Hi, I’m Mel.
I grew up in small-town Wisconsin, but Nebraska is where I found my career. Working for a seed company, I learned how marketing, events and branded merchandise can bring people together.
More than 20 years later, I’m still asking the question that has shaped my work: Why do people choose to show up?
Rethinking Events Starts with Understanding People
Over the years, I’ve realized that the organizations with the best events aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets or the fanciest venues. They’re the ones that understand the people they’re trying to bring together.
That’s what I help organizations do today.
Whether we’re rethinking an annual conference, designing an employee experience, choosing the right branded merchandise, or building an event from the ground up, I start in the same place: with the people. Once we understand why they would choose to show up and what will make the experience matter to them, the decisions that follow become a whole lot clearer.
Hi, I’m Mel.
I’ve spent my career planning and leading everything from customer events and conferences to trade shows, fundraisers, employee experiences, community events, and branded merchandise programs.
Along the way, I realized my favorite part was never checking things off a timeline.
It was asking questions.
Questions like...
Why are we doing it this way?
Who is this really for?
If we were starting from scratch, would we build this the same way?
Sometimes those questions sparked exciting conversations. Sometimes they made people a little uncomfortable. But they almost always led to better ideas.
I live in Wisconsin with my husband Jesse, our twin boys, and our daughter. If I’m not working, you’ll probably find me on the bleachers at a baseball game, at our family cabin, or spending time at my parents’ farm.
Why Nonprofits Have Always Felt Familiar
Some of the most meaningful work I've done has been with nonprofit organizations.
Nonprofits are built on relationships, community, and a deep connection to the people they serve.
My connection to nonprofits is personal. In 2012, our identical twin boys were diagnosed with Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome early in my pregnancy. During their long stays in the NICU, the Ronald McDonald House in Omaha became a home away from home for our family. I've seen firsthand what nonprofits do for people when they need it most. That's not something you forget, and it's one of the reasons I care so much about helping these organizations create experiences that inspire people to show up and stay connected.
Want to work together?
I’d love to hear about your next event. Let’s figure out what it could be.
