As the Executive Director provide all aspects of overall leadership, operational management, strategy development, implementation and high-level representation for UCP Wheels.

Managed and led the IRC domestic refugee resettlement program in San Diego. Programs included refugee resettlement, education, income generation, health navigation, immigration, urban gardening/food security, youth and career development. Oversaw all HR, admin, finance, development and program activities. Total 90 full time staff and 500 volunteers with an annual budget of $9 million from Federal, State, County, City, foundations, businesses and private donors.Management and Leadership:• Monitored the overall development, implementation and completion of all grants, contracts and activities related to refugee resettlement programs/activities providing direct services to over 10,000 individuals, including 1,548 refugees who arrived during 2016. • Developed a 5 year Strategic Plan for the San Diego office (2015-2020). Hired, trained, team built and coached senior staff. Built strategic partnerships with local organizations. Monitored program and operation budgets.Development and Fundraising: • Worked with the Development Manager to organize private fundraising events, annual appeals, community outreach and annual galas which increased unrestricted funds for the organization. Significantly increased the number of e-mail, Facebook and Twitter contacts. • Worked with Salesforce software to track potential and proven donors. Provided personal e-mail outreach and private events to major donors. Advocacy, Coordination and External Representation:• Represented IRC San Diego with all media, including local, state and national outlets. Spoke publically at different forums to explain humanitarian aid overseas and refugee resettlement to the US. • Coordinated consultation meetings between the resettlement agencies, city, county, state and elected officials.

Brought strong management experience to focus on building, training/developing and retaining staff at all levels to make the IRC Ethiopia program the largest country program in the IRC network providing direct assistance to more than 1 million beneficiaries.Program Impact, Effectiveness and Fundraising:• Developed and realigned all aspects of IRC’s work in Ethiopia around three major programs, increasing the annual portfolio from approximately $5m/year to over $45m/year with a diverse donor spectrum including performance based contracts (USAID, BPRM, OFDA, EU, ECHO, DOL, UNHCR, UNICEF, DFID, and private foundations). • Structured IRC with clear programmatic focus around refugees, emergency response, and specific vulnerable populations in chronically food/water/livelihoods-insecure communities, implementing a range of programs from emergency through resilience to development. • Programs sectors included Water/Sanitation, Public Health, HIV/AIDs, Education, Youth Empowerment, Gender Based Violence, Livelihoods, Economic Empowerment, Food Security, Agriculture and Emergency Preparedness & Response. Led the transition of IRC Ethiopia from historical dependency on US government proceeds to a robust program with diverse donor portfolio. Humanitarian Accountability and Leadership:• Developed, institutionalized and co-led the first International Non-Government Organization (INGO) Forum in Ethiopia, establishing by-laws. Human Resource, People Management/Development, Gender Equity and Diversity: • Spearheaded the development of a Leadership Capacity Building Program for IRC Ethiopia staff including 360 evaluation, topic-learning modules, peer learning events, and mentoring. • Oversaw the development of multiple IRC Ethiopia Strategic plans. As a voice from the field, was part of a core Strategic Planning Refresh team at IRC HQ that was responsible for updating and rewriting the IRC global Strategic Plan for the organization.

Provided all aspects of overall leadership, operational management, strategy development, implementation and high-level representation for the IRC. Directed up to $40 million/year budget, management and increasing of staff during major emergency response, resource mobilization, stewardship, and ensuring programmatic alignment with IRC’s vision, mission, principles and strategic priorities.