Last year I became a member of the Board of Directors of Soul's Palette, a not-for-profit organization that provides healing arts services to extended care patients in hospitals in the Denver area. Using music, creative endeavors, dance and digital art, adults and children in extended care units such as oncology have an oppoutunity to enjoy and participate in healing arts activities. More information can be found at www.soulspalettearts.org

After retiring from a second career in Non-Profit administration I returned to the treatment field. As CeDAR expanded I was invited to join the staff to share my experience from earlier work in drug and alcoholism addictions treatment. I do this work in addition to Non-Profit management consulting and until recently was a volunteer at the Denver Art Museum.

Handle accounting and office management for this Expressive Arts Therapy business and also offer my services as a nonprofit management and operations consultant in areas of treatment and human resources. For additional information see: www.healingwithheart.info.

Handled all front and back office activities of the local chapter. Responsible for a 12,000 sq. feet building owned by the organization, including work with contractors for landscaping, building maintenance, and all office and compter equipment. Also supported the Executive Director by attending board meetings, taking minutes and scheduling events and meetings. Maintained a small fleet of vehicles and was responsible for purchasing of all supplies and equipment. Handled inventory and provided support to the Programs and Development departments. Position eliminated due to projected budget shortfalls.

General financial and operations responsibilities for a 501(c)(6) membership organization, overseeing multiple activities such as contracting and accounting, information technology and website operations, budgeting and finance, and office operations. Also assisted the CEO with board activities, attended board meetings and took minutes, and provided administrative support, as needed, to the board. This VP position was eliminated during mission reorganization.

Responsibilities included administrative oversight of a 501(c)(3) residential treatment center and on-site schools for troubled youth. Planned, developed, and implemented several functions, including accounting and human resource administration for 80+ staff. Developed controls for Medicaid funding and financial audits. Managed all contracts and the IT system, and worked closely with the Development Department on fundraising activities. Served as HIPAA compliance specialist and Safety Officer. Directed food service and buildings and grounds operations. Handled cultural diversity issues and consensus building with staff and management. Worked with the Executive Director and Board of Directors on strategic planning and program expansion. Retired in 2005.

Youth for Service provided educational and addictions support services for urban youth and their families in San Francisco. I was hired initially as a consultant to reorganize the administration of the agency. Focused on the development of new funding sources. Revised YFS’s personnel system and computerized the accounting function. Worked to bring its 30,000 sq. ft. educational facility up to city code. Expanded educational and service programs, and wrote personnel and fiscal policies and procedures manuals. Wrote several grants to agencies and foundations. While in San Francisco I also served on the Board of Directors, Westside Community Mental Health Center in San Francisco. While serving as the Executive Director of YFS my first wife died of cancer. After working with the boards of YFS and the San Francisco Conservation Corps to form a merger I left the human services field, traveled, and pursued academic activities until settling in Denver. These activities included a return to my earlier academic career, conducting archaeological and historic research in Mexico, the Far East and on a shipwreck site in the Mariannas Islands.

Reviewed and improved all financial operations and supervised and trained clinical and clerical personnel. Developed personnel and fiscal policies and procedures manuals. Increased fee collections 500%. Served the minority populations’ mental health needs in a rural California county. Began offering services to the county’s youth and elderly. Became a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP). While in Napa I continued my interest in public education and cultural activities by serving as treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of the local public television channel. Spoke often to community organizations regarding problems of alcoholism and alcohol abuse in the Napa Valley. Also was a member of the Napa County Criminal Justice Planning Committee and member of the Board of Directors and Regional Treasurer, California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC). Carried a caseload of at last 5 individual clients.

After a life changing event, I began new career in substance abuse counseling. Obtained certifications in Alcohol and Drug Addiction counseling in both Arkansas (CAC, CDC) and California (CADAC). Took certification courses at the University of Arkansas - Little Rock and the University of California - Berkeley.

Wrote and managed contracts and produced reports and publications for various private, state and federal entities to conducted Cultural Resource Management Programs in the State of Arkansas.

Served as Acting Director of the University Museum, National Program Chairman of the Society for American Archaeology annual conference, three terms on the Illinois Governor's Historic Preservation Committee, and President of the Illinois Archaeology Survey.

Coordinated the Fulbright Scholars program, served on the USA/Brazil Bicentennial committee, oversaw the SIU International Students Program.