Melanie Wilson has over 25 years of experience in environmental, land use and community-based strategic planning often requiring bridging boundaries between multiple jurisdictions, organizations, and socio-economic groups. Her work has involved mediating conflicting relationships among these entities and building capacity where none existed. She is recognized for her strong ability to mediate, negotiate, facilitate, and collaborate. Her proven talent for leadership has been demonstrated as the head of teams responsible for large community vision plans, urban neighborhood plans, county and regional growth management, sustainable planning and development, transportation and construction management.

She is a strategic thinker who is consistently recognized for innovation and creativity in developing solutions to complex issues. She is currently the  Executive Director of the Chatham County-Savannah GA Metropolitan Planning Commission and CORE (MPO). She was the Director of Planning and Development for Augusta Georgia, a consolidated government in Georgia. She was responsible for advising the city administrator and board of commissioners on program and policy development for environmental, economic development, land use, transportation and implementation strategies; and manages Planning & Zoning, Historic Preservation, Building & Inspections, Code Enforcement, Business & Alcohol Licenses, Auditing for compliance of occupation tax, excise tax and transportation fees. She was also the Executive Director of a bi-state GA/SC ARTS MPO.  She received her B.A. in Political Science from UNC-Chapel Hill and Masters of Planning Degree from the University of Virginia School of Architecture.  Additional certification and training in Negotiations, Strategic  Management of Regulatory and Enforcement Agencies  and Public Private Partnerships at Harvard Kennedy School  and a Certified Sustainability Manager.

Previous positions include Senior Project Manager, BREE & Associates, Inc. Director, Department of Planning, Wake County, NC; Director, Policy and Program Coordination, Governor’s Office of Smart Growth, Maryland; Director, Office of Long Range Planning, National Planning Commission, Washington, D.C.