Zoraya Hightower

Zoraya Hightower Email and Phone Number

Director of Finance And Operations @ Outright Vermont
Burlington, VT, US
Zoraya Hightower's Location
Burlington, Vermont, United States, United States
About Zoraya Hightower

Experienced facilitator as well as project and operations manager with a history of working in international and community-based contexts. Expertise in environmental and urban policy as well as corporate social responsibility and cross-sector partnerships. Environmental, economic, and social justice activist.

Zoraya Hightower's Current Company Details
Outright Vermont

Outright Vermont

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Director of Finance And Operations
Burlington, VT, US
Zoraya Hightower Work Experience Details
  • Outright Vermont
    Director Of Finance And Operations
    Outright Vermont
    Burlington, Vt, Us
  • Nature For Justice
    Managing Director - Usa
    Nature For Justice Feb 2023 - Present
    ▪ Grew US program from a single $150k annual project to multiple projects with a $1M annual budget funded through federal, state, and private grants and contracts. Manage two staffers and several consultants ▪ Launched Farmer Inclusion Program for BIPOC smallholder farmer climate resilience in the Southeast US. The program built a network with over 100 North Carolina farmers and includes a USDA Climate-Smart subcontract ▪ Lead the first phase of the Vermont Conservation Strategy Initiative across five staff in collaboration with partner state agencies to conserve 50% of Vermont’s land by 2050. Combine science-based knowledge with participatory community engagement through qualitative analysis of ~50 interviews, 20 focus groups with over 350 participants, 5 public forums, and a state-wide survey to develop a current-state inventory on which to build a conservation plan
  • Nature For Justice
    Consultant
    Nature For Justice Nov 2022 - Jan 2023
  • Independent Consultant
    Consultant (Operations, Strategy, Environmental Management, Equity, Facilitation & Training)
    Independent Consultant Sep 2022 - Present
    Past and current clients include: Resonance Global, Nature for Justice, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, the Public Health Council of the Upper Valley, and the City of South Burlington
  • The Creative Discourse Group, Llc
    Associate
    The Creative Discourse Group, Llc Dec 2022 - Jul 2024
    Past clients include: The Nature Conservancy, Maple-Run Unified School District, and Addison County
  • City Of Burlington, Vermont
    City Councilor
    City Of Burlington, Vermont Apr 2020 - Mar 2024
  • Peace & Justice Center
    Executive Director
    Peace & Justice Center May 2021 - Oct 2022
    Burlington, Vermont, United States
    Mentored and worked alongside a staff of five and in collaboration with a seven-person board to advance the interconnected issues of peace; human rights; and economic, social, and racial justiceLed participatory visioning and management of communications, fundraising, and internal operations as well as three program areas: 1) economic justice and wealth redistribution in the PJC Store 2) training and advocacy through PJC’s Education and Workshops 3) grassroots activism through issue-based social justice campaigns and support and fiscal sponsorship to over 30 allied groups Spokesperson and activist on key issues across Vermont around peace and social justice including advocating to end no-cause evictions and creating a just transition to a green economyRevamped and upgraded PJC’s racial justice curriculum and trained new facilitatorsRevamped grant application and management system, tripling the amount of grants PJC receives
  • Resonance
    Innovation Manager
    Resonance Oct 2019 - May 2021
    Developed a framework for knowledge management of Resonance's technical work, especially on partnerships and co-creation, including creating systems to collect and curate past deliverables to help staff identify and access 'best-of' examplesCreated learning agenda framework and practices, including leading meta-analyses, to understand Resonance’s impact and provide the basis for evidence-based thought leadership Built Resonance's staff research, analysis, and facilitation capacity by providing a mix of video and hands-on trainings on best-practice methodologies and new tools
  • Resonance
    Project Manager
    Resonance Sep 2017 - Oct 2019
    Burlington, Vermont
    Manged up to $1M in projects annually. In addition to supervising the technical work of staff, designed workplans, tracked and approved expenses, created budget projections, and ensured contract compliance. Led or supported partnership strategy development, partnership and innovation training design and delivery, business model innovation, and business plan development. Past projects include: • USAID’s Fish Right program to improve fishery biodiversity in the Philippines• Millennium Challenge Corporation’s renewable energy finance assessment for Kosovo• USAID/Vietnam's Private Sector Engagement Strategy (for Energy and Environment) • USAID’s PREPARED project to improve climate resilience in East Africa• Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade private sector engagement training• USAID’s WARIDI project to provide water access and sanitation services in Tanzania• USAID’s Land Technology Solutions project to improve and pilot Mobile Applications to Secure Tenure• USAID’s Oceans Partnership to reduce illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in SE Asia
  • Resonance
    Project Analyst
    Resonance Mar 2016 - Aug 2017
    Burlington, Vermont
  • Yale University
    Teaching Assistant Or Fellow
    Yale University Aug 2014 - Dec 2015
    New Haven, Ct
    Yale School of Management: Energy Markets StrategyYale College: Introductory Microeconomics; Natural Resources and Their Sustainability
  • International Gorilla Conservation Programme
    Research Intern
    International Gorilla Conservation Programme Jun 2015 - Jul 2015
    Musanze, Rawanda
    Evaluated government-funded artisan stove project and its impact on fuel consumption in low-income rural households through a fifty household sample and subsequent data analysis. Designed data collection methodology, managed research budget, hired and trained research assistants, cooperated with local governments and academic institutions, analyzed data and created reports.Assessed the management and ownership structure of programme-funded communal water tanks
  • U.S. Department Of Energy
    Policy Analysis Fellow
    U.S. Department Of Energy Oct 2014 - Dec 2014
    Washington D.C.
    Assessed state water rights, environmental regulations and other policy frameworks to understand energy development constraints and opportunities in the northwestern United States. Developed a detailed case study of the water-energy nexus in Montana’s Bakken Shale development. Synthesized industry commentary on current status of supply and demand of rare earth metals
  • Unido
    Arab Bureau Intern
    Unido May 2014 - Aug 2014
    Vienna, Austria
    Authored white papers on: recommended prerequisites to financing “clean-coal” in Egypt, sustainable waste management strategies by country, and green growth opportunities following the Arab Spring. Organized forums and presentations on inclusive and sustainable industrial development partners.
  • Yale University
    Research Assistant To Dr. Eli Fenichel
    Yale University Sep 2013 - May 2014
    New Haven, Ct
    Analyzed state and federal datasets on natural resources, human capital, and financial capital to develop wealth indicators for each of the fifty US states that go beyond Gross Domestic Product. Selected and standardized publicly available variables to serve as metrics for weak sustainability
  • The Paul Law Firm
    File Clerk
    The Paul Law Firm Aug 2012 - Jul 2013
    Tulsa, Oklahoma

Zoraya Hightower Education Details

Frequently Asked Questions about Zoraya Hightower

What company does Zoraya Hightower work for?

Zoraya Hightower works for Outright Vermont

What is Zoraya Hightower's role at the current company?

Zoraya Hightower's current role is Director of Finance And Operations.

What schools did Zoraya Hightower attend?

Zoraya Hightower attended Yale School Of Forestry & Environmental Studies, University Of Tulsa, University Of Tulsa.

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