Logo for Grays Peak Strategies' Elevate Leadership Program

2026 Elevate San Diego

Child Support Leadership Development Program
4/9/2026 - 10/15/2026

San Diego Department of Child Support Services

INFO SESSION: FEBRUARY 25, 2026 11AM PST

Can’t make it to the live Info session? Watch a recording here!

Grays Peak Strategies', in collaboration with California Child Support Directors’ Association presents the 4th iteration of the Elevate Leadership program in California, hosted by the San Diego’s Department of Child Support Services.

includes:

  • Twelve-day intensive delivered over 6 months

  • Customizable content to meet your current challenges

  • Research based, proven leadership topics and frameworks

  • Live instructor-led

  • Individualized Executive Coaching sessions for support and reinforcement

participants:

  • Gain awareness and understanding of leadership strengths and gaps

  • Understand how leadership style impacts others through targeted assessments

  • Build trust and respect; learn ways to adapt to the differences of others to lead

  • more inclusively

  • Understand the complexities of leadership and build leadership capacity

  • Develop skills and confidence by practicing skills in a safe environment

  • Building internal and external network of support


All our work is grounded in the following elements: 

  • Experiential, grounded in theory. Our work is experiential and grounded in theory and research, including the latest in neuroscience, positive psychology, and emotional intelligence

  • Working with real-world challenges to make a real difference. We customize all of our sessions focused on “real work” as the centerpiece. We take theory and make it relevant, accessible, and practical

  • Changing the way you think. Our strategy is to first focus on the shift in thinking, then on the practical tools, methods,  and models to create the winning formula for breakthrough results

  • Self-discovery. Learning and raising self-awareness on the part of the participants is fundamental to a meaningful experience as well as a successful outcome for the program

  • Continuous communication and feedback. We partner with senior leaders and any other significant stakeholders to ensure key organizational initiatives and objectives are integrated into the design of any program. We maintain an on-going relationship with key stakeholders to ensure the sessions continue to meet the overall goals and objectives of the organization

Facilitators:

Veronica Riley has worked in various capacities in the county, state, and private sector. Most of her career has been devoted to the child support industry. She was the Assistant Director of the San Joaquin County Department of Child Support Services from 2017-2023. She has extensive experience in state and local government, policy development and implementation, and training. 

Maria Sturdivant is a seasoned public-sector leader and trainer with more than two decades of experience in child support operations, staff development, and organizational performance. Prior to her retirement, Maria served in multiple supervisory and leadership roles with the Alameda County Department of Child Support Services, where she was widely respected for her ability to coach teams, translate policy into practice, and build confident, and capable staff.  

Liz Bullard is an experienced executive coach and leadership development professional with over 30 years of experience focused on enhancing individual and organizational performance through effective communication. Liz partners with leaders to provide executive coaching, customized leadership development, facilitation, organizational development and team building solutions. She has over 20 years in various roles with the Colorado Judicial Department where she led the development of the Judicial Executive Development Institute for new and emerging leaders as well as the Judicial Executive Leadership Development Program for executive leaders.  She created and facilitated soft skill workshops for over 3500 employees in such areas as Facilitation Skills, Coaching/Mentoring, Team Building, Communication, Motivating Employees, Building Trust, Crucial Conversations, and Leading Change.

Grays Peak Strategies offers

  • 30+ years of experience leading within and facilitating leadership development

    efforts for executive leaders and their teams

  • “In the bones” leadership experience…derived from management experience and

    many years coaching, facilitating, and developing senior leaders and their teams

  • Bench strength: our core team consists of 9 individuals plus access to a

    multicultural community of experienced coaches with International Coach

    Federation (ICF) certification and ICF-certified coach training and experience


ELEVATE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM REGISTRATION, APRIL-OCTOBER, 2026

Registration Fee: $8,200 + $50 processing fee

*The registration fee is subjected to be decreased based on the total number of attendees. You will be invoiced after the registration deadline with the total amount due.

up to 27 participants: $8,250
28-32 participants: $ 7,150
33-35 participants: $6,350

Registration Open Through March 13, 2026

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