Welcome to Wichita Habitat, Melissa!

By Kathy Lefler/Communications & Marketing Manager

Melissa, our new AmeriCorps Construction Crew Leader, likes to learn, serve and be outside. So her new job is the perfect fit!

“I don’t know what I’d be doing if I wasn’t working here!”

– Melissa

“I like to learn and the best part of this job is all the knowledge that the people I work with have,” she said. Melissa assists with hands-on construction and leads groups of volunteers and future Habitat homebuyers. Melissa also is a student at Wichita State University where she’s studying ornithology (birds) and ichthyology (fish) and minoring in Spanish. “I want to take what we’re doing here for humans to help wildlife and preserve habitats.”

Melissa has twin daughters who are four years old. When she’s not at our build site or going to school, she enjoys playing with her daughters, golfing, hunting, fishing, sewing and reading.

“Working here I’m learning to be grateful for all I have,” Melissa said. “Watching the families work hard to build homes with a zero percent interest rate and watching the core volunteers, the volunteers and the construction staff – it’s just amazing.”

Before joining our staff Melissa served with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism at Cross Timbers State Park in Toronto.