Our Ambassador Network is comprised of a dozen or so in-house agency leaders from various companies, industries, geographies and team sizes who are actively engaged in spreading the word about IHAF. As we continue our monthly feature on those in the group, it’s time to meet MeLissa Mips-Medugno, Assistant Vice President of Digital & Creative Services at BJ’s Wholesale Club.

When I caught up with MeLissa, she was eager to share what her team has been focused on lately, including a corporate brand update. “We recently did some updated brand work with an external agency that the internal team is now building off of and adapting for everything we do. The direction is more emotional than in the past, relying on copy and images to pay each other off.” What a great way to transition into the new year—heading into 2017 with a fresh creative platform!

MeLissa has been in the creative industry for her full career, starting as a production artist at a weekly newspaper. “I was hired to learn the Mac and train the designers to execute ads and page layouts in Quark and PageMaker, as well as support design and newspaper pagination. I also worked in the dark room and operated a stat camera.”

MeLissa continues to embrace the range of opportunities she encounters in her role, always open to the challenges that come her way. “There’s something we can learn from everything we do,” she notes, and she encourages others to do the same. When it comes to inspiring her team, however, MeLissa has a secret weapon—her adorable dog, Maggie! “Every couple weeks, I’ll bring Maggie into the office on a Friday. She’s therapy for all of us.”

As a longtime member and Ambassador, MeLissa had a final thought to share about IHAF. “My favorite part of the organization is the support and recognition for all in-house teams. IHAF has elevated the visibility of internal agencies, contributed to the growth of their overall value, and given us a forum to promote the great work we do.”

Thank you for your kind words and your dedication to the IHAF community, MeLissa. Keep an eye out for next month’s Ambassador Spotlight featuring Andy Dean of City Year.