Linda Millsaps Email & Phone Number

United States

Floyd County, Virginia, United States

Serve as County Administrator in the lovely, mountainous, and artistic county of Floyd. Floyd County is a rural mountain community known for its music, its natural beauty, arts, local food, and the creative, independent spirit of its residents. Located atop the Blue Ridge Plateau in southwest Virginia, Floyd is a haven for those who love nature, the arts, wide mountain views, festivals, and cows!

Fredericksburg, Va

The George Washington Regional Commission is one of 23 planning districts in Virginia, covering the City of Fredericksburg, as well as the Counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford, all near the I-95 corridor between Washington, DC, and Richmond, VA. The Commission is charged with coordinating, planning, and implementation of efforts to ensure economic competitiveness, reduce redundancy in government, improve efficiency, enhance services and improve the implementation timeline and effectiveness of regional projects in the area. As Executive Director, I work to encourage a regional focus that addresses the needs of the rural, urban and suburban nature of the community, provides strong, actionable information to assist board decisions, and supervises a vital and talented staff. Project areas are as varied as transportation, homelessness, economic and workforce development, environmental quality, affordable housing, the census, and encouraging native plants, to name a few. Come on by and visit! Our offices are right next to the Fredericksburg train station!

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

At the Encouraging Place, we are all about empowering women and families and racial healing. Our Mission: To create environments of support and encouragement for women in every stage of life so that they may grow as individuals as they experience the Love of Christ.Our goal is to form small groups to work toward racial healing and unity –something God has been waiting for us, the Body of Christ, to do.

School Of Government - Online

Serve as a core course instructor in the On-line MPA program at the University of North Carolina. Currently teaching PUBA709, Institutions and Values for Public Administration.

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

Provide guidance and leadership for the newly created North Carolina Center for County Research, the principal repository and source of data analysis for county-based information. Under the auspicious of the Association of County Commissioners, the Center collects and publishes primary survey data from North Carolina county governments, compiles county data information from secondary data sources, and generates actionable research reports to help county leaders advocate for their communities and make even better policy decisions. Also plays a key role in finding best practices for county leadership and management, and strives to identify trends impacting North Carolina citizens at the county level to facilitate informed, positive leadership at the county level.

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

BlueStarVista strives to align people and strategies so that success will be a collaborative venture. When you consider the human aspects of decisions and plans, thoughtful research and comprehensive strategies can be deployed in such a manner as to ensure the achievement of organizational goals. Contact us now so that we can help you reach your goals.Blue Star Vista provids consulting and technical assistance to the government and nonprofit sectors, based on 24 years of leadership, management, education and policy experience. Particular focus on the areas of performance management, tax administration, tax policy,public policy and budgeting.BlueStarVista places ethics above all else. We provide real value to our customers and strive to secure their loyalty through top quality service. We value people, both within our company and within the organizations that we serve. As such we seek to help them achieve their full potential. We embrace professionalism and seek excellence in everything we do.

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

Served as Executive Director of a statewide, independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to the goals of a better-informed public and a more effective, accountable, and responsive government. The Center identifies public policy issues facing North Carolina and enriches the dialogue among citizens, the media, and policymakers. Based on its research, the Center makes recommendations for improving the way government serves the people of this state. As Executive Director I was responsible for managing and drafting Center publications and messages, working with other policy, education, and research organizations, fundraising, overseeing staff, and the day to day guidance and direction of the Center. My goals were to move the organization in new directions of communication and engagement, help our state's leaders become even better decision makers by providing them with actionable, well-informed analysis, and create a space for meaningful dialogue in the nonpartisan policy center.

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

Served as COO for a family owned series of companies and LLCs that specialize in development, investment, construction and property management. The organization is particularly good at working with or near the mission driven sectors in general, and the tax credit affordable housing industry in particular. As COO I focused on organizational issues, strategy, and effectiveness. During my tenure much emphasis was placed on improving the property management side of the operation where vacancies were reduced, profits were increased, organizational efficiencies were created by maximizing use of employees' best skills, and significant crisis related to crime,mental illness, drug use and trafficking, and employee fraud were handled effectively and to the long term benefit of the company.

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

Oversee 1450 employees, a $118 million budget and collections of $26.9 billion. Serve as the primary driver for agency direction, policy development, and accomplishment. Engage in numerous successful negotiations and relationships with large multi-national/multi-state corporations. Highest ranking subject matter expert on all tax policy issues faced by the administration. Final decision maker on most significant personnel issues. Guide the core operations of the agency including tax compliance, outreach and education, information technology and business systems. Frequent speaker on issues of the economy, tax policy, economic development, administration, budgeting and management. Lobby members of Congress on issues of concern to the State. Work frequently with the IRS and other similar agencies across the country. Advise the Governor, Cabinet Secretaries, and the General Assembly on tax and economic development matters. Work with the administration on recruiting economic development prospects. Highlights include:• Drove tax enforcement performance to record levels, including a more than 100% increase ($1.1 billion) in both assessments and collections in an 18 month period of economic malaise.• Increased agency productivity despite a 17% reduction in staffing. • Spearhead $127 million public private partnership IT project, with record setting benefits streams, paying the vendor through benefits 18 months ahead of forecast. • Successfully created and implemented new account write-off and compromise policy to reflect our focus on three tenants – easy to do business with, firm but fair, compassionate when called for. • Created first in the nation recovery programs that focus on collections and economic recovery, resulting in more than $40 million in collections and 2,709 saved small businesses.• Create a new focus on quality customer service and taxpayer education.• Returns on Investment of 40:1 and 50:1 for collection and audit efforts.

Supervised 500+ employees and the operations of six divisions of the Department, including Corporate, Excise and Insurance Tax; Personal Taxes; Property Tax; Sales and Use Tax; Policy Analysis and Statistics; and Documents and Payments Processing. Oversaw implementation of tax laws and legislative changes enacted by the General Assembly, and assessed the impact the legislation would have on the operations of the Department. Determined the personnel, budget and other resources required to implement the legislation. Served as a full member of the senior leadership team, developing strategic plans and setting agency wide policy. Provide executive staff assistance to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary on tax and Departmental policy, administrative, financial and personnel matters. Assist in implementation of the Department’s e-business strategy and Vision 2010, including leading efforts in consumer service and external relationships, business registration, and web redesign. Wrote numerous position and policy papers for the Governor and General Assembly. Offered advice to members of both political parties and the legislative staff on issues of tax policy, economic development, and revenue forecasting. Strengthened relationships with local governments and key nonprofits. Significant accomplishments in this area included: • Creation of a new online business registration system that is exceeding expectations.• Initiation of a new external communications effort, including a pro-active communications strategy with key players.• Development of a new partnership with the community college system to offer tax education courses (free of charge) statewide. • Develop legislative tax agenda for the agency and the administration.• Develop new internal partnerships and performance metrics to improve taxpayer service.• Oversight of the largest single day deposit in State history.

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

Teach a graduate level (300) course in state and local budgeting. Received student ratings of 4.75 on a 5.0 scale. Also serve as guest lecturer for international development courses on taxation, public management, and tax administration. Recently lectured in Istanbul, Turkey.

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

Staffed the House and Senate Finance Committees. Provided policy, legal, and fiscal analysis of potential and proposed tax and fee legislation. Forecast sales tax revenues and contributed to the overall forecast. Provided cost and revenue estimates for major tax law changes. Offered analytical support to House and Senate leadership, as well as the Appropriations Committee and other General Assembly members. Developed alternative tax packages and strategies for both sides of the aisle. Developed, implemented, and supervised numerous research projects. Staffed interim committees of the Legislature. Spoke frequently before committees and large public events. Developed background relationships with key members of the press. Primary areas of responsibility included: Sales and Use Tax, Individual Income Tax, Economic Incentives, Revenue Forecasting, Property Tax, Taxation of Nonprofits, Homestead Exemptions, Utility Taxes, and all local government tax issues. Major analysis and research projects included:• State and local estimates for sales tax options including associated “hold harmless” provisions and tax swaps.• Revised taxation of telecommunications.• Streamlined sales tax.• Remote sales tax collection.• Revised taxation of piped natural gas.• Revised taxation of continuing-care retirement communities.• Repeal of the North Carolina inheritance tax.• Revision of the homestead exemption to property tax.• Repeal of the local property tax.• Extension of the sales tax to services.• Impact of sales tax increases on all 700+ NC local governments.• Impact of escrowed State funds on local governments.• Revision of the property tax to mirror Proposition 13 (CA).• Creation of a tax to fund wireless 911 services.• Examination of property taxes and non-profit status.• Revenue estimation.

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

Primary business contact for environmental education efforts. Managed a statewide educational campaign reaching more than 15,000 students annually. Created a 501(c) 3 organization to support state-sponsored efforts. Oversaw a network of more than 100 environmental education centers. Created, implemented, and funded a statewide fertilizer use education campaign with private sector sponsorship.

Hickory/Lenoir, North Carolina Area

Served as Executive Director of a 400-member business association. Responsibilities included oversight of the Chamber of Commerce, the Visitor Information Center, and the county’s occupancy tax fund. Was personally responsible for administration of $385,000 in assets and a $200,000 annual budget. Oversaw four staff members and seven volunteer committees. Oversaw the 100 mile “Bridge to Bridge” bike ride, a major fundraising event, and the “20 miles of Furniture” area furniture dealers association. Served on the Child Advocacy Council and the Education Foundation Board of Directors. Major accomplishments in these endeavors included:• Introduction of a computer and fax messaging systems that increased efficiency and participation, and reduced organization expenses.• Introduction of a new staff evaluation system that allowed for employee input, personal goal identification, and individual professional development plans.• Creation of a Caldwell County Tourism Development Alliance to market the community.• Strengthening of relationships with all sectors of the business community.• Establishing the Chamber as the source for critical business location and expansion information.• Revamping the organization’s membership and financial records.• Creating a new organizational culture.

Morgantown, Wv

Served as Executive Director and Founder of West Virginia REAL Enterprises - a statewide entrepreneurship-training program for high school, college, and community college students. Responsibilities included: program creation and start up, administration, fundraising, recruitment, community outreach, local program oversight, and technical assistance. Was personally responsible for overseeing 24 remote sites, and developing the high school and college components of the program. Also, had oversight responsibility for Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia. Major accomplishments included:• A legislative mandate that all community colleges offer REAL.• Inclusion in the federally funded West Virginia School-to-Work Transition strategy.• Five-year funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission.• Selection by the national organization to provide all evidence development for REAL.• Creation of accelerated courses for displaced workers.• Section as the host site for the 1995 Summer Institute, the primary training program for new instructors nationwide.• Raised more than $350,000 in grants, contracts, donations, and in-kind services.

Morgantown, Wv

Served as an Extension Specialist for public issues education and community economic development programming. Responsibilities included: developing a regularly published public issues newsletter for extension agents and community leaders, training agents and other activists in community-based strategic planning and issues identification, and acting as a liaison to state government and local community organizations. Also responsible for providing technical assistance to rural communities in the area of community-based economic development, conducting issue specific research, facilitating town meetings on controversial or economic development issues, and offering board training to non-profit and government organizations. Major accomplishments in these endeavors included:• Being elected chair of the West Virginia Rural Development Council.• Being selected by the Governor’s office to be one of ten community liaisons for the Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community Program.• Organizing the West Virginia displaced worker initiative.• Publishing periodic public documents on controversial state issues for citizen education.• Facilitating more than 50 development related community meetings across the state.• Selected as a paid community facilitator for the Benedum Foundation minigrants program. Note: Both West Virginia University Extension descriptions are distinct elements of a single full-time position.

Charleston, West Virginia Area

Primary responsibility was to research and develop new rural economic development opportunities and programs for the state of West Virginia. Specific tasks included: providing technical assistance to rural non-profit and economic development organizations, devising a state program to assist the growing artisan industry, assisting with the creation of an alternative wastewater program for the state, researching alternative economic development strategies for regions of the state, and representing the interests of the Governor’s office as it relates to economic development. Also, was responsible for creating relationships with local developers, social service agencies, small business leaders, and the congressional delegation. (This was a time-limited appointment). Specific accomplishments in these endeavors included:• Creation of a rural policy working group of federal, state, local, non-profit, and for-profit leaders. This group later became the West Virginia Rural Development Council.• Development of an artisan-based cottage industry strategy.• Completion of a detailed analysis of the policy implications of a state enterprise zone strategy.• Creation of Demonstration Partnership self-sufficiency project through Community Action Agencies.

Greater Boston Area

Analyzed alternative development plans for a small business incubator/development center for a distressed minority community in the Boston area. This project included the creation of a strategic plan for the incubator’s development and focus, a feasibility study of various alternatives, as well as an implementation plan for financing, marketing, and management. Personal research culminated in a successful presentation for funding to a major Boston financial institution. (The “Brewery” small business complex still exists today with 30 tenants including the Boston Brewing Company aka Sam Adams).

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Organized regional conferences of state cabinet level officials on development issues. Analyzed and tracked legislation of interest to community developers. Acted as a liaison to state level organizations. Drafted a compendium of articles on economic development programming for distressed individuals and communities, analyzed poverty data, and participated in numerous economic development studies for the federal Economic Development Administration.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Analyzed agriculture, environment, and transportation legislation for the Congressman. Provided background research on the “Save the Family Farm” legislation, met with industry lobbyists and interest group representatives, collected interest group ratings, and handled all agriculture casework. Oversaw several interns working on key research projects, and was awarded a Lyndon B. Johnson internship stipend. Also travelled to Iowa to work on the Presidential campaign.

Doctorate, Policy Analysis And Political Science

Dissertation: Agenda Setting and Denial in the States: Nonprofit Hospital Tax Exemptions, a North Carolina Case Study. State and Local.

Masters, Public Policy

Activities and Societies: Published articles in "The Rostrum"

Bachelor Of Science, Political Science, Magna Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: University Honors with Distinction, Departmental Honors, Arthur S Fleming Award for Excellence in Public Service