M LESTER CONSULTING, LLC

Melanie R. Lester
Melanie brings over twenty-five years of marketing, research, advertising, and public relations experience to
M LESTER CONSULTING LLC.

She started her career in public relations account management with Creamer Dickson Basford, Inc., working on the Borden and Hershey accounts, writing press releases and developing publicity programs.

Melanie joined Grey Advertising in 1977, beginning her thirteen-year advertising career with account management responsibility for the newly acquired American Motors account. In 1980, Melanie joined Ted Bates Advertising, working with increasing responsibility in product, creative, and media strategy development. During this time, she managed a variety of accounts, including office equipment, consumer electronics, financial investment, household goods, vitamin supplements and health and beauty aids, including Rx-to-OTC switch products.

Following this foundation in public relations and advertising, Melanie moved to the industry side of marketing, working with worldwide healthcare companies including Schering-Plough, Sandoz, and Novartis. Responsible for new product launches, brand and advertising positioning, and brand management, Melanie launched five new brands in the skincare, women’s healthcare, footcare, and cold and allergy categories.

Most recently, Melanie was Director of Marketing for the largest medical device division of Bristol-Myers Squibb, where she was responsible for direct-to-consumer and professional marketing, marketing research, and customer and professional services. She introduced the first direct-to-consumer marketing program in the division’s history.

Melanie brings varied and unique capabilities to
M LESTER CONSULTING LLC, a company she established in 1998 to assist healthcare organizations with marketing and strategic planning, marketing research and corporate training. Her expertise can fill the gap left in many organizations today resulting from downsizing and outsourcing.

In her “spare” time, Melanie has taught undergraduate and graduate marketing, consumer behavior, strategic planningpublic relations and advertising courses at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and has been a guest lecturer for the American Marketing Association at The College of New Jersey. She has served as Vice President of Marketing for the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey, and on the Pink Tie Ball Committee for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Melanie is past president on The Board of Trustees for Contact We Care Crisis Hotline, as well as being a trained crisis-intervention volunteer and trainer. A New York City native, Melanie lives in Bedminster, New Jersey. She enjoys mosaics, classical music, sailing and world travel.