JOSH VANADA

Chief Boldness Officer & Strategic Leadership Team Coach

Josh Vanada is the Founder and Chief Boldness Officer of Bethesda Leadership Group, where he's building an international team of coaches dedicated to helping leaders live into the fullness of their God-given potential. Bethesda Leadership Group exists to lead a global movement for boldness, intentionality, and freedom — partnering with leaders of for- and not-for-profit organizations to help them and their organizations thrive. The organizations Josh has worked with have improved profit by 83% year over year. He has also helped a group of churches double its budget and impact.

Before founding Bethesda Leadership Group, Josh spent his career in the automotive industry, most recently as Platform General Manager of Hurd Auto Mall, one of Rhode Island's largest dealers, and previously as General Manager of Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. That experience — building high-performing teams through strong culture and open-book management — shapes how he coaches leaders today.

Josh earned a B.A. from Gordon College (MA). In his spare time, he serves on several non-profit boards, and is an avid cyclist, golfer, and cigar enthusiast. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Ashleigh, and their son.

CHRIS CUNNION

Sales and Business Growth Coach

Chris Cunnion is a Business, Sales, and Leadership Coach with Bethesda Leadership Group, known for helping individuals and teams turn experience into execution—and execution into results.

With over 25 years in the automotive industry spanning sales, finance, and leadership, Chris has led from the front, built high-performing teams, and understands what it actually takes to win in competitive environments. His coaching is grounded in real-world application, not theory—focused on clarity, accountability, and measurable growth.

Chris began his career serving as a Military Police officer in the United States Army, including a tour in Iraq. That experience forged the discipline, resilience, and leadership under pressure that now define his coaching philosophy.

Today, Chris works with business owners, sales professionals, and leaders who are ready to raise their standards, sharpen their skills, and produce consistent, scalable results. His approach is direct, practical, and built to drive action.

Outside of his work, Chris is a proud father to his daughter Avery, a grateful partner to Beth, and a dog lover to his Golden Retriever, Charlie. He enjoys traveling to warm destinations, playing a round of golf with friends, and is a lifelong fan of the Chicago Bears.

NICOLE LYONS, Ph.D

Leadership & Organizational Growth Coach

"It's the journey, not the destination." This philosophy has guided Nicole R. Lyons, Ph.D. throughout a career built on helping people and organizations grow — not just arrive. As a leadership and organizational growth consultant, Nicole partners with leaders in education and nonprofit organizations to help them build clear strategy, strong teams, and data-driven cultures, believing that the process of growth is where real leadership takes shape.

That belief has shaped every step of her own path. Nicole served as Interim Executive Director of Charette Charter High School in Providence, RI, and as Associate Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment at the Rhode Island Department of Education. In her consulting work, she has worked with non-profits and for profits on leadership team development and executive development, helping leaders create better teams, strategy, and decision making mechanisms.

Nicole earned her Ph.D. from the University of Rhode Island, where her research explored how school leaders develop and grow into their roles — a fitting extension of the same philosophy that drives her work today. She also holds an M.Ed. in School Administration and Leadership and a B.A. in English and Secondary Education from Providence College.

In her spare time, Nicole brings that same journey-focused mindset-she's passionate about CrossFit and running, always chasing progress rather than a finish line. She loves to cook and is always looking for new places to travel. She lives in Warren, RI, with her husband, their two children, and two dogs.