Prior to joining Armstrong Teasdale as an attorney, Melissa worked on high-power distribution systems at Ameren Services in St. Louis while she completed her undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). She received her J.D. from St. Louis University School of Law where she was a Faculty Fellow specializing in property, local government and low-income housing. Melissa was also a member of the Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Team for trademark law.

Melissa places a high importance in volunteering in the St. Louis Metro communities. Selected from hundreds of nominations in the St. Louis, MO area, she was named in 2009 as one of St. Louis’ “30 under 30” by the St. Louis Business Journal and the Crosby MBA Program at the University of Missouri-Columbia for her professional achievements and volunteer work. In April 2010, the community and business leaders in Madison, Monroe and St. Clair Counties in Illinois were asked to name key players in driving the region’s economic, social and artistic future. Melissa was named one of 30 key players, or “Generation Nexts.”

Melissa is Vice President of the SIUE Alumni Association, and, upon invitation, she accepted the opportunity and responsibilities to serve on the Industrial Advisory Board to the SIUE School of Engineering. She has also been preparing income tax returns for low income individuals through the St. Louis Tax Assistance Program since 2004.