For the seekers, shifters, and stewards of change
Why Dusted Apollo?
Why Dusted Apollo?
Why Dusted Apollo?
The name Dusted Apollo comes from a fusion of symbols — the butterfly (transformation and new life), Apollo (light, healing, curiosity and exploration) and the magic of dust (as in fairy dust or ethereal particles).
It’s a reminder that the divine shows up in many forms, and transformation is always possible.
Meet Our Muse
Why Dusted Apollo?
Why Dusted Apollo?
The real-life Dusted Apollo is an extremely rare butterfly living in the meadows of the inner Himalayas, at some of the highest elevations on earth. She belongs to the Apollo species named for the Greek god of healing, prophecy, music and poetry. Dusted, because her wings look like they are coated in a silvery stardust.
Though discovered in 1890, she was photographed for the first time in 2023.
All Are Welcome
Why Dusted Apollo?
All Are Welcome
At Dusted Apollo, all beliefs and backgrounds are welcome. Whether you are part of any religion, identify as spiritual but not religious, or hold no religious beliefs at all, this is a space for open, honest exploration—free from judgment or pressure.
We welcome all people — across gender, orientation, ability, identity, faith background (
At Dusted Apollo, all beliefs and backgrounds are welcome. Whether you are part of any religion, identify as spiritual but not religious, or hold no religious beliefs at all, this is a space for open, honest exploration—free from judgment or pressure.
We welcome all people — across gender, orientation, ability, identity, faith background (or none) and life stage. This is a space for anyone seeking deeper truth, clarity and transformation.
For Individuals
Because You Matter. And without you, something is missing.
Whether you're exploring your spiritual path, navigating change, or stepping into more authentic leadership—I bring grounded, personalized coaching to support your growth. This is about helping you reconnect with your truest self, and move forward with clarity, courage, and purpose.
Career Coaching
Whether changing careers, seeking advancement, or aligning work with your values, I help you gain clarity, confidence, and clear next steps.
Leadership Coaching
Lead with authenticity. Build emotional intelligence, manage complexity, and align your leadership with who you truly are—not just your role.
Life Coaching
Rediscover what gives life meaning. Set goals, overcome challenges, and build sustainable practices that nurture you from within.
Spiritual Coaching
Explore purpose, belief, and the sacred. Find your unique spiritual language and what brings you peace—whether rebuilding, deconstructing, or starting fresh.
You Might Experience:
- A clearer sense of who you are and how to show up
- Peace amid uncertainty
- Confidence to make aligned choices
- Words for what you’ve long felt but couldn’t name
- A personal framework for meaning
- Renewed purpose, compassion, and direction
Rhythm. Resonance. Renewal
Schedule your free introductory call
For Teams & Organizations
In every successful organization, it’s people who make the difference—and it’s their inner life that drives sustainable change.
After two decades leading change in Fortune 500 companies, I saw a pattern: transformation efforts often overlook the human experience. That realization led me deeper into coaching, theology, and soul-centered consulting.
I help leaders and teams move beyond surface strategies to build cultures of clarity, purpose, and resilience.
How I support high-performing organizations:
- Lead through disruption
With courage, clarity, and steady focus.
- Repair leadership disconnects
To rebuild trust, alignment, and shared purpose.
- Clarify purpose and drive results
Connecting vision to action that matters.
- Elevate team performance
By strengthening collaboration, communication, and accountability.
- Support whole-person growth
Developing resilient leaders who lead with heart and strategy.
- Reignite energy and engagement
Turning burnout into clarity, momentum, and commitment.
This isn’t quick-fix work—it’s grounded, intentional, and human. Because when people are whole, organizations thrive.
Human Centered. Results Driven.
Schedule your free introductory call
For Churches & Faith Communities
As God’s people, we are called to assemble, to gather (Hebrews 10:25), and to embody Christ’s presence in the world. I’m deeply passionate about partnering with God to help the Church live out that call—bringing meaningful care and support to His people and communities.
This isn’t just a passion; it’s the focus of my life’s work. For over two decades, I’ve helped complex systems evolve through disruption—ensuring they stay rooted in mission, resilient in uncertainty, and responsive to the needs around them.
After years leading large-scale transformation in the corporate world, I began to see a gap—faith communities were facing similar pressures of burnout, change, and disconnection, but often without the resources or support to navigate them well. That insight compelled me to bring together my organizational leadership experience and theological training, creating a unique space where ministry and human formation meet.
Today, I help churches and ministry teams re-center on what matters most, especially in seasons of disruption, growth, or realignment.
I partner with pastors, staff teams, and leadership boards to:
- Reassess what’s working—and what’s not—when it comes to attendance, engagement, and outreach
- Navigate challenges related to buildings, budgets, and long-term sustainability
- Facilitate honest conversations about shifting needs, mission, and community relevance
- Reignite purpose and reimagine models of ministry that reflect Jesus’ “love your neighbor” call
- Strengthen leadership resilience and alignment in the midst of change
I bring order to chaos, clarity to confusion, and compassion to every conversation.
This isn’t just consulting. It’s a calling. It’s a path not just to survival—but to transformation. Churches don’t need another program. They need to evolve with faith and respond to what breaks God’s heart in the world around them. I’m here to help do that—with courage, compassion, and deep care.
Spirit led. People centered.
Schedule your free introductory call
About Dusted Apollo
The Journey to Dusted Apollo
I didn’t set out to create Dusted Apollo. But over time, the longing I couldn’t silence—and the patterns I couldn’t ignore—led me here.
My first job out of college was on the 92nd floor of the north tower in the World Trade Center. I was young, idealistic, and full of hope. Then came 9/11—and everything changed.
In the aftermath, I found myself asking questions no strategy deck could answer. I took one seminary class, and it lit a spark that grew into a decade of study in theology, philosophy, and spiritual formation. While my inner life deepened, my outer career thrived—leading transformation across banks, government, and global firms. But something was shifting. I saw a pattern—brilliant, driven people who looked successful but felt disconnected. I recognized myself among them. That realization led me to becoming a certified life coach. I found a path that wove together everything I’d lived, studied, and longed to offer.
In 2023, I walked away from a successful career to follow a deeper calling. It wasn’t easy. It came with grief, fear, and holy disorientation. But it also came with peace. Because walking away from what no longer fits is how we walk toward what is finally true. Dusted Apollo was born in that space—between outer success and inner wholeness. Between what the world demands and what your soul knows.
This work is for those asking:
Who am I now?
What am I here to do?
What matters, really?
We live in a culture of constant fixing. But real peace comes not from fixing, but remembering.
About Melissa
Melissa (deBuhr) Smithwick is a transformation executive and certified coach with 25 years of experience leading strategic change across corporate, consulting, and public sectors—including roles with Accenture, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and the U.S. government.
Known for blending clarity with compassion, she helps leaders and organizations navigate complex transitions with purpose and sustainability. Her work focuses on aligning strategy with human potential to drive lasting change.
Melissa holds degrees in education and industrial engineering from Iowa State University, a master’s in theological studies from Bethel (MN), and advanced coaching credentials through the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
She’s active in civic and faith leadership, serving as a Guardian ad Litem, teaching in her local church, and mentoring high school girls. She lives in Charlotte with her husband and pets, has three grown sons, and enjoys gardening, painting, and the outdoors.
Testimonials
Dusted Apollo isn’t just a brand—it’s a living, breathing path. Melissa has a gift for weaving ancient wisdom with modern truth in a way that makes you feel both grounded and uplifted. Whether she’s teaching, coaching, or simply being, she invites people into something sacred: a journey back to their center.
--S.K., Iowa
The space Melissa holds is rare. There’s no performative pressure—only deep welcome, deep listening, and deep remembering. Through her storytelling, questions, and presence, I felt invited to show up honestly and reconnect with the parts of me I’d forgotten. It wasn’t just meaningful—it was healing.
-J.M., North Carolina
Working with Melissa was unlike anything I’ve experienced before. She brings both soul and strategy into the conversation—guiding with deep wisdom, clarity, and gentleness. I came to her during a time of transition, and our work together helped me reconnect with what actually matters. I left with more peace, sharper vision, and a plan that felt aligned with my true self.
-A.C., Massachussetts