Professional speaker, author, and Executive/Business coach Loretta Love Huff employs her energy and determination to “inspire leadership that will transform and deliver.” She is the Membership Chair of the Black Professional Coaches Alliance, which is a nationwide community of African-American coaches committed to transforming the African-American community through the benefits of personal coaching.
Loretta explains that personal coaching is not therapy, but rather a series of inquiries, challenges, and setting accountability goals that results in altering one's belief system, which then produces dramatically enhanced levels of performance in any area of one's life. “I also give motivational speeches to leaders and business owners like the Business Officers of the University of California system, the American Specialty Toy Retailers, and attendees of ASU’s Downtown Lecture Series. I conduct training for large and small companies, too.”
As a certified coach, Loretta comments “Beliefs shape behavior. We have more options than we generally see, and more control than we tend to take! We need to be aware of our beliefs at the present, in order to leverage our future. This is accomplished in four steps 1) create a vision of where you are going 2) assess where you are at now as far as strengths, shortcomings, and resources 3) take action steps 4) create an accountability structure to keep you focused and moving forward.” Ms. Huff is also the author of the April 2006 book, Six Keys for Dissolving Disputes For when “Off with Their Heads” Won’t Work!
Loretta expresses enthusiasm about serving with the nonprofit group Gabriel’s Angels. The owners and their dogs who volunteer with Gabriel’s Angels offer unconditional friendship, teach empathy, respect and trust to abused and at-risk children in the Phoenix metropolitan area and Tucson. Gabriel's Angels' mission is to deliver healing pet therapy to abused, neglected and at-risk children, nurturing their ability to love and trust, thereby freeing them from the cycle of violence. “I became part of Gabriel’s Angels when I met Pam Gaber at a breakfast meeting. Pam described to me what their organization has accomplished, and I just started to cry. She then invited me to join their mission.” Her childhood is another fascinating story. Loretta was adopted as an infant, and grew up as an only child in a middle class neighborhood in Chicago. Her biological parents had been students in college. She found her bio father in 1981, and her bio mother passed away in 1995. Just four years ago Loretta was introduced to many of her biological relatives. Several of them came to her wedding in Phoenix.
Now married to her college sweetheart, Loretta laughs that “It’s a long complicated story how we got back together over thirty years after we broke up! But it’s been a wonderful three years since we’ve been married.” In their leisure time Loretta and her husband have started a wine tasting club, ‘The Weekend Winos’. “We enjoy getting together with a group of friends to relax, converse, and discuss the merits of particular wines.” Her husband is a musician, and is a band director for the Roosevelt School District in Phoenix. She has lived in Arizona since her marriage, and loves the warm climate. “I’m a sun goddess!” she exclaims. “I also appreciate that the area is growing so rapidly, that we’re part of an expanding, vibrant community.”
Ultimately, Loretta Love Huff wants people to know that her personal and professional vision is that all people recognize their unique gifts and are able to express those gifts and feel fulfilled. My mission is to help organizations honor their employees’ gifts in pursuit of their business goals. They will find that at the same time they can be both productive and successful!”
What are your volunteer activities? Gabriel’s Angels Board member (currently Vice Chair, effective June ’07, Chair); National Speakers Association-Arizona Membership Chair; Black Professional Coaches Alliance Membership Chair; National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Programs Director
Which social event is your favorite? Our 'Weekend Wino' Wine Tasting Club and the Grand Canyon Minority Supplier Development Council Awards Dinner
Favorite Restaurant? Pacific's Edge, Park Hyatt, Carmel (CA)
Who is your hero and why? My Aunt Becky. At almost 90, she's still teaching 11 weekly classes of Yoga and looks like she's in her early 60s
Who is the most interesting celebrity you have ever met? There are two. Josephine Baker who I met in Paris and Dennis Haysbert (24, The Unit)
If your life were a movie, whom would you want to play your part? Angela Bassett
What gives a woman/man style? Confidence, passion and a bit of off-centeredness.
Do you have any pets? Not live ones. I love cats but my husband is allergic to them. I've been trying to convince him that we should have a dog, so he bought me three stuffed dogs and set them by the door so they could 'greet' me when I come in every day.
When you move, what will your home tell its next owner, about you? She spent more time working than cleaning.
What words describe you best? Practical, smart and determined
What words would you like others to use to describe you? Energetic, insightful, inspiring and wise
What was your first job? During high school, a summer camp counselor at my church.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Occasional bouts of fear
What is the trait you most deplore in others? Acting like a victim of life & whining
What is your greatest indulgence? Shopping!!!
What is the greatest gift you have ever given and received? Given - A certificate for 30-days of daily massages to my husband Received - a week at the Four Seasons Maui for my birthday
What or who is the greatest love of your life? My husband. We dated in college during the 70s, broke up and married after than 30+ year hiatus.
What is your current state of mind? Overflowing
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? Getting an MBA from University of Chicago while working full-time
What is your most treasured possession? My home
What is the quality you most like in people? Being proactive & collaborative
Favorite books / Writers? The e-Myth Revisited, The DaVinci Code
What is the best advice you have ever received? Try out lots of jobs when you're young to see what you like and if you want to rise high in the HR field, do a stint in Compensation.