Our agency is uniquely positioned to support organizations and enterprises that enhance public life and strengthen communities. We provide strategic communications services to public sector, corporate, and nonprofit clients.

ABOUT OUR FOUNDER

Melissa Hensley is the quintessential civic booster. She is an engaged citizen and voter (big surprise: she majored in Political Science at St. Edward’s University in Austin) as well as a disciplined business leader, drawing on her MBA from the University of Houston’s C.T. Bauer College of Business.

She relishes the dynamic personality, economic vitality, and vibrant arts scene of her hometown of Houston, and she lends her counsel to organizations that enhance public life in any locale through culture or commerce.

Melissa has successfully led strategic communications teams and provided executive counsel for more than 25 years. Her professional expertise is in developing and implementing strategic, integrated marketing plans to achieve measurable results. Her industry experience includes economic development, energy, technology, and the arts.

Prior to founding M. Hensley Consulting, Melissa served as Senior Director, Communications, for NRG and subsidiary Reliant Energy, where she led the Fortune 500 firm’s communications strategy through a period of significant organizational change. Her role was to protect company reputation and brand, support consumer and investor trust, and maintain employee engagement and peak performance.

Melissa previously held the post of Chief Marketing Officer for Choose New Jersey, serving on the leadership team that launched the Garden State’s new economic development marketing organization, including program design, team build-out, and the development of business practices and strategic plan.

Prior to her move to New Jersey, she was Vice President, Communications, for the Greater Houston Partnership, leading the marketing communications team to increase awareness of the Partnership and support the organization’s economic development, public policy, and membership goals.

Melissa is a native Houstonian and currently resides in her home city. As Houston’s biggest fan and self-appointed tour guide, she can tell you the best places in town to catch local music, which galleries are hosting the city’s most boundary-pushing artists, which urban parks offer the best walks and picnic sites, and all the stops that make Houston a world-class food city. When she’s not out on the town, she loves to cook at home and voraciously consume podcasts.

Melissa has served on the boards of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau and Avenue Community Development Corp. She is currently on the Membership Development Advisory Committee of the International Economic Development Council.

M. Hensley Consulting provided nuanced, reliable expertise. Her communications input, messaging, and high-level planning were invaluable. 

Sara Harris, Midland Development Corporation

M. Hensley Consulting is a certified Women-owned Business Enterprise and a certified Historically Underutilized Business (HUB). For more information, please contact us.