Mel Charbonneau

Mel Charbonneau is the co-founder of the women’s running company Fellow Flowers, which aims to honor, share and celebrate the reasons behind why women run. A communicator and writer from a very young age, Charbonneau brings to life the messages and meanings that have now created a powerful and inspiring language used by women to authentically express their own journeys while also supporting and connecting with women throughout the country.

Charbonneau was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where she was a standout high school and collegiate basketball player. She is a graduate of Northern Michigan University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Outside of class, she credits working in the trenches of retail, interning in Washington D.C., volunteering at youth camps and attending author workshops as the education that truly transformed her worldview and affirmed her commitment toward making a positive difference in the lives of others.

Prior to launching Fellow Flowers, Charbonneau spent over eight years in marketing, communications and brand development. Her passion is storytelling and finding creative ways to bring ideas and experiences to life. Most recently, she served as the director of marketing for the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While there she managed, coordinated and produced a successful and transformative global event with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Currently, she serves on the board of directors for the Dane County Girls on the Run chapter and views Fellow Flowers as an important platform to teach young girls about confidence, courage and self-acceptance.