Recipient of 2011 National HOPE Policy Award for Promoting Minority Homeownership SENIOR HOUSING FELLOW, CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS INSTITUTEConducted focus groups in 12 cities to develop promising homeownership strategies. Organized a national Best Practices conference and authored An Assessment of Hispanic Homeownership: Trends and Opportunities. Successfully implemented field events that publicly recognized housing champions who developed innovative strategies for increasing Latino homeownership. HUD DEPUTY MANAGER OF FIELD OPERATIONS/SOUTHERN ARIZONA Received two outstanding annual performance awards and a special recognition award for broadcasting the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Homeownership Program to HUD’s Region IX offices. Pioneered the HCV Homeownership Program in Arizona, one of the best in the nation. DIRECTOR OF THE PEACE CORPS, PARAGUAY Managed more than 200 Peace Corps Volunteers. Established the first wheel chair factory owned and operated by persons with disabilities in South America. Successfully applied educational, health, agricultural, and micro-business programs with proven economic development impact. Effectively integrated health, sanitation, and nutrition programs. At NCLR, led NCLR disaster relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Andrew and assisted the Everglades Community Association in obtaining $18 million in USDA funds for the construction of 300 rental homes for the rural poor. Spearheaded the establishment of NCLR as the first national organization to partner with Vision Service Plan in its provision of free vision exams and corrective lenses to thousands of uninsured children. Over the past decade VSP has provided free vision exams and glasses to more than 500,000 low-income uninsured children, a health care benefit worth nearly $100 million. At USDA, developed policy and budget analysis work that helped preserve the 502 homeownership program, a highly successful program for low-income rural families.Specialties: Excellent writing, policy analysis, public relations, and public speaking skills, and expertise in the areas of housing, voluntary service, and rural development. Strong record of accomplishment in federal budget justification, policy formulation and analysis, management of external relationships, and program delivery, management, and evaluation.