Harbor hires Melissa Vilmenay as senior talent specialists

With a growing reputation for attracting high-calibre creative talent, Harbor starts 2022 with news that Melissa Vilmenay joins its team as Senior Talent Specialist, announced founder and CEO, Zak Tucker.

A Brooklyn native and Berkeley College graduate, Melissa most recently oversaw talent acquisition for Sheltering Arms, a non-profit agency dedicated to providing an array of support services to children and families living in underserved communities throughout New York City.

Previous roles have included associate director of admissions at Berkeley College and associate director at the Manhattan Institute serving as the head of internal recruitment for the Medical Certification & Personal Trainer Programs. In addition to educational recruitment, Melissa has also served as an Admissions Officer at the NYC Data Science Academy where she completed technical recruitment of high-level data science professionals and engineers. 

Melissa joins Olivia Burke, Harbor’s Talent operations director, where she oversees recruitment, mentorship, culture, and talent at all levels, as well as drives hiring and onboarding in partnership with key internal stakeholders.  Since starting at Harbor, she has implemented initiatives centred on enhancing company culture and driving creative and career opportunities throughout the organisation.  

Harbor’s mission in talent operations is two-fold: to recruit ascendant and established talent from all backgrounds and to cultivate talent within the Harbor organisation through a focus on personal and professional growth. With this inclusive hiring approach, alongside a culture focused on career growth, the organization strives to make a lasting impact on the entertainment and advertisement industries. 

 Commenting on this key hire, Olivia Burke stated: “It was clear from the very beginning that Melissa would move mountains at Harbor. She is a people connector at heart with an ability to make everyone feel seen, heard, and supported in a meaningful way. We are thrilled to partner with her on talent acquisition, mentorship, and career development initiatives across all departments as we continue to expand Harbor globally.” 

Commenting on her new role with HARBOR, Melissa said: “I am thrilled to join a company whose mission is to create lasting career opportunities for creative professionals from all disciplines, backgrounds, and talents. I also look forward to further promoting Harbor’s already-established diverse and inclusive mentorship programs in a continued effort to create equitable workplaces that truly mirror the world we live in.”