Melissa has an Associate in Art and Science, an Associate in Weather Technology and a bachelor’s degree in Technical Management. She has worked in the financial industry for the past fifteen years. Melissa is also a 28-year veteran of the Armed Forces retiring in 2012 from the weather unit at Scott AFB, IL. She is a member of the St. Patrick Society of Peoria and volunteers her time to the St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Peoria Irish Festival. She lives in Peoria with her husband, Paul, and enjoys bowling, reading, travelling, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.