Melan Terleckyj

 Melan Terleckyj Portfolio “Preserving the executive’s time fuels the company’s potential.” Executive Summary I am an experienced Executive Assistant with a decade of supporting C-suite leaders in dynamic, high-level environments. Certified in Lean Six Sigma, I bring a thoughtful approach to streamlining operations, enhancing executive productivity, and supporting strategic decision-making. Known for my discretion and calm under pressure, I help manage sensitive matters with care and navigate complex priorities with clarity. As a trusted partner, I provide steady support, reduce daily friction, and create space leaders need to focus on what matters most. My Mission Eliminate noise. Remove ambiguity. Serve as the central intelligence of the executive office. I absorb the day-to-day static so the Executive can think, act, and lead. My role is foundational to the success of the Executive—and, by extension, the entire organization. Strategic Value in Action Reduce Daily Noise Act as the go-to resource for all “I need…” moments—from meeting requests to logistics. Resolve daily friction points (e.g., scheduling, travel, expenses, internal questions). Create space for high-value leadership activity. Remove the Grey Area Proactively identify ambiguous tasks or initiatives that slow progress. Design lean, repeatable processes that prevent bottlenecks. Keep operational focus on “what matters now.” Be the Information Hub Central repository for context, insight, and historical knowledge. Facilitate strategic dialogue with colleagues; assess, filter, and elevate key insights. Support decision-making with clarity and confidence. Operating Philosophy I believe communication should be intentional and time should be treated as a strategic asset. I build trusted relationships, focus on what matters most, and address operational needs before they arise. I bring structure to complexity and show up each day with purpose, knowing my work directly supports executive success. Core Competencies Complex Calendar Management Streamlining Operational Processes Strong Organizational Skills Executive Support to C-Suite Executive Support to the Board Global Travel Coordination Expense Reporting & Reconciliation Project Coordination Stakeholder Relations Communications Management Administrative Team Management Mentoring Case Studies Travel Spend Optimization Problem: No centralized system to track company travel expenses. Action: Implemented a Concur-based tracking solution to streamline the process. Result: Improved reporting accuracy, enhanced policy compliance, and accelerated reimbursements. Lesson: Proactive collaboration with travel partners ensures smoother workflows and better financial oversight. Executive Travel Streamlining Problem: International travel planning was inefficient, with frequent last-minute changes and inconsistent preferences. Action: Created a travel intake form and worked with the agency to build executive travel profiles for faster, tailored bookings. Result: Cut booking time by 50% and reduced last-minute changes; executives reported smoother travel experiences. Lesson: A proactive travel system saves time and reduces friction for executives on the move. Executive Calendar Overhaul Problem: Executives were often double-booked and missed prep time due to disorganized calendars. Action: Centralized calendar management introduced “thinking” blocks and implemented a 48-hour lookahead. Result: Reduced conflicts by 70% and improved on-time attendance by 30%. Lesson: Strategic calendar control protects focus and drives better outcomes. Board Meeting Prep System Problem: Board materials were often delayed or inconsistently formatted, leading to confusion and last-minute stress. Action: Standardized templates and introduced a two-week prep workflow with clear deadlines and checkpoints. Result: Achieved 100% packet delivery for four consecutive quarters; the Board Chair noted improved clarity and consistency. Lesson: Structured prep builds trust and ensures executives show up ready for high-stakes meetings. Letters of Recommendation / Testimonials The Hon. Arthur Sinodinos AO | Partner and Chair of the Australia Practice | Manager |The Asia Group Melan has first class executive administration skills, a can-do mind set and intellectual curiosity. Quick on the uptake and requiring minimal supervision, she has a very retentive memory and great attention to detail. Highly adept at multitasking and setting priorities in complex working environments across multiple time zones. Always up for a challenge and doing more. Highly recommended. Jacqueline Borsboom | Managing Director, Australia Practice | Team Colleague | The Asia Group Melan is one of the most dedicated professionals I have ever worked with—passionate, driven, committed, sound judgment and with great people skills. There is not a meeting she can’t get organized; there’s a bit of magic there! Valerie Rozman | Federal Engagement Manager @ Scale AI | Former Colleague at The Asia Group What sets Melan apart is not only her depth and breadth of experience but her thoughtful and strategic approach in all that she does. I saw her not only handle a high tempo office with aplomb, but her foresight and collaboration across teams frequently helped set her principals up for success and provided leadership for other EAs across the firm. Melan is a force multiplier, and any organization would be lucky to have her! Dr. William Roper | Istari CEO | Former CEO/Manager at Volansi Melan was always two steps ahead, taking care of logistical details that might otherwise have become major issues later. Her intellect, sense of order, good judgment, and attention to detail were major force multipliers. She also filled in gaps ahead of being asked, jumping into complicated situations with skill and creativity, all while working across the executive team. But in addition to this, Melan was a pleasure to work with. My very best to her in all her endeavors! Jennifer Colton | Communications + Marketing Leader @ HPE | Former Colleague / Executive Team Member at Volansi Melan is the most organized, strategic and creative executive associate I have ever worked with. She is discreet, professional and has an incredible ability to manage hundreds of details and people with aplomb and masterful calm. I hope to work with her again, she is a true gem. Mike Jackson | Senior Vice President @ Global Solutions | Former Colleague / Executive Team Member at Volansi Melan is a true professional, subject expert, and great teammate. She is a force multiplier I’d fight for to have on any team! Mike Guerchon | Venture Partner @ Oregon Venture Fund | Former Manager / Executive Team Member + Senior VP of People at Volansi Melan is a total pro at what she does...which is anything and everything! She is smart, organized, has excellent communication skills and is just a pleasure to work with. Melan supported the entire executive team at Volansi which included many complicated logistical challenges including international travel. Even though she was on the east coast the folks on the west coast got seamless friendly service at all times. I'd highly recommend Melan as a great addition to any company. Projects NSF Support of the AAS Biannual Meeting | February 2016-February 2019 Partnered with the National Science Foundation [NSF] to plan and successfully execute the American Astronomy Society biannual meetings. The NRAO Women on Climate Change Committee | November 2015-November 2018 Created to ensure that Associated Universities, Inc [AUI] and National Radio Astronomy Observatory [NRAO] workplace climate is welcoming and inclusive, and that it allows each of us to conduct our work comfortably and productively, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) has been charged with surveying women who work at the Observatory about their experiences in our workplace. The Climate for Women Survey (CWS) 2018 is a follow-up to the Observatory’s first Climate for Women Survey conducted in 2016 that resulted in several positive changes at the Observatory, most notably in the areas of workplace conduct policies, work-life balance initiatives, and training and development opportunities. Transitioning a Former Ambassador to the Private Sector | March 2023-June 2025 Supported Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos, former Australian Ambassador to the U.S., as he transitioned into his first private sector role at The Asia Group. As his sole support-replacing a 12-person diplomatic team--I served as a trusted advisor and operational anchor. I guided him through private sector protocols, built the foundational infrastructure for his work, and supported the successful development of TAG’s Australia practice. By streamlining scheduling, communication, and stakeholder engagement, I enabled the Ambassador to integrate his public sector expertise into a corporate advisory model. Within two years, we fully launched the Australia practice, establishing strategic credibility and operational continuity in a new market. Developed Scalable Executive Support Team | March 2023-June 2025 Joined The Asia Group as the sole Executive Assistant supporting six senior partners. Identified the need for structured administrative support and led to the development of a scalable executive support function. Standardized workflows for scheduling, travel, and communications, and helped onboard and mentor additional assistants. The result was a more efficient, responsive, and sustainable support model aligned with the firm’s rapid growth. My efforts were recognized with a promotion to Director of Executive Administration, a role I held concurrently with my EA responsibilities. Established the Asia Group Offsite Committee | May 2023-March 2025 Spearheaded the firm’s first Offsite Committee to manage end-to-end logistics for TAG’s annual company-wide offsite in Washington, DC. Collaborated with global team leads to coordinate travel, accommodations, agendas, and venue logistics for a high-profile, multi-day event. The committee streamlined planning, ensured cross-functional alignment, and delivered a seamless experience for international staff, reinforcing TAG’s operational excellence and team culture. Certifications Lean Six Sigma from Villanova University Social Media Professional from George Mason University Licensed Notary [Commonwealth of Virginia] The Three Pillars of Effective Communication [LinkedIn] Travel Agent 101 [U.S. Aviation Hub] Coaching Yourself through the Ambiguity of Leading [LinkedIn] How to be More Strategic in Six Steps [LinkedIn] Business Writing from Management Concepts Federal Grants Update from Management Concepts Tools Microsoft 365 Concur Travel & Expense G-Suite Slack Asana Trello Monday.com Salesforce ChatGPT + various other AI platforms Operating Systems: macOS, Windows [Expert]