Melissa Appleton

Background

About Melissa Appleton

After more than a decade navigating executive and operations management as an LGBTQ+ woman in the cis-male-dominated field of general contracting, I’ve reached a place in my life and career where I can fully align my professional work with my personal passion: creating pathways for equity, inclusion, and community resilience. As Director of Operations for a minority woman-owned firm, I managed Section 3 and M/WBE compliance under HUD’s CDBG-DR program—reporting to the NC Office of Recovery and Resiliency, AECOM, and Horne LLP. This work wasn’t just compliance—it was transformation. It opened my eyes to how construction and disaster recovery, when done with purpose, can uplift entire communities and give historically underutilized businesses the opportunity to thrive. That’s why I founded MAPSCO, LLC: to help other small, minority, and woman-owned businesses succeed in navigating the complex world of government contracting and disaster recovery. My experiences as a single mother and as someone who has lived through housing instability inform my deep commitment to Section 3 hiring and meaningful, measurable impact. I build systems, solve problems, and create sustainable growth—because I believe rebuilding isn’t just about infrastructure. It’s about people. Specialties: CDBG-DR Compliance | Section 3 Utilization | M/WBE Advocacy | Government Contracting | Disaster Recovery | DEI Leadership | Executive Operations | Small Business Development Let’s connect. I’d love to collaborate with others who are driven by purpose and determined to build something better—for all of us.