For Mel, life and career have always been about finding balance: between family and ambition, purpose and perspective. Originally from Los Angeles, Mel and her husband made a life-changing decision four years ago to trade the fast pace of Southern California for the calm of Hawaii. With three young children, including boy-girl twins and a kindergartner, the move offered a chance to slow down, reconnect, and redefine what work-life balance truly meant.
“Life here has been pretty amazing,” she shares. “The people are wonderful, and the weather’s beautiful, but being remote can be isolating sometimes. That’s why I’m so grateful to have the Blend and ASME teams; they keep me grounded and connected, even from what feels like a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.”
Mel’s professional journey spans over 20 years across some of the most well-known names in business and research. She’s worked on both the client and supplier sides for brands like Honda, J.D. Power, Avery Products, Toyota, Microsoft, and Verizon, evolving her expertise from marketing research to consumer experience and now user experience (UX). Her path has been a steady climb toward understanding how people interact with products, systems, and brands using research to make those experiences better.
Today, Mel is a UX Researcher with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), supporting the organization’s ongoing digital transformation. Her role focuses on improving user journeys, conducting usability testing, and helping modernize legacy systems to create smoother, more meaningful digital experiences.
“When I joined ASME through Blend, the organization was in the early stages of reimagining its digital presence,” she explains. “The websites were outdated and fragmented, so it’s been exciting to be part of that evolution - helping move things toward a more modern, cohesive user experience.”
One of Mel’s proudest accomplishments has been building ASME’s customer journey mapping program from the ground up. An initiative that’s helped reshape how the organization views its customer experience strategy. “It started small, just introducing the concept and gaining buy-in,” she recalls. “But now we’ve mapped over 30 journeys across multiple business units, and the organization even hired a C-suite leader dedicated to customer experience. Seeing that growth and knowing I played a part in it has been incredibly rewarding.”
Transitioning to contracting was a first for Mel. After years of full-time corporate roles, including leading a team of 10 UX researchers at UserTesting, she embraced a new direction in 2023 that prompted her to reimagine her career path.
“With three young kids and no local family support in Hawaii, I needed flexibility,” she shares. “When a close colleague told me about this part-time opportunity at ASME through Blend, it felt like the perfect fit.”
That decision paid off. Mel not only rediscovered her passion for hands-on research but also found new appreciation for the balance and freedom that contracting provides. “It’s a mutually beneficial relationship, it allows me to stay sharp and contribute meaningfully while giving the client flexibility too,” she says.
She credits much of her positive experience to the supportive culture at Blend.
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Within her ASME role, Mel has become a trusted partner and knowledge keeper, often onboarding new UX designers and maintaining continuity through team transitions. She works closely with Mo, ASME’s Director of Digital Experience, whom she deeply admires. “Mo has treated me with respect from day one,” she says. “He includes me in meetings, values my input, and makes me feel like part of the team, not just a consultant. I really look up to that leadership style and hope to emulate it one day.”
Looking ahead, Mel envisions herself returning to a leadership role in UX research, managing teams and shaping strategies. “Eventually, I’d love to get back into that player-coach role: leading a team, mentoring others, and helping drive big-picture decisions,” she says. “But for now, I’m exactly where I need to be: balancing my career, my family, and the life we’ve built here in Hawaii.”
From Los Angeles to Hawaii, from full-time leadership to independent consulting, Mel’s journey is a testament to adaptability, perspective, and the power of finding purpose in every chapter. Through her work with Blend and ASME, she continues to build meaningful experiences - for users, for teams, and for herself.
For Mel, life and career have always been about finding balance: between family and ambition, purpose and perspective. Originally from Los Angeles, Mel and her husband made a life-changing decision four years ago to trade the fast pace of Southern California for the calm of Hawaii. With three young children, including boy-girl twins and a kindergartner, the move offered a chance to slow down, reconnect, and redefine what work-life balance truly meant.
“Life here has been pretty amazing,” she shares. “The people are wonderful, and the weather’s beautiful, but being remote can be isolating sometimes. That’s why I’m so grateful to have the Blend and ASME teams; they keep me grounded and connected, even from what feels like a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.”
Mel’s professional journey spans over 20 years across some of the most well-known names in business and research. She’s worked on both the client and supplier sides for brands like Honda, J.D. Power, Avery Products, Toyota, Microsoft, and Verizon, evolving her expertise from marketing research to consumer experience and now user experience (UX). Her path has been a steady climb toward understanding how people interact with products, systems, and brands using research to make those experiences better.
Today, Mel is a UX Researcher with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), supporting the organization’s ongoing digital transformation. Her role focuses on improving user journeys, conducting usability testing, and helping modernize legacy systems to create smoother, more meaningful digital experiences.
“When I joined ASME through Blend, the organization was in the early stages of reimagining its digital presence,” she explains. “The websites were outdated and fragmented, so it’s been exciting to be part of that evolution - helping move things toward a more modern, cohesive user experience.”
One of Mel’s proudest accomplishments has been building ASME’s customer journey mapping program from the ground up. An initiative that’s helped reshape how the organization views its customer experience strategy. “It started small, just introducing the concept and gaining buy-in,” she recalls. “But now we’ve mapped over 30 journeys across multiple business units, and the organization even hired a C-suite leader dedicated to customer experience. Seeing that growth and knowing I played a part in it has been incredibly rewarding.”
Transitioning to contracting was a first for Mel. After years of full-time corporate roles, including leading a team of 10 UX researchers at UserTesting, she embraced a new direction in 2023 that prompted her to reimagine her career path.
“With three young kids and no local family support in Hawaii, I needed flexibility,” she shares. “When a close colleague told me about this part-time opportunity at ASME through Blend, it felt like the perfect fit.”
That decision paid off. Mel not only rediscovered her passion for hands-on research but also found new appreciation for the balance and freedom that contracting provides. “It’s a mutually beneficial relationship, it allows me to stay sharp and contribute meaningfully while giving the client flexibility too,” she says.
She credits much of her positive experience to the supportive culture at Blend.
Within her ASME role, Mel has become a trusted partner and knowledge keeper, often onboarding new UX designers and maintaining continuity through team transitions. She works closely with Mo, ASME’s Director of Digital Experience, whom she deeply admires. “Mo has treated me with respect from day one,” she says. “He includes me in meetings, values my input, and makes me feel like part of the team, not just a consultant. I really look up to that leadership style and hope to emulate it one day.”
Looking ahead, Mel envisions herself returning to a leadership role in UX research, managing teams and shaping strategies. “Eventually, I’d love to get back into that player-coach role: leading a team, mentoring others, and helping drive big-picture decisions,” she says. “But for now, I’m exactly where I need to be: balancing my career, my family, and the life we’ve built here in Hawaii.”
From Los Angeles to Hawaii, from full-time leadership to independent consulting, Mel’s journey is a testament to adaptability, perspective, and the power of finding purpose in every chapter. Through her work with Blend and ASME, she continues to build meaningful experiences - for users, for teams, and for herself.
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