Center for Executive Coaching (CEC)
ICF Level 1 and Level 2 accredited coach training organization founded in 2006 by Andrew Neitlich, built for experienced professionals entering executive coaching with an explicitly practical, business-first curriculum.
- Type
- Coach Training Organization
- Founded
- 2006
- Headquarters
- United States
About
Executive coaching is a rigorous discipline that demands practical tools, business acumen, and measurable results rather than abstract theory or feel-good conversations.
Center for Executive Coaching (CEC) coaches on Dream Coach Match
Dave Cain is a Board Certified Coach (BCC) and ICF Certified Coach (PCC) with a Master's in Organizational Development with 26 years of leadership experience (including 6 years in the US Navy) and 19 years of coaching experience. He specializes in helping leaders at all organizational levels to identify and develop needed skills to be an effective leader.
Julee's approach fosters reflection and action that drive meaningful results. Named one of the LIA 100 for her contributions to Lean and Agile spaces, Julee brings a wealth of experience to every engagement. Whether you're a business leader or navigating a personal challenge, Julee's coaching will help you clarify your goals, guide you to deeper insights, and take actionable steps.
I'm an ICF PCC-certified executive coach specializing in IT Directors leading teams of 5-20+ people. Former VP of Finance with 25+ years of international leadership experience, I built the Navigator system after working 16-hour days leading a 16-person team. I know what it is like to be the bottleneck. Now I help IT Directors build autonomous teams without sacrificing career or family.
Recent writing from Center for Executive Coaching (CEC) coaches
Why IT Directors Burn Out (And Why Working Harder Makes It Worse)
IT Directors burn out not from weakness but from becoming the structural bottleneck their team can't function without. Remi Vogel explains the root cause and the shift that changes it.
How Do I Stop Being the Go-To Person for Every Decision? Build a Navigator System, Not a Delegation Checklist
You became the go-to person because you're great at solving problems. The solution isn't better delegation tactics; it's shifting from Driver to Navigator leadership by building five systems that let your team decide without you.
When Your Organization Triples in Size and IT Doesn't
When headcount triples through acquisition, but IT stays at two people, the risk isn't technical; it's the IT Director absorbing everything silently. Remi Vogel explains how to make that risk visible upward.
Are You Leading Your IT Team, or Saving It Every Day?
Some IT leaders are overworked because they have become the person who saves everything. They do not control because they are bad leaders. They control because they care, they feel responsible, and they have been rewarded for solving problems.
Questions about Center for Executive Coaching (CEC)
Q.01What is the Center for Executive Coaching (CEC)?
What is the Center for Executive Coaching (CEC)?
CEC is an ICF-accredited coach training organization founded in 2006 by Andrew Neitlich in Sarasota, Florida. It focuses on practical, business-oriented executive coach certification programs for experienced professionals, and has trained over 2,500 coaches across 40+ countries. Since 2024 it has operated as a division of Keystone Partners.
Q.02Is CEC accredited by the ICF?
Is CEC accredited by the ICF?
Yes. CEC holds both ICF Level 1 and Level 2 accreditation. Level 1 supports the ACC credential pathway (60 hours of training); Level 2 supports the PCC pathway (125 hours). Both accreditations were earned through the ICF's formal review of CEC's policies, methodologies, and instructional quality.
Q.03What credentials can I earn through CEC?
What credentials can I earn through CEC?
CEC offers its own proprietary CEC Executive Coach Certification, and ICF-aligned programs leading to the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) or Professional Certified Coach (PCC) designation. A university-backed dual credential and a Team Coaching program aligned to the ICF ACTC are also available.
Q.04How long do CEC programs take to complete?
How long do CEC programs take to complete?
The CEC Core and Virtual Seminar programs typically take two to four months. The ICF Path to Certification, which includes mentor coaching, takes most participants five to six months. An accelerated Full Program option can compress the timeline further.
Q.05How much does CEC certification cost?
How much does CEC certification cost?
The proprietary CEC Executive Coach Certification programs start at $5,990. The ICF Path to Certification (Level 1 and Level 2 combined, with mentor coaching included) is $8,490. An accelerated Full Program runs $10,990. University-backed dual certifications range from $9,990 to $12,490.
Q.06What is the format — online or in-person?
What is the format — online or in-person?
CEC programs are available in three formats: hybrid (on-demand self-study plus live virtual sessions), fully live virtual, and in-person seminars. The mini-module structure means live sessions cover discrete topics and can generally be attended in any sequence.
Q.07Who is CEC designed for?
Who is CEC designed for?
CEC explicitly targets experienced professionals such as executives, HR leaders, management consultants, and therapists who want to transition into executive coaching or add coaching to their existing practice. Programs assume prior business experience rather than starting from foundational career development concepts.
Q.08Does a CEC credential tell me a coach can handle executive-level clients?
Does a CEC credential tell me a coach can handle executive-level clients?
It signals training specifically oriented toward executive and leadership contexts, which is more targeted than a general coaching credential. CEC's curriculum covers organizational, leadership, career, and business coaching situations. Still, ask a prospective coach about their specific client experience and which specialty tracks they completed.
Q.09Who owns CEC now, and is Andrew Neitlich still involved?
Who owns CEC now, and is Andrew Neitlich still involved?
In April 2024, CEC was acquired by Keystone Partners, a Boston-based leadership development and career transition firm, and now operates as a division of Keystone Partners. Andrew Neitlich continues as Director of the Center, leading live seminars and shaping the curriculum.
Q.10How does CEC's ICF Level 2 status benefit candidates compared to non-accredited programs?
How does CEC's ICF Level 2 status benefit candidates compared to non-accredited programs?
ICF Level 2 means mentor coaching is included and evaluated by CEC faculty. Candidates do not need to submit coaching recordings directly to the ICF for performance review, a process that can be slow and subjective with other pathways. This simplifies and speeds up the ICF credential application.
Q.11What should I ask a CEC-trained coach before hiring them?
What should I ask a CEC-trained coach before hiring them?
Executive coaching is a professional discipline, not a therapeutic service. CEC-trained coaches are equipped for leadership, career, and business coaching contexts, not to treat clinical conditions or provide psychotherapy. Before engaging a CEC-certified coach, ask: Which pathway did you complete, the proprietary CEC credential, ICF Level 1, or ICF Level 2? Do you hold an active ICF credential? Which specialty tracks did you complete within CEC? What executive or organizational domains have you coached in, and how many paid client hours have you accumulated? And when a client's challenge moves beyond the scope of coaching, how do you handle the referral?