Melinda McMullen has more than 30 years of experience in communications and community involvement at corporations, public relations agencies and the non–profit sector. Now retired, Melinda was previously head of communications for Chase, the bank previously known as Bank One, where her responsibilities included the Chase Foundation, media relations and employee communications. Prior to joining the bank in 2001, Melinda held senior communications positions at IBM Corporation. Her experience also includes communications roles at American Express and many years at leading PR firms including Edelman, Burson-Marsteller and Ketchum.
After the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Melinda worked with high school students at South Central’s Crenshaw High to co-found Food From the ‘Hood, a student–owned food business. In 1994, Food from the ‘Hood launched a line of salad dressings that were sold through more than 2,000 grocery stores, with all profits funding college scholarships. The company was the featured a Newsweek cover story, as well as in The New York Times, People Magazine, and The Washington Post, among others. It was also the recipient of a $100,000 Angel Network Award from Oprah Winfrey. Nearly 100 young people, all part of the Food From the ‘Hood program attended college with Food from the ‘Hood scholarship.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.
Bio as of 2017