Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce Restructures Executive Leadership Team

Melbourne Regional Chamber was founded in 1925

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The Melbourne Regional Chamber recently announced the restructuring of its executive leadership team to further position the organization as the area’s leading chamber for business advocacy and community development.

Michelle Salyer began work at MRC this week as vice president of communications and marketing, joining executive leadership team members Michael Ayers, president/CEO; Melody Thomas, vice president of business development; and Melody Buller, director of finance and human resources.

In this newly created role, Salyer will develop and implement strategic marketing and communications programs, drive awareness of the chamber brand, manage the investor program, maintain the MRC’s Five Star accreditation status, and coordinate the chamber’s councils and committees, among other duties.

She has been a member of the MRC board of directors since 2017 and served as vicechair of the marketing committee for two years.

Salyer brings to the role more than 25 years of experience in marketing, advertising, public relations and journalism.

She comes to the chamber from Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy in Melbourne, where she spent six years as director of marketing and communications.

In addition to operating her own public relations and communications firm for many years, she has worked for companies including Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex/Delaware North, Visit Orlando, Eddie Bauer Worldwide, Edelman Seattle, and Austin Kelley Advertising in Atlanta.

Salyer earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of South Carolina with a cognate in Marketing.

Melody Thomas was recently promoted to the role of vice president of business development after serving the organization for 18 months as the director of business development.

In this expanded role, Thomas will continue to drive new partnership sales and tactics, as well as oversee the development and implementation of retention operations, efforts, and initiatives.

Prior to joining MRC, Thomas served as area director of sales and marketing for LaQuinta Hotels by Wyndham in New Orleans for more than eight years and served on the board of directors for the Gulf South LGBT Chamber from 2014 to 2019.

She currently serves on the board of directors for the SPCA of Brevard.

“Our new leadership model will position the Melbourne Regional Chamber to provide even more outstanding value to our members, to the Space Coast business community, and the community at large,” said Ayers.

“I am thrilled to welcome Michelle Salyer to the team and to promote Melody Thomas, who has been a key player in attracting new investors and members to the chamber in the last year and a half. Both of these professionals will help us further our mission to promote the business interests of our members and to create an environment in which business thrives.”

Ayers was appointed president/CEO of the Melbourne Regional Chamber in 2017.

He brings to the role nearly 20 years of experience in government relations, management, and political marketing in Washington, D.C., Illinois, Tallahassee, and Brevard County.

Buller has spent nearly 30 years in leadership at the Melbourne Regional Chamber, including 25 years at CFO, as well as five years as executive vice president/CFO of the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce in Appleton, Wisconsin.

As part of its strategic plan, the chamber also created the role of connections coordinator, which was filled by Macy Monroe.

Monroe attended the University of Central Florida and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management.

Most recently, she worked in the property management field. In her new role, Monroe supports the chamber membership team in providing support to existing and potential members and investors.

The Melbourne Regional Chamber, founded in 1925, represents more than 1,000 organizations in Central Florida.

It develops and promotes the business interests of its members through representation, advocacy, education, and support while contributing to the growth and prosperity of a vibrant business community.

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