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Melanie Cole has a diverse work experience spanning various roles and industries. Melanie started their career at Tacoma Arts Live in 2007 as a Front of House Team Member, where they provided customer service and ensured the safety of patrons during live performance events. Melanie also assisted with inventory and hospitality tasks.

In 2012, Melanie returned to Tacoma Arts Live in the same role and continued until 2014. During this time, they were responsible for customer service, inventory management, and fire and evacuation protocol.

From 2013 to 2016, Melanie worked for the American Red Cross in different disaster-related positions. As a Client Services Coordinator, they supported daily client casework activities and attended community partner meetings. Later, they became a Disaster Program Specialist, organizing and facilitating disaster operations and contributing to the preparation of community disaster response plans. Finally, they served as a Disaster Program Manager, overseeing the implementation of disaster programs in the Southeast Louisiana area.

In 2016, Melanie joined the City of Seattle as a Strategic Advisor in the Office of Emergency Management. In this role, they coordinated the development of programs for vulnerable populations and led their implementation, evaluation, and improvement.

In 2020, Melanie took on freelance work as a COVID-19 Compliance Officer, ensuring compliance with state and national guidelines in TV and film productions. Melanie also worked as a Consultant for the Tacoma Performing Arts Emergency Alliance, which aimed to bring together performing arts organizations for sharing expertise and resources during emergencies.

Most recently, in 2021, Melanie worked as a Senior COVID Response Worker at the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management before becoming the Owner of Spectra Flora, their own business venture.

Overall, Melanie Cole has gained extensive experience in emergency management, disaster response, customer service, and program coordination.

Melanie Cole completed their high school education at the Tacoma School of the Arts from 2005 to 2008, earning a High School Diploma with a focus on Theatre/Theater. Melanie then pursued higher education at Richmond, The American International University in London from 2008 to 2012, where they obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in International Relations.

In addition to their formal education, Melanie has obtained several certifications. In November and December 2020, they completed various COVID-19-related trainings, including COVID-19 Training for Healthcare Workers from Stanford Online, Event Safety Access Training from the Event Safety Alliance, and COVID-19 (Level A and Level B) for the Film and Video Production Industry from Safe Sets International. Melanie also obtained certifications as a COVID-19 Compliance Officer from Health Education Services and in COVID-19 Contact Tracing from The Johns Hopkins University.

Furthermore, Melanie acquired the FEMA Leadership Development Series certification from FEMA in May 2016. Melanie has also completed the Adult, Child and Baby First Aid/CPR/AED Online Only training and the Bloodborne Pathogens Training, both provided by the American Red Cross in November 2020.