Melissa Merrell is an experienced analyst with a demonstrated history of work in federal, state, and local policy arenas. Currently the Manager for Financial Planning and Analysis at the Port of Portland in Oregon, Melissa directs a team of six analysts in budget development, forecast modeling, and analysis of business opportunities.

Prior to moving to the West Coast, Melissa was a Principal Analyst at the Congressional Budget Office in Washington, D.C. with a focus on intergovernmental impacts of congressional legislation and an adjunct professor for graduate policy programs specializing in teaching practical analytical tools for budgeting and financial management in classroom and online settings.

Melissa received a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology from St. John Fisher College and a Master of Public Policy from The George Washington University.