About

 Born and raised in Iligan City, Philippines, Melanie is a proud immigrant with nearly two decades of experience in the financial industry. Her career spans leadership roles at Mission Federal Credit Union, Wells Fargo, and US Bank, where she championed inclusive service and community engagement. She began her professional journey in Tokyo as a Project Manager for a courier service supporting Filipino expatriates in Japan.

Melanie is also the founder of The House of Plants, a San Diego-based business that promotes climate awareness through plant styling and organic care for commercial spaces. She now offers her curated plant collection at  Parfait Paris locations, bringing greenery and sustainability into homes and businesses.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology, where she was honored with the Institute Leadership Award for her excellence in co-curricular leadership.

A dedicated advocate for Filipino-American empowerment, Melanie has served on nonprofit boards and remains active in several cultural organizations. In 2025, she was recognized with Mission Fed’s Inclusion Advocate Award and became the founding president of its Asian Pacific Islander Employee Resource Group. That same year, the City of National City presented her with a commendation for her leadership and impactful engagement of the Filipino community through the Buy Filipino Network.