Melina Valsecia-Monreal

About Melina Valsecia-Monreal

As Executive Director of the Eagle Valley Community Foundation (EVCF), I am committed to leading with humility, listening first, and responding thoughtfully to the evolving needs of Eagle County, Colorado. Under my leadership, EVCF has grown from a dedicated team of 7 to 20 staff members, expanded our Board of Directors from 13 to 20, and increased our budget from $1 million to $6 million, strengthening our capacity to serve the community with excellence and care.I have guided the creation of impactful programs such as the MIRA Bus, which received the Vail Valley Partnership’s Nonprofit of the Year award in 2021 for bringing essential services directly to neighborhoods. In 2024, EVCF was honored as Best Nonprofit of the Year for our continued innovation and collaboration. I also launched the ELEVAR Program, empowering Latinx leaders and entrepreneurs, and I oversee The Community Market, which provides healthy food access while advancing sustainability and food recovery.Bilingual in English and Spanish, I believe meaningful change begins by elevating community voices, fostering trust, and building partnerships that create opportunity and belonging for all.

Experience

1. Executive Director

   Eagle Valley Community Foundation

   Dec 2020 — Present · Edwards, CO, US

   As Executive Director of the Eagle Valley Community Foundation (EVCF), I have led the organization through remarkable growth and community impact. Under my leadership, EVCF expanded from 7 to 20 staff, grew its Board of Directors from 13 to 20, and increased its budget from $1M to $6M — strengthening our capacity to respond to Eagle County’s evolving needs.I launched and scaled transformative initiatives, including The Community Market, which distributes free, healthy food to thousands of families while rescuing surplus food and supporting local agriculture. Through the RECOVER Program, we partner with local businesses to divert food waste and increase sustainability. I created the MIRA Bus, which brings health, education, and essential services directly to underserved communities — a model that earned Small Nonprofit of the Year (2021). I also developed ELEVAR, a leadership and entrepreneurship program that ensures Latinx small business owners and emerging leaders have access to capital, training, and decision-making spaces.These efforts have positioned EVCF as a trusted community anchor, recognized as Best Nonprofit of the Year (2024) by the Vail Valley Partnership. I was also named a finalist for the Individual Community Impact Award for my work during the COVID-19 pandemic.Today, I continue to guide EVCF with a focus on sustainable community investment, collaborative partnerships, and innovative solutions that build a resilient, equitable future for Eagle County.

Education

• Aspen Ideas Health

  Fellow, Public and global health

  2019 — 2019

• Universidad Favaloro

  Postgraduate Certificate, Hydration and Sport Nutrition

  2002 — 2002

• National Health & Human Services Summit 2019

  Presenter, 2Generation Approach

  2019 — 2019

• Kaplan University

  Master, Public Health in Health Education

  2010 — 2012

• Colorado Public Health Association

  Mentoring Program, Public Health Leader

  2018 — 2019

• Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education

  Executive Certificate, Concentration in Nonprofit Leadership

• Universidad del Norte- Paraguay

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Nutrition, Human Nutrition, Food Service Managment, Clinical Nutrition

  1997 — 2000

• Center of Creative Leadership

  Leadership on the Ground, Organizational Leadership

  2018 — 2018