Keynote Speaker

                                                                                              Founder and CEO, Safe Harbor

                                                                                              Melissa Brown has found that everyone, from the devoutly religious 

                                                                                              to the fervently atheist, agrees that child sex trafficking is wrong. Her                                                                                                passion and focus is to help the victims of this of this atrocious 

                                                                                              crime find hope and healing so they can become survivors.

                                                                                              She first became aware of human trafficking in 2013 while attending 

                                                                                              a conference aimed at emboldening 13,000 leaders from all over the

                                                                                              world. After returning from a lunch break, attendees discovered that

                                                                                              white umbrellas had been placed on random chairs. Those who had

                                                                                              an umbrella in their seats were asked to stand up and open it. Across

                                                                                              this full arena people stood and opened their umbrellas and the

                                                                                              presenter on stage explained how each person holding an umbrella

                                                                                              represented someone who would who be sold as commodity in the

                                                                                              city today. It was a sight that still burns in Melissa’s memory.

 

                                                                                              Shocked and heartbroken, her questions were endless. How could

                                                                                              this happen? Who does this happen to? Who is selling innocent

                                                                                              children? And who is buying them? She learned Ohio ranks #5 in the U.S. in reported cases of human trafficking, and it often happens in plain sight. Melissa then volunteered in organizations that are making a difference, including mentoring two survivors of human trafficking and she currently sits on Ohio’s Stark County Juvenile Human Trafficking Task Force.

She gained people and leadership skills through managing eighteen retail stores, and most recently served for 10 years as the Senior Executive Director at a large multisite church. She has a proven history of exceeding goals, creating teamwork, and bringing out the best in people she works with. Today, she is the CEO of Safe Harbor, Ohio’s largest, faith-based, long-term, residential, therapeutic community for girls, ages 14 through 19 who have been recovered from sex traffickers.

She lives in Ohio, is a wife and mother of two adult children, and loves her dog, Charlie Brown.

Melissa lives by the belief that she has been placed on earth “for such a time as this” to make an impact in this fight against evil. She fearlessly believes that God is who He says He is, and therefore she can face life’s giants with boldness and faith. Her desire is to do all things with a pure heart, and always speak the truth with love.