About Us

Melissa is the Executive Director of the American Red Cross St. Bernard Chapter. Named to the position in January 2009, Melissa is responsible for ensuring delivery of Red Cross programs including: disaster, health and safety and service to military families while providing leadership to both paid and volunteer staff. She also acts as a representative of the American Red Cross in the local community and works to develop collaborative relationships with donors, volunteers, government agencies, businesses, the media and other community groups.

Melissa also served as a Community Recovery Specialist with the National American Red Cross and was responsible for conducting Hurricane Recovery Program outreach efforts with a focus on Jefferson Parish, Orleans Parish, the River Parishes and limited English populations.

Prior to the Red Cross, Melissa served as a communicator in the Office of Corporate Communications at Pan-American Life Insurance Company, a medium sized financial services company with headquarters in New Orleans. While at Pan-American she spearheaded philanthropic and employee volunteer programs and worked cross-functionally with leaders and content experts to identify, manage and communicate key issues. She was also responsible for the development and implementation of strategic communication plans and led internal communications during a period of dramatic industry change.

Melissa has also held a number of public relations and marketing related management positions in a variety of small to medium sized firms.

She has served as a member of the boards of the Jefferson Disaster Recovery Partnership and Crescent Alliance Recovery Effort and is a founding member of the Purple Ladies of Scholar, a group working in support of the historic St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. Melissa was actively engaged in volunteer work with a variety of nonprofits including Amnesty International and the YWCA.

Melissa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts from Tulane University in New Orleans. She is a native of New Orleans and lives in Gentilly with her husband David and their English Bull Dog Bogart.

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