Melissa Johnston

Melissa Johnston is a business professional with 20 years of experience in roles spanning marketing, communications, project management and product development.  She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Sacred Heart University where she graduated with honors after completing her undergraduate studies at American University in Washington, D.C.  Melissa currently works as the Director of Marketing for a Connecticut medical device manufacturer.

Melissa’s business experience and education have helped her hone skills in budgeting, negotiations, market research, public relations, vendor management, strategy development, digital communications, team leadership, and more.  She feels these skills can bring significant value to the Board of Selectmen.

As the mom of fourth and seventh grade students, who are in the Orange elementary and Amity regional school systems, Melissa is an advocate for education.  She will work to ensure that we support our teachers and schools to foster the best possible learning environment for our children.

Melissa has lived with her family in Orange for over a decade, during which time she has become knowledgeable about various issues in town and actively involved in the community.  She believes economic development is one area where we need to be very strategic.  Not only reacting when businesses approach us, but having a solid, long-term marketing plan that identifies and attracts the businesses Orange residents want.  She thinks we need to take a similar approach to recreation.  When it comes to Fred Wolfe Park, she would like to see a data-driven effort to determine what members of the community would like to see there in the future and a plan developed accordingly.

Melissa knows that the residents of Orange would benefit from more communication and transparency.  She favors developing official and active communication channels to keep members of the community connected and informed.  Official Orange social media pages and an updated, mobile-friendly, easy-to-navigate website would be a great place to start.

As a working parent, Melissa understands how busy life can be.  To engage families, town officials need to proactively “meet families where they are.”  Melissa believes that being more communicative, open, and transparent about how decisions are made will make us a stronger community.

Melissa is an active member of the Orange Democratic Town Committee.  In addition, you will surely see her and her husband all around town as her children are involved in sports, scouts and many town and school activities.

Melissa loves living in Orange and will be a representative who listens to all perspectives, helps to engage different audiences, understands big-picture financial challenges, uses sound judgement, and draws on her extensive business experience to help move our town forward.