I am an Operational Training Specialist with 20+ years of instruction, curriculum development, staff coaching and operational leadership. I transform complex skills into clear, engaging training programs that elevate performance, improve consistency, and foster a team-first culture. I have trained over 15,000 individuals across sports, leadership development, and financial education. As the founder of Lanna MMA, I built a complete training ecosystem—curriculum, SOPs, leadership pipelines and operational systems—and coached an athlete from amateur status to the UFC, demonstrating my long-term development approach and performance planning.

Mel Bellissimo

I am an Operational Training Specialist with 20+ years of instruction, curriculum development, staff coaching and operational leadership. I transform complex skills into clear, engaging training programs that elevate performance, improve consistency, and foster a team-first culture. I have trained over 15,000 individuals across sports, leadership development, and financial education. As the founder of Lanna MMA, I built a complete training ecosystem—curriculum, SOPs, leadership pipelines and operational systems—and coached an athlete from amateur status to the UFC, demonstrating my long-term development approach and performance planning.

Available to hire

I am an Operational Training Specialist with 20+ years of instruction, curriculum development, staff coaching and operational leadership. I transform complex skills into clear, engaging training programs that elevate performance, improve consistency, and foster a team-first culture.

I have trained over 15,000 individuals across sports, leadership development, and financial education. As the founder of Lanna MMA, I built a complete training ecosystem—curriculum, SOPs, leadership pipelines and operational systems—and coached an athlete from amateur status to the UFC, demonstrating my long-term development approach and performance planning.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Financial Advisor at Scotiabank
January 1, 2023 - Present
Deliver 1:1 financial guidance on investments, retirement planning and holistic client strategies. Built strong client trust with 12 written client commendations in the first 18 months for service, clarity, and results. Passed the Canadian Investments & Mutual Funds licensing on the first attempt and maintain ongoing compliance education (AML, inclusion, retirement strategies). Use coaching-style conversations to translate complex financial topics into clear, actionable plans for individuals and families.
Leadership Facilitator at SEAL TEAM LEADERS
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2021
Facilitated breakout-room coaching for leadership workshops created by a former Navy SEAL Team Leader (Team 3). Guided small groups through structured exercises on responsibility, leadership, feedback and performance. Supported participant reflection, real-time coaching and application of leadership principles to workplace scenarios. Prepared to progress to lead workshops and helped sustain rapid early program growth through consistent, high-quality facilitation.
Manager of Operations at Little Kickers
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2012
Managed day-to-day operations for a global children’s activity franchise delivering soccer-based physical literacy programs. Responsible for instructor recruitment, training, scheduling, parent communications and program quality control across multiple locations. Ensured child safety and family trust while maintaining brand-aligned program delivery and strong customer retention. Tracked enrollments, managed class capacity and supported local marketing and community partnerships to grow participation.
Founder & Head Coach at Lanna MMA
January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2016
Founded and scaled a Muay Thai / MMA school from 1 student to 500+ members, growing revenue from ~$3,000/month to a peak month of $64,000. Trained 15,000+ students over 13 years through structured curriculum, progressive belts/levels and performance pathways. Wrote the school’s complete operational manual and SOPs, onboarding, CRM how-to (with screenshots/video), marketing calendar and class procedures. Launched a 9-week Instructor Leadership Program to prepare new coaches (up to 10 at a time) in teaching, leadership and safety. Implemented operational metrics: trial-to-conversion rates, net growth tracking, attendance and retention analytics.

Education

Marketing at Seneca Polytechnic
January 11, 2030 - December 9, 2025
Marketing (3-year program) at Seneca Polytechnic
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
IFC (Investments & Mutual Funds License) at Canadian Securities Institute
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
Kru Instructor Certifications at Canada, USA, Thailand (trained under Burklerk Pinsinchai)
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
Marketing at Seneca Polytechnic
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
IFC (Investments & Mutual Funds License) at Canadian Securities Institute
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
Kru (Instructor) Certifications at Canada, USA, Thailand (trained under Burklerk Pinsinchai)
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
Marketing at Seneca Polytechnic
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
IFC (Investments & Mutual Funds License) at Canadian Securities Institute
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
Kru (Instructor) Certifications at Canada, USA, Thailand (trained under Burklerk Pinsinchai)
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026

Qualifications

IFC (Investments & Mutual Funds License)
January 11, 2030 - December 9, 2025
Kru (Instructor) Certifications
January 11, 2030 - December 9, 2025
CPR / First Aid Certification
January 11, 2030 - December 9, 2025
CPR / First Aid
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
AML & Compliance – Ongoing Professional Development
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
IFC (Investments & Mutual Funds License)
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
Kru Instructor Certifications
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
CPR / First Aid
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
AML & Compliance Training (Ongoing)
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
CPR / First Aid
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
IFC (Investments & Mutual Funds License)
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
Kru (Instructor) Certifications
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
CPR / First Aid
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
IFC (Investments & Mutual Funds License)
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
Kru (Instructor) Certifications
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026
CPR / First Aid
January 11, 2030 - January 6, 2026

Industry Experience

Education, Financial Services, Professional Services, Media & Entertainment, Other