Practice Areas: Programmatic design, management, and development; Strategic planning; General management; Organizational design and structure; project management; DiSC

Experience: Advocacy, civil rights, social justice; Children and youth services; Education, academia, research, science, technology

Melissa Shillingford is the visionary founder of Make Ideas Work, a boutique consulting company dedicated to empowering organizations committed to positive social change through human-centered management training and capacity-building services. With over a decade designing, managing, and facilitating cohort-based programs, Melissa has an acute ability to inspire and elevate teams. Her passion lies in supporting organizations with ambitious goals and helping staff reach them work smarter, not harder. As a certified Wiley DiSC Authorized Partner, Melissa deeply understands team dynamics and communication strategies. Her academic background includes a Project Management Certificate from CUNY Baruch, a joint Masters in Human and Community Development and Urban Planning for Social Justice from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and studies in Deviant Behavior and Social Control at CUNY John Jay College, where she also earned a certificate in Dispute Resolution. Melissa’s dedication to social change, combined with her vast experience and expertise, makes her a powerful ally for organizations looking to make a lasting impact.

Certifications: Project Management (CUNY Baruch), Dispute Resolution

Networks/Affinity Groups: Association of Nonprofit Specialists