Breakout Session Speaker

Join this panel discussion with a diverse group of C-suite leaders in a variety of roles and across industries (healthcare administration, business development, nonprofit, publishing, and retail.) These panelists will share their thoughts on leading with courage and clarity, current challenges, and lessons learned on the way to, and in, the C-Suite.

Melanie Lewis is the senior vice president and chief business development officer for Encompass Health, the nation’s largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals. In this role, she leads the team responsible for identifying growth opportunities and expanding the company’s national footprint by six to ten new hospitals annually. With a career spanning over two decades in healthcare, Melanie began her journey with Encompass Health in 1994. Prior to her current role, she served as a district hospital representative for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and as a vice president of development for the ambulatory surgery division of HCA Healthcare. A staunch supporter of community involvement, Melanie was honored as one of the Birmingham Business Journal’s Top Women of 2023 and is an alumna of both the Momentum Executive Leadership Program and the Leadership Birmingham Class of 2024. Melanie translates her passion for leadership into service on the local boards of Momentum, Red Mountain Theatre, and the American Heart Association. In her personal time, she enjoys reading and spending time at the lake with her family and their four-legged "child."