Melissa Barker

Vice President Practice Development

Melissa Barker - Practice Director

Melissa Barker’s extensive experience in multiple facets of organizational management makes her an invaluable asset to the Duffy Group team. Her 20-plus years of experience managing teams, directing operations, and creating a strategy for multiple organizations help her understand the value of finding just the right candidate. Skilled at creative sourcing and attracting passive candidates, her range of candidate placement spans from high-level executives to supervisors in the government, construction, gaming, healthcare, and non-profit industries, to name a few.

Working in diverse industries since joining Duffy Group, Inc., Melissa has built a strong foundation within government. She understands that connecting candidates with a passion for public service is as important as honing in on the specific skill set specified by her clients. Her relationships with top-tier talent in government are the framework for her success.

Her heart for philanthropy and public service was established in childhood, as her family embraced the philosophy that giving to others is an expectation of those who have the ability. She worked for the State of New Mexico for many years and served as a founding member of the New Mexico Children’s Foundation, a visionary, grassroots organization that funds small, non-profit children’s organizations throughout the state. Since then, Melissa has served on several professional, non-profit, and community boards. She currently serves on the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Board of Directors and is the Chair of their Governance Committee. As a mother of two boys, she participates in many activities and they are all actively involved in Boy Scouts of America

Melissa earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of New Mexico. When she has a break in the whirlwind of activity, Melissa loves traveling and hiking, and has recently found a love of kayaking.