The Coaches
Melissa Thornley
Melissa is a change agent who works with her clients to live their best lives possible right now. Her approach to coaching is both gentle and irreverent and is based in openness, energy and movement. She specializes in guiding her clients thru transitions to achieve growth and balance.
Melissa’s professional life began in the technology and telecommunications field at U.S. Robotics. When people were just getting the idea of what the internet was, Melissa coached customers on how to install their modems, which quickly led to her shift to writing the user manuals and sales materials.
After three years at U.S. Robotics, Melissa felt a desire to explore her creative side and went back to school to study film. While at Columbia College, her serendipitous meeting with a producer in advertising and a commercial film editor led her to her career in advertising and film.
For the past thirteen years, Melissa has worked in Chicago, New York, and London as an Executive Producer for the Whitehouse creative film editorial boutique. Working in these varied markets led Melissa to become the Managing Director of the Whitehouse where she managed the day to day operations of the top international film editing company in the world. She has produced award-winning work with advertising agencies from Japan to Amsterdam to Austin, TX. Her clients include McDonald’s, Anheuser Busch, Nike, and Careerbuilder.
In 2008 Melissa opened Wholesome Midwestern Girl, a consulting and sales firm focused on representing editorial, motion graphics, and music/sound design talent to the advertising industry. She worked with her clients to create overall brand strategy as well as market individual talents.
Melissa is currently the Executive Producer for Beast Editorial in Chicago as well as the President of Women in Film Chicago.
Melissa is a trained co-active coach and co-active leader by the Coaches Training Institute. She is also well versed in a variety of energy healing work including Reiki and shamanic healing. Melissa earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Liberal Arts Management from Indiana University, Bloomington.
Melissa is an avid patron of the arts, most specifically music, dance and theater. She’s trained in theater and improv with the Annoyance Theater,