Melissa Bacon serves as the Director of Government Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement for the Office of Policy at OCALI.
In this role, Melissa brings more than 20 years of experience in state policy work, specifically focusing on health and human services.
In 2015, she joined OCALI to oversee the Interagency Workgroup on Autism, collaborating with state agencies to promote issues impacting and involving persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Prior to OCALI, Melissa served in multiple leadership roles for the Kasich Administration including Chief Policy Advisor at the Ohio Department of Health (2012-2015), Health and Human Services Policy Assistant to the Governor's Policy Director, and Director of Government Affairs for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (2010-2012).
Prior to these roles, Melissa worked as Director of Policy for the Ohio Children's Hospital Association and in various policy roles for the Ohio Senate Republican Caucus.
Melissa is the mother of 3 daughters, her eldest diagnosed with ASD.
Teresa Kobelt is Director of Strategy, Innovation, and Forecasting for the Office of Policy at OCALI.
After completing her graduate degree and Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) fellowship at Ohio State University, Teresa began working in the human service field. She has over 20 years experience ranging from treatment foster care, to vocational rehabilitation, to developmental disabilities. She has worked at multiple levels of state and county government, and across public and private sectors.
Prior to joining OCALI, Teresa was Deputy Director of Policy and Strategic Direction at the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, overseeing key initiatives such as Early Intervention, Family Engagement & Support, Trauma-Informed Care, and Employment First.
More than any classroom, however, her greatest learning experiences have come from her kids — both of whom have multiple disabilities.