Melanie Fae Garrett has thirty years’ experience in rural business development for entrepreneurial startups and small business owners.  She partners with organizations whose missions contribute to the empowerment of rural communities in which all stakeholders - individuals, groups, and the natural environment - benefit.

Melanie has partnered with American Red Cross and Community Redevelopment Associations delivering post-disaster recovery programs to local residents and business owners who suffered severe loss following natural disasters.

Pre and post Covid-19, she served as the SBDC affiliate program authority providing organizational management for service delivery of TAEP and Covid Relief and Recovery technical and financial assistance in collaboration with Community Development Services and the Northern California SBDC Finance Center.

Her passion creating vibrant, healthy communities is clearly expressed through thoughtful collaboration and coordination of resources to develop culturally appropriate solutions between service providers and the business community.