A Bit About Me
Melissa Robinson Henscheid became the first Executive Director of Big Elk Development in November 2022. She was born and raised on the Omaha Indian Reservation and is an enrolled member of the Omaha Tribe with maternal ties to the Chickahominy Tribe of Virginia. Melissa has a Bachelor of Science degree from Bellevue University, Bellevue Nebraska.
Melissa’s experience of over 28 years in housing development includes: Executive Director for the Omaha Tribal Housing Authority for 2 ½ years, Project Developer with the Sisters of Mercy – Mercy Housing Midwest, Housing and Urban Development Community Builder Eastern Woodland Region, and Executive Director of the Native Council on Economic and Community Development. Melissa spearheaded many projects that included Low Income Housing Tax Credits, USDA 202 Project, RELATE Program (mirrored to YOUTHBUILD) in 2007 with State HOME funds, Federal Home Loan Bank and private and public partnerships.