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Melissa George Kessler

Melissa George Kessler’s work focuses on strategy and organization effectiveness, drawing on her extensive background in communications, policy and agriculture. She works as a consultant and executive coach through her independent practice, Organizations + Communications, and with partner firms. 

Regardless of organization type or level of system, Melissa helps clients identify goals, develop strategies and design tactics across a range of business modalities. As a builder of relationships, ideas and operations, she thrives in helping those she works with get things done efficiently in complex environments and with diverse and competitive stakeholders.

She began her career as a reporter and editor and later ran the communications shops for the National Association of Wheat Growers and the U.S. Grains Council for a combined 14 years. 

Over her 20 year career, Melissa has engaged in projects with private and non-profit businesses, public relations firms and colleague consultants. Melissa has done work with partners throughout the urban and rural United States and in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

She has delivered presentations at the conferences of international, national and local organization development associations and has a significant writing portfolio including bylined and ghosted op-eds, news, features and advocacy.

She has also served in various volunteer roles including on boards or advisory councils of several organization development-focused associations, a publications board, two condominium associations and a public television show. She has facilitated a networking group for agriculture-focused communicators for more than a decade. 

Melissa holds a master’s of science degree in organization development from American University; a bachelor’s of political science degree from the University of Oklahoma; and an International Baccalaureate diploma. She also holds a certificate in leadership coaching from Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership and the International Coaching Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach (ACC) designation. She is certified in the MBTI and EQi 2.0 instruments and has done training as a professional facilitator.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Melissa splits her time between the nation’s capital, and her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma.