Creator media kit
Military Influencer & Creator Index
Military Influencer & Creator Index
Military Family
Melissa Hanks Ketchel
Founder of Mission Hanks | Speaker | Connecting Gold Star Families with Their Military Family
Huntington Beach, CA · Speakers · Writers & Media · Advocates & Nonprofit Leaders · Accepting inquiries · Remote OK
Melissa Hanks Ketchel is a Gold Star Sister, speaker, storyteller, veteran advocate, and Founder and President of Mission Hanks. Following the loss of her brother, LCpl Michael Wayne Hanks, in Fallujah in 2004, Melissa found purpose in reconnecting Gold Star families with the military communities who served alongside their loved ones. Through storytelling, meaningful connection.
Featured Work
Mission Hanks · Organization · Oct 23, 2023 – Present
Founder/CEO
Connecting Gold Star families with those who served alongside their loved ones through storytelling, reunions, remembrance, and lasting relationships.
mwhlegacy.org
Contributing Author
Contributing author sharing a Gold Star Sister's perspective on loss, resilience, healing, and the power of storytelling to turn trauma into purpose.
amazon.com/clp/B0DFGN3GK2?lv=shuf&channelId=500
Contributing Author
Contributing writer sharing a Gold Star Sister's perspective on military loss, trauma, belonging, and the power of connection in healing.
amazon.com/clp/B0GZYFWNWJ?lv=shuf&channelId=500
Featured Guest | Gold Star Sister & Storyteller
Featured on Urban Valor, sharing my brother's story, his sacrifice in Fallujah, and the lasting impact of military loss on Gold Star families.
urbanvalor.com/episode/marines-heroic-act-earns-him-silver-star-costs-him-everything/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Experience
Founder & President · Mission Hanks (Michael Wayne Hanks Legacy Foundation)2023–present
Vice President of VA Lending · Continuing Mission Mortgage / West Michigan Mortgage2023–present
Speaker & Veteran Advocate · Independent2023–present
President · 3rd Battalion 1st Marines Association2025–present
Worked With
Urban Valor · The Havok Journal
Listed by the creator.
Partnership Opportunities
Speaking
Keynotes and panel discussions on life after military loss, Gold Star families, storytelling, suicide prevention, human
Podcast appearances
Candid conversations about military loss, the stories we carry, veteran advocacy, finding purpose after trauma, and why
Workshops
Interactive Make It Weird workshops on suicide prevention and human connection, plus practical training on planning mili
Expertise
Transition & CareersMilitary Spouses & FamiliesMilitary BenefitsAdvocacy & NonprofitLeadershipFinancial EducationReal Estate & Housing
Channels & Audience
LinkedIn melissahanks2056 followersself-reported
Facebook hanksmagic3,400 followersobserved · Nov 2026
Per platform, never summed. “Observed” figures come from public platform data on the date shown; “self-reported” figures were entered by the creator. Verification does not cover audience figures.
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