Member of the 2022 George W. Bush Presidential Institute Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program cohort #4.Housed within the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the George W. Bush Institute is an action-oriented, nonpartisan policy organization with the mission of developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to solve today’s most pressing challenges. Through three Impact Centers – Domestic Excellence, Global Leadership, and an Engagement Agenda – the Bush Institute delivers measurable results that save and improve lives.

As the Program Manager for Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF)- Onward to Opportunity (O2O) program at Camp Pendleton and San Diego, CA our team delivers a best-in-class education and no-cost skills training program to assist transitioning service members, Veterans and Guard and Reserve on non-active status and all military spouses with employment into in-demand industry sectors and occupations. Onward to Opportunity provides in-person and online certification training in Project Management, Information Technology, Six Sigma Green Belt, Human Resource Management and Customer Service Excellence to the next generation of leaders of America’s economy. Collaborates with IVMF Development Team to develop a regional fundraising strategy to secure financial resources for the O2O-SoCal program.Onward to Opportunity partners with leading Veteran Service Organizations and private sector companies and nonprofits to identify employers committed to training and hiring Veterans and military spouses. These employer partners are engaged throughout each phase of Onward to Opportunity delivery by assisting in curriculum design, interacting with participants as they progress through the program and identifying specific career paths and interview opportunities within their company that align with our graduates skill sets.

Conducted workshops on behalf of the United States Department of Labor (DOL) throughout Southern California for separating and retiring military personal and their family members who are in transition from the United States Military and are entering the workforce.Delivered 34 comprehensive career transition workshops to 30-75 transitioning service members at the mid management and senior management level by facilitating in depth DOL curriculum while coaching each service member to create their personal and professional pathways for transition into the civilian workforce. I have a clear and educated understanding of the U.S. Labor market and public and private sector employment practices thus I was able to assess the students’ needs by conducting one-on-one counseling, identifying how to translate their transferrable skills, and provide guidance on exploring career and job search strategies.

Served on the store’s executive management team. Managed and supervised all aspects of store operations to include human resources and payroll, productivity with 75+ team members, store management daily operations and routines, sales floor profitability, and guest relations. The store produces over $40M in annual sales.While in this role established relationships vital to store success by maximizing sales and profit margin in signature categories while utilizing available resources and monitoring monthly and annual performance metrics as well meeting quarterly and daily sales forecasts.In addition to meeting store metrics I generated and provided world class customer service management throughout the store by finding solutions to customer needs by utilizing communication skills, strategic thinking, and analytical rational while maintaining the culture of the company. Additionally, built relationships with local and national vendors to meet sales goals and provide the consumer with a variety of demand-based products. Lastly, created solutions to problems related to bottom performing departments and strategized methods to increase profit margins by professionally developing and training a diverse group of Team Leaders in their daily performance.

Acted as the organization’s Sr. Operations Manager . Developed a cohesive staff of over 200 personnel for 5 functional areas that covered 5 distinctly different geographical areas under the control of 20 supervisors. •Selected, prepared, and trained 100s of employees in various aspects of financial management in preparation for deployments by developing teaching outlines, lectures, and hands on application of deployed pay processes•Facilitated and consulted executive leadership in organizational design and change management projects impacting the future of the financial management community•Consulted General Officers and executive management on major financial and administrative issues •Contributed to the long term strategic intent of the organization at the executive level and responsible for strategic implementation at the business unit level by communicating and collaborating with internal and external organizations to ensure maximized productivity and efficiency•Prepared and executed annual Operations and Maintenance (O&M) budget allocations for the organization in addition to tracking obligations and expenditures through the execution phase •Established an organizational training system to educate employees on the importance of business ethics, GAAP type compliance issues, and Department of Defense financial management regulations

Performed as the senior financial manager and direct report for 52 employees.•Accountable for over $10M in annual expenditures encompassing military pay and travel transactions •Demonstrated the ability to comfortably operate with a high level of autonomy.•Provided weekly financial status reports to the installation Commanding General and Chiefs of Staff •Contributed to Headquarters Marine Corps deliverables, to include a multitude of data calls designed to improve military financial support to various organizations•Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communications; impeccable interpersonal skills with the ability to encourage and lead others.•Established an organizational training system to educate employees on the importance of business ethics, GAAP type compliance issues, and Department of Defense financial management regulations•Published office policy letters, leading to increased financial accuracy and timeliness ($200K in misappropriations in 2007 to less than $10K in 2010)•Assisted the Marine Corps in delivering the Deployed Disbursing System supplementing the existing ERP, which has ultimately saved the Marine Corps in over $1M in improved efficiencies

Directed 10 employees in the preparation and reconciliation of all financial statements. •Accountable for daily transactions valued at $250K; liable for all expenditures via electronic funds transfer (EFT) transactions, security and release of U.S. Treasury checks, and all cash management operations •Provided Headquarters justification for the Marine Corps to purchase the Deployed Disbursing System (DDS), designed to automate hundreds of manual processes to support deployed operations •Maintained/utilized all ERP financial systems such as the CASHLINK, the Standard Budget and Reporting System (SABRS), FedLine, check conversion systems, and Marine/Navy Cash•Developed partnerships with the Federal Reserve Bank of Los Angeles, Boston, and Minneapolis in regards to financial programs and systems intended to provide pay support to service members •Reviewed monthly expenditures exceeding $8M and 10K transactions without any cases of fraud