Responsible primarily for creating and operating a group of youth-directed businesses including a bicycle shop, a skateboard shop and an eBay auction business, where young people learn and are involved in all aspects of small business operation. Designed and implemented the corresponding training curricula delivered to youth. Participated in evaluating the effectiveness of Youth Express programming. In addition: • Advanced partnerships with city government, the St. Paul and Minneapolis Police Departments, the St. Paul school district, institutions of higher education and other non-profit agencies to optimize youth employment and educational opportunities.• Secured over $300,000 annually for all programming, staffing, and overhead expenses including the execution of a capital campaign. • Managed finance and human resource functions.• Developed external organizational communications.• Worked as part of a team on a successful $950,000 capital campaign to acquire and renovate a commercial space for Youth Express offices, teen learning center and the social enterprises. Managed the construction process.

Learned responsibility and bad debt collection strategies - at the age of 11.