Maria Melendes

Maria Melendes has a strong background in nonprofit management and government contracts. Maria started their career as the Executive Director of the Agape Community Center in 2002, where they oversaw various areas including staff development, finance, fund development, and program evaluation. During their tenure, they led a strategic planning process that led to the reorganization of the center's staffing structure and service delivery model, resulting in a doubling of program participation. In 2007, Maria joined the Guest House of Milwaukee as the Director of Government Grants and Quality Assurance, managing $3.8 million in public contracts with various organizations. Maria was responsible for all aspects of these contracts, including application, negotiation, compliance, financial management, and reporting. Additionally, they developed and maintained a comprehensive quality assurance and outcome evaluation system to support program development efforts and external reporting.

Maria Melendes holds a Master's degree in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago, obtained from 2000 to 2002. Prior to this, they completed their Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Marquette University between 1994 and 1998.