The entirety of Melissa’s career in the financial services industry began as a part-time associate with Dan the summer of 2005. She was hired to answer phones, schedule meetings, and organize the contact management system that the team used. Having been a former engineer for one of the “Big Three” auto companies Melissa brought a detail-oriented perspective to client service, but it was her care and consideration of our clients that lead to her becoming a full-time, integral part of our team. Melissa manages our internal operations, assists with client meeting prep, handles compliance matters, oversees client events, and is first and foremost an advocate for our clients. 

After 19 years with the team, she feels blessed to have had the pleasure of not just working with our clients but getting to know them and their families. Having a better understanding of their financial hopes, dreams, and concerns she is able to share not only the knowledge she has gained over the years but her personal experiences with others who have gone through similar situations. Melissa strives to ensure that as little burden as possible is placed on our clients and does her best to help them achieve peace of mind. 

Education/Professional Background

After earning her Bachelor of Science from the Lyman Briggs College of Michigan State University Melissa took a 180 degree turn and earned an associate’s degree in Auto Body Design from Macomb Community College. She spent four years as an autobody designer and one of the first CAD users until her company decided to utilize both her degrees and moved her into an engineering position that was research based. After a 14 year hiatus to raise her children she found herself in the totally foreign but exciting world of finance – even if it was just in a supporting role. Melissa became a notary public to add an extra level of convenience for our clients. 

Personal

A metro-Detroit native, Melissa and her husband Tim have spent the past 40 years as residents of West Bloomfield. They have two adult children who couldn’t be more different. Their daughter Autumn is a resident of California but has taken a year off to live and learn in South Korea on a student visa. Their son Colin is their homebody, a true computer geek, but he enjoys playing vintage baseball with his Dad (no gloves, 1860 rules). Meanwhile, Melissa is an avid reader, enthusiastic golfer, enjoys road trips, and tooling around in their three classic cars.

Fun Facts

Retirement Goal: Route 66 road trip
First Job: Worked with my Dad, an electrician who taught me how to wire electrical control panels for assembly lines. This skill lead to a job where I met my husband. 
Favorite Time of Year: Fall (there is a reason our daughter’s name is Autumn). There’s just something about taking walks in the crisp air, trees aflame with color, the gradual slowing down between summer activity and winter holiday rush, not to mention all things Halloween that just make this season special. 
High School Varsity Letter: Swimming 
Famous People I’ve Met: Mickey Mantle, George Takei, Terry Brooks, George R. R. Martin (all at book signings), Tommy Lasorda (at a minor league baseball game) and Smokey Robinson (on a golf course). 
Dislikes: Public Speaking. Was on the Forensic Speaking Team all through high school doing competitions in an effort to overcome my fear of it. Didn’t work. 
Pets: While we don’t have any right now I’ve had the usual fish, dogs, and a cat. I’ve also had pet rabbits, turtles, toads, and even snakes.