Bio & Experience: Melissa Schweisguth, Freelance Changemaker
Contact Info

Melissa has worked in the food sector for nearly 10 years, across non-profit and corporate venues. In addition to consulting, she is currently Director of Membership Development and Education for the Food Trade Sustainability Leadership Association, where she oversees programs to grow membership and drive leading sustainability practices.

Melissa was previously Corporate Social Responsibility Manager (CSR) at the Hershey Company, where she managed the development and implementation of the company's CSR program. Before that, she was Manager of Marketing and Full Circle Sustainability for DAGOBA Organic Chocolate, where she was responsible for all marketing and PR activities and led the creation and implementation of DAGOBA's Full Circle Sustainability TM social responsibility program. Prior to joining DAGOBA, Melissa ran a national fair trade cocoa education/action campaign as the Fair Trade Coordinator at Global Exchange.

Melissa is also an advisor to the Big Tree Climate Fund and a freelance writer. Melissa grew up on an organic homestead and thrives on opportunities to grow her own organic food, expand sustainable organic farming and run up mountains in Ashland, OR, where she is based. She was recently named to TIME Magazine's 2009 "Responsibility Pioneers" list.

Summary of Experience

• Nearly 10 years in food/consumer products industry, in non-profit and corporate entities, both large and small
• Demonstrated success building and implementing CSR/sustainability programs across small company and Fortune 500 venues
• Proven track record growing brands and causes via solid marketing and PR
• Extensive written and oral communications across diverse venues and topics
• In-depth knowledge of:
  * Current and emerging CSR/sustainability issues and business relevance
  * Existing frameworks metrics, tools, certifications, labels, standards, organizations, resources and research related to social/environmental issues
  * Food manufacturing from growing/sourcing through marketing
  * Ethical trade and responsible labor practices (expertise in cocoa and coffee)

Demonstrated Capacities

• Developing and managing CSR/sustainability programs, integrating environmental stewardship, supply chain, community relations and stakeholder engagement
• Driving sound decision making via in-depth analyses and business case development
• Forming and leading cross-functional teams; fostering peer networks
• Engaging internal and external audiences via written, oral & multimedia communications
• Successfully implementing PR, from strategy through placement
• Innovating winning creative concepts for products, brands and programs
• Managing projects and external agencies
• Crafting compelling written content, including stakeholder communications, website text, packaging copy, trade materials, presentations, position papers, technical reports
• Strong research, analysis and synthesis

Contact: E-mail
skype: melissaschweisguth
Learn, share, connect: my Blog and Twitter feed: changemaker1 News, Strategies, Actions & Analyses for Social, Environmental & Economic Sustainability in Business, Life & Food/Agriculture
Office Hours (Pacific Time, USA)
* Mon, Wed, Thu 9-10, 2-6
* Tue, Fri 8-10, 2-6