State of Grace Consulting provides a broad range of consulting services focused on quality, affordable, and innovative support to assist both for-profit and nonprofit organizations in navigating challenges and achieving successful outcomes, from short term projects to long term initiatives.

E. Grace Law Firm is a client-focused firm providing a range of quality and affordable legal services to help clients navigate challenges and achieve successful outcomes both in and out of the courtroom.

• Managed national programmatic efforts to reach and mobilize veterans and military families.• Consulted with states & HQ departments on voter engagement strategies for veteran and military family coalition.• Organized support with key messengers to support battleground states.• Executed rapid response activities working closely across departments.• Traveled as surrogate to battleground states for coalition-based events.

• Worked closely with internal and external stakeholders to support DNC operations. • Provided accurate and timely advice on a variety of legal topics relevant to a national party committee and its activities, including advising on election and campaign finance matters, working onemployment and labor issues, managing compliance, drafting contracts, and providing trainingand presentations.

• Apply expert knowledge of the laws and regulations pertaining to the provision of benefits by the Secretary to Veterans or their dependents or survivors. • Review and evaluate medical and lay evidence. • Draft tentative appellate decisions for Veterans Law Judges.• Conduct research on legal and medical questions encountered in case review. • Author legal briefs outlining the facts at issue and provide recommendations for appropriate action.• Served as co-lead of Team Building and Individual Skills Training program within the Employee Engagement initiative, designing and implementing training sessions for BVA staff.• Collaborated with agency leadership to launch first-ever working group of military spouse employees to support engagement and retention. • Recognized by judges and leadership with Certificates of Excellent Writing.

• Served as a Department of Veterans Affairs Congressional Fellow, advising Senator and his staff. Applied expert knowledge of policy and programs to assist with the development of innovative and efficient approaches to support readiness, retention, and productivity of the force and families behind the force.• Tracked and briefed leadership on relevant legislation and policy issues, synthesized information for stakeholders, recommended best course of action, and worked with team to achieve desired outcome.• Drafted legislative text and other communications, including correspondence and talking points; conducted research and fact-finding; and coordinated with stakeholders to advance legislative and policy goals.• Undertook issues of sensitive nature requiring discretion and diplomacy. Maintained a high level of awareness regarding local and national politics that shape legislative priorities and constituent needs.

• Detailed for two tours as expert advisor in the Office of the First Lady (March 2021-April 2022, December 2022-June 2023). Built and executed strategy for a White House initiative to achieve impact aligned with Administration values and goals. Utilized data insights to develop strategic plan to achieve sustainable growth within focus areas. Worked closely with internal and external stakeholders to advance projects and monitor progress towards goals.• Through the interagency process, obtained over 80 Administration commitments to target community as outlined in the September 2021 White House “Strengthening America’s Military Families” report.• Successfully launched coalition of public and private partners resulting in over 40 unique commitments for resources and programs to serve military-connected children, including over $3 million in funding. Supported continued growth of the coalition through additional member recruitment and development of additional deliverables to further positive outcomes.• In collaboration with federal human resources leadership, developed policies to embed veteran and military families, caregivers, and survivors into diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts. Partnered with stakeholders to develop and launch the first-ever government-wide employee resource group (ERG) for military spouse federal employees to develop and retain talent.• Drafted briefing materials, talking points, reports, and presentations for delivery to various audiences, including the First Lady, the National Security Council, and external stakeholders. • Managed social media for initiative and coordinated storytelling across multiple channels. Created and told stories through inclusion of military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors in the narrative.

• Managed bar association and affiliated non-profit foundation representing unique interests of attorneys married to U.S. military personnel stationed in the U.S. and abroad. • Responsible for national grassroots network of 700+ members and management of volunteer leadership team overseeing communication, organizational strategy, fundraising, policy development, pro bono, and advocacy programs. • Managed budget for network and foundation, including membership dues, with revenue of $70,000+ annually. • Supported national advocacy efforts for state bar accommodations for military spouse attorneys, resulting in successful rule change accommodations through legislative and regulatory channels for military spouse attorneys in 29 jurisdictions since 2011.• Developed relationships with hiring partners and support placement of military spouse attorneys in employment positions.• Conducted outreach with members of national and state legal, political, and military communities, and raise visibility of the organization through public engagement.• Designed curriculum for professional development programs and conferences, including Making the Right Moves (two day professional development conference for military spouse attorneys) and Homefront Rising (one day training for military spouses interested in running for office and civic leadership)

• Began as Social Media Coordinator, advanced to Director of Communications.• Directed development and execution of strategic planning and communications campaign for organization representing 1200+ constituents to increase public knowledge of mission, fundraise, encourage participation, and connect membership.• Worked with advocacy team to lead grassroots efforts on military spouse licensing issues. Successfully enacted accommodations in 18 jurisdictions. • Managed 10+ communications team members, including content manager, newsletter editor, and writers.• Oversaw internal communications, including private social media groups, newsletter management, emails to members and supporters, blog, website, and member forums. • Developed external communications, including pitching ideas, writing articles, press releases, and organizational announcements.• Maintained all technological tools used by organization, including social media, WordPress, CiviCRM, GoToMeeting, and SurveyMonkey. • Worked with a variety of communication channels, including website, email, social media, and webcasts to ensure consistent messaging and branding across all channels.• Oversaw $20K overhaul of website to improve functionality, including dues tracking, membership renewal, and improved contact management system. • Trained 20+ staff on management of blog and social media platforms, researching resources, pitching stories to media, WordPress and CiviCRM.• Represented organization at national events and through publication in industry outlets.• Guided organizational media, events, and public relations; counsel organization leadership as needed on communications and strategic planning.• Assisted with planning and advertising of events, including annual meeting and career development conference, as well as successful “Homefront Rising” program educating military spouses on running for public office.• Recognized by Board with inaugural 2015 Mary Reding Smith Leadership Award.

• Provided advice and counsel to firm serving the needs of businesses, startups, and institutions in transactional and litigation matters at the local, state, and federal levels.• Formulated case and litigation strategy with senior attorneys.• Communicated with clients, drafted pleadings, and responded to discovery.• Worked efficiently with team of attorneys and administrative staff to best serve client needs.

• Managed law practice providing services to solo practitioners and small firms in areas of business and family law.• Provided services including litigation support, case management, legal research, court appearances, and drafting of pleadings and discovery. • Specialized in legal research and writing of pleadings, complaints, motions, and memorandums of points and authorities. • Leveraged technology, including Clio, Slack, and Skype/Facetime, to communicate confidentially with attorneys and clients regardless of location.• Successfully grew practice through referrals and developed network of contracting attorneys.

Facilitated placement of family law cases for indigent clients with local pro bono attorneys.

Assisted clients with obtaining restraining orders (domestic violence, elder abuse and civil harassment). Conducted client interviews and completed court forms during walk-in clinics. Educated clients on court procedures. Provided referrals to social support agencies and shelters.

Represented clients in all aspects of family law cases, including dissolutions, parentage matters, custody and support modifications, and domestic violence/restraining order cases. Prepared pleadings and related documents, including financial disclosures, client statements, correspondence and Marital Settlement Agreements/Judgments. Attended court hearings and advocated for clients to the court. Propounded and responded to discovery. Negotiated temporary orders and global settlements. Counseled clients in all matters related to representation and provided referrals to support services.

Performed legal research on military law, drafted memoranda and motions, and aided with all aspects of defense of Marine charged with murder and kidnapping in Hamdaniya, Iraq incident.

Assisted with family and consumer law cases for military personnel. Performed legal research, created educational handouts, and authored legal articles for distribution in military community. Participated in client counseling during walk-in clinics.