Melon Wedick

Experience

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  Pacific Science Center

  Jul 2001 - Dec 2001

  Exhibit Assistant

  Assisted with load-in and strike of exhibits, including the Titanic exhibit. Worked in the metal shop, learning TIG welding and fabricating and finishing metal components of the Genetics exhibit, ranging from large exhibit components to specialty hardware items. Assisted in overseeing installation of metal components on the exhibit floor. Acted as assistant lighting designer and master electrician for the Genetics exhibit.

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  Greenville Shakespeare Festival

  Apr 2002 - Oct 2003

  Co-Founder and Director

  I was Co-Founder and Director of the festival, which had two successful summer seasons in 2002 and 2003. I oversaw all financial and day-to-day operations, while contributing actively to the creative side. My work included:o securing funding, including a $5,000 grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Fund and over $11,000 in private donations; o budgeting, tracking funds, preparing closing financial statements;o developing relationships with venue owners, advertisers, local residents, community groups, and town officials; o drafting all written content for website, promotional materials, press releases, and correspondence;o designing and construction select props and set pieces for our shows; ando directing productions of Measure for Measure and Hamlet. Show less

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  Mountview Conservatory of Theatre Arts

  Sept 2002 - Dec 2002

  Scenic Design Apprentice

  Designed and built a stylized working replica of an 1860's German standing loom (6' tall by 7' long). Assisted with model-building, scenic painting, and development and construction of scenic elements for multiple productions. Taught introductory MIG welding to 1st year students.

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  University of Michigan

  May 2007 - Sept 2008

  Research Assistant

  I performed quantitative and qualitative research for a professor studying changing housing and neighborhood conditions in Cleveland and Detroit. I compared changes in Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data with changes in Census data to investigate the potential to use HMDA as a predictor of neighborhood change. I used GIS in combination with county Assessors' data to pinpoint formation of blots (aggregated groups of parcels with a single owner) in Flint, MI. I used GIS, aerial photos, city administrative data, and Sanborn fire insurance maps in combination to assess the success rate of Community Development Corporations in redeveloping vacant, abandoned, and contaminated parcels. Show less

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  Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency

  Nov 2008 - Sept 2010

  Performed regional and transportation planning roles. Headed the planning process for a Safe Routes to School master plan that won the town of Plymouth $430,000 in federal transportation dollars. Assisted the town of Plainville in planning for a segment of the East Coast Greenway. Collaborated with emergency management directors, planners, public works directors and others to craft the region's Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, approved by FEMA in February 2011. Managed three CERT teams and sat on statewide and regional emergency management committees. Successfully applied for a $64,000 grant from US EDA for economic development planning (CEDS). Prepared Title VI reports and quarterly UPWP updates; assisted with collection of traffic count data. Show less

  • Senior Planner / Assistant Director

    Jul 2010 - Sept 2010

  • Regional Planner

    Nov 2008 - Jun 2010
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  Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners

  Sept 2010 - May 2014

  Planner

  Project Manager (lead firm), Plan Author, Gowanus BOA Nomination Study: a multi-firm, community-based, state-sponsored study focused on fostering economic revitalization in the Gowanus area of Brooklyn. Public Outreach Coordination, Plan Co-Author, Rebuild by Design (BIG U): The BIG U, one of the winning proposals of the federally-funded Rebuild by Design competition, engaged hundreds of residents on the Lower East Side in interactive workshops to envision socially responsive and economically engaging large-scale infrastructure to protect residents from storms and severe flooding resulting from climate change. This project was awarded $335 million of the total $355 million awarded to NYC as part of Rebuild by Design. This project was awarded the 2014 New York Metro APA's William H. White Award for creativity and ingenuity in planning, and the North American Silver prize from Holchim Awards for sustainable construction. Project Manager (lead firm), Design the Edge: Hallets Cove: a multi-firm planning and concept design study looking to transform a disused, city-owned waterfront property in Long Island City into a community asset for waterfront recreation and ecological restoration. This project received a 2014 merit award from NY ASLA.Plan Author, BQE Enhancement Study: a multi-disciplinary, community-based visioning process that posited three concept designs for mitigating the impacts of a sunken highway trench on the local population. Planning Support: I provide planning support for projects in development, conducting research, analyzing demographic and regulatory frameworks, developing cost estimates, etc. Writing: I write planning reports, memos, project and firm marketing materials, web content, and project proposals, as necessary. Show less

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  BLUE RIDGE ORCHESTRA

  Jul 2015 - Dec 2021

  I oversee the daily, weekly, and seasonal needs of a 60+ person, all-volunteer symphony orchestra. I handle venue communication & logistics, equipment transportation and storage, personnel management (including administration of student concerns for our UNC Asheville enrollees), bookkeeping, marketing, audience development, and all graphic design. I recruit and oversee volunteers, run concerts, handle setup and breakdown of concert and rehearsal venues, and assist at board meetings. In August 2016, I developed a custom Salesforce installation for the Orchestra and transferred all the organization's data to it. Show less

  • Executive Director

    Jul 2020 - Dec 2021

  • Bookkeeper & Graphic Designer

    Jul 2019 - Jun 2020

  • Orchestra Manager

    Sept 2015 - Jun 2019

  • Public Relations, Graphic Design, and Production Coordination

    Jul 2015 - Jun 2016
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  Wildwood Consulting PLLC

  Feb 2018 - now

  Staff Planner & Office Manager

  I provide planning assistance at Wildwood, including helping write and format Forest Management Plans, and producing professional maps and graphics using QGIS and the Adobe Creative Suite. I developed, implemented, and now maintain a database system that allows tracking of projects, time, costs, and more. I also handle all the office bookkeeping.

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  Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective

  Apr 2019 - Aug 2020

  Development Manager
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  Nemesis Theatre Company

  Jan 2020 - now

  Founder & Artistic Director