Melanie Graves brings over 40 years of diverse leadership experience across the financial services, higher education, nonprofit, and commercial real estate sectors. As Director of Strategic Partnerships at AIS, she draws on her extensive background and collaborative style to help organizations implement an innovative AIS employee assistance program (EAP) that promotes employee well-being and enhances business performance.
Melanie began her career in the mid-1980s by co-founding a pioneering financial planning division within Robert M. Wallbillich, CPA, integrating tax, insurance, and investment services for small businesses—a forward-thinking model that complied with AICPA regulations and set a precedent for holistic advisory solutions.
From 1990 to 1992, she worked in the Group Pensions Department at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, where she developed departmental procedures for defined contribution plan administration and led software conversion projects, collaborating closely with corporate attorneys on plan design and client strategies.
She then spent six years at Capital Research and Management Company, advancing from Operations Supervisor to Assistant Vice President. There, she oversaw mutual fund accounting for 29 domestic and international funds, led electronic data interchange (EDI) initiatives, implemented job families and compensation frameworks, and played a critical role in designing fund accounting and trading systems to ensure compliance and operational efficiency.
From 1999 to 2007, Melanie transitioned to higher education, serving in multiple leadership roles at Southern Methodist University. As Executive Director of Student Affairs, she managed a $27 million budget, led the implementation of PeopleSoft systems, and spearheaded a $26 million restoration and expansion of the Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports. Her cross-functional collaborations with Human Resources and university finance teams led to enhanced compensation structures and improved financial systems across campus.
After taking a career pause in 2008 to support her family’s goals, Melanie returned to professional life by founding Resource Allocators, LLC in 2014. Through Resource Allocators, she consulted with nonprofit organizations on financial systems, operational structure, and strategic planning—most notably leading project management for a historical society’s initiative to create and build a museum.
In 2016, she founded Melanie Graves Realty LLC, focusing on commercial real estate in the New Orleans area. Her client-focused, data-driven approach helped small to midsize businesses make sound financial real estate decisions. She also played a key role in launching the commercial division at RE/MAX Alliance.
In 2025, driven by a renewed passion for helping individuals and organizations navigate life’s complexities, Melanie joined AIS. Her role focuses on expanding AIS’s corporate membership EAP program, offering businesses tools to improve employee mental health, reduce stress, and drive retention.
Melanie holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of New Orleans and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. She is a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS), a Certified Mediator, and a retired Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®). A lifelong learner, Melanie is also passionate about wellness, having self-studied health and personal development throughout her career.