Melissa George Kessler 

Melissa George Kessler is a consultant and executive coach working in the areas of strategy and organization effectiveness 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; later ran the communications shops for two associations in the agriculture sector; and then worked for a non-profit export market development organization in the areas of process, strategy and international policy. 

Over the past 20 years, Melissa has engaged in projects with private and non-profit businesses, public relations firms and colleague consultants. In that time, she has done work with partners throughout the urban and rural United States and in North and South 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.

Melissa 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.

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. She is qualified to work with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), EQi 2.0 and DiSC instruments and has done training as a professional facilitator.

Outside of work tasks, she is a lover of independent bookstores and museums of all types; enjoys city walks and urban hiking; and spends significant time keeping up with a network of friends and colleagues now spread across the world. 

A frequent traveler, Melissa splits time between her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Washington, D.C.