Summary: <a href="http://www.GoodMorningGwinnett.com" rel="noopener">www.GoodMorningGwinnett.com</a> Even though Melissa M. Proctor never played basketball, her dream as<br>a child was to be the first female coach in the NBA. Your heart will sink<br>and soar as you live through Melissa's trials and triumphs. Through<br>incredible experiences like surviving Hurricane Andrew, moving to<br>London and becoming the first "ball girl" for the NBA's Miami Heat, her<br>unconventional path has taken a number of twists and turns that has<br>led to earning the position of Executive Vice President and Chief<br>Marketing Officer for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena.<br>However, some would be surprised to learn that even at this stage of<br>her career, Melissa still doesn't know what she wants to be when she<br>grows up...and that's exactly how she wants it.<br>From Ball Girl to CMO includes relevant themes of hope, persistence,<br>empowerment, and courage to help readers navigate everything<br>from the personal to the professional. Throughout the pages, Melissa<br>shares lessons learned, guiding principles, and a means of comfort<br>for those not quite sure what to do next. She presents a powerful<br>framework for defining "Guiding Principles" that anyone can use to<br>help direct life decisions. With her laid-back style and down to earth<br>attitude, Melissa offers the option of acceptance at a time when<br>many are confused and hope when uncertainty distorts the light at<br>the end of the tunnel. From Ball Girl to CMO urges us to look at<br>ourselves, reflect on where we've been and be open to the possibilities<br>of what's to come.<br>Melissa M. Proctor is the Executive Vice President and Chief<br>Marketing Officer of the Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena. Her<br>professional achievements earned her recognition from a<br>multitude of publications throughout her career, including being<br>selected to the Sports Business Journal's 2020 class of 40 under<br>40, the Atlanta Business Chronicle's 2017 class of 40 Under 40,<br>Rolling Out Magazine's list of the Top 25 Women in Atlanta, The<br>Atlanta Voice's 50 under 50, London's Leaders in Sports: Leaders<br>Under 40, and earning a mention on Inc.'s 2017 list of 17 Inspiring<br>Women to Watch. Part of the NBA since high school, Melissa was<br>the first team attendant/ ball girl for the Miami Heat<br>organization, and in later years, returned to work for the Heat in<br>the basketball operations division. She serves on the board for<br>The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, The Children's Museum of<br>Atlanta and 48 in 48. She holds a bachelor's degree in<br>communication from Wake Forest University and a master's<br>degree in design studies & brand strategy from Central Saint<br>Martins College of Art and Design at The London Institute. A<br>native of Miami, FL, Melissa now resides in Atlanta, GA with her<br>super dope daughter, Marley
