Jane Best Email & Phone Number

Denver, Co, Us

Seattle, Wa, Us

Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) is a subsidiary of Amazon providing on-demand cloud computing platforms and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to individuals, companies, K12, higher education and state and local governments. These cloud computing web services provide a variety of basic abstract technical infrastructure and distributed computing building blocks and tools.I lead the public sector policy strategy and serve as the subject matter expert on procurement and education policy. I work with a team of 9 regional policy managers to cultivate positive state policies and help drive business outcomes for AWS World Wide Public Sector. I support internal and external subject matter experts and business partners by working across public sector issues, such as Health & Human Services, Justice & Public Safety, Workforce Development, Transportation, as well as the K12 & Higher Education portfolio to align state policies with intended outcomes.

Bethesda, Maryland, Us

Manhattan Strategy Group (MSG) supports federal and state clients in the areas of education, workforce development, and human services. Founded in 2001 with main offices in Bethesda, Maryland, MSG specializes in research and evaluation, technical assistance, training, organizational improvement, and grants program support. MSG works with the U.S. Department of Education (ED), National Endowment for the Arts, Department of Labor (DoL), United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the General Services Administration (GSA), National Science Foundation (NSF); Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other clients. As Director of Education I served on the corporate leadership team and oversaw the Education portfolio which includes such federal contracts, such as the National Charter School Resource Center, Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Program and the National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition. I was lead writer and project director to secure a multi-year contract to facilitate the National Assessment for Education Progress (NAEP) board as they continue to update testing requirements for what U.S. students should know and be able to do.I directed business development, captured efforts on education opportunities, oversaw program staff, interfaced with federal agencies, secured multi- year, multi-dollar federal proposals, led successful proposal development, conducted policy outreach and supported staff professional development.

Denver, Co, Us

The U.S. Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Arts created and funds the Arts Education Partnership (AEP) as a national coalition of more than 100 education, arts, business, cultural, government, and philanthropic organizations. AEP is dedicated to securing a high-quality arts education for every young person in America. As the Director, I operationalized initiatives to advocate for arts education within state and federal policy opportunities.* Led two national conferences a year, conducted outreach to new partner organizations, wrote grants, policy pieces, op-eds and commissioned white papers. Executed strategic plan with accompanying development and communication procedures to increase revenue, reach and relevance of the organization. Led marketing, communications and advocacy professionals.* Delivered workshops and served as invited speaker at over 50 national arts conferences, such as SXSWEdu, Americans for the Arts, U.S. Department of Education, Young Audiences, etc.• Convened an advisory board of CEOs and presidents of national arts and cultural organizations.• Organized special working groups to address topics such as equity, diversity and inclusion, higher education and incarcerated youth. • Worked with philanthropy and managed timely and topical community and national projects, such as arts and incarcertation and STEAM.• Grew revenue and membership through special projects with partners, foundations and federal agencies.

Denver, Colorado, Us

McREL International executes a portfolio of fee for service contracts with federal, state, district and international clients. McREL provides technical assistance, research and development on large federal contracts. -Responsible for the organization’s strategic planning, opportunities forecasts, government relations, and proposal development. Worked directly with state and federal policymakers on bills that support education research and development. Instrumental in securing large scale U.S. Department of Education Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) contracts.-Served on the leadership council that directs PreK-12 business development, determines revenue goals, and administers organizational policies. -Led and supervised staff in state and federal relations, institutional development, knowledge management and grant-writing. -Secured contracts and represented McREL among state and federal policymakers, associations, national organizations, and other federal agencies: The U.S. Department of Education and the Institute for Education Sciences (IES), the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Department of Interior (DOI), and the Department of Labor (DOL). -Created partnerships, served on research and development advocacy coalitions, and provided strategic direction on future funding opportunities.

Denver, Colorado, Us

McREL International is a private, 501 (c)(3) education research and development corporation that was founded in 1966. Headquartered in Denver CO with offices in Honolulu HI, Melbourne Australia, Nashville TN and Charleston WV.Worked directly with federal and state policymakers, agencies staff on Capitol Hill. Led the organizations external relations and state and federal policy initiatives. Successfully advocated for increased funding for elementary and postsecondary education research.

Learning Point Associates (which was acquired by the American Institutes for Research in 2010) performs a diversified portfolio of work ranging from direct consulting assignments to federal education contracts and grants. Federal contracts include: the Regional Education Laboratory-Midwest and the Great Lakes East and West Comprehensive Centers. The organization specializes in research, evaluation, technical assistance and public policy.

Denver, Co, Us

The National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths and territories.

Nashville, Tennessee, Us

The Vanderbilt office for Government Relations represents the university to state and federal policymakers. Vanderbilt's Office for Government Relations advances the universities interest in education, science and medical research and development. I played an active roll in Vanderbilt's government affairs strategy and participated among other university coalitions to advance science, engineering and related university priorities.

Ph.D., Public Policy

M.A., Education, English And French

B.A., Communications W/ Minor In Art History