Melissa Cameron serves as Chief Client Officer at Bodewell Group (formerly Southwest Strategies Group), where she oversees client strategy and engagement and growth across the firm’s vertical portfolios. She is responsible for setting client service standards, overseeing performance, and aligning talent, budgets and strategy to ensure consistent delivery and measurable results. Partnering closely with vertical leads, she drives growth, strengthens long-term client relationships, and ensures the firm’s public relations, public outreach and public affairs work meet and exceed client objectives. Working with clients, she leads the development and execution of integrated communications and outreach campaigns that align community relations, government affairs and stakeholder engagement strategies.
Previously, Melissa served as Senior Vice President over the firm’s energy practice, where she led strategic communications for complex infrastructure and regulatory initiatives. Drawing on this experience, she guides clients through high-stakes community engagement and multicultural outreach efforts, with a particular focus on major infrastructure, environmental and regulatory projects.
She has directed large-scale infrastructure outreach programs, managing cross-functional teams and ensuring campaigns are responsive to regulatory requirements, community concerns and evolving public sentiment. Her background in environmental and regulatory law and land use informs her ability to support clients through entitlement and approval processes.
Prior to joining the firm, Melissa worked for the Exoro Group, a strategic communications firm specializing in public affairs and political outreach. Throughout her career, she has advised nonprofit organizations and private companies, helping them navigate government processes and communicate effectively with elected officials, the media and the community.
Melissa holds a BA in communications and an MPA with an emphasis in local government and regulatory affairs. She is a member of Pi Alpha Alpha and the Public Relations Society of America, previously serving as President of the San Diego/Imperial Counties chapter and co-chair of the 2019 National Conference. She has also served on the boards for San Diego Downtown Partnership and Utility Communicators International.