With a heart for service and a passion for creating meaningful change, Melissa’s dedication to Tanager’s work since is deeply personal. Her family has experienced firsthand the transformative impact of Tanager’s services, inspiring her to help ensure other families can access the same life-changing support. This personal connection fuels her commitment to connecting donors with opportunities that create meaningful differences in the lives of those we serve.

Bringing over 25 years of experience in behavioral health-related nonprofit work, Melissa’s journey includes valuable leadership roles as CEO at Big Brothers Big Sisters and Deputy Director at the Area Substance Abuse Council. In addition, she has served on multiple local, state and national boards. These experiences have deepened her breadth of skills, connections and understanding of the challenges facing youth and families in our community, strengthening her resolve to create pathways for underserved populations to thrive and reach their full potential.

At Tanager, Melissa finds purpose in building bridges between compassionate donors and essential services that inspire, empower and heal—whether through prevention programs, treatment services, or community outreach initiatives.

Melissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Management and Leadership. She lives in Marion with her husband and has two adult sons.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​