Courtney Peterson
Courtney Chisholm has spent her life helping people rise—with clarity, courage, and alignment.As a trained leadership coach, seasoned executive, professor, and purpose-driven woman, her work is where strategy meets soul.
Courtney Chisholm has spent her life helping people rise—with clarity, courage, and alignment.
As a trained leadership coach, seasoned executive, professor, and purpose-driven woman, her work is where strategy meets soul. She believes transformation begins not at the surface, but at the root.
Courtney serves as Chief Administrative Officer at the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), where she leads enterprise functions spanning finance and accounting, human resources, legal and risk, executive affairs, compliance, information technology, and organizational effectiveness, including project and process management. In this role, she partners closely with the CEO and Board to align strategy with execution, strengthen operational performance, and position the organization for sustained growth and impact across a geographically dispersed workforce.
With more than 20 years of experience as a Chief Human Resources Officer and enterprise leader, Courtney brings deep expertise in building high-performing teams, developing leaders, and shaping cultures that enable organizations to thrive. Courtney has held leadership roles at esteemed organizations, including the Edison Electric Institute, Sidwell Friends School, the Fannie Mae Foundation, and the American Diabetes Association. Her expertise spans leadership development, culture transformation, and coaching high-impact professionals to navigate complexity with confidence.
Courtney is a Senior Certified HR Professional (SPHR, SHRM-SCP) and a graduate of the Executive Certificate in Leadership Coaching Program at Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership. She has been honored as one of Savoy Magazine’s 2023 Most Influential Executives in Diversity & Inclusion, a Top Woman Leader in Washington, DC by Women We Admire, and a Top 100 Woman to KNOW in America by J.P. Morgan Chase.
Beyond her professional achievements, Courtney is a dedicated advocate for mental health and a passionate philanthropist. She serves on the board of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Montgomery County (NAMI-MC) and mentors young leaders through her involvement in Top Ladies of Distinction and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. A member of Impact100 DC, Courtney also proudly serves on the faculty at Georgetown University, School of Continuing Studies.
A devoted mother to two teen daughters, Courtney resides in Montgomery County, Maryland, where she continues to inspire, coach, and empower leaders to thrive.