Empowerment Series: How to Recession Proof Your Business

In partnership with the Innovation Connector and The Women’s Economic Center-Fort Wayne, WIBU is excited to kick off the 2017 Empowerment Series with an exceptional speaker and presentation.

Melissa St. John is President and Owner of Relocation Strategies, a move and furniture management firm in Indianapolis, IN. Melissa joined the company in 2004 as Project Manager. She has 20+ years of experience in Indianapolis working in various capacities in interior design services and real estate. With her extensive experience in furniture procurement and facility management, she expanded the firm’s offerings from move management to a more all-inclusive offering. She has a passion for building relationships. Having bought the business in late 2007, Melissa was forced to start from scratch having lost most, if not all, of Relocation Strategies reoccurring clients in the fallout from the housing market crash. Through smart marketing strategies, top talent hiring and sheer force of will Melissa doubled and then tripled Relocation Strategies’ worth. Today she is adamant that any business should have a plan on how to survive and thrive come the next economic downturn.

She’s a high-energy motivator, with a gift for recruiting the right people to support her.  Her influence extends beyond her industry and out into the community, where she serves on boards of various causes she enthusiastically champions such as the Indiana Construction Round Table, Girl Scouts Capital Campaign, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Melissa is a graduate of the Stanley K. Lacey Leadership Program. In 2010 she received Indy’s Best and Brightest award by Junior Achievement and NAWBO Indy’s (National Association of Women Business Owners) Visionary Award. In 2012, she was named Runner-Up for the Starkey Entrepreneurial Woman Business Owner which awards inspiration and success.

She holds a Bachelor of Art Degree in Interior Design from Purdue University. She is a certificate holder of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification and a Registered Interior Designer (RID) with the state of Indiana. When she isn’t working, Melissa enjoys boating and water sports with her new husband and 5 boys.

This event is free for WIBU members. How do you become a member? Simply sign up for our email list and you’re in! Sign up Now!\

Lunch will be provided.

Special thanks to the Innovation Connector and The Women’s Economic Opportunity Center-Fort Wayne for helping make this event possible.

The Women’s Economic Opportunity Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.