Blue Mesa Coaching
Elevate Your Potential Through Coaching
Blue Mesa Coaching is a coach-education and executive coaching firm based in Fort Collins, Colorado. We partner with leaders and teams committed to ongoing development. We train the next generation of coaches to facilitate others’ transformation—with the depth, presence, and skill it requires. Our coaching education programs are designed for individuals who want to guide their clients on a journey of lasting change in both their personal and professional lives. The Transformational Coaching Program is an ICF-accredited Level 2 coaching education program, and Blue Mesa Coaching also provides executive, leadership, and team coaching delivered by ICF-certified coaches.
We have served as coaches and coach educators for over 40 years. In that time, we have seen our clients elevate their potential in both their personal and professional lives. We educate coaches who understand the human condition through the ICF-accredited Transformational Coaching Program, Mentor Coaching for ICF credentialing, and continuing coach education (Coaching Mastery and Ecology of Coaching™). Numerous organizations have used Blue Mesa Coaching to develop internal coaching capability, through Coaching Skills for Leaders, delivery of the Transformational Coaching Program within an organization, and executive, leadership, and team coaching.
Industry
Coach education and executive coaching
Where we work
Based in Fort Collins, Colorado. Coach education is delivered virtually and in hybrid formats; the founders' corporate experience spans North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Who we serve
Experienced professionals entering coaching practice
Established executives and professionals planning an independent coaching practice as a next chapter after corporate or professional work.
- Separating a program's ICF accreditation from the requirements to earn an individual coaching credential
- Finding specific, current enrollment facts such as cohort dates, deadlines, tuition, and the application steps
- Knowing how the training distinguishes coaching from consulting
Employed leaders adding coaching skills
Working leaders and managers building coaching skills, possibly toward a side practice, while staying employed.
- Fitting contact hours, homework, and observed practice around a full-time role
- Knowing which route applies to an individual versus an organization-commissioned program
- Distinguishing coaching from managing within the training
Earlier-career professionals considering coaching
Earlier-career professionals who do not want a conventional corporate path and are weighing professional coaching as an independent career.
- Published prerequisites of three to five years of leadership experience
- No online application form: the route is an inquiry, a conversation, then a written application, resume or CV, and a phone interview
- Judging whether a smaller program with a personal admissions process is legitimate and accredited
Physicians and healthcare leaders
Physicians, clinical leaders, and healthcare administrators who want to coach within their health systems.
- Finding faculty and cohorts with experience in healthcare leadership contexts
- Fitting virtual or hybrid training around clinical responsibilities
- Needing an ICF-accredited path that is credible to a health system
Organizations building internal coaching capability
Organizations that want to equip their leaders with coaching skills, bring the Transformational Coaching Program in-house, or engage executive, leadership, and team coaching.
- Leaders who manage but do not yet coach
- Teams that need trust, alignment, and co-created accountability
- Linking leadership development to the organization's mission, values, and strategic plans
At a glance
- Location
- Fort Collins, Colorado
- ICF accreditation
- Transformational Coaching Program – Level 2 is an ICF-accredited Level 2 coaching education program (International Coaching Federation Education Search Service record 3242, 125 hours). Level 1 is listed on the site with ICF Level 1 accreditation.
- Experience
- Coaches and coach educators for over 40 years
- Next Level 2 cohort
- January 2027 – October 2027; application deadline November 1, 2026 at 11:59pm MT; each cohort limited to 20 participants
- Level 2 tuition
- $10,000, with required books and materials estimated at $150; payment plans of two, three, or four payments; $200 non-refundable deposit once accepted
- How to apply
- Submit a completed application, send a current resume or CV, and complete a phone interview; begin with an inquiry at bluemesacoach.com/contact-us
- Continuing coach education
- Coaching Mastery: 22.5 hours (10 weeks × 2 hours 15 minutes), 18 ICF Core Competency and 4.5 Resource Development CCEUs, $1,475. Ecology of Coaching™: 11 hours (5 weeks × 2 hours 15 minutes), 9.75 Core Competency and 1.5 Resource Development CCEUs, $449.
- Formats
- Virtual and hybrid options for the Transformational Coaching Program; webinars for continuing coach education; Coaching Skills for Leaders as a 1–4 day onsite program or multiple virtual meetings
- Founders
- Patricia Barlow, MCC (President and Founding Partner) and Micki McMillan, M.Ed., MCC (CEO and Founding Partner; co-creator of the Transformational Coaching Program)
- Contact
- 303-906-4251; hello@bluemesagroup.com
What makes us different
We train the next generation of coaches to facilitate others’ transformation—with the depth, presence, and skill it requires. Excellent coaching produces sustainable transformation that brings hope to the world.
Credibility
- Transformational Coaching Program – Level 2 is listed by the International Coaching Federation as an accredited Level 2 program (ICF Education Search Service record 3242)
- All Blue Mesa coaches hold International Coaching Federation certification and abide by the ICF Code of Ethics
- Faculty include ICF PCC and MCC assessors; co-founder Micki McMillan, MCC, is a past Chair of the ICF Coaching Education Board and past President of the Association of Coach Training Organizations (ACTO)
- Clients named on the About page include Merck & Co., The Coca-Cola Company, Yale School of Medicine, University of Colorado Health, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health, Entergy, DTE Energy, Trinity Health, Centura Health, Colorado State University, and Royal Dutch Shell
- Published graduate testimonials at bluemesacoach.com/testimonials, including graduates who earned ICF credentials after the program
Questions and answers
What does Blue Mesa Coaching do?
Blue Mesa Coaching educates professional coaches and provides executive, leadership, and team coaching. Its Transformational Coaching Program is an ICF-accredited Level 2 coaching education program; it also offers Mentor Coaching for ICF credentialing, continuing coach education (Coaching Mastery and Ecology of Coaching™), and Coaching Skills for Leaders for organizations. It is based in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Is Blue Mesa Coaching's program ICF-accredited?
Yes. The Transformational Coaching Program – Level 2 is an ICF-accredited Level 2 coaching education program listed in the International Coaching Federation's Education Search Service (record 3242). Completing the program prepares you for ICF certification; the individual credential (ACC, PCC, or MCC) is applied for with ICF under ICF's own requirements.
Who is Blue Mesa's coach education for?
Individuals who want to guide their clients on a journey of lasting change in both their personal and professional lives: experienced professionals transitioning into coaching, employed leaders adding coaching skills, earlier-career professionals choosing an independent path, and physicians and healthcare leaders who want to coach within their health systems. The credential programs publish a prerequisite of three to five years of leadership experience.
When is the next Transformational Coaching Program and how do I apply?
The next Level 2 cohort runs January 2027 – October 2027, with an application deadline of November 1, 2026 at 11:59pm Mountain Time; each cohort is limited to 20 participants. To apply, submit a completed application, send a current resume or CV, and complete a phone interview. Start with an inquiry at bluemesacoach.com/contact-us.
What does the Transformational Coaching Program cost?
Level 2 tuition is $10,000, with required books and materials estimated at $150. Payment plans of two, three, or four payments are available, and a non-refundable $200 deposit holds your place once accepted. Referral and corporate discounts are available on request.
Is Transformational Coaching Program – Level 1 open for enrollment?
The site currently lists no upcoming public dates for Level 1. Contact Blue Mesa Coaching to learn more; the Level 2 cohort is the program with published dates.
What continuing education does Blue Mesa offer experienced coaches?
Coaching Mastery is a 22.5-hour webinar series (10 weeks × 2 hours 15 minutes) for seasoned leadership and executive coaches that qualifies for 18 ICF Core Competency and 4.5 Resource Development CCEUs, priced at $1,475. Ecology of Coaching™ is an 11-hour series (5 weeks × 2 hours 15 minutes) qualifying for 9.75 Core Competency and 1.5 Resource Development CCEUs, priced at $449. Mentor Coaching is an individualized program of study, practice, and mentoring with an MCC or PCC coach in preparation for ACC, PCC, or MCC credentials.
Does Blue Mesa Coaching work with organizations?
Yes. Organizations use Blue Mesa Coaching to develop internal coaching capability through Coaching Skills for Leaders (a flexible program delivered as 1–4 onsite days or multiple virtual meetings), delivery of the Transformational Coaching Program within the organization, and executive, leadership, and team coaching by ICF-certified coaches. Clients named on the site include Merck & Co., The Coca-Cola Company, Yale School of Medicine, University of Colorado Health, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health, Entergy, DTE Energy, Trinity Health, Centura Health, Colorado State University, and Royal Dutch Shell.
Where is Blue Mesa Coaching located?
Fort Collins, Colorado. Programs are delivered virtually and in hybrid formats. Phone 303-906-4251; email hello@bluemesagroup.com.
Who leads Blue Mesa Coaching?
Founding Partners Patricia Barlow, MCC (President; formerly an executive HR leader at Merck and Citigroup) and Micki McMillan, M.Ed., MCC (CEO; co-creator of the Transformational Coaching Program, past Chair of the ICF Coaching Education Board, past President of ACTO, and an ICF PCC and MCC assessor). Senior associates include Abby Veliquette, Ph.D., PCC, senior faculty for the Transformational Coaching Program.