Melissa Morisco Raulston
“My leadership style emphasizes teamwork, commitment to excellence and competent execution. I understand, organize and manage the human-computer interface in order to help people and organizations be smarter, faster and more productive. My areas of expertise include Windows server administration, web-based software design & project management and technical training/support services. I have a knack for handling difficult people and situations with grace, style and a sense of humor.”
Melissa Morisco Raulston, 15SecondPitch.com
Melissa Morisco Raulston fell into computing sideways during the mid-nineties when she discovered – quite by accident – that she actually understood DOS and Windows and could help others do the same! She began her IT career as Director of Interactive Technology for Livewire Communications, Inc. (now part of Kudelski SA) in 2001. The web development and hosting industry was young in 2001 and at that time there were no options. All websites were expensive custom websites that were not within the means of most small business owners. Melissa saw a need to lower costs and simplify website development for the small business market. In 2002 she founded ITG Solutions Inc, moved into the GTEC business incubator and launched InfoToGo, the easy-to-use and cost-effective website management solution designed especially for small business. InfoToGo began life in the Gainesville Technology Incubator then relocated to beautiful Tallahassee, Florida in 2005. Melissa began teaching in the Florida State University College of Communication & Information in 2006. In 2008, Melissa sold InfoToGo in order to work at the College full-time.
Melissa is the Service Learning Coordinator at the FSU College of Communication & Information and founder of Project SPARTA, a community-based Service Learning program. In her capacity as Service Learning Coordinator, she serves as a mentor to the students, providing the bridge that allows young, inexperienced students to develop into strong, confident IT professionals while ensuring that the technology infrastructures of the organizations Project SPARTA serves are monitored closely by a highly experienced senior business manager. She also serves as the College Webmaster and launched the new site July 2009 when the College of Information merged with the College of Communication to form the new College of Communication & Information . Melissa has developed a number of courses for the College including both capstone courses, LIS4708 IT Perspectives in which students create an Interactive Resume and LIS4910, IT Project. She currently teaches LIS4941, IT Practicum.
The flagship program for the Practicum is a Digital Divide project which is organized and managed in partnership with Lutheran Social Services of North Florida. Since 2007, CCI students have grown this project from ground zero to a fully functional Microsoft-certified refurbishing program which returns between 50 and 100 computers per semester to the community. CCI student Brian Dolan won a 2007 FSU Humanitarian of the Year award for his work with Melissa to get the LSSNF project off the ground.
Melissa’s field work with CCI students was integral to Florida State University’s placement on the the President’s 2009 Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts and service to America’s communities. Launched in 2006, the honor roll is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service learning and civic engagement. Honorees
for the award were chosen based on a series of selection factors including scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses. Students in both IT Project and IT Practicum participate in a variety of projects under the Project SPARTA umbrella which provides services to non-profit entities serving a range of unmet needs in the community. Melissa and CCI colleague Dr Mia Lustria were recognized for their work if the February 16,2009 issue of the STATE Faculty Staff Bulletin (page 12).
In 2008, Melissa was named Staff Member of the Year in the College of Information. The award was presented at Convocation by Associate Dean Robert F. Brooks. According to Dr. Brooks, it was rare accomplishment as a first-year employee had never received this honor prior (as far as he knew…),which is determined by a secret ballot of the entire faculty and staff of the College.
Melissa graduated with a B.S.B.A. in Decision and Information Science (Honors) from the Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the Golden Key International Honor Society.
