Melvin L. Pugh is a graduate of Rust College, a historically Black, coeducational, senior liberal arts college in Holly Springs, Mississippi where he earned a BS in Business Management. Melvin has worked in the field of employment for over 25 years in Milwaukee, WI with a variety of non-profit organizations. He is currently an Employment Specialist with Word of Hope Ministries where he works with ex-offenders as well as the general public. Melvin loves connecting people to work and his expertise includes: employment development, workshop presentation, motivational speaking, job fair coordination and one on one job counseling.

Word of Hope Ministries is a faith-based community ministry in its 13th year of operation. Word of Hope provides a range of services in their resource and technology centers that are designed to encourage personal development and responsibility, and to help empower individuals and families to be productive and self-sufficient.