Melissa Kruse joined our staff after organizing the HLAA 2023 Convention in New Orleans. With more than 20 years of event planning, government relations, community outreach and business administration experience, she previously served as director of external operations for the local organizing committee of the NCAA 2018 Women’s Final Four in Columbus, Ohio. As deputy director of transportation for the 2016 Democratic National Convention (DNC) Committee in Philadelphia, Melissa planned a fully integrated, accessible system that moved 45,000+ convention participants daily. She had spent two years prior supporting outreach and strategic planning efforts in Columbus’s bid to host the DNC. Earlier in her career, Melissa served as a special advisor to the President of the United States and as director of outreach for the Office of the Special Envoy for the Americas during the Clinton administration. She has a bachelor’s in journalism and political science from Baylor University and studied public policy at Georgetown University.