Melissa Kaiser

Melissa Kaiser is an executive leader with more than 30 years of successful experience in strengthening the financial performance and strategic growth of large-scale, mission- driven institutions. Her work in non-profit management at major organizations spans higher education, arts and culture, community development and children’s causes. As CEO of DISCOVERY Children’s Museum from 2018 to 2026, she led a period of significant growth and success that helped position the organization for long-term sustainability.

During her career, Melissa has helped guide boards, executive teams, investors, public agencies, and community stakeholders through growth, transformation, and complex strategic initiatives. Expertise in governance, fundraising, partnership building, and strategic planning has enabled Melissa to raise more than $100 million in capital funds for organizations she’s served.

She attributes much of her success in advancing complex initiatives to convening the right people and to building trust and alignment among stakeholders with differing priorities.

Most recently, she has focused on commercial development, strategic partnerships, and market expansion within the energy infrastructure sector. Through her work with Cordia Energy, a KKR-backed Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) and district energy platform, she
has helped identify and advance infrastructure opportunities, while developing executive relationships and supporting long-term growth initiatives in Southern Nevada. The work has required collaboration with municipalities, utilities, developers, institutional organizations, policymakers, and commercial leadership teams pursuing large-scale infrastructure and public-private partnership opportunities.

Melissa feels success relies on relationships, clear communication, navigation of competing interests, and helping establish common ground around ambitious goals. She enjoys working at the intersection of strategy, partnerships, and execution.