Meet The Team

Melissa Hodgson, ABC APR, is an award-winning public speaker, public relations practitioner and proven leader with recognition for both management of teams and execution of strategies. She has a unique perspective on strategic communication, having led corporate, agency and independent settings.

As vice president at Gambel Communications, Melissa is the management executive focused on managing, directing, planning and coordinating agency resources to ensure the mission, vision, values and finances align with the agency’s goals.

Professionally, Melissa speaks publicly on communications topics for local, regional and national audiences; provides crisis communication counsel to Gambel clients; and oversees development and delivery of best-in-class public relations services for the agency’s clients. Melissa manages, coaches and mentors team members and participates actively in business development.

With more than 30 years’ experience in corporate publishing, public speaking, management, business communication and public relations, Melissa has carried the public relations and communications mantle to industry, educational and corporate settings. She has successfully represented her employers and clients to media, governmental contacts, the public and business leaders. Melissa has published books, magazines, newsletters and annual reports for public, private and nonprofit organizations.

Melissa’s speaking topics, publications and public relations work have earned the highest honors including the international Gold Quill and recognition from International Association of Business Communicators, Public Relations Society of America, American Marketing Association, Ad Club, Press Club, The Telly Awards and Web Marketing Association. She has earned coverage in national and international media including the Associated Press, BBC, CBS, CNN, NBC, Time, US News & World Report, Wall Street Journal, the Weather Channel and People. Locally, she has placed news with all local broadcast, print and digital outlets.

Melissa is accredited by both the International Association of Business Communicators (ABC) and Public Relations Society of America (APR). The dual accreditation indicates her commitment to the rigorous national and international standards for senior communicators. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communication theory and public relations from the University of Alabama where she was a founding member of the Alabama Student Society for Communication Arts. She has been an award-winning speaker since high school and developed her first corporate publication as an intern.

Melissa has been named a CityBusiness Woman of the Year, St. Tammany Chamber Member of the Year and YMCA Northshore Hero. She is a graduate of Leadership St. Tammany and New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. She presently serves as Secretary on the NORLI Board of Directors and on the Nominating Committee and Board of Directors of the Institute of Mental Hygiene. Melissa has served in leadership capacities for both IABC and PRSA chapters. A dedicated volunteer devoted to making her community the best it can be, Melissa has led communication efforts for St. Tammany Parish government transition teams, boards of the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, Leadership St. Tammany, Three Rivers Art Festival and St. George’s Episcopal Church.

Melissa and Shane, her husband of 34 years, raised two amazing creative artists, Sophia, a sequential artist, and Barrett, a tubist and band director. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys her family, travel and books.