I was elected in 2023 to represent Ward 3 on Lakewood‘s City Council for the next four years. I hope to work with our new mayor and the rest of our council toward a more affordable, more sustainable, fairer and safer Lakewood. This is a part time role that I am energized to assume along with my current responsibilities as CEO of CEEMI.

The Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative (CEEMI) (pronounced SEE-mee), a public, private, and philanthropic partnership to scale effective, rigorously-evaluated higher education and workforce development programs, unlocking opportunity for Coloradans in or near povertyWorking with many partners, supporters, funders and stakeholders, I founded CEEMI during the first half of 2021 because the public sector can do vastly more to scale economic mobility programs that work. Over… Show more The Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative (CEEMI) (pronounced SEE-mee), a public, private, and philanthropic partnership to scale effective, rigorously-evaluated higher education and workforce development programs, unlocking opportunity for Coloradans in or near povertyWorking with many partners, supporters, funders and stakeholders, I founded CEEMI during the first half of 2021 because the public sector can do vastly more to scale economic mobility programs that work. Over 300,000 Coloradans of working age live in poverty (2X+ as likely as their neighbors to be people of color). Barely any of them have access to programs repeatedly shown to substantially lift long-term wages and credential attainment, despite 30+ federal funding streams with a workforce development component. It makes no sense!As Colorado deploys $6 billion+ in federal stimulus funds, with additional possible funding on the horizon, we can do better, and Colorado can lead the way.As of August 2021, CEEMI raised enough seed capital to launch and begin staffing up. We're advancing our vision through public engagement (organizing, issue-education, advocacy, meeting policymakers), coalition & platform building, innovative financing, technical assistance & capacity-building for state/local governments/nonprofits, and more. Show less

As Policy Director, I lead America Forward's work on Pay for Success and evidence-based policy and advocacy, and oversee and supervise our workforce development policy advocacy, leveraging my experience with federal and state legislation and implementation in these areas. I am based in Denver.America Forward is a nonpartisan policy initiative of New Profit, a national venture philanthropy fund that seeks to break down the barriers between all people and opportunity in America. America… Show more As Policy Director, I lead America Forward's work on Pay for Success and evidence-based policy and advocacy, and oversee and supervise our workforce development policy advocacy, leveraging my experience with federal and state legislation and implementation in these areas. I am based in Denver.America Forward is a nonpartisan policy initiative of New Profit, a national venture philanthropy fund that seeks to break down the barriers between all people and opportunity in America. America Forward unites social entrepreneurs with policymakers to advance a public policy agenda that champions innovative and effective solutions to our country’s most pressing social problems. The America Forward Coalition is a network of more than 100 social innovation organizations that foster innovation, identify more efficient and effective solutions, reward results, and catalyze cross-sector partnerships in education, early childhood, workforce development, youth development, and poverty alleviation.Directed America Forward’s 2020 presidential initiative to lift up our priorities for elected officials, representing our coalition of one hundred high-impact nonprofits and social entrepreneurs.Meet regularly with members of Congress and their staff, and other federal and state officials, to advocate for our coalition’s policy priorities, and push for federal legislation or executive actions.Working with members of Congress on legislation to create new economic mobility and higher education tiered evidence funds; led our push for recently introduced bipartisan legislation to make SNAP E&T program more accessible and evidence-based. Co-authored proposals for a higher education innovation fund with Results for America & New America, and our proposal for an "Equitable Employment Outcomes Fund" in the workforce development domain.Speak on evidence and outcomes at conferences. Assist with fundraising.Write op-eds, blog posts, and policy papers. Manage staff and consultants Show less

• Managed the Youth Pay for Success Initiative for Colorado, focused on at-risk Colorado teens.• Directed structuring of three Pay for Success projects, with a total cost of $6.3 million over four years. Through this innovative new model, government partners with foundations or other funders to finance services, and pays later based on measurable positive outcomes for those served. • Collaborated with national and Colorado foundations and impact investors.• Led the structuring and… Show more • Managed the Youth Pay for Success Initiative for Colorado, focused on at-risk Colorado teens.• Directed structuring of three Pay for Success projects, with a total cost of $6.3 million over four years. Through this innovative new model, government partners with foundations or other funders to finance services, and pays later based on measurable positive outcomes for those served. • Collaborated with national and Colorado foundations and impact investors.• Led the structuring and launch of the first three state-funded Pay for Success projects in Colorado, projected to serve 1,100 at-risk youth and their families over the next four years. State funds are linked to measurable outcomes, including fewer youth entering or reentering the juvenile justice system, fewer youth removed from their homes, and more youth on track to graduate high school on time. • Managed over 25 stakeholders across three projects to keep work on schedule. • Drafted Governor Hickenlooper's budget request for this initiative; subsequently drafted bipartisan legislation funding the projects, signed into law in the 2018 legislative session. • Oversaw and manage project budgeting, legal contracting and procurement processes. • Oversaw Governor’s 2017 “Call for Innovation,” soliciting outcome-oriented proposals from across Colorado. Received 61 submissions, and managed interagency review process.• Laid groundwork for additional outcomes-directed work in early childhood in 2019. Show less

• Principal advisor to Senator Bennet on various domestic issues, including technology, labor, transportation, appropriations, trade, federal disasters, evidence-based policy and Pay for Success. • Managed legislative correspondent, a legislative fellow and interns. • Provided strategic and tactical direction in pursuit of legislative, policy and political goals. • Negotiated legislation with staff for Administration, committees and other members of Congress.• Staffed Senator at… Show more • Principal advisor to Senator Bennet on various domestic issues, including technology, labor, transportation, appropriations, trade, federal disasters, evidence-based policy and Pay for Success. • Managed legislative correspondent, a legislative fellow and interns. • Provided strategic and tactical direction in pursuit of legislative, policy and political goals. • Negotiated legislation with staff for Administration, committees and other members of Congress.• Staffed Senator at committee hearings, markups, meetings, on Senate floor and at other events. • Wrote briefings and floor speeches. Created power point presentations and floor charts. • Devised creative tactics for highlighting our work and key issues critical to Colorado.• Regularly engaged key stakeholders, including press, activists and constituents • Drafted and supported Senator’s introduction of the the first Senate version of the Social Impact Partnership to Pay for Results Act (SIPPRA), a bipartisan bill creating a federal fund for Pay for Success projects. • With rest of Colorado delegation, worked to change law to lift cap on emergency highway dollars, allowing Colorado to receive up to $450 million in emergency funds to recover from catastrophic 2013 floods. • Enacted bipartisan bill to conserve energy and save money through federal data center consolidation. Show less

• Wrote Senator Bennet’s briefings for debates, fundraisers, interviews, editorial boards, other events. • Drafted responses to questionnaires from advocacy groups, ensured timely submission.• Helped draft, finalize and release six different Bennet campaign policy and position papers.• Helped brief Senator for events and meetings with a range of stakeholders

• Worked for Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s Office. Reported to Deputy Chief of Staff.• Wrote briefings summarizing department activities for the White House and Department senior staff. • Drafted, reviewed and edited congressional testimony, press releases, and other documents.

• Directed the field program for a sixteen-county rural region in Western Wisconsin.• Managed one deputy and twelve field organizers. Managed daily voter contact and volunteer organizing activities, logistics and political outreach for two rallies, and dozens of press and surrogate events.• Coached field organizers. Managed relationships with local elected officials and stakeholders.

• Organized three rural counties in northern Nevada for seven months prior to the Nevada 2008 caucus.• Recruited volunteers and precinct captains, organized canvass and phone bank shifts. • Subsequently organized communities in Utah, Texas and West Virginia.