Melissa Lindler

Director

Ms. Lindler currently serves as the director for the Office of Business Opportunities with the City of Columbia, South Carolina. She is responsible for providing support, training, technical assistance, and capital assistance to small, minority and women owned businesses. Her duties also include overall management and oversight of the city’s commercial revolving funds, disparity study implementation, contractor and supplier diversity initiative, commercial retention and redevelopment program, and increasing procurement access and building the capacity of small and disadvantage businesses in the water and sewer industry.

Prior to working for the City of Columbia, Ms. Lindler was a congressional staffer for Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) for 12 years. As director of district planning and outreach, she was responsible for district planning, scheduling, special events coordination, and various aspects of constituency services.

She presently serves on the Executive Board/Board of Directors of the International African American Museum currently under development in Charleston, South Carolina and has enjoyed previous service on the boards of The Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics, The Columbia Chapter of the Society, Inc., Jack and Jill of America Foundation, Inc., and the Total Care for the Homeless Coalition.