Melissa isn’t your typical agency founder. A trailblazer in every sense, she’s built her success on grit, perseverance, and an unshakable belief in lifting others up. As the founder of a women-owned and bootstrapping marketing and communications agency, Melissa’s journey reflects her commitment to empowering her team and equipping marketers with the tools to achieve their most ambitious business goals.Melissa’s career has been defined by resilience and creativity, working tirelessly to create meaningful partnerships with world-class brands like KIDZ Bop, Sony Music, American Idol, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon, Macy’s, Zales Jewelry, Master Chef, Sandals Resorts and more. Her ability to unite brands and audiences has consistently delivered results and cemented her agency’s place as a leader in the travel marketing and communications space.Her story starts far from the corner office. Melissa began her career as a waitress, saving tips to get licensed and launch her careerin travel. From there, she climbed the ranks, starting at a local travel agency stapling airline tickets and ultimately founding herown—which became the #1 selling destination wedding agency in the country. After selling the business, she entered the corporate world, taking on pivotal roles with brands like Sandals Resorts and David’s Bridal. At Sandals, she honed her ability to tell compelling brand stories, rising through the ranks to build groundbreakingpartnerships that redefined travel marketing and earned her recognitions including The Spirit of Excellence Sales & MarketingAward and The Silent Warrior of the Year for Outstanding Commitment and Dedication. At David’s Bridal, she became VicePresident of National Strategic Partnerships, spearheading multimillion-dollar deals that drove the company’s growth. However, the personal sacrifices required by her commute between Philadelphia and Michigan prompted Melissa to seek new horizons, and a twist of fate led to the creation of her agency, Alliance Connection. Alliance Connection isn’t just a business; it’s a gateway for others to thrive. Under Melissa’s leadership, the agency has become a hub for collaboration, innovation, and opportunity, particularly for women breaking barriers in the industry. Her vision has always been to create a legacy of significance, empowering her team and clients to reach new heights while staying grounded in thevalues of hard work and integrity. With unwavering conviction, she fosters an environment where her team members are not just cogs in a machine but architects of its evolution. Melissa's ethos is one of liberation—a testament to her profound trust in the collective wisdom and potential of her team to shape the destiny of the company, crafting a legacy that transcends the individual and embraces the collective brilliance of those who call it home.