Melissa Zier-Rifenbery | Honor Society®

Education

Florida Metropolitan University

Associate's degree in Paralegal Studies

2004 – 2006

Career goal: I want to be a school nurse and assist children of all ages. I remember as a kid, the nurse's office was where we went to feel better. Not only did our nurse provide that, but she inspired me to be compassionate towards anyone I met. I want to provide that positive interaction in students' lives and build meaningful friendships as they grow and develop into young adults. I want to be that safe space for students as they navigate life.
Outside the classroom: I enjoy reading, sewing, the outdoors and making memories with my boys.

I provided administrative leadership to an FRG composed of 160 individual families during a year-long period of intense operational training and through a nine-month international operation in Europe. Assisted with the company and organizational planning, managing, and supervising FRG activities to keep the families engaged and established effective communication systems with the immediate and extended families supporting the two-way delivery of timely and accurate information regarding their soldier. Recruited the volunteers needed to conduct voluntary and policy-driven FRG activities to ensure the soldiers and families were cared for. I provided families were referred to appropriate military and community resource agencies to assist their needs better. I identified important FRG and family questions for the command to address and assisted the command in maintaining emergency contact information for families.

Family Readiness Group (FRG) Company Leader for Charlie and Headquarters Company

Apr 2019 – Apr 2021