Melissa Wilson is Assistant to the President at Central Piedmont Community College, a recipient of the DRI Foundation’s 2020 Women in BCM Scholarship, and as a result, is on track to becoming a certified ABCP with DRI International.
What’s your professional background? How did you get here?
I’ve been a state employee at a community college for over 15 years. My career began in office administration and has included various role involving project management, emergency planning, business continuity and risk management. Prior to my current role as assistant to the President, I served as the assistant director of Business Continuity, assisting to build the continuity plan for the organization.
What does DRI certification mean to your life?
A DRI certification will open new doors of opportunity for me professionally and aid in meeting a personal goal of achieving the certification.
What made you interested in business continuity?
I fell in love with continuity planning while serving in the Enterprise Risk Management division of the college. I love the research, helping departments plan, and knowing that the work truly makes a different in the overall resiliency of the organization.
Do you have any life experience that makes this field especially compelling?
Because of my work and passion for continuity planning, I earned a Masters degree in Business Continuity and Risk Management from Boston University– a milestone for an adult learner, raising a family and working full time while pursuing my education.