6550 Consulting Founders
6550 Consulting was founded by Heather Richardson and Mel Whitesell to help organizations and leaders gain clarity, build strength, and achieve sustainable impact.
Together, they bring decades of senior leadership experience across corporate, sport, not-for-profit, and Indigenous sectors, with deep expertise in strategy, governance, leadership development, and organizational performance.
Heather’s background as a sales and strategy executive and elite athlete, combined with Mel’s community-centred leadership and Indigenous partnerships, creates a balanced, practical, and purpose-driven consulting approach.
At the core of 6550 Consulting is a shared commitment to strong leadership, clear strategy, and collaborative execution by partnering closely with clients to drive growth, build capability, and create lasting results..
Mel Whitesell, Founding partner
Mel’s Bio
Mel is a strategy and capacity-building leader with extensive experience across sport management, not-for-profit organizations, and Indigenous communities. She brings a values-driven, community-centred approach to strengthening governance, building organizational capability, and driving sustainable impact.
Throughout her career, Mel has partnered closely with boards, executive teams, and community stakeholders to support strategic planning, operational effectiveness, and organizational growth. Known for her ability to connect purpose to performance, Mel translates vision into practical, achievable actions within complex and evolving environments. Her strong understanding of public funding landscapes helps clients align strategy with available resources and growth opportunities.
Mel’s work with Indigenous organizations is grounded in professional expertise and lived experience. As a proud member of the Métis Nation, Mel brings cultural awareness, authenticity, and respect to every engagement, emphasizing collaboration, trust, and alignment with community priorities to achieve meaningful outcomes. In recognition of her leadership and community impact, Mel is a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
As a Founding Partner of 6550 Consulting, Mel partners with organizations to strengthen governance, empower leaders, secure strategic funding, and create lasting, purpose-driven impact.
Heather Richardson, Founding Partner
Heather’s Bio
Heather is a strategy and business development executive with experience across financial services, sport, and not-for-profit environments. She specializes in developing strategy and translating it into actionable roadmaps, optimizing operations, and building high-performing teams that deliver sustainable growth.
Throughout her corporate career, Heather held executive roles developing strategy, aligning stakeholders, enhancing organizational performance, and spearheading business development. She has thrived within complex, matrixed organizations, guiding teams through periods of growth, change, and transformation with clarity, integrity, and purpose.
Complementing her corporate leadership, Heather brings deep expertise in leadership development. Through her work with executives, managers, athletes, and teams, she is known for a practical, people-centred coaching approach that strengthens confidence, supports transitions, and drives peak performance.
Heather’s leadership philosophy is shaped by her experience as an elite athlete and high-performance coach. As an ice hockey official, she reached the pinnacle of success with an assignment to the 2010 Winter Olympics. She leverages these experiences to instil a relentless standard of excellence grounded in preparation, discipline, teamwork, and resilience.
As a Founding Partner of 6550 Consulting, Heather partners with organizations and individuals to design growth strategies, develop strong leaders, and create lasting impact.