Erin Esparza Email & Phone Number

Portland, Or, Us

Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area

Propeller is a management consulting firm that helps businesses thrive in change by delivering impact-driven solutions that build momentum. We’re consultants, strategists, builders, and doers — but mostly we are a company full of people who love the adventure of solving complex problems.

Portland, Or

• Expanded impact of K-12 civic education programs to reach over 1,300 teachers and 147,000 students by establishing on-site regional staff statewide, a robust online professional learning network, and advisory councils to tailor programs to fit local contexts.• Grew from 5.5 to 10.5 FTE, building out highly-experienced programs team with >55 years of classroom teaching experience, supported by 700 community volunteers statewide who added 14,800 hours (>7 FTE) of capacity.• Increased students reached by 55%. Grew share outside Portland from 48% to 57%; rural share from 27% to 32%. 80% of schools have >20% students of color; 85% have >25% qualifying for free/reduced lunch.• Managed revenue and expenses to significantly improve CLP’s financial position, increasing annual funding base by 85% in 4 years and net assets by 2.5x.• Expanded from base of 9 grants for $109,500 to annual average of $341,556 from 21 grants during following 4 years, including 4 multi-year and 19 new first-time grantors.• Launched Major Gifts program including case for support, donor capacity analysis, Board training and stewardship; generated $285,000 in pledges first two years and largest ever individual gift.• Established fee-for-service agreements with school districts to provide teacher professional development. • Actively engaged with 40+ member Board to involve them meaningfully in decisions and leverage their experience, expertise and networks for special projects.• Significantly diversified Board demographic profile and launched initiative to implement DEI programs and training to foster a purposeful organizational culture.• Transitioned to fully digital versions of programs during COVID to continue reaching ~80% of the teachers and students around the state vs. prior year.• Led bipartisan statewide advocacy effort to pass The Civics Education Act, ensuring all Oregon high school students will receive at least one semester of civics education.

Monterrey Area, Mexico

• Created program concepts, operating, and financial models for innovation proposals including digital bootcamp, blended online/in-person learning program, and certifications in political communications and financial analysis.• Defined university academic offerings, including evaluation of education trends, student demand, labor market needs, financial viability, and competition.• Identified and promoted entrepreneurship programs providing an additional path to social mobility for students through business creation.• Developed social enterprise funding strategy that led to investment of ~$1M USD through an innovative real estate investment trust, enabling university to exceed enrollment goals by almost 50%.• Developed expansion strategy for civics education nonprofit including readiness evaluation, updating of vision/mission, and definition of specific strategies, organization structure, and management processes required.• Created and launched Jóvenes Atiempo youth program to increase school persistence among public school students, centered around a peer mentorship/co-responsibility model. Pilot reached 220 middle school students led by 20 high school mentors, all of whom entered college the following year.• Established formal fundraising function, raising >$380,000 USD through competitive grant proposals, newly launched family funds strategy, and securing annual unrestricted government funds.

Monterrey Area, Mexico

• Advisory Board member guiding development of new fintech businesses including Zigo Capital online crowdlending marketplace, Querido Dinero financial education/aggregation site, client analytics/data mining strategy, and eVector online trading platform.• Developed and delivered presentations to client conferences in major cities on the 2016 U.S. presidential transition and its ongoing implications for Mexico.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

• Led team of 27 employees and 76 student volunteers that carried out initiatives empowering low-income Cambodians to lead their communities, including college scholarships, free education, clean water, microfinance, and emergency relief programs.• Responsible for HR, operations, financial management, staff development, fundraising, strategy and program development, implementation and assessment.

Jersey City, Nj

• Created new organization to develop TD Ameritrade’s business in employer-provided financial services market, leading to >$1.6B in new asset acquisition in first full year.• Defined Designated Brokerage strategy, recruited experienced team and launched enhanced employer/employee value propositions, doubling assets under management in first two years.• Allied with Retirement Plan providers to obtain preferred positioning and increase IRA Rollover capture.• Initiated industry partnerships and internal operational build-out to enable entry into Stock Plan services business.

Jersey City, Nj

• Led team of 160 providing shared services support to branch-based and centralized Sales and Client Service teams.• Developed 3-year strategic plan and implemented initiatives including CRM/Knowledge Management system development, branch network expansion, and creation of specialist sales teams.• Received the highest Associate Engagement scores among leaders across the firm.

Richfield, Oh

• Areas of responsibility included Strategy, Alliances, Product Development/Management, Training, Marketing, and Sales Effectiveness.• Served as Chief of Staff for head of business unit.• Led annual planning process and coordinated all supporting business cases and analysis for $500M enterprise.• Gained approval and funding to create proactive, outbound organizations focused on increasing IRA Rollover capture and establishing personal financial relationships with top executives in employer benefits plans.• Led team of 8 technology groups and >100 total members to integrate retirement and stock plan participant data into Schwab.com, client services desktop, CRM and data mining applications.• Closed and integrated major acquisition, adding >$20B retirement plan assets and >400K participants, exceeded client and employee retention goals, achieved record-breaking new plan sales by year 2.• Implemented client targeting, early stage prospecting, consultant relations and training initiatives, contributing to increase in win rate from 5% to 30% in large plan segment, and 130% in assets won across all segments.• Led team responsible for retirement plan recordkeeping and investment products; implemented new products, functionality, and features driven by client demand and regulatory requirements.• Led geographically-dispersed organization responsible for strategy, marketing and training; created team to identify and develop participant cross-sell programs with Retail.• Served as GM of Designated Brokerage business unit, exceeding new assets goal by 45% and exiting >50 non-strategic, non-performing client relationships.

San Francisco

• Re-joined firm as Manager (former Consultant 1987-1991)• Involved in all aspects of strategy formulation for U.S. and international firms.• Projects included portfolio strategy for financial services firm, new business opportunity analysis for wireless telecom carrier, and evaluation of use of CRM and personalization in online financial services.

San Ramon, Ca

• Built organization to support expansion of Internet-based transaction hub for wholesale mortgage industry from California pilot to nationwide operation.• Grew penetration from 650 to 2500 broker shops, and from 5 to 35 of top 100 lenders.• Established the leading brand in B2B e-commerce for the mortgage industry. Founded Mortgage eCommerce Council and MBA Technology Speaker Series, achieving top-tier marketing position and visibility.• Developed and executed marketing strategy that led to steady quarterly increases across all revenue drivers: participation, liquidity, and conversion, resulting in >$2.5B in transactions.• Created product team, enabling multiple software releases and conversion from client-server to web-based app.• Established customer support and training functions, including staffing and infrastructure.• Negotiated and implemented strategic alliances with Freddie Mac, National Association of Mortgage Brokers, SBC Corp., Info1 credit reports, and loan origination software vendors. • Worked with CEO and CFO to raise over $55M in venture capital funding. Wrote business sections of IPO registration and roadshow materials.• Spoke at events throughout mortgage industry on topics including e-commerce, risk-based pricing, and marketing to brokers.

Folsom, Ca

• Identified, developed, and closed strategic venture capital investments in companies whose success drove increased use of Intel products in small business market segment.• Partnered with portfolio companies to ensure realization of strategic synergies.

Folsom, Ca

• Led team responsible for all aspects of product management for OverDrive(TM) Processor PC upgrade product line, accounting for >$300M in annual revenue. Developed product features, pricing, packaging, and marketing programs necessary to establish successful presence in wholesale and retail channels.

San Francisco

• Involved in all aspects of strategy formulation for major U.S. and international firms.• Projects included distribution strategies for a major gasoline marketer and a PC peripherals manufacturer, U.S. market entry analyses for overseas cement and building products manufacturers, an organizational restructuring of a major specialty chemicals company, and a pro bono strategy formulation for a private women’s college.• First Associate to be promoted to Consultant without an MBA.

Ba, Economics, Japanese Language & Culture, Summa Cum Laude

• Member of Phi Beta Kappa society; Dean’s list 1982-85; National Merit Scholar • Honors thesis: The Effects of World War II Wealth.

Master'S Degree, International Education Policy

• Latin America Education Forum – Chair of first-ever conference on Latin America education at Harvard. • Junior Achievement Americas –.

Economics

Japanese Language & Culture