Appointed by Mayor to oversee and regulate Cannabis licensing. As part of senior leadership team in the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, I ensure compliance with state and local laws and municipal ordinances and regulations while maintaining a commitment to social justice. I am charged with approving and issuing cannabis licenses to ensure equity and inclusion across communities who were disproportionately harmed by the past prohibition of cannabis.Highlights include: Pioneering a new licensing model for cannabis businesses to prove access and predictability to rapidly emerging industry:- Fostering racial equity and inclusion by establishing clear, transparent and equitable processes to enable applicants to have a successful hearing before the Boston Cannabis Board.- Eliminating approval backlog, executing 56 host community agreements.

Appointed by Mayor to oversee and regulate liquor and entertainment licensing. I oversee the regulation of 1,450 alcohol licenses and 1,200 annual entertainment license across the City of Boston, including large format sporting and athletic events.I advise on public policy for economic development, offer guidance to small businesses and collaborate with city departments, state and municipal officials, community leaders, neighborhood organizations and the public. I lead a team of 17 across 4 departments and mentor and support professional advancement and development.Highlights include:~Serving within 3 successive Mayoral administrations due to exceptional leadership, effective direction and fair and equitable policy development.~Promoting economic resilience, recovery and safe operations for small business owners and academic institutions affected by COVID-19, establishing effective communication regarding regulations and rapidly changing guidance from State and Federal agencies. ~Developing City's first pilot program for outdoor dining during COVID-19 pandemic: -Creating and structuring plan by collaborating across City administration, fire, inspectional services, transportation, public improvement, public works, eco-development and neighborhood services departments, addressing challenges and concerns while building a successful program launch. -Providing clear, accessible communication regarding state guidelines to enable over 400 establishments to leverage outdoor dining extensions within an accelerated timeframe.

I represented interests for the City of Boston's urban planning and economic development agency. Provided legal direction and advice for complex contract law and large-scale real estate development projects, including the sale, leasing and licensing of the agency's assets and properties. I negotiated legal instruments, agreements, and contracts with outside counsel, developers and the community. Highlights included:~Drafting and negotiating legal documents for projects under Article 80 of the Boston Zoning Code and under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 121A. Caseload included residential and commercial retail spaces in various stages of development and review.

Led government relations for this 12K member non-profit organization, leveraging the role's seniority and high profile to advance policy positions focused on promoting justice and improving equitable access to Massachusetts' legal system. I collaborated across all 3 branches of government and with non-profit associations and advocacy groups to facilitate communications and manage public policy development priorities. Managed and provided professional development opportunities for a government relations manager. Achievements included:~ Elevating the organization's profile by driving public policy development for issues including access to justice, public safety, sentencing reform, re-entry and parole, civil rights and civil liberties, and funding for the justice system.~ Creating and writing IssueSpot, a weekly blog focusing on access to justice.

Provided counsel and drafted legislation and memoranda for legal issues including criminal procedure, torts, privacy, real estate, probate, and judicial management. Managed a researcher and a legal assistant.

I instructed a 6-week course for students preparing for law school admissions testing. I developed curriculum, facilitated group discussions and assisted with materials and study processes to help students improve test scores.