How have you helped improve organizations you’ve been a part of? 

At Merit Resources/Aureon HR/Oasis, I helped to grow the organization from 50 employees serving 4,000 worksite employees when I started, to 220 employees serving 45,000 worksite employees when I left. Throughout my tenure, I played a key role in leader development, structure evolution, system migrations, merger and acquisition integrations, and industry-specific and SOC-1 type II certifications.

At Aureon Inc. as the CFO, I improved the engagement scores by 50% while improving board reporting, completing a system migration and leading efforts to overhaul legacy processes.

At Connectify HR, I led building the concept, business plan and pro forma, while also raising funds, recruiting and hiring top talent to serve an unprecedented number of worksite employees within the first three years of operation through organic growth.

As the JDRF One Walk Corporate Chair, I helped to raise $800,000 for Type 1 diabetes research and advancement.

As the Iowa Women’s Foundation treasurer, I have helped to evolve and mature processes, policies, and reporting for an organization that is working to remove barriers for women and girls in Iowa.

What motivates you? 

Each day, I’m motivated by serving others. I thrive in witnessing their satisfaction, growth, achievements and peace of mind.

Is there a memory or experience from your formative years that continues to influence your approach to life? 

When I was in my 20s, my brother John took his own life. This completely changed my trajectory and mindset from that point forward. John was someone who seemed to have everything going right, but on the inside, he became not well. I looked up to John as an amazing older brother, and losing him changed how I viewed life. Immediately, I stopped taking people for granted and I realized that outward communications don’t necessarily reflect how people truly feel on the inside. As a result, my relationships today are more enriched, and I treasure telling people how I feel about them, what I love about them and how they’ve impacted me. Through John, I learned to love more loudly and walk through the fears of doing so more often.

What piece of advice would you give to others who hope to make a difference in their communities?

Get involved. Discover your passions and seek out organizations that support your values. There are so many great organizations in our region that impact lives each day. By giving, you truly help your community while also enriching your own life.

Tell us about a time you failed (or at least you did from your own perception). 

Over the years, I’ve failed so many times! Early in my career, I thought failure wasn’t an option and struggled to recognize the gift of learning that comes with each failure. On several occasions, I’ve failed by keeping employees in the wrong roles for extended periods of time. As a leader, I want people to thrive, and at times have found myself morphing roles to the person rather than staying focused on the role needed for the organization to flourish. Each situation is different, but I truly believe there is kindness in helping each individual find their “right fit,” even if that means transitioning to another organization.

What is a favorite book, show, movie, podcast, etc., that you’d encourage others to consume? 

I love so many books. One of my recent favorites is “Gift of Influence” by Tommy Spaulding.  This book explores how personal connections and authentic relationships can profoundly affect everyone around us and how to use their influence for positive change. Also, earlier in my career, the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey was life-changing. At that time, I had some personal resentments that were holding me back, and this book helped me to set those free and find more personal joy and freedom. 

How do you try to find balance and joy in the many activities you take part in? 

Being fully present in each moment, task or conversation helps me find joy. This approach keeps me from dwelling on the past, worrying about the future, or being overwhelmed by my commitments and responsibilities. While it’s often easier said than done, it is something I strive for, always working toward progress not perfection.

What is one of your guilty pleasures? 

I love to read a good detective book or watch a detective series! The more twisting and turning in the plot, the better.  

What’s something many people don’t know about you? 

In high school, I lived for team sports. I was fortunate to play both 6-on-6 and 5-on-5 basketball, and I was part of the first North Polk girls’ basketball team to go to state. I also ran track and played volleyball. These experiences played a critical role in shaping my sense of teamwork, understanding influence and defining my work ethic.

What do you consider the greatest barrier to gender equity? 

I believe time is the greatest barrier. As they say, “Rome was not built in a day,” and systemic changes don’t happen overnight. We have made tremendous strides in the recent past, and with continued intentionality, support, awareness and time, progress will continue. Meaningful change requires open, honest and sometimes hard conversations while leaning into curiosity rather than judgment.

Who is an empowering woman that you look up to? 

There are so many; however, my mom is at the top of my list! She has always shown a strong sense of self and firm beliefs, regardless of others’ opinions. When younger, this would embarrass me at times, but now I honor and respect her as someone who knows her mind, stands firm in her identity, and isn’t afraid to speak up or fight for what she believes in, while always packaging her message with love and compassion. She has also always given more than she receives, teaching us the true meaning of giving and serving others. Through mom’s work as a youth minister, I watched her love and support countless youths regardless of their standing in life. One of my favorite examples of her generosity was when I was driving and saw several nice cars pass by a homeless person without any interaction, and then saw a beat-up Honda stop to give them food. The inspiration from this heartwarming gesture turned to pride when I realized it was my mom. 

What will it take for women to achieve gender parity in leadership positions? 

For women to thrive in leadership roles, we need representation and true sponsorship of others in leadership positions – both women and men. For me, that sponsorship was offered by Joel Duncan at Merit Resources/Aureon. As the CEO, Joel truly sponsored, advocated and mentored me through increasing levels of responsibility and leadership in the organization. Without Joel’s influence and support, I wouldn’t be where I am today. 

What support would be most helpful for business leaders to provide for their women and nonbinary employees? 

Every individual needs consistent, caring, authentic and transparent support. We need to show care and compassion for every person with whom we work. This includes working to become aware of our own biases and actively removing them.

Fill in the blank: If gender equity were achieved, the world would look like ________.

A place where everyone, regardless of gender, has equal opportunities to contribute, lead and achieve their goals without unnecessary barriers. 

Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Iowa State University

Hometown: Elkhart, Iowa

Family: Husband, Kurt; daughter, Stella, and son, Troy

Hobbies: Camping anywhere with great surroundings in nature, reading and spending time with family

Words to live by: “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” — Dalai Lama. I keep this and a quote from Goethe on my desk called “I am the decisive element.” Before difficult situations, I read through both to help me to bring curiosity and compassion to the conversation. As a leader, I truly feel it’s my responsibility to do that.

Three notable accomplishments

• I was the first person in my family to graduate from college.
• I led a startup, which included raising funds, attracting top talent and growing the business to serve 4,100 employees within its first three years of operation.
• I chaired a team for the Habitat for Humanity 2023 Women Build event and led the pack in fundraising. We also recruited 14 volunteers to kick off onsite building.

Watch Melissa’s remarks

See all past Women of Influence honorees