Melissa brings nearly 25 years of media, crisis communications, public affairs, and outreach expertise to her role at Calkin Public Affairs. She has been at the forefront of strategic communications surrounding some of California's most controversial and high-profile transportation policy issues. Notably, as an appointee of both the Brown and Newsom Administrations, Melissa helped lead communications for the successful passage of Senate Bill 1 in 2017, as well as the work surrounding the opening of the new east span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Other career highlights include coordination for interagency emergency response for numerous natural disasters and strategic communications for California's High-Speed Rail program. With Melissa in the room, you get broad and diverse expertise and experience drawn from years working in newsrooms, the Legislature, the Executive Branch, and the private sector. 

Issue Area Expertise:
Transportation, Public Safety, Labor

Skills Beyond Strategy:
Crisis communications, legislative advocacy, outreach and stakeholder collaboration, media relations

Expert Experience:
Executive Branch Deputy Secretary (CalSTA, BCSH), High-Speed Rail Chief of Communications, California State Senate, TV news, including KCRA-3 and KSBY-6 

Out of Office:
Unpaid sports uber/chef/mom of 3, wife, certified personal trainer, unapologetic Dodgers fan

Other Hats:
Cal Poly SLO Journalism Department Advisory Board, Cal Poly SLO College of Liberal Arts Dean's Council, WTS Sacramento Board Member