Melody Morton Westra

Melody Westra

Melody Westra considers herself a "Coloradoan by birth and a South Dakotan by choice.” She was born and raised in Colorado Springs and moved to South Dakota to go to college and never left. After graduating with a degree in Mass Communications, she became the Aberdeen Bureau Chief for KELO-TV. She was a one-woman crew that covered news stories in northeastern and northcentral South Dakota. She endured blizzards, floods, tornadoes and learned what it meant to dig deep and persevere. She finished her career at KELO producing KELOLAND This Morning and After Nine shows. She then transitioned into the world of Advertising. During her 19 years at Lawrence & Schiller she worked with a variety of clients. For 16 years, she was the lead writer and L&S Creative Director for the South Dakota Department of Tourism, Governor’s Office of Economic Development and many tourism communities.. This is where her love for South Dakota history blossomed. In 2019, she made a career change and moved to First PREMIER Bank. A year late, the United States marked the centennial of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, commemorating women's right to vote. Mel's love of South Dakota history drew her to the Her Vote. Her Voice. campaign. Mel served on the marketing committee and was instrumental in the success of the campaign.

Consider lifting up an incredible woman in your life today as a part of Women's History Month. Visit www.hervotehervoice.org/statewide-honor-wall to get started.