Melissa Maynard

Experience

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  Atlanta Magazine

  Jan 2007 - Jan 2007

  Contributing Writer
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  Governing Magazine

  Mar 2007 - Mar 2008

  Project Reporter

  Collaborated with a team of journalists and researchers on a 50-state report card about government management published by Pew and GOVERNING. Researched and wrote about management of state budgets, people, information and infrastructure in 15 states—including leading the journalistic investigation of New York, California, and Texas. Interviewed state officials, including governors, legislators, and agency heads. Wrote feature stories, news briefs, and blog entries for GOVERNING.

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  The Pew Charitable Trusts

  Apr 2008 - Apr 2015

  Through the Business Incentives Initiative, a partnership between Pew and the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness, provided technical assistance to governors’ offices and executive branch agencies in six states to improve how they collect, manage, and visualize economic development data. Worked with cross-state teams to develop more effective ways to manage incentives and optimize data collection and reporting on investments. Planned and executed meetings and webinars that brought together key stakeholders in participating states to troubleshoot issues and hone new strategies. Show less Reported and wrote articles for Stateline about trends in state politics and policy, with a focus on government management. Stories were cited in The Economist and the editorial pages of The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, and appeared in full in publications such as The Washington Post, USA TODAY, and The Fiscal Times. Reported and wrote a series of in-depth investigative stories about backlogs in state government services and efforts to address them. The series was widely cited and led to potentially life-saving reforms to Vermont’s adult protective services program. Created data visualizations using Tableau, the first interactives that Stateline had ever published. Led a team of researchers and writers in developing a Pew report on the state role in expanding broadband access and planned an accompanying convening of key state and federal officials. Show less Helped research and write a number of seminal Pew reports, including 50-state publications about children’s dental health and and state fiscal issues that served as the foundation of new policy initiatives. Wrote and edited sections of the reports, conducted interviews and qualitative research, and helped develop talking points for media roll-outs. Helped plan and execute Pew forums for journalists about state policy issues, including a series about states’ fiscal health with Capitolbeat and a series about state sentencing and corrections policy with the John Jay Center on Media, Crime and Justice. Helped conceptualize forums, develop programming, and manage partnerships. Show less

  • Senior Associate, Economic Development

    Jan 2014 - Apr 2015

  • Staff Writer, Stateline

    Jan 2010 - Dec 2013

  • Research Associate

    Apr 2008 - Jan 2010
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  The Pew Charitable Trusts

  Aug 2015 - now

  Managed key aspects of a comprehensive research agenda on state economic development policy and served as a high-level expert before key audiences in government, business, and the media. Led a team of researchers in developing and executing a new strategy aimed at helping states improve how they interact with businesses as part of the regulatory process—a powerful, sustainable, and cost-effective approach to economic development. Helped develop a partnership with the National Governors Association and a policy academy for state executive branch officials that is executing and building upon the strategies outlined in the team's research. Advocated for better management of incentive programs through legislative and executive branch outreach, testimony, and bill drafting support. As part of the management team, helped lead key operational functions, including fundraising, staff performance reviews, contract oversight, and strategic planning. Show less

  • Project Director

    Oct 2023 - now

  • Senior Officer, Fiscal 50

    Jul 2020 - Oct 2023

  • Officer, Economic Development

    Aug 2015 - Jul 2020