COMMON THREADS, Austin, TX • 2003 - PresentFounding Chief Executive OfficerI spearhead health and wellness in under-resourced communities across US through award-winning cooking and nutrition programs, leading up to 110 employees. Data-Driven Community Impacts:• Launched national non-profit teaching 700K children, caregivers, teachers, and healthcare practitioners in 13 cities and ~1000 schools with community-based organizations in Chicago, Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Pittsburgh, Erie, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and El Paso.• Implemented programmatic, policy and process changes based on community voice, external evaluators and the Organization’s internal R&E department.Government Affairs Leadership:• Positioned Common Threads for funding at all levels including USDA, Health and Human Services, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health and federal programs such as Community Project Funding and Congressionally Directed Spending requests.• Influenced policy, heading modifications to USDA/Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) guidance for SNAP-Ed/Farm Bill.Organizational Growth Focus:• Developed local and national board network to support organization through national growth, creating initiatives across markets and guiding strategic board discussions.Brand Awareness & Media Relations Success:• Recognized as Subject Matter Expert in cooking and nutrition, serving as regular columnist and blogger for The Huffington Post and Food Marketing Institute.Financial Leadership & Fundraising Initiatives:• Actively managed budgets up to $5M with diversified revenue streams including federal, state, and local government funds, events, foundation, and sponsorships.• Introduced financial plan including funded cash reserves, growth in contributed and earned income with $2.8M in annual SNAP-Ed multi-year contracts from USDA.

Contributing writer exploring best practices in nonprofit management; corporate social responsibility; and the crucial connections among the childhood obesity epidemic and healthy living for children.

Online contributor to the Food Marketing Institute’s “Let’s Put Our Plates Together” family meals campaign within the online Center for Health and Wellness site.

Guest writer for the Together Counts blog, a nationwide nonprofit inspiring active and healthy living started by The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation. Together, their multi-year effort is designed to help reduce obesity–especially childhood obesity–by 2015.

Provided service and support to the nonprofit sector as a development partner to CDC’s in Chicago and Detroit. Assisted nonprofit and foundation clients with financial strategies to maximize resources, and invest in under resourced communities, while getting a return on their fund balances through alternatives to conventional banks or mutual funds. Represented organization at civic events and acted as a nonprofit advocate promoting social progress in urban and rural neighborhoods.

Provided administrative support to Chief of Staff, staffers and constituents.