Wendy Rice Email and Phone Number

Vermont Connector is a small woman-owned business that connects people, passion, and place. We specialize in helping organizations to create robust community engagement strategies and to leverage key partnerships. Our services include: - Volunteer management, training and coordination- Community mapping- Strategic planning and analysis- Development of best practice and resource guides- Coordination of mutual aid projects - Connecting businesses, non-profits, and individuals who share core values and missions

Executive leadership of all aspects of the $1.3 million non-profit including programs, development and fundraising, finances, grant management, strategic planning, human resources, facilities and operations. Managed 4 departments and supervised the senior leadership team, 13 staff, Americorps/VISTA, and volunteers.Built strategic partnerships and developed new programming with community partners that advance gender equity, poverty alleviation, and economic development. Worked closely with the VT State Legislature and State Agencies to improve career exposure education and skills training for women with significant barriers to employment. Served as a technical adviser to the Vermont Commission on Women and the Women’s Economic and Equity Subcommittee.Voting member of Change the Story VT, an initiative to improve women’s economic opportunity statewide.

Helped clients identify and activate independent living skills and to access community resources. Provided job shadowing and coaching support to clients with developmental disabilities.

Coordinated the implementation of the Vermont Economic Resilience Initiative (VERI), an Economic Development Authority (EDA) grant that promoted disaster planning and recovery in five Vermont communities. Used appreciative inquiry techniques at the Leahy Climate Change Environmental Summit to foster flood resiliency planning in Barre, VT.

Provided direct technical assistance on behalf of the Federal Disaster Recovery Coordination group to the Town of Lyons for flood recovery efforts on a Type II disaster.Coordinated a six week community driven visioning, strategic planning, and recovery project design process for the Town of Lyons. Provided technical and administrative support to the Lyons’ Advisory and Steering Committees, Sustainable Futures Commission, Board of Trustees, and eight recovery working groups.Collaborated with the University of Denver Planning Department and the American Planning Association to develop design charettes and a flood recovery plan.Taught E080 National Disaster Recovery Framework Federal Operations, E083 Community Recovery Assistance Specialist, and E088 National Disaster Recovery Support Specialist courses at the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).

Coordinated and integrated recovery relief efforts across 6 recovery support functions (RSFs) and 26 Federal agencies which comprised the Federal Disaster Recovery Coordination groupSupervised the joint development of an integrated Recovery Support Strategy for use by the Federal and NJ State GovernmentFacilitated the development of 6 Missions Scoping Assessments for each of the RSFs activated in NJ Compiled 9 briefings for the Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator to present to the White House appointed Sandy Rebuilding Task ForceCompiled talking points for the FEMA Administrator to present at the US Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs CommitteeStrategically analyzed interdisciplinary policy issues affecting Hurricane Sandy recovery effortsLiaison to the Governor’s Office of Rebuilding and Recovery (GORR) and the White House Rebuilding Sandy Task ForceDirectly supervised three, different, interdisciplinary teams of 6 staff members

Developed disaster recovery tools, resource guides and for affected communities.Briefed town select boards on the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and compiled HMGP application materials for town officials.Developed homeowner’s briefing packets for acquisition demolition projects.Analyzed flood hazards and substantial damage on 109 affected properties.Compiled operational reports and best practices brochures for the planning and external affairs divisions.Provided administrative and technical backstopping to the Hazard Mitigation Branch at the Joint Regional Field Office in response to four federal disaster declarations.

Managed and implemented a USAID/USDOS contract valued at $8.1 million. Provided administrative, financial, contractual, and technical oversight for the PRADD project. Leveraged partnerships with non-governmental organizations, civil society, federal government, industry, and donor institutions. Built institutional capacity for the Central African Government to adhere to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) and to improve its management of natural resources and the extractive industries. Directly supervised twenty full-time project staff and all short-term technical assistance working in three project offices.

Provided technical research and analysis support for the extractive industries component of the Biodiversity Analysis and Technical Support project for USAID/Africa.

Conducted SWOT and stakeholder analyses in regard to environmental non-profit work in the extractive industries.Developed a strategy for WWF to promote stakeholder dialogue and international best practices in the extractive industries in the Congo Basin.

Provided project, financial and contractual management to two USAID contracts valued at $4.8 million and $8.8 million respectively.Contributed to nine new business proposals in the capacities of recruiter, corporate capability and past performance writer, and sub-contractor liaison.Developed and coordinated corporate-wide initiatives for the Environment and Natural Resources Management Practice Network.

Researched, compiled, and reviewed database entries of USAID natural resource management, tourism and geographic information system projects.Participated in the World Tourism Organization International Forum. Contributed to USAID sustainable tourism portfolio through background research, drafting case studies, preparing briefing packets, and by editing concept papers, training modules, and formal presentations. Co-wrote “USAID and Sustainable Tourism: Meeting Development Objectives” for USAID publication.

Implemented Ecotourism and National Park Management feasibility study which was submitted to Peace Corps Headquarters/Cameroonian Ministries.Drafted, conducted, and analyzed nine socio-economic baseline surveys. Trained staff of eight to collect baseline data quantitatively Contributed to the development of the Faro National Park Management Plan.Created interpretative displays and educational material for Benoue National Park. Organized guided tours.

Chaired Peace Corps Environmental Education Program and Working Group. Conducted quarterly meetings and edited quarterly community outreach newsletter. Designed and implemented pre-service environmental education training modules.Drafted Peace Corps training materials and organized capacity building seminars and provincial activities.

Trained more than 200 farmers in 10 villages to implement and market small-scale, eco-development projects. · Wrote and procured grants to create a high school library and to fund seminars on HIV/AIDS and nursery establishment and management. Represented Ambassador John Yates at the Kolofata Rural Women’s Center Dedication Ceremony.Advised Kolofata High School Health and Environmental Clubs.Appointed as a representative of the Agroforestry Steering and Volunteer Action Committees.Procured 27 educational scholarships for primary and secondary school students.

Developed environmental education classes, excursions, and group activities for a summer residential camp attended by approximately 100 children ages 11-17. ·Taught courses in environmental ethics, ecology, ornithology, weather prediction, edible plants, and natural folklore.Supervised staff of 20 counselors.

First contact for 60,000 park visitors. Collected and remitted entrance station and campground fees; Assisted in weekly deposits and data entry.Backcountry duties included rehabilitating hiking trails, issuing permits, eradicating exotic species, promoting wilderness safety, registering campers, and patrolling for resource violation.Created new employee manual.