*Work with professionals from the UC San Diego community, including UC San Diego Campus and Health employees, to enhance their leadership development.*Leverage my expertise, training, and experience to support individuals with their professional and personal goals.

BRILLANTE CHAT is a platform created and hosted by Laura C. Romero, Ph.D. that provides people of diverse backgrounds, ages, and geographical areas with the opportunity to learn and chat about timely topics and engage with each other.

• Create and develop business and involved in all aspects of consulting firm including business and budget procedures, developing goals and vision, website design and maintenance, and serving as spokesperson. • Serves as advisor, coach and thought partner to organizations providing stellar strategies to continue supporting the development and success of diverse populations. Related clients include: Goodwill Southern California (veteran programming report), OMNIWORKS (business development program launch), Career Ladders Project/Foundation for California Community Colleges (career pathways project), Intersegmental Coordinating Committee (college and career readiness academy launch), HOPE (transformative youth leadership development program execution), Skoolbo.com (educational app growth and user-centered support), and Communities In Schools, Inc (mentoring program development and implementation). • Provides technical assistance (e.g., coach, facilitator, strategic planning, needs assessment, reports, project management, programming, curriculum development, training, and outreach) based on practical, first hand experience. • Research and analyze issues (e.g., survey and focus groups) critical to respective client's goals.• Facilitates key introductions/meetings (e.g., UCLA, Univision) for clients to accomplish project objectives.• Works closely with executives and middle managers to get high-quality results to address short- and long-term organizational goals in the areas of education, professional/leadership development, government & community relations, mentoring, public-private partnerships, and public speaking.

Conceptualized, researched, developed and taught Human Capital Management course.

* Work with individuals to enhance their development and success.*Listen, guide, and provide feedback and resources to assist individuals with accomplishment of goals and program success.

• Made presentations, provided technical support, and served as an expert to students, parents, school staff, Local Districts, project staff, community, and community-based organizations to promote the new ever-changing Unified Enrollment online platform. • Supported end users to ensure an exceptional online platform experience. • Beta tested and worked with information technology division on new interactive School Search Tool. • Served as an adviser/consultant to the Los Angeles Unified School District to maximize educational activities in relation to local community needs.

• Formulated, updated, and carried out the first strategic corporate relations plan that reflected organizational priorities and needs. • Developed new collaborative relationships with corporate leaders (e.g., ABC 7, The Boeing Company, McGraw-Hill Education, Mattel, Inc., PricewaterhouseCoopers, Bank of America, CHASE Bank and California Credit Union) by educating them about early education.• Created and staffed Child 360’s inaugural Corporate Council made up of executive leaders (e.g., Scholastic Inc., Sony, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Mattel, Inc. and Lakeshore Learning Materials) who served as preschool advocates. • Met 2009-2010 fiscal year fundraising goal of $200,000 and contributed to 68% of 2010-2011 goal by creatively and successfully identifying, soliciting, cultivating, and sustaining new and existing fundraising revenue streams, partnership opportunities and agreements. • Worked with Director of Development on monitoring Corporate Relations budget and reporting financial and programmatic accomplishments.• Collaborated with Communications colleagues on website content and maintenance, design of new marketing collateral and development of public messaging (e.g., corporate relations brochure and Child 360 talking points) to shape and promote an early education campaign.

• Conceptualized, researched, developed and taught new seminar, Civic Engagement in Los Angeles. • Seminar based on career/professional development and my doctoral dissertation, The Impact of Mentoring on the Undergraduate Careers of Mexican Americans. • Attracted students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines including political science, engineering, sciences, and dance.• Faculty Recognition Award

• Cultivated relationships with, served as liaison for and provided technical assistance to 800 college/university survey participants in the nation.• Functioned as lead contact for paper and web survey operations contractor regarding problem solving and time management. Established procedures for better efficiency. • Managed a five person staff. Also coordinated a team of 14 people to develop survey administration and development plans. • Created marketing plan and collateral to strategically increase CIRP’s profile. • Planned CIRP Summer Institute (CSI) and new Diversity Research Institute (DRI) to train CIRP clients to use data. Increased number of CSI participants and exceeded original DRI goal by 50%.

• Developed, maintained, and managed relationships with the community and elected officials (e.g., businesses, community based organizations, and schools including Disney, Southwest Airlines, Los Angeles Unified School District and City of Los Angeles), functioned as liaison and leveraged University resources and research. • Analyzed and managed issues important to the University and the community. Proposed proactive recommendations and strategic plans to address issues based on the University’s mission and priorities. Tracked and ensured follow through on action items. • Provided timely and efficient customer service oriented resource referrals, guidance, and technical support to external and internal stakeholders. • Conceptualized and successfully managed initiatives and special events aligned with the University’s community engagement and learning goals by collaborating with Chancellor’s Office, colleagues, diverse community partners, and UCLA family. • Prepared and wrote research and data based briefings, proposals and talking points. • Recruited, trained, and managed UCLA volunteer alumni and staff for advocacy program to promote University mission at local and state levels. • Established and oversaw intern program based on student development. Supervised undergraduate and graduate student interns.• Quality of Service Award, UCLA Government & Community Relations• Award of Distinction, Census 2000 Initiative, Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VII• Partnership Award, Census 2000 Initiative, Los Angeles Region of the United States Census Bureau

• Served as a liaison between the flagship station and the public and private sectors.• Oversaw public affairs budget of approximately $30,000 working with General Manager to identify partnership organizations to accomplish community engagement and investment goals. • Analyzed data and wrote the Federal Communications Commission compliance report. • Worked on community events/initiatives to promote station goals and increase visibility (e.g., California Governor and Mexican President televised forum).

• Implemented and replicated the national award winning, innovative CIS/Univision Mentoring Initiative by executing strategic long-range public-private partnership plan targeting California, Texas and Florida.• Managed and served as liaison for 12 CIS, Univision human resources, and high school coordinators to ensure deliverables met and program success. • Provided on-going training and technical assistance to Latino high school student and Univision volunteer mentors to promote professional development and academic success. • Developed and integrated workshops and learning activities based on participant needs, career development, retention strategies and best practices. • Conducted and wrote outcomes based evaluation to assess metrics and monitor achievement of goals.• Briefed Univision’s owner and mentors on survey findings to demonstrate ROI.

• Managed and coordinated national internship placement of 200 students in public and private sectors.• Expanded outreach to include underrepresented populations (e.g., underserved and science students) to expand the program pipeline.• Developed and cultivated relationships with internship coordinators, university administration and alumni.• Led orientations and interview sessions.• Provided a broad range of career development and advisory support services in the following areas: career development and counseling, financial support, resume writing, protocol, housing and business attire.