Melissa Charlton

Melissa Charlton brings a deep background in financial management, operations, and organizational leadership to CM Collaborative, ensuring every project runs with fiscal precision and efficiency. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Mount Vernon Nazarene University and an Associate’s degree in Early Child Development from Columbus State Community College.

Melissa began her career in early childhood education as a preschool teacher, later serving as Assistant Director for a national daycare chain. There, she mastered the art of balancing budgets while also wrangling toddlers, a combination of patience, organization, and problem-solving that translates surprisingly well to leading teams of construction professionals. From managing staff and controlling costs to improving efficiencies, those early experiences built a strong foundation for her transition into corporate finance at Nationwide Insurance as a Financial Business Analyst, where she managed budgets, developed forecasts, and streamlined reporting for high-profile technology initiatives.

Melissa first met Julie and Allen in 2005, when their children were in first grade together. Over the years, they spent time together at parks, school functions, and parent events, and Melissa often admired Julie’s work in construction while finishing her own degree. In 2013, when Allen posted on Facebook about the new home office for their newly-launched company, Melissa commented hopefully, “When do I start?”  Four weeks later she did. From the beginning, she recognized that Julie and Allen had both the vision and the heart to change the way construction is brought to people, and she’s been part of that mission ever since.

A career highlight was Melissa’s leadership on the INEOS Enterprises Headquarters in Grandview, Ohio, where CM Collaborative served as Owner’s Representative. In addition to managing back-office finances and project documentation, she directed the relocation of INEOS employees from the Dublin, Ohio office to the new Grandview Yard headquarters. Melissa worked closely with company leadership on seating arrangements, oversaw desk and equipment placement, and coordinated the transition of the IT department. She led the two-day move to minimize downtime, ensuring the transfer of computers, monitors, peripherals, and documents was completed seamlessly. Under her direction, employees packed and transitioned efficiently, resulting in an orderly, disruption-free move. This hands-on leadership experience gave Melissa deeper insight into how precise planning and execution drive the successful delivery of large-scale construction and relocation projects.

Today, Melissa applies this expertise to CM Collaborative’s construction portfolio, managing budgets, maintaining accurate records, and aligning resources with timelines. Her combination of fiscal discipline, operational insight, and clear communication makes her a steady and trusted presence for both the team and clients.