The recipient of a bachelor's in elementary education from Lehman College, Melanie Salkin is a retired fashion buyer who leverages her background in education to volunteer as a tutor at local schools. A passionate basketball fan, Melanie Salkin uses the sport as a teaching vehicle, primarily by reading the sports section and helping her students learn words and concepts with which they may not be familiar. When she isn't assisting school children with their studies, she enjoys attending Broadway shows.

Before retiring in 1995, Melanie Salkin spent 23 years as head buyer of merchandise with New York City's Rose Salkin Bridals and Fashions, where she was responsible for purchasing all dresses for the main outlet in Brooklyn and its satellite store in Ohio. To find these dresses, Melanie attended the many fashion shows that took place throughout the year in New York City and, in doing so, developed a keen sense of the style demanded by the bridal business' clientele.