Mel Kent
Project Director
Mel Kent is the ideal NCDS Project Director, bringing to our clients proven experience as an accomplished community and economic development professional, as well as a community volunteer. Having served for 18 years as CEO of two successful Chambers of Commerce, Mel understands all sides of the fundraising process, especially working with volunteer leaders.
As CEO of the Greater Lansing Chamber in Michigan’s capital city, he led a staff of 32 and managed an annual budget of $6 million. During his 12-year tenure with the Lansing Chamber, Mel launched and implemented two aggressive strategic initiatives with multi-million dollar budgets. NCDS is pleased to have managed each of the campaigns to fund those programs for one of Michigan’s leading chambers.
Prior to beginning his chamber career, Mel was President of Peerless Foundry in Bay City, MI. As a local business leader, Mel was always involved in community volunteer leadership positions, serving on the boards of local organizations, including the Chamber, where he was eventually recruited as its chief staff executive.
In recent years, he relocated to Boise, ID and has represented the National Federation of Independent Business as a senior executive covering several surrounding states.
With his wife, Lynn, and their four children Mel enjoys hiking and searching for volcanic hot springs and natural waterfalls in the beautiful country surrounding Boise.
Mel graduated from Michigan State University in 1978 with a B.A. in business administration, but finds himself consistently cheering on his home town favorite, the BSU Broncos.