About Us

Melissa Haveman (She/Her) is an organizational sociologist and ICF-credentialed (PCC), certified coach and trainer. She specializes in helping teams develop communication-centered, results-driven, innovative cultures and helping creative professionals build bold goals and sustainable ways to reach them.

Melissa has a master’s degree in Sociology from Southern Illinois University and the Leading Virtual Teams Certificate from Cornell University. She is an independent authorized partner and certified trainer for Everything DiSC and an accredited facilitator for The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team.. She loves taking these team-building solutions to businesses and nonprofits around West Michigan and beyond.

Melissa served as the Director of Content (Director of Curriculum) for an edtech company and has over two decades of experience developing training and educational programs and materials for learners of all ages. She also has extensive experience working in and leading virtual and creative teams, as well as over two decades as a freelance writer and developmental editor.

One of those “creative types,” Melissa has been both a herded cat and a cat herder. She’s blessed with far too many ideas for one person to handle, a calming presence that works on everyone but foster kittens, and an ability to see situations from drone height, which makes her good at understanding context, the interplay of present factors, and what solutions will work. Her favorite received compliment was that if she answered all the questions in the world, she’d invent more questions just to solve them.

As a coach, Melissa uses a strength-based, positive coaching style to help her clients achieve their goals, whether that is becoming a better leader and problem-solver,  taking their creativity to new heights, or improving team and organizational culture. She brings a calming presence, humor, and openness to every session.

Melissa currently lives in West Michigan, where she loves the snow, kayaking, and ice wine. She has a prickly cat and two goofball dogs, writes mystery short stories, and is a member of the West Coast Chamber of Commerce, Inforum of Michigan, and the International Coaching Federation.

The Journey

  • Certified Culture Change Coach (Center for Executive Coaching)

  • Certified Change Leadership Coach (Center for Executive Coaching)

  • International Coaching Federation Credentialed Coach (PCC)

  • International Coaching Federation Credentialed Coach (ACC)

  • Certified Executive Coach (Center for Executive Coaching)

  • Everything DiSC Certified Trainer

  • The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team Accredited Facilitator

  • Leading Virtual Teams Certificate (Cornell University)

  • MA: Sociology (Southern Illinois University)

  • BS: Psychology/Sociology (Grand Valley State University)

Books

Decoding Doubt: Navigating Confidence, Doubt, and Creative Work (forthcoming in 2025)

Creative Problem-Solving (co-authored with Dr. Patrick Parker), 2022

The Big Fang (co-editor), an anthology for Harbor Humane Society.