Communications Director

Christopher Adell leads the MBA’s digital strategy, web presence, and analytics-driven growth initiatives. He directs website design and optimization, integrates game and player data into the MBA web platform, produces performance reports, manages multimedia content and publication calendars, and designs digital-first fundraising campaigns that leverage player and team social reach. Christopher trains and mentors coaches and volunteers to become effective league spokespeople, coordinates messaging with organizational leaders and partners, and advocates for the MBA across military and veteran communities. His working style is collaborative and mentorship-focused, prioritizing data-driven decisions and measurable impact to grow visibility and support for basketball in the military.

A New York native and graduate of The School of the Arts (2002), Christopher began a creative career as a multimedia illustrator and joined the U.S. Army in 2004. He deployed to Iraq three times (Iraqi Surge, Iraqi Sovereignty, Operation Inherent Resolve) and rose to First Sergeant, leading more than 700 personnel and serving as a suicide prevention counselor, Equal Opportunity Advisor, and Career Manager. After military service he founded Untitled Production Team, building it into a full-service creative and digital marketing operation that supported 200+ small businesses. Christopher is also an author; in December 2020 he self-published Mental Health Now: 11 Techniques to Deal with Mental Health in 2020 and Beyond. He brings more than 20 years of leadership, creative, and community-building experience to the MBA, blending technical analytics, digital communications, and mentorship to strengthen the league’s brand and operations.

Melissa Garcia serves as communications director of the Military Basketball Association (MBA). An award-winning journalist, Melissa reported the news for almost every major television network in the nation before transitioning into corporate communications and media relations. Prior to joining the MBA, Melissa managed product marketing and brand strategy for an innovative health technology company. Before that, she led internal communications for a major safety net hospital during the COVID pandemic. Her decade of broadcasting experience spans three markets in two states, landing in her home city of Denver, Colorado. Melissa feels honored to support the resilient men and women of our armed forces in the nonprofit arena after telling their stories as a military reporter on the airwaves.