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Melinda is Meld’s CEO. Since the company’s inception in 2016, Melinda has helped the company forge a successful path, becoming the #12 Fastest Growing Company in the Corridor in its first five years. Meld has also been a recipient of Coolest Places to Work in the Corridor for three consecutive years.
Melinda is Meld’s CEO. Since the company’s inception in 2016, Melinda has helped the company forge a successful path, becoming the #12 Fastest Growing Company in the Corridor in its first five years. Meld has also been a recipient of Coolest Places to Work in the Corridor for three consecutive years.
Melinda brings a unique business, marketing, and creative acumen to her work with local, regional, and national clients. She started her first company in 1999, and in 2016, she launched Meld along with a cloud technology company.
Melinda has more than 20 years of expertise in branding, content creation, and creative direction with small- to medium-sized companies, Fortune 500 companies, Ivy League universities, and everything in between.
She believes the best brands are developed and refined through collaboration, which is why she named the company Meld. Meld is one part her name (when shortened to Mel) and another part the guiding vision to blend the ideas and expertise of an agency and its clients.
Melinda was voted one of Corridor Business Journal’s Most Influential Persons and has been a featured speaker at EntreFest. She began her career as a journalist with The New York Times Group in South Carolina, became a content specialist at Lawrence University, and was named editorial director for an advertising agency before launching Meld.
Melinda has worked on national brands, including Otis Spunkmeyer, Pierce Firetrucks, Anchor Food Products, University of Pennsylvania, and Kalona SuperNatural (KSN).
She also has authored three books about entrepreneurial businesses/leaders and contributed to The New York Times book, Circuits. Books include: Von Maur: How an American Department Store Dared to Do Things Differently, Delight: A Founder’s Legacy, Brenton Banks, and One Man’s Journey.
Melinda holds a BS in Journalism from Iowa State University and completed the University of Iowa Entrepreneurial Venture School.
Most People Wouldn’t Know: I love family history. My ancestor, Robert Auchmuty, served as a senior counsel in the Boston Massacre Trials with Josiah Quincy, Jr. and John Adams. And another ancestor invented the Kentucky Long Rifle.
Favorite Local Establishment: It’s hard to pick just one! Prairie Kitchen, RAYGUN, Oasis Falafel, and Prairie Lights just to name a few.
Favorite Food: Oven Grinder Chicago Pizza. Delicious!
Favorite Things to Do: Be with my family. Buy new gadgets. I love electric bikes, scooters, iPhones, Macs, and more.
Perfect Day: Traveling in the U.S. or abroad.
Favorite Color: Meld Green
Favorite Music Genre or Artist: ‘70s and ‘80s!
Favorite Book: The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson.
Best Advice Received: “Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?” Benjamin Franklin.
Favorite Thing About Working at Meld: The creativity, hard work, teamwork, and endless amounts of laughter among our staff. It inspires me every day.
