Job Title: President and Founder

Organization: Windell Advisors, LLC

Degree(s): Bachelor's degree in criminal justice and master's degree in social work

Melissa Simon, MSW, CFRE is the chief executive officer at Casa de Esperanza de los Ninos.  Ms. Simon has 27 years of experience in the social service sector, 16 of which she has spent in resource development for nonprofits. She holds a master of social work degree from the University of Houston and a bachelor of science degree from Sam Houston State University. Before receiving her MSW and transitioning into nonprofit management and development, Ms. Simon was a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, working with at-risk youth in alternative schools, probation departments, and locked facilities. Since that time, she has focused on fundraising, capacity building, and leadership development for nonprofit organizations, always in the social service sector.  In addition to teaching the Proposal Writing I and Volunteer Management classes at the Glasscock School of Continuing Education at Rice University, Ms. Simon is the current President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Houston Chapter and serves as a mentor to other fundraising professionals.

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