Hi! I’m Melissa Solesbee, also known now as CAD Spice.
I was born in Cleveland, OH and was the youngest of 6 children. As they say, they saved the best for last! We moved to Greenville, SC just before I turned 2 years old. So, am I an official Southerner? My favorite phrase is “all y’all”, does that count???
I spent my summers on swim team, and the school year singing in the school chorus. I loved being outside and helping Dad in the yard. Thus, I went to Clemson to major in Landscape Architecture. Afterword, I found myself at Arbor Engineering, who became my second family. I worked there primarily doing civil engineering work on CAD, until I faded away after having my second child. But don’t worry…
Besides LOVING being a stay-at-home mom, I did some CAD work from home. When the economy took a dip, I got a job at Bi-Lo. Fuel Perks, remember that?! Then on Valentine’s Day of 2012, JD Martin, the owner of Arbor, called me while I was helping in the floral department. He asked if I was interested in returning to Arbor. Yes!!! Hey guys! I’m coming back!!! I was back in my world of civil engineering and CAD. Work still has a second family feeling for me. Of course, now I’m more like the ‘mom’ of the family, and I truly enjoy teaching the younger employees some of our CAD tradecraft.
I married a wonderful man, Lynn Solesbee, who is a civil engineer. We met and fell in love at Clemson. We also agreed to never work together! After being married for over 33 years, our plan seems to be working. Of course, I am certain our faith and involvement in our church might have more to do with our relational longevity! We have two children that we love so much. Especially since they are no longer living in our house! But honestly, I’m so thankful they are both still here in Greenville and close by. My family is everything to me.
Besides having an unusually crazy addiction to yard work, I love to be around people and meet people, which is why you will usually find us enjoying dinner at the bar in a restaurant. I currently play handbells and sing in the choir at Buncombe Street Methodist Church. Music has always been in my life, not in a fancy way, but a big part, nonetheless. Except for dancing. I cannot dance.
Regarding syncing: Have I ever done this? No! I attended the first Sync for Survivors last year. It was sooo much fun! The best part this year is going to be having so much fun while helping such a wonderful and important cause for our community. I’d like to think of it as adding my own bit of ‘spice’ to the Cancer Survivors Park. Everyone has their own stories, their own flavor of ‘spice’, that we can all share with one another, whether we can dance or not!
Wish me luck!!!
