Melissa Johnson

Melissa Johnson is an economic development and urban real estate specialist with a 24-year track record of public-sector leadership in improving land assets for redevelopment and the attraction of private investment.

Melissa has extensive expertise in forging strategic partnerships and overseeing acquisitions and dispositions. With a strong focus on major projects, she excels in building and maintaining relationships that drive success. She has been influential in defining and executing The Port’s real estate strategies for job creation, acquiring and facilitating the redevelopment of 500 acres to attract new investment. Melissa also works with companies and regional economic development partners in strategic reuse.

Her proficiency in strategy deployment, brokerage, and leasing has contributed significantly to local job creation and the growth of The Port. Her leadership is characterized by a commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of the intricacies of her field.

As a leader on The Port’s Real Estate Services team, Melissa leverages Port property, tools, and technical expertise for real estate developers, brokers, incentives consultants, municipalities, and other key economic development partners.  She has successfully coordinated transactions with regional partners, supporting job creation for targeted industry clusters, including aerospace, polymers, automotive, and food processing.

Melissa serves on the YWCA Facilities Committee, Dress for Success Cincinnati Development Committee, and is a YWCA Development Corporation board member. Melissa also teaches adjunct at the University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business. She is a member of Leadership Cincinnati Class 42, the Urban Land Institute, CREW Greater Cincinnati, and the UC Real Estate Roundtable.

Melissa holds a BA in Urban and Regional Planning and a BA in Urban Geography from Miami University. She has also earned certification as a project manager through Xavier’s Leadership Center and is working towards her Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation.