An alum of the University of Utah having studied pre-med biology with an emphasis in exercise and sport science, Ms. Sutton also holds a two-year post-graduate certificate in non-profit management from Arizona State University and a Small Business Administration MBA. Melissa is the President of Abundance Journey Consulting and Active Kids Global, and the Vice President of Water Smart Babies.

Melissa has been involved in aquatics and child development nearly her entire life. Off to a rocky start by jumping on her swim instructor from the diving board (rather than next to her), she learned to swim at an early age. She then became a lifeguard at the age of 15 and started guarding the beaches of Lake Michigan at 16. Melissa continued her love for the water when in college by her participation on the swim and dive team as a 1 and 3 meter springboard diver. She now regularly competes in triathlons and educates those around her on how to be safer in and around water when speaking and conduction research around the globe about water safety and drowning prevention.

She currently serves as the President for both the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona and the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, along with being an aquatic expert for Maricopa County’s Child Fatality Review Team. Ms. Sutton’s other community involvement has included serving as a volunteer for the Arizona chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an officer in the East Valley Rotary Club, a mentor for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation’s Team-In-Training program, and as an advisor for several Valley non-profit organizations through Arizona State University’s Lodestar School of Non-Profit Management.

Ms. Sutton completed her first Ironman in November of 2016. In July of 2017 the US Olympic Committee recruited her to attempt crossing over to Team USA’s Track Cycling program. She is currently working to make the US Team for Tokyo in 2020. She also enjoys scuba diving, skiing, and traveling, and continues to raise funds for causes close to her heart. Melissa and her husband, Dr. Peter Sutton, have two sons and currently reside in Phoenix, Arizona.