Melissa St. John, B.A., RID, NCIDQ

CEO/Owner

Melissa St. John is CEO and Owner of Relocation Strategies. She has 20+ years of experience in Indianapolis, working in various capacities in interior design services and real estate. With her extensive experience in furniture procurement and facility management, she expanded the firm’s offerings from move management to a more all-inclusive offering. She has a passion for building relationships.

She’s a high-energy motivator with a gift for recruiting the right people to support our clients. Her influence extends beyond her industry and out into the community, where she serves on various boards, including the Indiana State Chamber, Indy Chamber, and Indiana Conference for Women. She has served in various capacities with ICR, BOMA, Indy Crew and NAWBO. Melissa is a graduate of the Stanley K. Lacey Leadership Program. In 2018, she was named a Woman of Influence by the Indianapolis Business Journal. In 2010 she received Indy’s Best and Brightest award by Junior Achievement and NAWBO Indy’s (National Association of Women Business Owners) Visionary Award. In 2012, she was named Runner-Up for the Starkey Entrepreneurial Woman Business Owner, which awards inspiration and success. Melissa is also a proud member of the Geist Conservancy District Steering Committee.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interior Design from Purdue University. Melissa has been published in the Indianapolis Business Journal, Building Excellence, and other publications. Relocation Strategies is a WBE with WBENC Certification. When she isn’t working, Melissa enjoys boating and water sports with her husband Rex and five boys.

Julie Hutcheson, B.A.

Senior Designer + Project Manager

Julie Hutcheson brings over 16 years of experience in design and space planning to her role at Relocation Strategies. Her skill in relating to customers is unmatched, and she has a special propensity for completing difficult projects within budget while providing top-notch communication, analysis, and solutions. Her drive and enthusiasm are contagious and make her an outstanding asset to Relocation Strategies. Julie completed her BA in Interior Design at Ball State University. When Julie isn’t working hard for our clients, she enjoys boating at Lake Monroe, camping with friends, and spending time with her husband, children, and furry family.

Amanda Kasper, B.S.

Senior Designer + Project Manager

Amanda brings over 10 years of experience in the industry, as a graduate architect and interior designer. She has a love and passion for design and space planning. Amanda has worked on a broad range of projects, from K-12 and Higher Ed to tenant improvement. She has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design and in Interior Design from Ball State University. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys spending time with her family and baking.

Terin Jaggard, B.S.

Senior Designer + Project Manager, Fitwel Ambassador

Terin is a talented and strategic designer with a Bachelor of Science in interior design and minor in marketing. She graduated magna cum laude and won “Designer of the Year” for her class. She has also become an ambassador for Fitwel. Terin has a diverse portfolio of experience, including commercial furniture specification, residential design, fast food store design, facilities/move management, and design sales. Terin thoroughly enjoys interacting with people and consistently provides client satisfaction due to her strong communication skills and attention to detail in accordance with client requests. She is especially passionate about space planning and is always up for the challenge of maximizing an area’s function and efficiency while keeping aesthetics in mind. Terin also sees the importance of maintaining or establishing a company’s brand as part of the design process. Outside of her career, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, being involved at church, volunteering at her kids’ school, and selling at craft fairs.

Gretchen Bontrager, B.S.

Designer + Project Manager

Gretchen Bontrager is a recent graduate from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design and a minor in Art History. Her dedication to getting the job done in a timely and efficient manner makes her an asset to the team at Relocation Strategies. As a highly creative and passionate individual, Gretchen is here to approach any job with a can-do attitude. When not working, Gretchen enjoys caring for her houseplant collection, going to concerts, and spending time with family, friends, and cats.

Debbie Avery, B.S.

Executive and Marketing Assistant

Debbie comes to Relocation Strategies with over 20 years of sales/marketing and administrative experience. She is Melissa's right-hand woman! She enjoys problem-solving and loves a challenge. In addition to helping Relocation Strategies with whatever the tasks may be, Debbie also runs another business with her husband. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and animals, vacations at the beach and watching her son play sports.

Julie Riess, MAcc

Accounting

As a Fiscal and Corporate Controller for more than a decade, Julie knows the day-to-day needs organizations face. She fully understands the ins and outs, pluses and minuses, debits and credits, of the financial realm, because she’s worked through them herself. Along with ample professional experience, Julie holds both a Master’s and Bachelor’s in Accounting. She is married with three grown daughters, six grandchildren and one brand new great grandson.

Barbara Thompson

Project Manager

Barbara Thompson brings over 18 years of customer service experience to her role as a project manager at Relocation Strategies. Her attention to detail and critical thinking allows her to oversee multiple move management projects in a timely and efficient manner while keeping the customer’s needs a top priority. She enjoys spending her free time with her family and friends, cruising the Caribbean, and being a Gigi!