This is our team.
What if everyone communicated with clarity and truly connected? Imagine what we could get done.
Lighthouse Communications was founded in 2013 to support non-native English speakers in Silicon Valley. Over the years, we’ve worked with clients from around the globe—startups, professional speakers, and underrepresented groups in tech, including women, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC communities.
Our diverse team of coaches specializes in areas like presentation skills, storytelling, business writing, ESL, and executive coaching. At Lighthouse, we focus on helping people sharpen their ideas and communicate clear, compelling messages.
Our approach is simple: learn by doing. We minimize lectures and maximize hands-on practice. Workshops are built around real-world needs, like refining talking points for an upcoming meeting or tackling team priorities, so participants gain valuable skills while making progress on their work.
No matter your background or experience, Lighthouse is here to help you strengthen your voice and ensure your ideas are heard.
Founder & Principal
Anne Ricketts
In 2013, Anne founded LHC to help professionals communicate with confidence. Initially focused on non-native English speakers, LHC quickly grew to support leaders across industries—from emerging talent to seasoned executives.
As an executive coach, Anne has worked with leaders worldwide, including Stanford MBA students, TED speakers, and presenters at SXSW and other major conferences. When she’s not coaching or leading her team, she enjoys life in Berkeley, CA, as a proud mom to her young son and daughter.
Director of Content
Michael Shehane
Michael teaches many of our workshops and maintains LHC’s curriculum. Michael has worked with some of Silicon Valley’s top talent, helping speakers connect authentically with their audiences. Known for his ability to simplify complex ideas, Michael specializes in coaching professionals to deliver impactful, audience-centered presentations.
With an M.A. in language education and experience living in Germany, Japan, and China, he emphasizes linguistic and cultural inclusivity in his facilitation. Outside of work, Michael is passionate about karate.
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Administrative Manager
Rachel Gross
Rachel takes the day-to-day operations at LHC to the next level —communicating with clients, scheduling workshops, and simplifying business logistics. Her work helps our trainers and coaches focus on what they love most: connecting with the participants in their workshops and sharing the communications tools to help them succeed at work.
Facilitator & Coach
Sheron Tabois
Sheron is a leadership consultant, facilitator, and influential communication coach providing feedback to Managers, Directors, and C-level individuals on their behaviors and content. Sheron has been one of LHC’s main facilitators since 2017, traveling the world to teach workshops. Sheron is also a style consultant- helping people show up in a way that makes them feel and look confident.
Facilitator & Coach
Hilary Spreiter
Hilary's career as a communication coach began in 2011 while she was a graduate student at Stanford University studying rhetoric. She works with individuals and teams in academia and the business world, from Stanford University MBA students to successful tech executives. Also certified as an Integral Coach, Hilary helps her clients excel through expanded self-awareness and effective communication that complements their unique leadership and communication style.
Moderator — Virtual Workshops
Gregory Brown
Gregory is a moderator extraordinaire for LHC’s virtual workshops, which supports his passionate pursuit of lifelong learning and self-development. Gregory began his studies in electrical engineering and handles breakouts and the technical aspects of moderating, behind the scenes. Outside of Lighthouse, Gregory is designing his own artisanal cereal.
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Facilitator & Coach
Tani Peelgrane
Tani works with individuals and groups to develop executive presence, construct effective messages, and communicate complex concepts to diverse audiences. With her experience as an executive coach, former position as lead training designer and facilitator at the California Academy of Sciences, and years as a high school and college educator, Tani has a wealth of knowledge and experience.
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Facilitator & Coach
Louise Wo
Louise is a facilitator who works with individuals and groups to communicate and connect more effectively. She holds a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and is passionate about cultivating well-being through workshops and coaching. She specializes in creating engaged, playful learning experiences that foster belonging, connection and joy.
Facilitator & Coach
Win Chesson
Win works as a leadership coach at Stanford, Harvard and Winspired Coaching. His facilitation focuses on strengthening interpersonal influence, improving communication, and building a culture of feedback.
Win previously worked at Goldman Sachs as an investment advisor, IDEO as a design entrepreneur, and Immigration Equality as a champion for LGBTQ immigrants. A lifelong swimmer and daily meditator, Win is passionate about Broadway, bitcoin, and bicoastal living.
Facilitator & Coach
Lauren Rauch
Lauren helps individuals from diverse backgrounds communicate and lead more effectively. With 10 years of experience in Silicon Valley, Lauren facilitates workshops on communication, emotional intelligence, and leadership. As a coach, she works with clients on finding their authentic voice, building trust and confidence, and communicating through conflict.
Facilitator & Coach
Alysha English
Alysha (she/her) is a Facilitator, Coach, and Community Strategist who specializes in designing and facilitating joyful, creative learning experiences that build meaningful relationships. She has over a decade of experience supporting individuals and teams communicate with confidence, collaborate creatively, and lead with care. She is also a published poet passionate about creative writing and storytelling. Alysha holds an Ed.M. from Harvard Graduate School of Education and a BFA from Howard University. Her love language is noodles.
Facilitator & Coach
Christine Haas
Christine has traveled around the world teaching courses to scientists and engineers on writing, storytelling, and presentation skills. With a focus on developing slides that have targeted messaging and effective visuals, Christine bans the use of bullet-points to help clients deliver focused content with confident delivery.
Facilitator & Coach
Keiko Schlabach
Originally from Japan, Keiko brings passion and experience to teaching cross-cultural communication and presentation skills. In her boutique business, English-Empowered, Keiko coaches Japanese researchers, scientists, and business professionals on how to transform into effective English communicators. Keiko resides in Boston with her husband and two children.
Facilitator & Coach
Rebecca Williams
Rebecca has been helping people tell stories for over two decades, in two languages, and in five countries. She has worked with hundreds of founders and professionals to help them speak clearly, speak for impact, and craft compelling narratives. Her mission is to help purpose-driven overachievers rise and shine so they can change the world with their ideas.