Melissa Vermillion is the Chief Strategy Officer at Grant Ready Kentucky, a nonprofit committed to enhancing grant readiness and capacity-building across the Commonwealth. With a rich background in higher education and community services, Melissa has dedicated over 14 years to Hazard Community and Technical College, where she served as Director of Grants and Contracts and Dean of Institutional Effectiveness Planning and Research. An educator in grant writing since 2016, Melissa is among only 12 individuals in Kentucky to earn the Grant Professional Certification from the Grant Professionals Certification Institute, marking her as a pioneer within the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). Her ability to secure funding is demonstrated by her success in obtaining almost $50 million through federal, state, and private foundation grants. Before her tenure at the college, Melissa was the Director for Aging Programs in Perry County, where she significantly increased program funding, tripling resources through her grant writing and fundraising efforts. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and an MBA from Morehead State University, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Adult and Higher Education at the same institution. Melissa has been married to Kevin Vermillion for 36 years and is a proud mother to two adult children, Rebekah and Alex. Her extensive experience and dedication continue to drive her commitment to advancing grant readiness and resource accessibility for under-resourced organizations throughout Kentucky.