About
Melissa Duff Brown – Strategic Leader, Innovator, and Community Advocate
Melissa Duff Brown is a visionary strategist and results-driven leader committed to empowering entrepreneurs, advancing innovation, and strengthening communities. As Director of Strategy for Joseph Business Services and Carver Cloud, and co-lead of the Operation Ten City Campaign, she designs and executes growth strategies that combine financial acumen, operational excellence, and cutting-edge AI solutions.
With over 20 years of diverse experience spanning accounting, banking, construction, electronics, and government, Melissa has built a reputation for turning complex challenges into actionable pathways for growth. She began her career as a small-business accountant and later served more than seven years in local government as a legislative aide and chief of staff. Her career reflects both depth and breadth, bringing together expertise in business consulting, technology adoption, and economic development.
Melissa is widely recognized for her leadership and impact. She has been honored as Illinois SBDC State Star, received the Shining Star Mentor Award, and was appointed Chair of multiple state-level committees focused on minority business development and operational excellence. Under her leadership at the Illinois SBDC-ITC-APEX at the Joseph Center, her team supported more than 3,800 entrepreneurs, created and retained 3,000 jobs, and facilitated over $1.1 billion in government contracts and $30 million in export sales.
A certified Six Sigma Green Belt, Adobe Education Trainer, Certified Business Development Advisor, and GrowthWheel Elite Advisor (ranking among the top 40 worldwide), Melissa is also a graduate of the Living Word School of Ministry. Her expertise in AI readiness, process automation, and financial optimization positions her as a trusted advisor to organizations navigating digital transformation.
Driven by integrity and excellence, Melissa is deeply committed to closing wealth gaps and uplifting underserved communities, ensuring that entrepreneurship and innovation remain engines of sustainable growth.
Joseph Consulting & Business Services: Strategic Growth, AI Innovation, and Operational Excellence for Modern Businesses
Joseph Consulting & Business Services is a full-service consulting firm that helps entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and growing companies strengthen their operations, sharpen their strategy, and scale with confidence. We combine proven business fundamentals with modern technology, including AI-powered tools and automation, to help clients navigate today’s evolving marketplace and build systems that support long-term success.
Our faith-based approach is practical, insightful, and grounded in real-world experience across multiple industries. Clients choose us because we make complex decisions easy to understand, provide frameworks that reduce overwhelm, and deliver guidance that moves businesses forward with clarity and intentionality.
Whether you’re launching, restructuring, or preparing to scale, we help you align your vision, improve your operations, and adopt the right technologies to stay competitive. Our services include strategic planning, market research, financial management, cloud and AI readiness, process optimization, project management, and grant and proposal support.
With a commitment to excellence and a passion for empowering communities, we partner with leaders who want to grow sustainably, operate more efficiently, and create meaningful impact.
Book a session to get strategic clarity, actionable next steps, and the support needed to build a stronger, more innovative, future-ready business.
