Who Am I?
Written and Photographed by Nancy Clover
As Women’s History Month comes to a close, so does the Remarkable Women of Melrose series—a project that has been both inspiring and humbling.
Over the past month, I’ve had the privilege of highlighting:
- 52 women-owned businesses (and I apologize to those I missed!)
- 2 incredible high school students
- 1 historic figure — Mary A. Livermore, a true trailblazer
- The Girl Scouts, the Arts & Crafts Society, our dedicated library staff, female police officers, and City Council.
- 21 individual women making an impact in our community
Honestly, this series could go on forever — there’s no shortage of remarkable women in Melrose. My hope is that you discovered someone new or learned more about the incredible women you already knew.
Now seems like the right moment to answer questions I’m often asked:
Do I work for the City? Nope.
Do I work for the Chamber of Commerce? No, I don’t.
Do businesses pay me for reviews? Absolutely not.
Do I have a “real” job? You bet! More on that in a second.
When my husband, Paul, and I moved to Melrose two and a half years ago, I was eager to find a sense of community. If you have kids, it’s easier—you naturally connect through PTO meetings, sports, dance classes, etc. But without that built-in network, I had to find my own way.
Then, one day, while walking through my new Cedar Park neighborhood, I noticed a gift shop about to open on West Emerson. I knocked on the window, and Leslie Keegan from Paper & Clay greeted me like an old friend. Wanting to help spread the word, I posted about her shop’s opening on the Melrose MA Community Facebook page. The response was amazing, and Leslie was thrilled.
That moment sparked something in me. How could I help more small businesses?
In February 2023, I launched The 14 Days of Valentine’s — a series featuring one Cedar Park business each day. I visited each shop, met the owners, learned their stories, snapped photos, and shared their journeys. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and, I’ll admit, I was pretty proud of the impact.
Since then, I’ve continued sharing about Melrose — its businesses, events, and people. It’s been an incredible way to meet new faces, and I truly love it.
Of course, I do all of this alongside my “real” job—I’m a nurse entrepreneur.
I own Occupational Health Connections, a company with about 100 nurses working across multiple states. On May 1st, we’ll celebrate 25 years in business! Our nurses provide on-site care in workplaces — think of them as mini urgent care clinics right where employees need them. I also organize nursing conferences and webinars because, in healthcare, learning never stops. I serve on the boards of multiple nursing organizations, helping shape the future of occupational health.
A Few Fun Facts About Me:
- Curiosity is my super power.
- I have an insatiable case of wanderlust—35 states and 12 countries down, with more on the list!
- I’m a Hall of Fame enthusiast — 13 and counting!
- I can’t resist a good (or bizarre) roadside attraction.
A Quirky Melrose Observation: I find it fascinating that Shaw’s allows people to take their shopping carts home. Convenient? Absolutely. Unexpected? Definitely!
To everyone I’ve had the pleasure of meeting — thank you for welcoming us to Melrose and for sharing your time with me. And to those I haven’t met yet — I can’t wait!
Melrose truly is a remarkable place.
