Melissa Kirchhoff, LALD, CEC
Melissa Kirchhoff has dedicated 24 years to the healthcare industry, beginning her journey as an intern in 2002. Her early exposure to senior living came even earlier, when she volunteered alongside her mother, a hairdresser in a nursing home in Edina, Minnesota. Seeing the relationships and care her mother built with older adults sparked an early appreciation for the impact of the field and ultimately influenced her decision to pursue a career in healthcare leadership.
Throughout her career, Melissa has held a variety of administrative and leadership roles within senior living and healthcare organizations, with a strong focus on serving teams, residents, and families. After more than two decades of experience—including a significant tenure leading operations within long-term care organizations—she spent four years consulting under the Adept brand. She is now launching her own company, Meridian Healthcare Strategies, where she partners with organizations to strengthen operations, improve systems and processes, and increase revenue while maintaining a strong focus on the people they serve.
In addition to her operational work, Melissa is deeply passionate about leadership development and mentoring others. She is committed to helping individuals—especially women in healthcare—build confidence, recognize their strengths, and grow into their full leadership potential. She holds a Bachelor of Science in General Management and Technology from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, along with a minor in Public Administration, and is a Licensed Assisted Living Director and Certified Executive Coach. Actively involved in LeadingAge of Minnesota, Care Providers of Minnesota, and SHRM, she continues to contribute to the advancement of the industry while also prioritizing her family and personal values.
• Licensed Assisted Living Director
• Executive Coach
• University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Bachelor of Science - BS, Health/Health Care Administration/Management
• Leading Age of Minnesota
• Care Providers of Minnesota
• SHRM
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to empowering others and helping people see the best in themselves. I’ve also been fortunate to have leaders and mentors who invested in my growth and helped shape the leader I am today.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to believe in yourself and live by the mindset of “I can and I will.” Instead of focusing on what you can’t do, identify the skills or knowledge you need and take intentional steps to build them. Growth comes from action and persistence.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in long-term care right now is navigating staffing shortages and cultural challenges, including biases that working mothers and women in leadership still face. At the same time, there are significant opportunities to strengthen systems, improve processes, enhance revenue strategies, and invest in leadership development to ultimately elevate the quality of care.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my professional and personal life are belief in self, service to older adults, and a strong commitment to developing others. I also place great importance on making meaningful, tangible improvements in the quality of care we provide.