Michael Toops Email & Phone Number

Philadelphia, Pa

Manage grant processes and conduct monitoring and oversight activities to ensure uniform interpretation and application of legislative, administrative, and programmatic requirements and cost principles. Lead change initiatives to promote improvements to the U.S. workforce system.• Managing a large portfolio of grants valued at over $50 million, resulting in improved performance, compliance, and investment rates • Planning and implementing technical assistance and training for grantees and staff• Conducting research and preparing briefs, reports, and recommendations to management• Leading strategic planning activities to carry out national goals and priorities• Coordinating inter-agency and grantee initiatives to ensure system efficacy• Heading inter-agency efforts to increase collaboration and integration efforts• Facilitating workgroups to evaluate and revise grantee policies and procedures in four states• Leading five internal workgroups to improve administrative processes • Led over 20 monitoring teams and participated on others, resulting in 27 corrective action plans• Improved compliance monitoring procedures through targeted risk analysis• Designed new tools to manage grantee compliance and other grants management functions• Planned over 10 positively evaluated conferences and numerous meetings and workshops

Washington, D.C.

Awarded a placement within the Department of Labor through its 2005 MBA Fellowship program. This program was designed to promote the employment of master degreed individuals with an interest in exploring a career in public service and to work toward its mission to "…foster and promote the welfare of job seekers, wage earners, and retirees of the United States…" The Fellowship is an intensive, two-year program participants will gain the necessary skills and competencies for potential success and future advancement within the Department.During my tenure as a fellow I drafted project management documents for a proposed E-initiative. Developed an automated system to track and support Earmark proposal development, and drafted an updated Earmarks Financial Guide used nationally. I was recruited early from the program to take a permanent position in the Employment and Training Administration to manage workforce grants.

Flagstaff, Arizona Area

Placement in conjunction with Returned Peace Corps Fellowship at Northern Arizona University.Create outreach strategies to small businesses and community-based organizations to increase community awareness of workforce development services and collaborative partnerships. • Created strategic plan, professional materials, and standard operating procedures for business outreach activities, resulting in increased outreach contacts to local businesses

Flagstaff, Arizona Area

Placement in conjunction with Returned Peace Corps Fellowship at Northern Arizona University.Conduct research and consult on business and financial plan development for center clients. Develop and deliver fee-for-service entrepreneur training courses.• Designed and directed effective marketing and outreach activities, resulting in increased community awareness of center services and dramatic increase in counseling appointments• Updated an introduction to starting your own small business curriculum and trained 50 entrepreneurs• Facilitated the formation of a local Independent Business Association, resulting in a community-wide strategic plan to promote buying and cost-sharing

Supervise and mentor family service staff and administer grants to ensure compliance and quality programming. Secure funding and represent rural communities on statewide and regional planning and policy initiatives.• Secured grants in excess of $1 million, resulting in increased capacity for multiple service areas• In conjunction with Local Area Administrators managed staff • Coordinated collaborative partnerships and facilitated interagency groups, resulting in expanded services family involvement in service programs and education• Founded and chaired several statewide and regional boards and interagency councils, resulting in improved service quality and program sustainability• Coordinated positively evaluated conferences and training for over 200 employees and 1,000 stakeholders • Prepared for state and federal monitoring

Rio Celeste De Guatoso, Costa Rica, Ca

Identify sustainable agribusiness opportunities in rural villages in northeastern Costa Rica and coordinate the formation of agricultural associations and cooperatives to implement. Provide instruction to local business owners on basic small business concepts. Consult on community development activities linked to economic development goals.• Co-founded and managed four agribusiness, resulting in the construction of two processing plants and grants totaling $250 thousand• Developed management processes and basic accounting systems for two associations• Trained 20 individuals; and created employment for 30 individuals

Master Of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Management, 4.0, Summa Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Inducted into the International Honor Society Beta Gamma Sigma for my MBA. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is.

Ba, Business Organizational Communications/Public Relations

Activities and Societies: Campus Programming Board and the Religious Activities CouncilI graduated with a dual B.A. in Business.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Visual Arts, 3.45, Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Campus Programming Board, Religious Activities Council