David Melie
About David Melie
David Melie serves as the Head of Partnerships at FirstIgnite, where he has worked since 2020. He has a diverse background in marketing and sales, with previous roles at notable companies such as Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Jimmy John's, and Travelopia.
Work at FirstIgnite
David Melie serves as the Head of Partnerships at FirstIgnite, a position he has held since 2020. In this role, he has been instrumental in aligning academic experts with businesses, enhancing the company's client-centric services. He has contributed significantly to FirstIgnite's mission of advancing the commercialization of research breakthroughs. David has also played a key role in the development of FirstIgnite's software tool, which facilitates the matching of complex technologies with suitable companies.
Education and Expertise
David Melie earned a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from Western Illinois University, where he studied from 2008 to 2012. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Business Administration and Management from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, completing his studies from 2014 to 2016. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his roles in marketing and partnerships.
Professional Background
David Melie's professional background includes various roles in marketing and sales development. He worked as a Marketing Specialist at Jimmy John's from 2012 to 2013 and later served as the Marketing & Sales Development Manager at MotionPoint from 2017 to 2019. He also held the position of CRM Marketing Manager at Travelopia in 2019. Prior to his current role, he worked at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. as an Automation Product Executive for four months in 2020 and briefly as an MBA Marketing & Sales Analyst at KEYENCE CORPORATION in 2015.
Achievements in Marketing and Partnerships
Throughout his career, David Melie has achieved notable milestones in marketing and partnerships. At FirstIgnite, he has been key in developing strategies that connect business decision-makers with academic experts. His efforts have advanced the commercialization of research breakthroughs, demonstrating his commitment to fostering collaboration between academia and industry.