I lead advocacy and external affairs for Planned Parenthood of Greater New York. As Chief External Affairs Officer for Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, I oversee the communications, marketing, and public relations teams for the organization. These teams ensure marginalized communities and the public are aware of PPGNY’s outstanding services and programs, understand how to seek care, and build widespread awareness for our advocacy priorities. I also supervise our government relations team which is charged with setting our lobbying and elected engagement strategy. As Executive Director of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund, Votes, and Votes PAC, I provide oversight to our outstanding organizing team in advancing an advocacy and education agenda. I also spearhead our political affairs work, which is focused on supporting champions of reproductive freedom in their pursuit of elected office throughout New York State.

Oversee strategic development, government relations, and communications teams for $90+ million organization with 700+ staff. Lead initiatives with focus on revenue generation, partner and board development, profile elevation, and strategic organizational planning. Spearhead projects to increase coordination and collaboration across Center, set direction for organization's leadership, and oversee initiatives that support strategic direction of organization.

Member of executive team for 600+ employee national justice reform organization and oversee government affairs, external affairs, and development teams. Lead lobbying and outreach efforts to support policy priorities with city, state and national elected officials at all levels. Enhance relationships with array of public and private sector entities. Serve as key liaison for organizational initiatives with current and new stakeholders and partners. Develop proactive public relations strategy and craft public events that promote organizational visibility and highlight impact. Advise project directors on local strategic partnership development. Identify and build new funding relationships to support close to $80 million budget. Serve on organization’s strategic planning committee.

Lead 35 extremely talented staff at the Midtown Community Court, an operation of the Center for Court Innovation and supported by the Fund for the City of New York. Direct all funding development for $2 million budget from private and public entities. Spearhead the creation and implementation of cutting edge projects and policies that enhance access to justice, reduce incarceration and crime, and increase public trust in the justice system. Oversee programs meant to curb human trafficking and domestic violence, that support workforce reentry, and respond to needs of adolescent offenders. Formulate community development campaigns for region. Build and develop partnerships with various business, arts, human rights, minority, LGBT, and community based coalitions as well as government entities of the Manhattan region.

Direct programming, policy development, and oversee issue advocacy related to national security, technology, workplace rights and equality, LGBT matters, environmental concerns, and regulatory law. Draft and review legal policy memoranda and lead initiatives involving matters before Congress and within the judiciary. Review and analyze scholarship falling within ACS agenda. Serve as ACS liaison with multiple governmental and non-governmental entities and manage and direct relationships with various stakeholders. Lead, organize and speak at programs in portfolio areas, coordinate Congressional member and staff briefings. Manage and coordinate programming budget within portfolio areas. Supervise junior staff and organize workflow distribution.

Counsel public interest, 501(c)(3), union and other non-profit and corporate clients on range of policy concerns, health and welfare matters, Affordable Care Act implementation, tax and internal revenue code compliance, labor and employment issues including discrimination issues, employee policy and grievance matters, litigation, ERISA, employee benefits and benefit trust administration, plan amendment and restatements, withdrawal liability, retirement issues, and defined benefit and contribution plan matters. Develop presentations for public seminars on policy developments and regulatory compliance. Attend union and employer trustee meetings and present on memoranda on legal developments in labor, employee benefits, and healthcare.

Represent and counsel Fortune 500 clients with respect to array of labor and employment matters and legal compliance, including issues related to ERISA, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, and NLRA. Present lectures and counsel clients on current legislation and policy. Counsel clients on ACA, Medicare policy, and matters relating to 401k plans, ESOPs and multi-employer plans, investment vehicle fee issues, taxation, withdrawal liability, Pension Protection Act regulatory concerns, and notice requirements. Manage defense and investigations of Title VII related charges and lawsuits. Author appellate briefs, motions to dismiss and discovery-related pleadings. Supervise pretrial preparation and lead depositions. Draft, review, and analyze collective bargaining agreements, summary plan descriptions and corporate contracts. Serve on Diversity Committee and review and present on issues relating to affirmative action, retention, and diversity best practices.

Advised private and public-sector clients on issues involving Title VII, NLRA, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FCRA, USERRA, reductions-in-force, wrongful discharge, immigration and labor grievances. Successfully conducted investigations and prepared position statements in response to allegations of discrimination for matters in state and federal agencies and courts. Drafted and developed workplace policies, employee handbooks, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements. Created and presented supervisor and staff diversity and harassment trainings. Summer Associate in 2004.

Performed legal research, drafted memoranda, and authored decisions on workplace discrimination and employment issues. Analyzed major employment discrimination cases and advised and briefed Commissioner on suggested policy and precedent. Attended and briefed Commissioner on legislative hearings involving pending policy before Congress.

Managed over two thousand cases per year in team of five managers. Mediated approximately two hundred disputes and directed mediation programs for the Illinois Department of Human Rights and various branch courts.

Successfully negotiated employee benefits between Fortune 500 clients and health care corporations. Drafted contracts and proposal presentations. Supervised and formulated project plan objectives in consultant teams.

Investigated allegations of ethical misconduct by state and local government officials. Analyzed documents and reviewed claims of fraud and bribery schemes. Authored investigative memoranda for legal division.