Melanie has spent the majority of her career in corporate finance. In her last few roles with Discovery, Inc., she realized more and more that her most fulfilling days were those in which she was focused on developing talent, consulting internal clients, and helping others in any way that she could. Melanie is so grateful to have pivoted into such an inspiring community of entrepreneurs, as well as all of those that support them.

Amanda grew up in South Carolina and learned about inequality and justice volunteerism from an early age, serving as a young leader in her church.

​

Has a passion for marketing and driving small business success.

Lena Washington, an NYC native and NJ transplant who is a 20+ years nonprofit professional, joins the team at IFEL as Project Director. She is a proud Columbia Business School Non-Profit Leadership Professionals alum, with an extensive nonprofit background, including Strategic Program Development, Donor Relations, and Marketing. She seeks to lend her skill set in network building, strategic planning, community relations, unique premise design, and research to the community of brilliant and talented small business owners in which IFEL services. Connecting individuals, groups, and teams to resources for growth are one of her crucial drivers.