Melissa serves as the Chief Development Officer (CDO) of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina (The Food Bank). The Food Bank serves 34 counties in North Carolina and has branches in Raleigh, Durham, Greenville, New Bern, Sandhills, and Wilmington. For over 40 years The Food Bank has worked to alleviate hunger and to provide emergency food assistance during emergencies and times of need. The Food Bank's vision is no one goes hungry. It seeks to nourish people, build solutions, and empower communities.

• Led major gifts of corporate, foundation and individual donors for the leading humanitarian organization that prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Led annual fundraising strategies, board engagement, and events including wine gala and golf tournaments.• Successfully identified, engaged, cultivated, solicited, and stewarded donors in Eastern North Carolina Region (53 counties including the Triangle) surpassing goals by more than 174% in FY20; 102.7% in FY19 and helped secure first million-dollar gift in region; 114% in FY18 and 104% in FY17. • Received awards: “Running to Great Purpose” Serving Leader Award in 2019 and Team Collaboration Award in 2017.

• Created and implemented fundraising, marketing and communications strategies for non-profit agency working to prevent and end homelessness. Successfully surpassed fundraising goals each year.• Developed new partnerships, donor events, and volunteer engagement opportunities to help families transition from homelessness to forever homes. o Created a Rapid Re-Housing Coalition to help individuals and families quickly exit homelessness and return to permanent housing. Resulted in 81 households (253 people) permanently housed in 2016. o Secured major grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC to help homeless veterans and high utilizers of emergency rooms. • Led new approaches for the prospecting, cultivation and closing of major gifts; Increased donations from individuals, businesses, civic organizations, congregations, and foundations. • Exceeded Stewards Fund Challenge Matching Grant of $175,000 by $25,000, resulting in $375,000 total gift. • Secured major multi-year gifts of more than $150,000. • Designed robust story-telling strategies, donor communications, direct mail program and social media strategy.

• Created fundraising infrastructure for innovative hunger-relief non-profit. First full-time fundraising staff member in 20-year history and grew to lead a three-person team responsible for development, marketing and events. • Designed and directed annual fundraising strategy and implementation. • Secured major gifts including several multi-year gifts of $100,000. • Developed cause marketing and marketing campaigns to introduce/reintroduce programs combating hunger and helping individuals who were food insecure. Created marketing strategies for new brand rollout, tagline, media relations, communications, social media and web site strategies. • Leveraged marketing to support and improve Food Recovery & Distribution, Culinary Job Training Program, Farm and Gardens, Backpack Buddies, and Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters nutrition programs.• Managed collaborations, partnerships, sponsorships, third-party events (The Great American Duck Race), signature events (Taste of Hope, Blossoms of Hope, etc.) and donor recognition program.

•Directed the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke communications and marketing team. Led strategies for region (Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina). • Led a successful team of 12 marketing and communications directors and two support staff; consistently ranking in the top third in the country. The team ranked #1 or #2 in all goals in the country in 2009. • Strategist in developing fundraising cause marketing campaigns for corporate sponsors and local media including: Go Red for Women, Power to End Stroke, Start! and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Childhood Obesity campaigns. • Identified prospects, cultivated relationships, pitched partnerships, and successfully closed donor commitments ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. • Transformed media relations team into cause marketing, public relations and integrated communications team partnering with the development team. Spearheaded internal communications and crisis communications for region.

Consulted and directed communication and marketing strategies for business and nonprofit clients. Served as: • Associate producer for the National Christmas Tree Lighting and Pageant of Peace Ceremony with the President of the United States, George H. W. Bush; President William Jefferson Clinton; and President George W. Bush. • Communications and marketing consultant for Interact; FM: Systems; Food Bank of Central and Eastern Carolina; Interact; Lifetime Television; Nancy’s Butterfly Fund; NC Association of Health Plans; Rockett, Burkhead & Winslow; Ulanguzi Creative Services and Wake Teen.• Media trainer and presentation coach for Cigna; First Carolina Care; Interact; Kilpatrick Stockton; Navisware; and SouthLight. • Director of Marketing & Communications for the NC Association of Health Plans• Web Designer: Inter-faith Food Shuttle, Housing for New Hope, and Love to Nourish.

Directed communication, marketing strategies, and implementation for major corporate, government, and nonprofit clients at award-winning strategic communications agency including Amerix; Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC; CareOne Credit Counseling; Highwoods Properties; Kindermusik; NC GreenPower; NC Treasurer’s Office; Progress Energy; Ranger Governance; SunTrust; Triangle Community Coalition; and United States Environmental Protection Agency.

• Directed advocacy, communications, and events for the premier nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment industry. Worked closely with celebrity leadership/members and the media. Led celebrity delegations to both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions in 2000 and directed fundraising events for the Christopher Reeve Foundation and the Michael J. Fox Foundation during both national conventions. Escorted celebrity delegations to testify to United States Congressional leaders in Washington, DC. Directed signature fundraising events raising $500,000 plus per event: The Spotlight Awards and Seconding the First, one-night Broadway show and gala. Developed strategic plans, fundraising, advocacy, programming, communications, marketing and public relations to educate and advocate on behalf of social and political issues: arts advocacy; campaign finance reform; film and television production remaining in the United States; First Amendment rights; and public education.

Managed account work for award-winning, worldwide public affairs firm headquartered in Washington, DC, and a subsidiary of Grey Advertising. Clients included: Boeing; Merck; NC Credit Union League; Phoenix Insurance; and Recording Industry Association of America.

Managed national and grassroots media strategy at the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Served as a spokesperson. Created national cause marketing and awareness campaigns with agencies and sponsors. Created and managed media advocacy events in Washington, DC, and in key congressional districts. Created and implemented national anti-stigma campaign Mental Illnesses Are Brain Disorders campaign; secured national sponsor Eli Lilly. Helped plan the national convention.

Implemented account work for mid-sized public relations agency specializing in broadcast and law firm promotion. Clients included: Discovery Channel; Georgetown University Women’s Law and Public Policy Center; National Fourth of July Concert; National Memorial Day Concert; author Tom Peters; The Learning Channel; and Venable Law Firm.