Melissa M. Proctor is ball-handling proof that career dreams can happen if you believe life happens for a reason — and you get after it. As a girl, Melissa dreamed of becoming the first female coach in the NBA. Her book From Ball Girl to CMO takes readers on a journey through trials and triumphs from being named the first ball girl for the Miami Heat and now the Chief Marketing Officer of the Atlanta Hawks. She is a frequent public speaker, best-selling author, and creative thought leader.

Melissa Proctor isn’t just any Chief Marketing Officer. Since 2016, she’s been the Executive Vice President and CMO of the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. She oversees day-to-day marketing of the team brands and the arena including, marketing strategy, marketing operations, digital, social media, advertising, and promotions, Hawks Studios: an internal video production and creative agency, branded fan experience, game-day live experience and production, retail, corporate social responsibility, community basketball development, and brand communications.

A brand leader recognized for her creativity, work ethic, and empathy, Melissa started her career with the Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., serving in senior brand development and strategy leadership positions for Turner Entertainment Networks, Cartoon Network, and Turner Media Group. She helped to create the first Corporate Social Responsibility Division in Turner’s UK office, was responsible for managing the rebranding of Court TV as truTV, and led corporate culture initiatives to foster employee engagement, collaboration, and innovation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Wake Forest University and a master’s degree in design studies and branding from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design at The London Institute.

Melissa resides in Atlanta with her daughter, Marly.