Melissa Lee Alexander
By day, Melissa stares at computer screens (yes, multiple screens) and bounces from meeting to meeting in the ever-changing world of biotechnology, where she specializes in business technology strategy and management. The rest of the time, she can be found leading The Rusty Nail Winery, which she co-owns with her mother and sister, raising funds for CHD research, volunteering and serving community organizations she believes in, and travelling the world with her daughters, Elliot, Dashiell and their newest little love, Monroe. In her spare time (hah!), Melissa is working on her first children’s book, The Adventures of Lulu LaRue and Her Dinosaur Too.
Melissa has been an intrepid traveler since the age of 21 when she had the privilege of studying abroad in northern Italy. When she became a mother, Melissa knew she wanted to share the joy of travel with her children, and together they are exploring the world. Since that first trip to Italy, she has visited over 80 countries — 30 of them with at least one daughter in tow!
As a single mother, Melissa knows how daunting it is to even consider traveling with young children, but she prioritizes these experiences to teach her daughters that when you want something, you should go after it, no matter how intimidating it may seem.
“Traveling is how I unplug and truly enjoy the company of my children. I love seeing the world through their eyes and showing them the beauty of diversity and the adventure of travel.”
— Melissa Lee Alexander
Community Involvement
Melissa is a fervent community volunteer and has served on the board of multiple non-profits. Her community involvement includes…
Founding the New England Region of the Children’s Heart Foundation, where she served for three years as the Executive Leader for New England and also served on the National Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors for Raising a Reader Massachusetts, which supports children's literacy and aims to close the literacy gap in under-resourced communities throughout Massachusetts.
The Junior League of Boston, which focuses on developing the potential of women and improving communities. Melissa has been an active volunteer of The Junior League since 2006 — first in NYC and now in Boston — most recently serving as Director of Communications. She has also received JL Boston’s Sarah Lawrence Founders Award for her volunteerism and fundraising in support of CHD research.
President of the Boston Chapter of OU Alumni and founder of the Club’s scholarship fund. Melissa also received the Regents’ Alumni Award — one of the University’s most prestigious honors — for her contributions and accomplishments.
President of the Chi Omega Alumnae Chapter of New York City and Director of the National Alumnae Program at a Chi Omega Executive Headquarters.
The Board of Directors for Tulane University Alumni in New York City.
Education & Background
Melissa specializes in business technology management in the biotech industry. Throughout her career, she has supported healthcare, transportation, and energy companies by delivering business value through technology with a focus on organizational change management, program delivery and IT strategy. Melissa received a BBA in Finance and Management Information Systems from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA from Tulane University.
Melissa grew up in rural Oklahoma (Sulphur, pop. 4500), and has lived in Houston, New York City, and now enjoys city life in the historic Bay Village neighborhood of Boston with her daughters, several house plants, and a betta fish named Dumpling.