Who We Are

CEO & Founder

Melanie Rivera is the CEO and Founder of Breaker28, and the creator of the H.E.A.R.T. model that guides our work. She brings significant experience advising organizational leaders on how to lead in healthy, equitable, anti-racist, real and trust-centered ways, leading to better business outcomes, the retention of key talent, and a more equitable and inclusive organizational culture.

Before founding Breaker28, Melanie has served in various HR and executive leadership roles in large and small organizations including DonorsChoose.org, Universal Service Administrative Company, Learning Heroes, and Excel Academy - DC. Most recently, she also served as a Partner in the Educational Equity practice of the Management Center, coaching and training hundreds of executive teams, individuals executives and managers on equitable management practices. In her role as CEO at Breaker28, she has developed and led training and served as principal Executive Coach to 40 organizations ranging from large nonprofits and school networks to communications and commercial real estate firms. In all of these environments, Melanie’s practical and action-oriented training and advice has resonated as valuable for leaders and managers seeking to get exceptional results from identity and workstyle-diverse teams.

Melanie has her MS in Organization Development from American University, a graduate certificate in Organizational Leadership and Change Management from Georgetown University SCS and is certified in several DEI frameworks and approaches through the Winters Group, Coach Diversity Institute, and International Conflict Styles Inventory (ICS).

Finance & Operations Manager

Paris Weissman, currently serving as the Finance and Operations Manager at Breaker28, brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the fields of accounting, finance, and operations. Holding an Associate's Degree, Paris has cultivated a robust professional background, seamlessly transitioning between roles in both large corporate entities and innovative startup environments.

With a steadfast commitment to the meticulous management of financial processes, Paris demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of complex financial landscapes. This proficiency has been honed through a diverse career that spans various industries, showcasing adaptability and a keen analytical approach to problem-solving.

Paris's professional journey is marked by a genuine dedication to fostering the growth of small businesses. Beyond the technical aspects of financial management, Paris is deeply invested in contributing to teams that prioritize and uphold strong core values. This commitment underscores Paris's belief in the integral role of ethical principles in achieving organizational success.

Kaci Floranda is an executive virtual assistant with Team Delegate, LLC, currently supporting Breaker28. She brings seven years of experience in the administrative field to the team. Kaci has strong written and oral communication skills. She prides herself on being a hardworking, detailed oriented, self-motivated, and well-organized executive assistant. She believes that working in professional, honest and sincere manner, are important factors in providing excellent administrative support.

Prior to joining Team Delegate, Kaci worked in the non-profit sector, as well as in education, public service, and consumer sciences. In these roles she provided support to top-level management with calendar management, travel management, PowerPoint presentations, meeting minutes, data entry, record management, payroll, and more.

Kaci resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She is married with four children. Kaci received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology Human Services from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, swimming, attending her children’s sporting events, and traveling.