Vice President of Workforce & Business Development
Community Solutions
Gilroy, California
Melissa Santos (she/her) is the Vice President of Workforce and Business Development at Community Solutions and a nationally respected leader in the behavioral health field. With more than 25 years of experience, her work sits at the intersection of mental health, addiction recovery, workforce development, and community impact. A trained social worker and committed change maker, Melissa has led across the full continuum of care—spanning direct service, program design, systems development, and large-scale organizational change.
Melissa is deeply committed to breaking stigma and advancing equity through trauma-informed, people-centered leadership. Her expertise includes organizational strategy, leadership development, and strategic communication for growth. As both a nonprofit executive and executive coach, she is known for building inclusive, values-driven cultures that foster resilience, professional growth, and sustainable transformation.
She is the coauthor, along with Edward Cohen and Rosemary Tisch, of Preventing Child Abuse: Family-Based Programs to Improve Resiliencies and Address Substance Use, published by Oxford University Press in February 2026.
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM MDT