Melissa Douaire
Boulder,CO
Summary
Founder, Whole Person Conversations, LLC, Melissa recently founded a grief consulting practice, Whole Person Conversations LLC, after becoming a Certified Grief Counselor (AAGC) in 2020. Her organization works with individuals, small businesses, corporations, schools, and client-centered services to help educate others on the importance of attending to the multi-dimensional attributes of grief for healthy healing. Melissa teaches through webinars, facilitating retreats, and speaking engagements. Her passion is to acknowledge and address the grief we will all eventually experience, help others understand the impacts of loss, and treat each other kindly and gently while walking through dark days back into the light of hope.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder
Whole Person Conversations, LLC
Boulder, CO
02.2021 - Current
- Consult, coach, and counsel on conversations related to grief, illness, death, and life transitions with emotional support tools and active listening skills.
- Working with businesses, higher-education institutions, and individuals to promote healthy grieving and healing to increase employee wellness, production, creativity, satisfaction, engagement, and retention.
- Entrepreneurial endeavor with large corporate clients, published articles, podcast interviews, videos, and content creation customized for webinars.
Intentional Interim Pastor
Faith Community Bensenville
Bensenville, IL
02.2019 - 06.2019
- Sabbatical coverage as a solo pastor.
- Weekly worship designed, sermons written and presented; oversight of all pastoral counseling, administration, committees, and programs for the church.
- Led programs such as worship, study, fellowship, and service opportunities for the congregation of 200 plus members.
- Officiated special services such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, and nursing home services.
- Supervised staff and committees.
- Created plans and communicated deadlines to ensure projects were completed on time
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness, and willingness to help wherever needed
Associate Minister-Pastoral Care
First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn
Glen Ellyn, IL
07.2015 - 01.2019
- Primary pastoral-care clergy for 1,200 person congregation.
- Responsibilities included one-on-one counseling, coordination of clergy and staff, implementation and leadership of Stephen Ministry program, supervising 10-12 lay leaders, and guided counseling services.
- Organized and conducted pastoral home visits of congregants, facilitated special ministries and adult education programs, designed curriculum, schedules, managed logistics, and facilitated retreat for 60 women.
- Sermons and weekly prayers were written and presented to large audiences.
- Crafted worship format and presided over special services and funerals.
- Officiated special services such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, and nursing home services.
- Planned and conducted worship services, wrote sermons and worked with key church leaders to carry out church missions.
- Created spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel for daily, weekly, and monthly reporting.
- Exceeded goals through effective task prioritization and great work ethic.
- Identified issues, analyzed information, and provide solutions to problems.
Adjunct Faculty
College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL
01.2014 - 05.2015
- College of DuPage, Continuing Education English Language Acquisition Taught English as a Second Language to ethnically, educationally, and economically diverse college and adult students.
- Provided listening, speaking, and writing skills to students in a non-judgmental learning environment to enhance student opportunities for employment and cultural integration.
- Identified academic strengths and obstacles and developed instructional techniques to accommodate different learning styles
- Evaluated and selected instructional materials and texts to prepare course materials and lesson plans
- Engaged students with insightful and compelling classroom discussion of topics relevant to coursework to boost student learning and retention
- Evaluated and selected instructional materials and texts to prepare course materials and lesson plans.
Elementary School Teacher
Virginia Public Schools, Archdiocese Of Chicago
Arlington & Chicago, IL, VA
01.1993 - 01.1999
- Abington Elementary, Arlington, Virginia
- Chicago Archdiocese: Visitation Elementary and Mount Carmel Academy economically and racially diverse schools.
- Taught with diverse styles for classes of 22-33 students. Prioritized parental communication and engagement: crafted weekly classroom newsletters, assessments and matrix creation, and volunteer opportunities; continuing education, peer, parent, and student conferences and individualized positive behavior modification plans, IEPs/504's, curriculum scope, and sequence.
- Fostered student curiosity and interest in learning through hands-on activities and field trips
- Pursued professional development during summer months to maintain certification and extend skills
- Provided warm, supportive environment for developing academic, social, and emotional growth
- Created lesson plans to correlate with state curriculum standards and devised educational programs to meet educational objectives
- Reinforced positive behavior by encouraging efforts through affirmation statements and praising accomplishments
- Established open communication and positive relationships with students, parents, peers, and administrative staff
- Developed problem-solving and critical-thinking skills by presenting challenges to boost self-esteem and performance
Executive Assistant to U.S. Representative
United States House Of Representatives
Washington, DC
01.1991 - 03.1993
- Managed Congressman's daily schedule, correspondence, and provided constituents with information regarding legislation.
- Primary contact for constituents, and lobbyist interactions with Congressman in D.C. office. Guided tours, coordinated programs with other congressional offices.
Education
Masters of Divinity -
Chicago Theological Seminary
Chicago, IL05.2016
Master of Education -
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA05.2000
Bachelor of Arts -
DePauw University
Greencastle, IN05.1991
Certified Grief Counselor - Grief
American Institute of Health Care Professionals
American Academy Of Grief Counseling10.2020
Certification -
First Aid For Mental Health
Naperville01.2019
Faith And Leadership Certificate -
Northwestern University Kellogg/Non-profit
Evanston, IL01.2019
Certified Mediator - Mediation
Lombard Mennonites
Glen Ellyn, IL08.2015
Clinical Pastoral Education Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital -
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
Downers Grove, IL06.2013
Continuing Education - Psychology
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL1995
Skills
- Effective Communicator and Public Speaker
- Industry Expertise
- Relationship and Team Building
- Employee Motivation and Performance
- Leadership and People Development
- Business Consulting
- People and Culture
- Integrity and Transparency
- Effective and Active Listening
- Consulting
- Collaboration
Volunteer
Susan G. Komen: Board of Directors of Chicago, Race for the Cure- Survivor Program Chair, Inaugural gala planning, and fundraising member
Lincoln Elementary School: Art Mom, room parent, classroom volunteer
First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn: Church Council, Co-chair of bi-annual fundraising dinners, Chair of Parish Life Committee, senior high Appalachia service project camp leader, Stephen Ministry leader and trainer, Sunday school teacher
Common Hope Mission in Guatemala: Site volunteer and sponsor of two children
Community Health Initiative in Haiti: Surgical operating room technician
Timeline
Founder
Whole Person Conversations, LLC
02.2021 - Current
Intentional Interim Pastor
Faith Community Bensenville
02.2019 - 06.2019
Associate Minister-Pastoral Care
First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn
07.2015 - 01.2019
Adjunct Faculty
College Of Dupage
01.2014 - 05.2015
Elementary School Teacher
Virginia Public Schools, Archdiocese Of Chicago
01.1993 - 01.1999
Executive Assistant to U.S. Representative
United States House Of Representatives
01.1991 - 03.1993
Masters of Divinity -
Chicago Theological Seminary
Master of Education -
University of Virginia
Bachelor of Arts -
DePauw University
Certified Grief Counselor - Grief
American Institute of Health Care Professionals
Certification -
First Aid For Mental Health
Faith And Leadership Certificate -
Northwestern University Kellogg/Non-profit
Certified Mediator - Mediation
Lombard Mennonites
Clinical Pastoral Education Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital -
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
Continuing Education - Psychology
Northwestern University