Candidate for Kansas Senate - District 27

About

Melissa was born in Winfield, Kansas on July 18, 1972 to Monty and Margaret Coble. Her father was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was raised in Sun City, Kansas. He and his father worked on a neighboring ranch. Melissa’s father left home after high school to discover life on his own.

Melissa’s mother Margaret Hephner was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. Her mother worked at Farmers Market in Wichita, and her father worked in the stockyards. Living through the depression was difficult with eight children. Her mother’s family the Drollingers owned property here in Wichita on Kellogg from Oliver to Harry. During the tough times of the depression, she sold off blocks of land for $100 each.

Melissa’s parents were married on February 18, 1950. They had a wonderful life together. Four children, six grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and three businesses built from the ground up.

Melissa was taught perseverance, honesty, and the value of hard work. She learned business savvy from her father, and mental and physical strength as well as her spirituality from her mother.

Melissa’s knowledge of the business world came from going to work with her father at a very young age, and learning the business. This knowledge drove Melissa to pursue a college degree.

In 1990, Melissa started at Wichita State University. Due to her mother being ill, she transferred to Cowley County Community College. She graduated with her Associate of Arts in 1994.

On a blind date in January of 1994, Melissa met Brent Flower. Melissa married Brent on August 13, 1994. After marriage, college was put on hold. Melissa returned to Southwestern College in 1998 taking night classes while working at a local bank. After years of part time college, and within one semester of graduating with her bachelor’s degree, Melissa gave birth to her daughter, Meaghann. After having Meaghann late in 2002, Melissa graduated from Southwestern College in May of 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Melissa continued with her education and in May 2005 graduated with her Master of Business Administration.

Starting her career as a local bank teller, Melissa was later promoted to Customer Service Representative. While working at the bank she discovered her love of investing and money management. She decided to pursue this career by becoming a licensed stock broker with Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. She was trained in New York City in 2 World Trade Center in 1999. She worked for Morgan Stanley for a few years, then decided to pursue financial planning as the core of her practice. After finishing her master’s degree in 2005, she joined AXA Equitable as a Financial Consultant. AXA Equitable has allowed Melissa to find a happy medium between a successful career and a happy and fulfilled family life.

Above all her accomplishments and experiences she is most proud and grateful for her family, her husband Brent, and her daughter Meaghann, 5 years old.