All aspects of comprehensive legislative program to improve county's financial, operational, and programmatic position, as well as public and non-profit finance, municipal law, risk management, revenue growth, procurement, administrative hearings, MBE/WBE participation, collective bargaining, human resources, property taxes and incentives, constitutional law, statutory construction, pensions, public investments, municipal marketing, corporate sponsors, public franchises, public-private… Show more All aspects of comprehensive legislative program to improve county's financial, operational, and programmatic position, as well as public and non-profit finance, municipal law, risk management, revenue growth, procurement, administrative hearings, MBE/WBE participation, collective bargaining, human resources, property taxes and incentives, constitutional law, statutory construction, pensions, public investments, municipal marketing, corporate sponsors, public franchises, public-private partnerships, intergovernmental collaboration, financial reporting & controls, audits, complex contracts, compliance, civil rights, healthcare, liability, and workers' comp. Show less

In this capacity, I successfully developed and led the execution of a comprehensive strategic plan to: 1. Increase our budget from $15M to $1.5B for CREATE, freight railroads, intermodal centers, high-speed rail, Amtrak, and public transit agencies, primarily by shaping federal, state, and local legislative, budgetary, and administrative action to our advantage. 2. Re-organize entire division of 40 employees to build capacity, enabling us to do more work with fewer… Show more In this capacity, I successfully developed and led the execution of a comprehensive strategic plan to: 1. Increase our budget from $15M to $1.5B for CREATE, freight railroads, intermodal centers, high-speed rail, Amtrak, and public transit agencies, primarily by shaping federal, state, and local legislative, budgetary, and administrative action to our advantage. 2. Re-organize entire division of 40 employees to build capacity, enabling us to do more work with fewer resources. 3. Implement comprehensive strategies in communications, coalition building, media relations, community affairs, and legislative affairs to influence decisions made by federal, state, and local legislators and administrators. 4. Develop, adopt, and execute major regulatory and policy reforms regarding high-speed rail, logistics, intermodal transport, public transit, and minority/women participation. 5. Produce full array of legal, programmatic, financial, and political documents to State leadership, including legislation, administrative rules, reports, opinions, recommendations, complex contracts, litigation filings, presentations, speeches, talking points, legislative comments, press releases, and OpEds. 6. Monitor and ensure compliance with all aspects of law, budgets, and policies.7. File programmatic and financial reports to all federal and state oversight authorities,prevent and respond to audit findings. Show less

In this capacity, I managed a team of lawyers and policy specialists to: 1. Provide comprehensive legal counsel and documents to the Office of the President and Senate Leadership on major legislative, regulatory, and operational matters, including: • Constitutional law, rules of order, legislative validity, statutory construction• Public-private partnerships, public investment, public pensions• Civil rights, sexual harassment, MBE/WBE participation• Healthcare… Show more In this capacity, I managed a team of lawyers and policy specialists to: 1. Provide comprehensive legal counsel and documents to the Office of the President and Senate Leadership on major legislative, regulatory, and operational matters, including: • Constitutional law, rules of order, legislative validity, statutory construction• Public-private partnerships, public investment, public pensions• Civil rights, sexual harassment, MBE/WBE participation• Healthcare, long-term care, Medicaid, nursing homes, hospitals, and senior protection• Econmic development, intermodal transport, railroads, and public transit• Financial institutions, professional regulation, and consumer protection• Education law, finance, and reform• ADA, disabilities, social services, and homelessness• Procurement, capital improvements, and complex contracts• Collective bargaining, employment and workers' comp• Litigation 2. Research, draft, win support for, and negotiate bills, amendments, budgetary outcomes, and regulations. 3. Conduct legislative investigations and policy research. 4. Ensure full compliance with relevant federal and state law on all operational and legislative matters. 5. Produce full array of related documents for legislative leaders, including bills, amendments, legislative and investigaory reports, opinions, recommendations, complex agreements, talking points, legislative comments, press releases, and OpEds. Show less

• Drafted and won passage of landmark Illinois Education for Homeless Children Act.• Helped draft and win parallel reforms in federal McKinney-Vento Act. • Won organizational funding and support from local, county, state, and federal officials.• Won state funding for homeless unaccompanied teens.• Developed and presented training materials for educators, attorneys, and advocates. • Built statewide coalition of congregations, educators, students… Show more • Drafted and won passage of landmark Illinois Education for Homeless Children Act.• Helped draft and win parallel reforms in federal McKinney-Vento Act. • Won organizational funding and support from local, county, state, and federal officials.• Won state funding for homeless unaccompanied teens.• Developed and presented training materials for educators, attorneys, and advocates. • Built statewide coalition of congregations, educators, students, attorneys, homeless people, providers, and advocates. • Edited and published "People Just Like You" - the nation's first report on suburban homelessness.• Produce full array of legal, political, and financial documents, including state and federal legislation, administrative rules, reports, opinions, recommendations, grant applicatinos, litigation filings, presentations, speeches, talking points, legislative comments, press releases, and OpEds. Show less

General business counsel; commercial transactions; commercial litigation; criminal defense: Equitable relief, statutory construction, breach of contract, commercial torts, unfair & deceptive trade, trademark, copyright, tie-ins, joint ventures, accounting, commercial misrepresentation, licenses, permits, compliance, civil rights, employment agreements, trade secrets, discrimination, ADA, public concessions, official misconduct, homicide, public licenses, administrative procedure.