude and thanks for all of the loving and powerful support from so many here locally and across the globe who were her beloved clients, colleagues, dear friends, caregivers and beloved family! Also special deeply held gratitude goes out to Baptist Hospital, Bluegrass Care Navigators and Central Bank for their consistent and unwavering support and ongoing care during this difficult time.
One of her main goals was to make it to 60! She did that on 9-16-18. It wasn’t the surprise trip to Ireland that I had been planning but it was a special and meaningful celebration! Also, she saved so many dogs and cats over the course of her lifetime either by bringing them home or by finding them great homes.
It has been said that any great love has the potential to “make you a better person.” She made me a better me and I know that she transformed so many other lives of the clients she served for 25 years in health care and as a highly certified Executive Coach and Human and Organizational Transformation Specialist! Kay never met a challenge she didn’t take on and master! At least she gave everything thing she ever tried to do 1,000% of her effort and commitment.
Godspeed and joy to you my most loving partner, wife, soulmate and best friend. We started talking almost 16 years ago and we didn’t stop until she died…at least towards the end we spoke in being close and touch. I can only imagine her complete peace and joy in reuniting with her furry and human loved ones now. As much as I deeply miss her physical presence now…I am so thankful that her suffering has been transformed into a new and purely loving place where her physical self will no longer betray her and what her heart and mind continued to passionately want to accomplish…will continue. So, walk our beloved pups babe. Thank you for all of your love, the purest joy possible and for always challenging me and us to be our “best and better” selves. The world and so many people and animals is a much better place for having had you here for over 60 years. You will always be my love! ❤️
~Lynn Griffis via Facebook
Obituary
CANNON Kay Denise, 60 years old, was born in Fairfield, CA to Dennis Porter Cannon and Katherine Berkley Cannon on September 16th, 1958 at Travis Air Force Base. Kay died, at home, October 29th, 2018 after a 7 month battle with a terminal Glioblastoma brain tumor. She grew up on the family ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas and graduated from Jack C. Hayes High School in Kyle, Texas in 1976. She was Valedictorian and Drum Major for the Rebels Marching Band. Kay then attended A&M University in College Station, Texas, Class of 1980. She then transferred her senior year to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas and graduated with a B.S. in Physical Therapy in 1980. She worked as Physical Therapist for 25 years and then moved into Health Care Management and served as the Vice President of Payer Operations for Theraphysics, Inc. for five years. Kay also moved to Lexington, Kentucky to work as a Physical Therapist at Good Samaritan Hospital and also was certified in Neuro and Cardiac PT and did home health as well. Kay was motivated to complete her M.B.A. from the University of Kentucky with a specialty in Healthcare in 1993. She was a Singletary Scholar. Kay then was introduced to Professional Executive Coaching in 1997 and after completing her training she opened her own business, in 1998, as one of the most highly certified Executive Coaches in the world, becoming a Master Certified Coach. Kay soared to the height of the Professional Coaching world and with her extensive Business, Healthcare and Leadership skills was able to have a huge impact as a Professional Executive Coach and with the International Coach Federation the leading organization for Coaches globally. She was truly a Human and Organizational Transformation Specialist with clients across the globe. Her impact on the International Coach Federation, based in Lexington, Kentucky, will be one of her lasting legacies. She was pivotal in her work on the current rigorous Credentialing requirements which make the Master Certified Coaching credential one of the hardest and most necessary credentials any Professional Coach can receive. She was appointed and served the I.C.F. on the Board of Directors as a Vice President and then was elected to be the Global President in 2007. She was awarded the Thomas Leonard Visionary Leader award, in 2014, for her vast contributions to the Professional Executive Coaching Industry. She served as an I.C.F Board of Director’s member from 2006-2008. In 2002, Kay was recognized by the Lexington, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce as the LEX Independent Professional of the Year in recognition of Innovation, Growth, Staying Power, Response to Adversity and Community Involvement. Kay also became a University of Kentucky Master Certified Gardener. She served as a founding member of the Board of Directors of America in Bloom, Lexington, Kentucky chapter. She envisioned each America in Bloom chapter having a Legacy Garden to honor all those who volunteer to make our cities more beautiful and the Lexington America in Bloom Legacy Garden has been named on Kay’s behalf. The Kay Cannon Memorial Legacy Garden can be enjoyed at Griffin Gate Marriott. Art work will be provided in Kay’s honor by her wife, Lynn M. Griffis. Many dog-loving people will remember Kay as an avid dog lover and trainer with Best Friends Obedience in Versailles, Kentucky for 5 years. She made sure many dogs and cats were rescued and had good homes throughout the years. Kay is survived by her wife, Lynn M. Griffis of Lexington, Kentucky and her sister Susan Houston and her husband, Chris of Dripping Springs, Texas. She is also survived by her nephew Cory Griffis, Oakdale, Louisiana; niece Kylee Griffis and fiance Burke Lienemann and Great Nephew Beau Lienemann; and nephew Cameron Griffis all of Kearney, Nebraska. She is also survived by Aunts and Uncles, cousins, many Colleagues and many dear friends. Kay’s family is deeply grateful for the loving care she received at Baptist Hospital, by Bluegrass Care Navigators Hospice Care and by the personal caregivers who were so dedicated to her care and comfort at home in Hospice throughout the last 7 months. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Kay’s name to Kentucky S.A.V.E. Kentucky S.A.V.E. (Saving Animals, Volunteering, Educating) is a non- profit 501c3 certified, no kill, animal rescue which is dedicated to caring, helping, training, and placing homeless, abandoned, abused, injured, and ill domestic animals throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Please donate at kentuckysave.org or by mail to: Kentucky Save, P.O. Box 517, Lexington, KY 40588.