Melanie Flood FRSA

Melanie Flood is the Founder of the Mellie J Foundation. In 2020, an attack of optic neuritis caused her to lose her vision in her left eye, and a subsequent relapse in 2021 caused permanent damage in her right eye. Enduring the 22-year diagnostic journey she experienced from her first hospitalization to reach a diagnosis of seronegative NMOSD with Sjögren's disease and the adversity she has faced since her rare autoimmune diagnosis, ignited a commitment in her to utilize her professional experience to empower other patients with rare diseases to advocate for themselves.

Melanie has spent a career advocating for underserved and historically marginalized communities in the US and Europe. Having also worked in the corporate world, she founded a European fashion agency based in California and London which was a staple during New York Fashion Market’s largest show COTERIE for 13 years. She ran her fashion agency from London while concurrently working in advocacy as the Director of Communications for two trade organizations in the United Kingdom - Social Enterprise UK (a strategic partner of the Cabinet Office) and the UK Fashion & Textile Association (a trade challenge partner of the Department for International Trade). Upon returning to the US, she was the Director of Development & Communications for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services where she led media, advocacy, and fundraising for the organization. Melanie is currently Director of Development Major Gifts for the Make-A-Wish Foundation fundraising and raising awareness through media for her local chapter in California to help children with critical illnesses realize their wishes.

She is a Fellow of the RSA (Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce) in London and Co-Chair (for Region A, leading 13 states) of the National Organization for Rare Disorders Policy and Advocacy Taskforce. She is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles and the American Conservatory Theater’s (ACT) Master of Fine Arts Program in San Francisco. During her time at ACT, she was a founding member of the Diversity Council, dedicated to raising awareness and advocating for diversity on American stages. She equally celebrates her Persian, Irish, and Mexican ethnicity and views her disabilities from her rare conditions as strengthening a deeper perspective, understanding, and commitment to advancing equity for herself as well as other rare patient communities. She is a dual citizen of the US and Ireland.

Michelle Salazar Flood

Michelle Salazar Flood is Secretary of the Mellie J Foundation. She has dedicated her career to serving communities in nonprofit organizations for over 50 years. She is an accomplished artist and writer, as well as the former owner of an art gallery known as The Red Door and the original founder of The Upper Room which provides hospitality and meals to those experiencing food insecurity and housing displacement - both in Placerville, CA.

She was the Director of Detention Ministry for the Archdiocese of San Francisco and a chaplain for El Dorado County Juvenile Hall. Her previous experience as a spiritual care provider and chaplain for Sutter Care at Home (part of Sutter Roseville Hospital), Snowline Hospice, and Oak Creek Hospice has given her a deep understanding of the patient and caregiver experience. She has served on many boards including the Service League of San Mateo County, The Women’s Fund of El Dorado County, and the Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce.

She has an M.A. in Theology and a B.A. in History and Art from Santa Clara University. She is certified in Palliative Care and Hospice Chaplaincy through California State University, San Marcos. She is the mother of our founder, Melanie Flood.

Amy Iftekhar

Amy Iftekhar is a Director of the Mellie J Foundation. She has over 15 years’ experience working in philanthropy at the David & Lucille Packard Foundation and has dedicated her career to creating meaningful change in communities both locally and globally. In her day-to-day, she manages grantmaking that supports reproductive health and rights. Her career journey began by volunteering with local and international nonprofits, from San Francisco to the Amazon in Ecuador, to Cape Town in South Africa. Amy possesses an in-depth grasp of public health issues and innovative solutions.

She has a master’s degree in public health from the University of Cape Town, South Africa and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), which included a year studying abroad in Scotland. Her thesis was a qualitative assessment of the infant feeding decisions and practices of HIV-positive mothers affiliated with a South African organization. Her academic sojourn broadened her horizons and cemented her unwavering commitment to bridging gaps in healthcare and social well-being, propelling her to dedicate her time and efforts to addressing global health disparities.

She has been on the Board of Directors for the Robert Moses Kin’ dance company in San Francisco since 2017, volunteering with the Girls Scouts Northern California, and fundraising for various local nonprofits.

Deborah Reidy Kelch

Deborah Reidy Kelch is a Director of the Mellie J Foundation. She previously served for 40 years as a California health policy researcher, expert, and consultant, retiring in 2020. Her career focused primarily on public policy analysis and development to improve health care in California, most recently as Executive Director of Insure the Uninsured Project. She was also Interim Executive Director for the First 5 Association of CA. Deborah served as policy and fiscal staff to the California Legislature, including as Chief Consultant to the Assembly Health Committee, and established Kelch Associates, an independent health policy consulting firm. She received her master’s degree in public policy and administration from California State University, Sacramento and her bachelor’s degree in political science from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Susannah Rosenblatt

Susannah Rosenblatt is a Director of the Mellie J Foundation. She is Vice President of Corporate Social Good at Fenton, where she uses her award-winning communications leadership experience spanning cultures and continents to craft winning strategies to improve global health, support people living with disabilities, advocate for immigrants and refugees, and more.

She has deep expertise in media relations, executive ghostwriting and strategic communications planning. Her previous work has helped to connect veterans with mental health care and vulnerable children with quality public education.

A versatile storyteller, she directed strategy and branding for the United Nations Foundation’s malaria prevention campaign; managed its digital presence at the World Health Assembly; and cultivated thought leadership and partnerships for the global health team. Driven by causes that count, she has overseen a multimillion-dollar cause marketing effort to prevent suicide, and supported communications for Sesame Workshop, Heifer International, Save the Children, the Smithsonian, the KIPP Foundation, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, among others.

She was also a journalist with the Los Angeles Times and in Taiwan. Susannah has an M.P.S. in Public Relations from Georgetown University, where she was a faculty advisor, and a B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Wake Forest University. She is also the proud mother of two active boys. Her younger son has developmental delays stemming from a rare genetic disorder; she and her husband discover more about him and his unique abilities every day.

Joe Wells

Joe Wells is Treasurer of the Mellie J Foundation. He has been in the financial services industry for over 25 years, advising and managing assets for institutions, high-net-worth families, and individuals. He is co-owner and partner at Brooker Wealth Management.

His financial expertise encompasses a diverse spectrum such as financial planning, philanthropic endeavors, education planning, tax strategies, estate planning, investment management, and proficiency in capital markets. His unwavering dedication lies in assisting clients in attaining their financial objectives, employing a comprehensive methodology that intricately considers their distinctive needs and individual circumstances.

Beyond his role in the financial sector, he is an accomplished musician. He has toured extensively throughout North America and has earned recognition for his contributions to radio, television, film, and gaming.

He graduated cum laude from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). He is a member of the CFA Society San Francisco and the Financial Planning Association.