30 January 24 • 2019
jn
MARISA MEYERSON SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
Matchmaker, Matchmaker
moments
NJP
(Nice Jewish Person)
Melissa Mendelson
Each month, The Well highlights
an amazing (and eligible!)
individual. The Well has agreed
to share its Q & As with these
amazing singles with the JN.
This month, The Well has a
conversation with NJP Melissa
Mendelson.
Q
: How did you decide to make your adult life
in Metro Detroit?
MM: I was born and raised in Metro Detroit,
and I also have a very large extended family that lives in
Michigan. I grew up with a passion for the University
of Michigan, so attending college there seemed like a
no-brainer. After I graduated, I was very lucky that most
of my friends remained local, so my decision was easy.
Q: You spend your days working in commercial
real estate — tell us more!
MM: I work in my family business, which manages
student housing, retail shopping centers and apartment
complexes throughout Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor. My
specific role is overseeing accounting and leases for all
the properties. Because I am very close with my family,
it is great to be able to work with them every day. After
undergrad, I attended Walsh Business College where I
earned my M.B.A. This past summer, I acquired my real
estate salesperson license.
Q: You studied sports management at U-M and
we see you’
re also a huge fan! How did that passion
come about?
MM: From a young age I’
ve been interested in sports (I
bleed maize and blue!). When I was trying to figure out
what kind of degree I wanted, I thought it would be great
to turn my love of sports into a career. During undergrad,
I worked for the University of Michigan athletic depart-
ment, and post-grad I worked in the brand management
department for the Detroit Pistons. Ultimately, I decided
to leave sports as a career because I didn’
t want my love
of sports to be overshadowed by the demands of my job.
Q: What’
s your favorite book and what about it
moves you?
MM: Something Borrowed. Not only was it an easy
read, but it spoke to me about the dangers of remaining
passive toward something you want in life. While some of
the events in the book are probably a little questionable, I
think the larger theme of going after what you want is an
important idea for achieving what you want in life.
Q: Where would you most like to travel to that you
haven’
t visited?
MM: Traveling is one of my biggest passions, and I’
ve
visited many places around the world. Last winter, I ful-
filled a dream of traveling to South Africa and Zambia
with my family. I would love to continue to see the rest of
that continent — Botswana in particular. The people are
so friendly, and the country is beautiful. There’
s some-
thing about seeing the animals in their natural habitat
and being out in the wilderness. It’
s very liberating. I
would do anything to go back and experience that again.
Q: How do you like to give back to the communi-
ty/others?
MM: My bubbie and zaydie instilled in all their chil-
dren and grandchildren the importance of giving back
and in being proud of who you are and where you come
from. Since I was very young, I have been involved in
Magen David Adom and Friends of the Israel Defense
Forces (FIDF). Both of these organizations are special
to my family because one of my sisters lives in Israel,
and my zaydie was a soldier in the Israeli army. They are
important causes that are near to my heart. In general,
I’
m a very nurturing and giving person. I’
m the friend
who will always be there and have your back, no matter
what.
Q: What’
s your favorite Jewish holiday and why?
MM: Chanukah, for sure. I love the festivities, decora-
tions, celebrating with family and giving gifts to the peo-
ple closest to my heart.
Q: Fav Jewish food?
MM: Any of the traditional Jewish foods my bubbie
used to make, but most specifically her mandelbread.
The memories of her making it bring me great comfort.
Q: Who is the coolest Jew?
MM: In my opinion, it would be the individual who
has had the single biggest impact on my life — my
zaydie. Throughout his life, he was able to have such a
profound impact on my values and my perspective on
the world. After surviving the Holocaust, he served in
the IDF before traveling to the United States with almost
no resources. In spite of that, he was able to build himself
into a success while growing and raising a family. With
each conversation, you could sense his appreciation for
life and taking care of “his people.
” Now, I represent
many of the same values in that I will do anything to sup-
port my family, friends and Jewish community.
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of?
MM: I am most proud of my undergraduate and grad-
uate degrees. One of my childhood dreams was to be
an alumna of the University of Michigan. I’
m proud of
myself for persevering, achieving both of my degrees and
for all the lessons I learned in the process.
Q: Would you rather win an Olympic Medal (for
what sport?), an Academy Award (in what catego-
ry?) or Nobel Prize (in what)?
MM: I have to admit that awards have never been
a motivating force for me. Recently, though, I have
developed a new passion for tennis. I think winning
Wimbledon or the U.S. Open would be pretty cool!
Q: How about a fun fact?
MM: I studied abroad in Fiji and Australia. I’
ll never
forget the day in Australia when one of our group activ-
ities was to go bungee jumping. I had the option to par-
ticipate. My immediate response was no! While watching
my friends jump, one after the other, something lit up
inside me. It’
s hard to explain exactly how it felt, but it
was one of those “I’
m in Australia and when will this ever
happen to me again” kind of feelings. Even though they
required you to sign-up ahead of time, I talked to the
company anyway, and I jumped! (I’
ll probably never do it
again though!)
Q: Best movie ever made, hands down?
MM: I’
ve got a three-way tie between The Sandlot,
Titanic and Love and Basketball. •
Read more at meetyouatthewell.org. Want to meet Melissa? Email
Rabbi Dan Horwitz at dan@meetyouatthewell.org for an introduction.