Professional Coaching Education

MPH, PCC
Coach educator

Sharon Barbour brings 10 years of coaching experience to her clients, as well as expertise in habit change, mindfulness and leadership development. She delights in facilitating life-changing shifts in perspectives, presence and actions that inspire clients to make fulfilling changes and creations. Her habit change expertise ensures that changes last. Sharon’s warm and creative spirit, coupled with a fluid yet rigorous coaching style, helps her clients to make breakthroughs and move past old roadblocks to positive change. A lifelong learner and observer of human nature, she is inspired by human potential and inner wisdom. She certified at the PCC level through the International Coach Federation and holds a faculty position at Presence-Based Coaching & Leadership Development. Prior to coaching, Sharon earned a master’s degree in public health and worked with nonprofits, cooperatives and educational institutions, primarily in program development, evaluation and management. She loves family time and being outside — kayaking, gardening and simply enjoying life.

PCC
Mentor coach

Dennis founded Dennis Blasius Consulting LLC with the goal of providing career, executive and leadership coaching services to federal, state and local government employees as well as to managers and employees in private industry. He specializes in helping managers and senior executives improve performance, enhance communication, juggle work/life priorities, maximize time management and personal accountability, deal with stress, assist in general career path decision-making and re-examine leadership styles.

MA, MCC, ACTC
Professional coaching program developer & director of education

Samantha began her career in South Africa, working for six years with a grassroots movement focused on developing leaders. After completing a stint of international development work in Afghanistan, Samantha attained her MA in organizational management & development and a certificate in evidence-based coaching from Fielding Graduate University.

Samantha is a Master Certified Coach and has her Advanced Certification in Team Coaching through the International Coach Federation. In the role of program developer, Samantha loves supporting the world of coaching education and delights in finding ways to support coaching and coach training to be more accessible to more people.

Samantha resides, works, plays and recreates in Chardon, OH on a few acres with her  husband and daughter. Samantha enjoys time in nature watching birds, taking walks, biking trails, and gardening, as it brings so much to her development as a human and to her work in the world.

PCC
Mentor coach

Kimberly is a transformational leadership and resilience coach as well as an organizational development consultant, a mom of three, a lover of learning and an adventure seeker. Kimberly is passionate about effecting change within purpose-driven individuals, and her purpose and intent as a coach is always “in service to the client; together we are searching for discovery, awareness and possibility.”  Her compassionate presence is balanced with keen observation to support individuals in achieving their goals, whatever they may be.

Kimberly brings two decades of experience and leadership in business management consulting, organizational effectiveness, change management, and corporate social responsibility, largely with Fortune 500 clients.  Her professional experience spans four continents, and she finds joy and wisdom in different ways of living, thinking and being.  She is a UW-Madison graduate and a 2020 graduate of the UWCPC program. 

Professional coaching program specialist

Michelle is the program specialist for the Professional Coach Education portfolio. She joined the Division of Continuing Education in 2019 as a program coordinator after serving in both teaching and administrative roles with the Madison Metropolitan School District. She is passionate about curriculum development and content management, and she cares deeply about advocating for learners and creating meaningful, supportive experiences in both traditional and virtual learning environments. She believes that exceptional education grows from thoughtful, differentiated teaching, and well-organized, student-centered systems that celebrate and support each learner’s unique strengths and talents.

Michelle lives in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, with her husband and children. She loves reading, gardening, horseback riding, and swimming—and she’s especially happy on hot summer days spent at the pool or beach. A devoted baker, she’s always excited to try new recipes and create sweet treats to share.

BSIE, ACC

Coach educator

Dan is an executive leadership coach, consultant, facilitator, and sole proprietor of Dan George Coaching and Development, with 35 years of experience in global technology (IBM) and professional services firms (Accenture, Deloitte) including over 20 years of experience as a senior executive leading global teams. 

Dan believes leaders are at their best when they are authentic and leading from their strengths. Dan partners with senior executives, founders, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders helping them to be differentiated leaders who value people, separate from safe group thinking, act with moral courage, and lead beyond boundaries. Dan helps his clients go further faster knowing more.

MS, PCC
Coach educator

Laura Gleisner, BSE, MS, ACC, is a professional leadership coach, communication specialist and sole proprietor of Laura Gleisner Coaching + Consulting, LLC. She has over 20 years of experience as an educator, consultant, coach and trainer. A quote attributed to Tony Robbins, “The quality of our lives is equal to the quality of our relationships,” has created the foundation for her coaching with leaders and teams. She believes that in order for today’s leaders to create satisfying professional relationships, healthy work environments (i.e. life-giving rather than life-draining) and maximize their impact, they need to be experts in the fine art of communication. As a leadership coach and communication specialist, Laura practices and trains leaders and teams to communicate in a way that builds trust, creates healthy work environments and supports efficiency, productivity and goal achievement.

Laura is a self-described “recovering perfectionist” and has struggled with social anxiety her entire life. A gift of these challenges is that she geeks out on personal development, leadership and communication books, videos and trainings. These experiences, in addition to her work in coaching and communication, have solidified her belief that coaching conversations can change your life.

PCC
Lead mentor coach

Toral is passionate about working with leaders who are deeply committed to creating positive change and making a meaningful impact in their world. For nearly 30 years, that passion has translated into leading and coaching organizations, teams and coalitions in state and local government, nonprofit, corporate and higher education arenas that focus on advancing environmental, social and educational causes. Today, she offers leadership and life coaching, mindfulness facilitation and mentor coaching to those dedicated to transformational growth.

As a mentor coach, Toral supports her students in developing core coaching competencies and noticing mindsets or behaviors that impact their coaching presence and skill. With a spirit of “beginner’s mind,” she invites students towards progress — not perfection — building self-compassion, self-awareness and confidence.

When she’s not supporting her amazing clients and students, you can find Toral kayaking, hiking and spending time with dear ones.

Coaching & customs program specialist

Tania supports the development and expansion of coaching education programs at UW-Madison’s Division of Continuing Studies.  She joined the division in 2024 after working across student affairs in admissions, DEI, and career services. As a career coach since 2018, she has supported hundreds of individuals through pivotal transitions and is passionate about equipping practitioners with the skills to make a meaningful impact.  

MCC
Mentor coach

TC is described as a collaborative, fierce and courageous coach. She loves this description because it accurately reflects her approach. She provides support and direct feedback to help clients effectively lean in to personal and professional life challenges to create their preferred future. Mastering both the art and science of coaching, TC integrates coaching techniques and helpful ‘assignments’ to offer a highly personalized program tailored to you. With compassion and understanding, you coach around whatever topic you bring to each session, building on your strengths, shifting your behavior toward your preferred future.

TC serves a broad spectrum of clients as a private practitioner, coaching and mentoring individuals, groups and teams. Some fun facts to share as you get to know each other: TC is an avid sea kayaker and enjoys the caves of Lake Superior when the water is not frozen; when it is, she will be skiing or making snow angels. She collects heart-shaped rocks, sea glass, sassy cocktail napkins and burr oak leaves. She would be honored to get to know you and co-create your future.

PCC
Mentor coach

Fabiola has 12 years of experience as a professional coach and holds credentials as an international Professional Certified Coach (PCC). She initially trained in ontological coaching at Newfield Network before completing speciality training in leadership coaching by Awareness to Action International™. She is a coaching supervisor and candidate for the diploma in supervision by Coaching Development, London, and a mentor coach certified by GCG and ICF. From 2013 to 2017, Fabiola took on volunteer leadership roles in Chile, Latin America and the Caribbean within the International Coach Federation. Educated in the visual and graphic arts, she specializes in learning and coach training and advises coach training schools in the professional standards of the International Coach Federation.