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Updated: August 5, 2019 / 2019 40 Under Forty Awards Honorees

Melissa Melonson

Photo | J. Fiereck Photography Melissa Melonson

 

Co-founder and President, Lumi Agency

Age: 35

No. of years with current company: 3.5

Town where I live: Hebron

Town where I work: Hartford

College: Uconn

Who is your favorite superhero? Wonder Woman

Melissa Melonson is co-founder of Hartford-based Lumi Agency, a creative digital agency that creates digital products, platforms and experiences. Melonson worked in New York City on brands like Pepsi and Heineken before moving back to Connecticut where she met her now business partner Cara Stellato.

Blending their marketing and technical expertise, they launched Lumi in 2016 and quickly gained clients such as Prudential and Google. They also own Lumi Luxe Agency, weHartford.com and digital startup Crate — and are partners on two tech startups posed to launch this year.

What’s been your biggest professional accomplishment so far in your career?

Building the business from the ground up with a 235 percent increase in revenue from year to year — all without any initial capital or outside investment — has been a huge accomplishment, along with establishing a healthy, unique and authentic culture and values throughout the business and our team.

How are you involved in the community?

I am an avid Hartford ambassador. WeHartford.com has allowed us to share our love for the city and create energy around the amazing people, places and events our team encounters. I also sit on the board for Achieve Hartford, participate in the Bushnell Park Foundation’s marketing committee, and our company is an active MetroHartford Alliance investor.

What do you like to do outside of work?

My favorite moments are spent with my husband and two young daughters — and enjoying the fleeting time I have while they still think I am the end all, be all of their day. But I also love a good glass of wine, and eating my way through new and favorite culinary experiences.

Four reasons why you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty:

• Co-founded a business that has been profitable since day one.

• Actively promote positive Hartford news and happenings through our weHartford media channels — always looking to support neighboring businesses.

• Manage an exceptional team of talent, while constantly looking to grow their professional and personal skills for them to succeed in their future.

• Successfully ideated, built and launched four brands in three years.

Fun Fact

In my (limited) spare time, I am writing a screenplay for fun.

Return to HBJ's 2019 40 Under Forty landing page

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