Melissa Haddow

“A good leader is only as good as those he or she leads,” said Haddow, who is the organization’s executive director. “A good leader of a not-for-profit builds an organization where employees are passionate about the work they do, where they want to come to work each day and do their best (and) ... collaboration is not only encouraged, but expected.”

The partnership’s programming is diverse and addresses several issues, including education, housing, transportation, substance abuse, violence prevention and neighborhood revitalization.

“I have been able, through working with others, to establish neighborhood resource centers where residents can get help with job skills, access parenting classes ... and many other services,” Haddow said.

The partnership’s efforts to battle methamphetamine have been recognized at the state level; Haddow serves on a statewide task force charged with developing protocol to deal with the drug problem.

Haddow and her team are often asked to present at state and national conferences about coalition-building, and on the issues the partnership addresses.

“As a result of our strong team, I have even been asked by funders to apply for monies, as they believe we will get the job done right and in the most economical manner,” Haddow said. She noted that even as funding for the organization has decreased, she and the staff have used creativity to continue delivering services.

“This past year, for every dollar we received in funding, we were able to leverage an additional $11.29, which would not have been possible without our collaborative efforts,” she said.

Haddow often says “she grows people” in terms of hiring new staff.

“I take seriously the role of mentoring ... employees, as well as others who work with us,” she said. “Through helping them learn how to see the big picture, make good decisions and learn needed skills, they have been able to move up in the organization and assume new roles and responsibilities.”

Haddow also offers insight and assistance to the partnership’s volunteers, who sometimes have their own issues and problems, and to other organizations outside the partnership. One such organization is Junior League of Springfield. Haddow offered technical assistance in relation to the development of the Junior League’s Crisis Nursery, which will be a safe haven for area children.

Personally speaking

As a young child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I dreamed of being a mother, nurse, artist and nun, in that order. I did achieve the first three, and after realizing that I could not reconcile my last choice with my first, I dropped the latter.

Please tell us about your family.

I have been married to Alastair Haddow, an infectious disease / internal medicine physician for 34 years. Ali is from Scotland, and I was very fortunate to live there for several years after our marriage. We have three wonderful children – Andrew, Catherine and Lauren. Andrew is in his final year of a Ph.D. program in medical entomology ... at the University of Tennessee. Catherine is a cardiology nurse practitioner at Skaggs, and is married to Tyler York. Lauren is a student at KU School of Nursing.

Tell us something about you that most people probably don’t know.

I used to be a vocalist of some worth, winning state contests and singing in musicals in my younger years, and singing with the Bach Choir at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, in the first years of my marriage. Alas, this talent is not one that has survived the test of time!

If you could go back in time, what one person would you most like to meet?

I would have to say Michelangelo would be at or near the top of the list. I am fascinated by the time period in which he lived.[[In-content Ad]]