Mari Mellick, CAE, brings over 30 years of nonprofit executive management experience, dedicated to empowering nonprofit organizations and navigating the unique opportunities they face. Before joining Talley, Mari worked with a financial services group focused on supporting families, following an impactful tenure as Executive Director of a social services nonprofit. Her career began in Rochester, Minnesota, where she joined a medical society to lead administrative operations. From there, she advanced through various roles in medical society nonprofits, managing education initiatives and playing a key role in founding a new medical society responsible for certifying subspecialists and accrediting training programs.

Throughout her career, Mari has collaborated closely with healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to improve patient care and community well-being. Mari earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management from Winona State University, graduating magna cum laude. She is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation, and serves as Vice President of the United Healthcare Regina Hospital Auxiliary.

Based in the farm country of southeastern Minnesota, Mari lives with her husband and their mini Aussie Doodle, Bailey. She enjoys walking in the countryside and tending to her vegetable garden. In her free time, Mari and her husband visit each of their families’ Heritage Farms in northeast Iowa and travel to Texas to spend time with their two adult sons, Zach and Tyler, daughter-in-law Sarah, and granddaughters Drew and Blair.