Committed individuals who oversee the operation of the Institute, assist with fund-raising, plan projects and participate in community activities on violence prevention.
Lynn Aptman, M.Ed.
Melissa's mother, President and one of the founders of The Melissa Institute
Michael Aptman, M.D.
Neurologist, Melissa's father and one of the founders of The Melissa Institute.
Kenneth Bloom, Esq.
Bloom & Minsker, P.L.
Karyn I. Cunningham
Mayor of Palmetto Bay
Pastor Charles Lee Dinkins
CEO of Hosanna Community Foundation Inc.
Stacy Laffere
Chief Operating Officer, The Haggard Law Firm
Jesse Leon, B.S.
Account Director, Discovery Networks International, Latin America Division
Philipp N. Ludwig, MBA
Former COO & corporate Vice President
Donald H. Meichenbaum, Ph.D.
Research Director of The Melissa Institute and Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Virginia Pereira Alvarez
VP of Social Media and Content for Corporate Communications at Western Union
Lissette M. Perez-Lima, Ph.D.
Director, University of Miami Institute for Individual & Family Counseling
Trish Ramsay, M.A.
ACT Raising Safe Kids Master Trainer/Coordinator
Thomas Scolaro
Personal Injury Attorney, Leesfield Scolaro, P.A.
Vanessa Silverman, CPA
Former Tax Manager at Deloitte, Vice President of The Melissa Institute
Maggie Snyder, Esq.
Assistant City Attorney with the City of Miami, Office of the City Attorney, Secretary of The Melissa Institute
Megan Staubitz, MPH
Senior Foundation Relations Officer, Airlink