Melissa Hill Dees is a Trailblazer

Melissa Hill Dees’ journey into technology began in the 1980s when personal computers were just emerging. She pursued a degree in Computer Science, but looking for more human connection, she ended up in a corporate sales role. Eventually, Melissa transitioned to the nonprofit sector, serving in leadership roles at Habitat for Humanity and United Way. It was in her last role with United Way, coordinating directly with volunteers, that she first encountered Salesforce and saw its potential for nonprofits.

Witnessing her organization struggle with outdated processes, Melissa saw firsthand how Salesforce could enhance productivity and accelerate mission-driven work. Determined to make an impact, she delved further into the platform. In 2016, Melissa joined the Salesforce Partner Community as a founding member of HandsOn Connect Cloud Solutions, a Salesforce partner focused on nonprofits. She used Trailhead to grow her expertise and learned how Salesforce could revolutionize workflows by automating repetitive tasks so teams could focus on what truly required human effort. 

Networking played a key role in Melissa’s growth, reinforcing her belief in the power of connections. Like many, she faced imposter syndrome early on, but the community’s support helped her gain confidence. Her blog post, Am I on Mute?, gained traction in the ecosystem, leading to greater exposure. Feeling empowered, Melissa submitted a Dreamforce session proposal based on the post and was thrilled to be selected. The experience was even more meaningful with fellow Trailblazers cheering her on. Melissa encourages everyone to engage with the Trailblazer Community — not just for knowledge, but to also build lasting relationships. 

Melissa’s impact extends beyond speaking engagements. After HandsOn Connect was acquired by a competitor, she helped to found new organization, Agile Cloud Consulting, to continue her personal mission of empowering nonprofits with Salesforce. Melissa has spent the last four years working with higher education and humanitarian organizations that need to manage and engage volunteers. She also co-founded Nonprofit Dreamin’, a space for nonprofits to connect and collaborate, and she created a virtual user group for organizations without local resources. 

Agentforce has the power to transform nonprofit operations. For example, organizations can drastically reduce calls by automating application status updates, while AI-driven research and summarization eliminate manual work. This shift lets teams focus on high-value outreach. Looking ahead, Melissa intends to showcase how Data Cloud can refine data strategy, ensuring that nonprofits fully leverage AI insights. By championing innovation and human-centered technology, she continues to help mission-driven organizations maximize their impact.