The Oconomowoc Scholarship Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is dedicated to encouraging post-high school education by providing scholarships to deserving Oconomowoc area students. As a member of the volunteer Board of Directors, and the Communications Chairperson, I have worked to advance this mission through community engagement, event execution, and direct fundraising.

The Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce brings together business owners, business leaders, and community leaders to empower and support veterans and military families. Our programs and events throughout the year are dedicated to providing our members and Wisconsin's veteran business community with the information, support, and resources they need to be successful.Established strategic partnerships resulting in an 80% growth in membership, significantly enhancing organizational outreach and community engagement.* Rebuilt trust with dropped members, successfully re-engaging 12 former members and reintegrating them into the chamber community.* Spearheaded the creation and execution of 32 breakthrough in-person networking events, 13 engaging virtual gatherings, and a flagship Construction Owners Summit, fostering diverse connections and delivering measurable outcomes during my 15-month tenure.* Doubled the participation rate of the annual Veterans Business Conference while earning widespread acclaim from participants and sponsors for providing exceptional value and strategic growth opportunities.* Delivered targeted technical assistance and support to members across Wisconsin, ensuring a high return on membership investment and enhancing member satisfaction.* Secured $50,000 in grant funding through a compelling proposal and meticulous reporting, strengthening program sustainability and long-term impact.* Collaborated with cross-functional teams, key stakeholders, and committees to cultivate and expand community partnerships, driving local engagement.* Revamped external communication leading to a 150% increase in organizational visibility and outreach across multiple platforms.* Optimized CRM system management, streamlining efficiencies, member interactions and boosting retention rates by 20%.* Led engaging panel discussions, interviews, and keynote speeches at multiple events, consistently receiving positive, high-impact feedback from participants.

Marketing Research, Analysis, and Reporting

Complete Doctor of Education: Leadership Dissertation: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY EXAMINING THE JOURNEY OF IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT FOR INTERNATIONALLY ADOPTED ADOLESCENTS IN THE UNITED STATES

Responsible for all non-instructional activities for operating two Title I K-8 public charter schools including: facilities management, technology, food services, transportation, human resources, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, contract arbitration, vendor relationships, purchasing, budgeting, reconciliations, data analysis, as well as grant administration and oversight of ARRA and Race to the Top. Authored compliance and informational reports at local, state and federal levels. Successfully led the transition from a national Educational Management Organization to a more cost-efficient self-managed enterprise.

Constructed all Federal Title and School Improvement grant applications, obtained multiple competitive grants, coordinated all compliance submissions, developed all student data analysis and state-wide reports, created and implemented the school’s initial Supplemental Educational Services Program with 30 vendors for over 300 students. Worked closely with the Ohio Department of Education, the ACS School Board, Thomas B Fordham Foundation, staff, and families to assure high quality programs and resources were available to all students.

Responsible for all small-business operations including: accounting, budgeting, sales, marketing, inventory, ordering, membership management, customer service, vendor relations, pricing, correspondence, and payroll. Communicated and documented activities to the AEEA Board of Directors, local government agencies, and the U.S. State Department.

Provided administrative support for the U.S. Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission on a part-time basis. Duties included escorting diplomatic visitors, internal and external communication and correspondence including diplomatic notes, scheduling appointments, and general administrative responsibilities. A U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance was required for this position.

Successfully managed 9 district offices across Illinois. Responsible for budgets, strategic business planning, development, sponsor recruitment, committee leadership, proposal and grant writing, marketing, and operations. Special event execution resulted in fundraising efforts exceeding $5.6 million annually. Coordinated health care services for approximately 5,000 families which included the oversight of hospital-affiliated clinics, block grant administration, and direction of 3 summer camp sessions for 250 special needs children. Conducted personal and large group trainings (at the local and national level), performance appraisals, and handled human resource issues for over 50 employees. Wrote and produced the “Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon” on Superstation WGN/WGN-TV Chicago growing call-in pledges and sponsorships significantly. Directed all pre-production, volunteer, and onsite activities and organized other telethon logistics throughout the state.Supervised 12 administrative staff and all operations of multiple district offices including: accounts payable, accounts receivable, inventory, purchasing, software training, database management, account reconciliations, audits, report generation, contracts and risk management. Led special projects, created newsletters and local annual reports, executed office relocations, meeting and event logistics, developed cost-reduction initiatives, and initiated volunteer recruitment efforts.