Advising managers, officials, and other agency employees on legal and operational issues involved in their work, with special emphasis on labor, employment, and service delivery issues; advising on and interpreted laws, court decisions, and quasi-judicial decisions and opinions; preparing opinions, reports, and advisories. Conducting investigations and representing the agency in litigation and legal / administrative proceedings. Conducting legal research and preparing reports and other legal related materials. Conducting training seminars and advising the public, agency managers and staff on legal procedures relevant to agency mandates, regulations, and laws. Coordinating policy and procedural issues with other state or quasi-state agencies, including the Department of Developmental Services, MassHealth, and the University of Massachusetts.Specializations: issues related to Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the delivery of §1915(c) HCBS Waiver services under the Acquired Brain Injury, Money Follows the Person, and Traumatic Brain Injury waivers.

Oversaw the Community Living Division and multiple programs focused on enabling individuals to live independently in the community with home and community based supports and services; these programs included three Home and Community Based Services Waivers, ten Independent Living Centers and the Statewide Independent Living Council, protective services, assistive technology services, supported living services, housing, and home care assistance. Managed a $75 million dollar budget drawn from state, federal, interdepartmental agreements, and trust sources. Responsible for a staff of 130 employees, including multiple managers and supervisors. Collaborated and maintained rapport with multiple stakeholders, including non-profit organizations, providers, consumers, other state agencies, and legislators. Responded to and defused controversial and high-profile issues. Worked closely with the MRC Commissioner and her Strategic Operations Team to ensure effective collaboration between MRC Divisions. Ensured that programs are on track to efficiently and effectively spend down appropriated budgets by the end of each fiscal year, without prematurely exhausting funds. Conducted evaluations of managers, and addresses personnel conflicts as appropriate. Conducted policy development and implementation for the Community Living Division, with input from multiple stakeholders. Successfully oversaw budget tracking and project management, ensuring effective time management by employees to achieve objectives.

Conducted investigations and represented the agency in litigation and legal / administrative proceedings. Conducted legal research and prepared reports and other legal related materials. Conducted training seminars and advised the public, agency managers and staff on legal procedures relevant to agency mandates, regulations, and laws. Coordinated policy and procedural issues with other state or quasi-state agencies, including the Department of Developmental Services, MassHealth, and UMass.

Litigated, investigated, and resolved matters under titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in services provided by state / local governments and private businesses.Specialization: issues relating to accessible technology - i.e., accessibility of smartphones, open and closed captions, websites, telecommunication relay services, and other electronic devices and services.

Managed and supervised a diverse workforce of over twenty attorneys, investigators, and interns as they investigate allegations of violations of titles II and III of the ADA. Worked closely with attorneys, investigators, and interns in meeting organizational vision, mission, and goals. Reviewed investigator and attorney work product (including lengthy settlement agreements and letters of resolution) for quality and legal sufficiency, monitored investigators and attorneys’ progress on each of their cases, conducted training as needed, and accompanied and trained investigators and attorneys on onsite visits. Gave regular evaluations, rendering disciplinary actions as appropriate and needed, and undertook other administrative tasks as needed. Periodically served as Acting Deputy Chief, who supervises over 40 people including investigators, attorneys, secretaries, other Supervisory Attorneys, and two architects. Regularly performed tasks as delegated by the Deputy Chief.

Investigated cases and researched issues under title I of the ADA involving allegations of employment discrimination on the basis of disability by state / local governments, and under titles II and III of the ADA. Received extensive training on the ADA, and conducted extensive research into variousissues involving the ADA. Drafted and/or assisted with amicus briefs filed by the Department addressing issues under title II of the ADA.

Trained numerous federal and state staff – including HUD, GSA, DOT, USDA and other agencies -- on the provisions of (and how to investigate allegations under) title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in federally-funded programs, activities, or services), title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and several grant-related Executive Orders.Worked extensively with staff from over 26 federal agencies to coordinate enforcement of title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and over 60 grant-related nondiscrimination statutes covering race, color, national origin, sex, and religion.Conducted numerous meetings between federal agencies on issues or complaints common to each of these agencies, and gave advice on legal and sensitive matters involving race, color, national origin, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.Investigated numerous complaints alleging discrimination under title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and other categories by recipients of financial assistance from DOJ.Reviewed various notices and proposed regulations to be published in the Federal Register, including coordinating a joint notice of proposed rulemaking among 24 federal agencies, reviewing and commenting on regulations being proposed by numerous agencies, and drafting notices on behalf of the Department of Justice.