Melissa Richardson Akkaway is an entrepreneur with a deeply rooted background in retail. After graduating from Georgetown University Business School in May 2001, Akkaway moved back to her hometown of Las Vegas to work for Mandalay Bay. Leading the charge on developing a retail center, Mandalay Place, Akkaway had an array of responsibilities including courting tenants, negotiating contracts, facilitating the design and construction of stores and shepherding the overall marketing and advertising campaign for the new retail center. Mandalay Place now features world-class designers, retailers and restaurateurs in a unique setting.

After a successful run with Mandalay Place, Akkaway opened Beckley Boutique in the heart of West Hollywood, CA in 2008. Paying homage to her roots in retail, she was inspired by her paternal great-grandfather's menswear business, "Beckley's, located in what was once the heart of 1920's Las Vegas. Akkaway also launched an e-commerce website, BeckleyBoutique.com, allowing customers from all over the country and the world access to the Beckley experience. The boutique owner added designer to her resume in 2011 when she launched contemporary RTW private label collection Beckley By Melissa.

In 2012, Akkaway moved the Los Angeles location from West Hollywood to an over 2,000 square foot space on West 3rd Street, nestled amongst a mecca of shopping and restaurant destinations. The larger space allowed for an overall brand expansion with increased VIP services and more designers to shop from including Phillip Lim, Opening Ceremony, Kaufman Franco and DRKSHDW by Rick Owens. The Beckley Experience continues to be synonymous with luxury lifestyle and provides unparalleled client services such as personal shoppers, tailors and a highly trained staff.

Melissa Akkaway resides in Santa Monica, CA. Any free second that Melissa gets, she is seen spending quality time with her family, husband Eddie, son Jack and dogs Lily and Violet. Akkaway is also an extensive traveler and can be found scouring the streets of Europe for fabulous vintage pieces or one-of-a-kind items for her stores as well as inspiration for Beckley By Melissa.