Passionate about helping others, Melissa Dussek started her work in the community, volunteering at various events for charity, including food banks, family shelters, and community outreach programs. She is an activist who campaigns for social change for the betterment of the people.
Melissa believes in justice for everyone and celebrating people's differences. She has marched for racial inequity & women's rights and worked with the Boston Big Sister Program, as she is most heartfelt about working with and mentoring children.
Melissa is a black, Boston-raised Caribbean woman who realized her gift as a psychic medium from a young age. She decided to study various spiritual modalities and metaphysical subjects & obtained her knowledge from spiritual mentors associated with African Traditional Religions (ATRs) and others experienced in esoteric subjects. She is now a Hoodoo & Vodou practitioner, Reiki Master, rootworker, tarot reader, spiritual mentor & the CEO of Shanti Healing Waters.
Melissa later obtained her Associate's in Business Administration and Bachelor's in Technology Management and works as an Innovation Implementation Consultant at a software company. On her journey of sharing her spiritual gifts and affinity for logistics & event planning, she met Stefanie Hibbert. Who also loves to travel, advocate for people, plan and throw events. Shortly after meeting, Melissa and Stefanie combined their skills and know-how and founded Sequoia Sun.
Stefanie Hibbert
Co-Founder & Co-Chief Executive Officer
Head of the Food & Beverage Sector
Executive Chef of Posh Catering
Stefanie Hibbert is a Florida native born and raised in South Miami. Living & working in various cities throughout the state, Stefanie was able to meet intriguing people, learn the ins and outs of diverse societies & immerse herself in various cultures, helping her later in creating the values that Sequoia Sun stands for. She later migrated to Central Florida, where she and her partner Melissa Dussek founded Sequoia Sun, a Community Interest Company that oversees social enterprises focused on uniting people through small business practices, event management and health & wellness.
Influenced by family & culture, Stefanie has always lived a life of advocating for people, putting others first, sometimes giving her last, following in the footsteps of her mother Charmaine & Grandmother Sylvia. She believes in mentorship and knowledge sharing and aims to uplift & stimulate the minds of those around her. Stefanie encourages community involvement and has participated in events like March of Dimes, Autism Speaks & Relay For Life and donates to causes like Food For the Poor. She is also the creator of The Aspiring Chef’s, Cooks Hungry for Everyday Food, a culinary mentorship group created for students, later open to the public and inclusive to all.
Because of her love for food, Stefanie attended the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, one of the top culinary schools in the United States, a second degree to her first in Elementary Education with an associate minor in Business Management & Marketing. She graduated while completing a six month culinary externship at The Ritz Carlton St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, where she worked with chef’s from all over the world. Her other work includes six published books with a seventh on the way, titled SEEN, outreach consulting, project management and branding. Currently she is a Chef at a major hotel chain and the Owner & Executive Chef of Posh Catering, Sequoia Sun’s exclusive catering vendor.