Manages a $1.2 M government-based organization funded by federal & state government grants and private funding. Extensive focus on strategic planning, public affairs, public relations, board development and fundraising; with proven leadership and executive management skills.• PROGRAM GOVERNANCE: Maintains oversight of asst. director & senior staff as they implement program services in compliance with accreditation standards established by the National Children’s Alliance. • AGENCY GOVERNANCE: Successfully maintains membership with National Children’s Alliance that provides accreditation, and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois that provides advocacy, training, quality control and legislation support. • BOARD GOVERNANCE: Provides information and guidance on the operations & services to the Board of Directors. Organizes & attends the meetings, provides information and requested research. Actively cultivates positive, professional relationships with board members; identifies & recruits new board members.• FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY: Oversees the financial stability of the organization by maintaining government funding sources & private funding relationships. Manages donor relations through retention, matching donor gifts to needs, prospecting new sources of funding with individuals & businesses, identifies opportunities for long-term sustainability of the organization through endowments, planned giving, & foundation grants, and prospecting new funding sources.• COMMUNITY & PUBLIC RELATIONS: Represents the CAC’s purpose, goals, & programs through public presentations, educational community programs, & traditional/social media communication.

Developed and drove the organization within the broad context of the local and national landscape, while taking the leadership role in driving a collaborative process with the Board and staff. Special emphasis on strategy & planning, board development, staff leadership & development, fund development, volunteer development, corporate partnerships, program management, and finance and infrastructure development.Selected Accomplishments:• Significantly raised the agency’s public profile, community involvement and sustainable individual and corporate support.• Cultivated a strong Board of Directors willing to lead and contribute to the fund development success of the organization. • Led capital campaign for purchase of new office headquarters in Joliet. • Successfully opened a Grundy County satellite office in donated space by First Midwest Bank of Morris.• Petitioned Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for increased service area, and successfully acquired Kankakee and Iroquois Counties. • Opened a Kankakee & Iroquois Counties satellite office in donated space by Centrue Bank of Kankakee. • Obtained over $1 million of federal grant funding for the agency – the first federal dollars in the agency’s history.• Selected as beta tester of new Big Brothers Big Sisters of America eCRM technology platform.• Successfully chosen as one of only 5 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the country to pilot the Mentor2.0 technology-enriched, one-to-one, college-success mentoring program targeting at-risk, under-served high school students, most who would be the first in their family to attend college.

Joliet, IL. Public relations, marketing, public advocacy and website design services. Also served as political coordinator for a number of elected official's political campaigns, responsible for fundraising, publications and special events.

Chicago Heights, IL and Kanakakee, IL. Served as district chief of staff, responsible for supervising staff in two offices, determining the ramifications of legislative proposals, constituent relations, maintenance of Senator’s schedule of events, as well as promotion of the Senator’s viewpoint to the public through mass media, publications, and the Internet.

Joliet, IL. Responsible for the development and administration of an extensive public information/community relations program for a fast-paced, quick-response necessary, government office. Included cultivating new and existing community relationships, securing private and public funding for community outreach programs, serving as official press spokesperson, producing news releases, generating ideas and placing stories with local and national media, the design and writing of all publications, production of community access TV programs, planning and coordination of special events, state legislative research and lobbying, development and update of Internet web site, and administrative coordinator of all State’s Attorney-sponsored community coalition groups.

Rensselear, Indiana. Responsible for planning, directing and implementing all external public relations and marketing to increase fundraising and admission efforts of the institution. Included media relations, advertising, special event planning, as well as upgrading quality and effectiveness of publications and the development and implementation of graphic standards.

Woodridge, IL. Responsible for the development and implementation of public relations, marketing, advertising and customer relations for Parkside Behavioral Health in a six county area. Included promotional materials, external communications, media relations, market plan development, business development, and special events coordination.

Joliet, IL. Responsible for all public relations and marketing related to recruitment and admission of students for the new BSN curriculum. Included print materials, event planning, promotional activities, innovative programs, and media relations to increase student enrollment. Assisted College President in development/fundraising efforts.

Responsible for providing college information and guidance to the senior class.