Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
References
Timeline
Generic

Melissa Galatas

Biloxi,MS

Summary

Experienced Community Advocate skilled in managing functional operations and projects related to community organizing. Collaborative leader with expertise on local and state political landscapes dedicated to partnering with coworkers and community members to promote progress and overall societal health and empowerment.

Overview

18
18
years of professional experience

Work History

Justice for Families Program Manager

Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence
10.2023 - Current
  • Promotion from Domestic Violence Coordinator to Justice for Families Program Manager.
  • Act as liaison between GCCFN and local municipal and justice courts within the Justice for Families Collaborative.
  • Collaborate with community partners and criminal justice professionals to improve agency policies re: domestic violence response.
  • Supervise two employees including reviewing and submitting their time sheets, activity logs, and data for grant reporting.
  • This management role is in addition to the Domestic Violence Coordinator job description.

Domestic Violence Coordinator

Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence
04.2023 - 10.2023
  • Obtain domestic violence related arrest reports from four local jurisdictions and aggregate response data from those reports.
  • Make calls to victims associated with those incidents to inform them of criminal justice events, provide resources for victim services, and conduct safety planning.
  • Lead our monthly Coordinated Community Response (CCR) team meeting. The CCR team includes community partners from other nonprofits, military victim services, court personnel, law enforcement, and culturally-specific service agencies to coordinate our response to domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
  • Develop and provide training and continuing education for court personnel and law enforcement.
  • Engage with community partners in the criminal justice system on high-fatality risk cases to prioritize victim safety and offender accountability.

Transaction Coordinator

Molyneaux Group, LLC
05.2021 - 03.2023
  • Oversaw commercial investment real estate transactions with broker, J Douglas Molyneaux.
  • Drafted contracts and listing agreements.
  • Scheduled inspections and appraisals.
  • Developed and managed marketing campaigns.
  • Served as client point-of-contact..
  • Maintained files to comply with Mississippi Real Estate Commission regulations.
  • Coordinated communications between brokers, investors, attorneys, vendors, and property owners.
  • Managed the office by monitoring deadlines, screening and prioritizing communications and meetings, and keeping track of business expenses.

Community Outreach Educator

Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence
02.2020 - 05.2021
  • Developed presentations for organizations throughout the lower six counties on intimate partner violence, family violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking dynamics, prevention, and community responses.
  • Provided specialized training for law enforcement, prosecutors, clerks, and other professionals in the criminal justice system.
  • Provided in-house training for staff, board members, volunteers, and students.
  • Coordinated awareness campaign events with community partners and local governments.
  • Represented GCCFN in media appearances.

Outreach Advocate

Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence
02.2018 - 02.2020
  • Organized multidisciplinary teams designed to coordinate the criminal justice system's response to domestic violence throughout Jackson County.
  • Initiated one-on-one educational discussions about domestic violence and ways to improve the system's response.
  • Organized meetings to evaluate high-risk cases
  • Coordinated training sessions for judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement.
  • Created policy-change initiatives in criminal and civil courts to improve responses to incidents of domestic violence.
  • Continued to provide direct services to victims in criminal and civil court settings.

Court Advocate

Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence
05.2015 - 02.2018
  • Provided victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in the criminal justice system with advocacy, emotional support, and emergency resources provided by the Center for Nonviolence.
  • Prioritized confidentiality.
  • Developing complex safety planning strategies catered to their individual needs.
  • Thoroughly explained court procedure, legal jargon, possible outcomes, and court rulings to clients.
  • Served as liaison for clients to professionals in the criminal justice and civil legal systems, and other victim service resource providers.
  • Developed long-lasting partnerships with judges, lawyers, law enforcement agencies, court personnel, and local leaders through active engagement and professional collaboration.
  • Navigated the justice system to advocate for my clients' interests while maintaining friendly and professional relationships with colleagues in adversarial roles.

Server

Lookout Steakhouse
10.2014 - 07.2015
  • Demonstrated strong multitasking skills by managing multiple tables simultaneously without compromising service quality.
  • Served food and beverages promptly with focused attention to customer needs.
  • Worked with POS system to place orders, manage bills, and handle complimentary items.
  • Collaborated with team members during busy shifts for efficient workflow and excellent guest experiences.
  • Cultivated warm relationships with regular customers.
  • Addressed customer complaints or concerns professionally, ensuring swift resolution and maintaining positive relationships.

Resident Advisor

Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence
11.2014 - 05.2015
  • Monitored the GCCFN's crisis hotline and screened callers for service qualifications and gave referrals to other agencies when appropriate.
  • Performed intakes and orientation with new residents.
  • Supported personal needs of residents dealing with diverse conditions.
  • Managed and distributed resident medications.
  • Monitored building security by conducting routine rounds throughout the facility.
  • Mediated conflicts among residents effectively, ensuring a peaceful living environment.
  • Coordinated move-in and move-out processes, ensuring smooth transitions for new and departing residents.


Server

Bull's Restaurant
03.2014 - 07.2014
  • Provided friendly customer service through explaining menu items, taking orders, calculating and processing checks, and cleaning tables.
  • Provided attentive service during high-volume periods without sacrificing attention to detail or guest rapport.
  • Assisted in training new hires, providing guidance on restaurant standards and best practices.
  • Resolved customer complaints promptly and professionally to maintain positive reputation.
  • Handled cash transactions accurately, contributing to balanced daily financial reports.

Legal Assistant

The Ready Law Firm
07.2013 - 02.2014
  • Answered office phones and conducted consultations for representation inquiries
  • Requested records from medical facilities.
  • Filed court documents and legal pleadings with court clerk on behalf of attorneys.
  • Organized documents to manage paper and electronic filing systems of clients.
  • Maintained strict confidentiality, protecting sensitive client information as required by legal ethics and regulations.
  • Handled office scheduling and made notes for deadlines, motions, and other important dates.
  • Prepared and drafted correspondence and legal forms to maintain smooth communications.

Digital File Clerk

Dukes, Dukes, Keating and Faneca, PA
10.2010 - 07.2013
  • Archived and organized all records and physical files to the electronic database, Worldox.
  • Scanned all files for electronic transfer.
  • Directly supervised three employees in the preparation of files for electronic transfer.
  • Performed receptionist and administrative duties as needed.

Receptionist

Gastroenterology Clinic of Acadiana
04.2008 - 11.2009
  • Greeted incoming visitors and patients professionally and provided friendly, knowledgeable assistance.
  • Confirmed appointments, communicated with patients, and updated patient records.
  • Checked-in patients upon arrival for appointments.
  • Answered phone promptly and directed incoming calls to correct offices.
  • Wrote orders for any necessary lab testing.
  • Verified all insurance, conducted procedure precertifications, and scheduled patients for their annual follow-up appointments.

Legal Assistant

Daigle, Jamison, and Rayburn
07.2007 - 03.2008
  • Organized documents to manage paper and electronic filing systems of clients.
  • Handled office scheduling and made notes for deadlines, motions, and other important dates.
  • Managed high-volume workload while maintaining strict attention to detail on every task such as drafting pleadings or summarizing depositions accurately.
  • Worked alongside attorneys, administrative assistants, and fellow legal assistants on complex cases and legal processes.
  • Prepared for court hearings by organizing and summarizing documents, preparing exhibits and reviewing evidence.

Administrator and Paralegal

Austin R. Nimocks & Associates, PLLC
08.2006 - 04.2007
  • Managed the office and coordinated law firm activities.
  • Drafted interrogatories, requests for admissions, requests for production of documents, and other discovery.
  • I transcribed all correspondence, legal briefs, pleadings, and other documents.
  • Assisted Mr. Nimocks with legal research and trial preparation.
  • I maintained a physical and electronic filing system and answered telephones.
  • When Mr. Nimocks dissolved his practice to join another firm, I assisted in the process of transitioning his pending cases to other attorneys.

Education

Licensed Realtor -

Real Estate Training Institute
Biloxi, MS
03.2021

Some College (No Degree) -

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Biloxi, Mississippi

Some College (No Degree) -

South Louisiana Community College
Lafayette, Louisiana

High School Diploma -

Long Beach Senior High School
Long Beach, Mississippi
01.2006

Skills

  • Kind disposition
  • Adaptable to change
  • Analysis and critical thinking skills
  • Interpersonal and professional communication skills
  • Writing and editing proficiency
  • Knowledge of Mississippi's political landscape
  • Fluent in legal terminology
  • Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point

References

  • Josh Danos, Municipal Prosecutor for Gautier and Moss Point, 228-215-1367, 228-327-7879, jdanos@bordisdanos.com
  • Matthew Mestayer, Reeves & Mestayer, 228-374-5151, 228-860-8205, mgm@rmlawcall.com
  • Magistrate Judge Bradley W. Rath, Southern District of Mississippi, 228-229-8400

Timeline

Justice for Families Program Manager

Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence
10.2023 - Current

Domestic Violence Coordinator

Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence
04.2023 - 10.2023

Transaction Coordinator

Molyneaux Group, LLC
05.2021 - 03.2023

Community Outreach Educator

Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence
02.2020 - 05.2021

Outreach Advocate

Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence
02.2018 - 02.2020

Court Advocate

Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence
05.2015 - 02.2018

Resident Advisor

Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence
11.2014 - 05.2015

Server

Lookout Steakhouse
10.2014 - 07.2015

Server

Bull's Restaurant
03.2014 - 07.2014

Legal Assistant

The Ready Law Firm
07.2013 - 02.2014

Digital File Clerk

Dukes, Dukes, Keating and Faneca, PA
10.2010 - 07.2013

Receptionist

Gastroenterology Clinic of Acadiana
04.2008 - 11.2009

Legal Assistant

Daigle, Jamison, and Rayburn
07.2007 - 03.2008

Administrator and Paralegal

Austin R. Nimocks & Associates, PLLC
08.2006 - 04.2007

Licensed Realtor -

Real Estate Training Institute

Some College (No Degree) -

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Some College (No Degree) -

South Louisiana Community College

High School Diploma -

Long Beach Senior High School

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Melissa Galatas