Cheryl Procter-Rogers, APR, Fellow PRSA, MCC, is an award-winning public relations and business strategist and Master Certified Coach with more than 40 years of experience advising senior leaders and organizations. Through her firm, A Step Ahead Consulting and Coaching LLC, she provides strategic counsel in business strategy, public relations, leadership development, and executive coaching, helping leaders think strategically, communicate with clarity, and prepare for the moments that shape reputation and long-term success.
Cheryl has held executive and C-suite roles across multiple industries, including Ernst & Young, DePaul University, Home Box Office (HBO), Nielsen Marketing Research, and Golden State Mutual. During her time in Ernst & Young’s Americas Coaching Practice, she coached partners, principals, and managing directors across multiple sectors, helping leaders navigate complex client relationships, organizational change, and expanded leadership responsibility. Her work frequently involves advising leaders operating in highly matrixed organizations and regulated environments where clear strategy, stakeholder alignment, and effective communication are essential.
A former national president of the Public Relations Society of America and recipient of the profession’s highest honor, the Gold Anvil, Cheryl is widely recognized for her leadership in the communications and coaching professions. She is the recipient of the International Coaching Federation’s Distinguished Coach Impact Award and has been recognized as a Top Coach in America and one of the Top 20 Executive Coaches in Chicago.
She brings extensive governance experience, having served on more than 20 local, national, and global nonprofit boards, and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Bradley University. She continues to contribute thought leadership through writing, speaking, and advising leaders and organizations across corporate, nonprofit, university, and government sectors.
Cheryl continues to advise leaders and organizations on strategy, leadership, and reputation. She also contributes thought leadership through writing, speaking, executive coaching, and expert witness work related to public relations and communications.
