Melissa Pepper

Chief Strategy Officer

As Chief Strategy Officer, Melissa focuses on strategic growth for Russell. She works closely with the executive leadership team, market leaders, marketing, and business development teams to anticipate new opportunities and position Russell effectively for overall success. 

She is passionate about community engagement and actively volunteers with multiple organizations, including MercyOne Genesis, United Way of the Quad Cities, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Quad Cities Cultural Trust, and Lead(h)er. Melissa is a 2024 graduate of Leadership Iowa, and received the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 award in 2022. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Augustana College and an MBA from The University of Iowa Tippie School of Business.