Experience

J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center

• Chief Development Officer

  • Aug 2018 - Present

  Work to inspire the community to support the phenomenal work of The J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center, the largest center of it’s kind in the world. Oversee a tenured development team managing all aspects of our annual $5.4 million budget. Highlights include two $1 million events, a growing major gifts program, expansion of corporate sponsorship opportunities, corporate social responsibility activities and top notch volunteer leadership recruitment. Developed our Stand With Shea Annual Campaign in the depths of the pandemic to achieve a record-breaking fundraising year. Took on supervision of our new Marketing and Communications Director as well as shared responsibility over our busy Volunteer Department.



American Heart Association

• United States
• Wellness and Fitness Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Affiliate Senior Account Manager, Corporate Relations

  • Jun 2015 - Aug 2018

  Promoted to this newly created position to oversee a brand new department within the Western States Affiliate to manage a team of Corporate Relations Directors to serve some of AHA’s largest corporate cause marketing sponsorship partners and point of purchase retail campaigns. Continued to personally work as lead account manager for the WSA's largest Corporate Cause Marketing Sponsor, Union Bank managing all facets of a three year $1.9 million contract. The Corporate Initiatives team portfolio included Tenet Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, University of Utah Healthcare, Tucson Medical Center, Stater Bros.Supermarkets, UC San Diego Medical Center, Western Health Advantage, Sutter Health, and Biotroniks to name a few. Worked with the team and AHA leadership to create all tracking systems, best practices and training for the Corporate Relations Department.

• Senior Director, Corporate Relations

  • Nov 2010 - Jun 2015

  Managed cause marketing sponsorship relationships for the Western States Affiliate including the Union Bank partnership which consists of a multi-year $1.9 million sponsorship and a year-round customized cause activation strategy. Campaign included a point of purchase program that raised over $644,203 in 2014 contributing to Union Bank being the number one National Heart Walk team in the country for the fourth year. Oversaw all customer, employee and community engagement activities for the bank, year-round.Managed $2 million in additional point of purchase campaigns annually through Ross Stores and Stater Bros. Supermarkets. Stater Bros. Campaign achieved a 49% increase in 2014 raising $543,488. Trained and consulted with development staff and volunteer leaders throughout ten states on a variety of fundraising strategies related to corporate sponsorship, point of purchase campaigns, co-ventures, and third party events. Manage a pipeline of potential corporate supporters driving to close new business.

• Director of Donor Relations-Major Gifts

  • Jan 2006 - Dec 2010

  Managed major gifts program for Southern California and Nevada American Heart Association offices including cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of gifts of $10,000 and up. Handled growing territory from three AHA Divisions to seven AHA Divisions. Secured multitude of five and six figure gifts. Oversaw Western States Affiliate annual year-end appeal increasing income from $104,000 to $226,769 and average gift from $267 to $746. Helped create and implement first ever Affiliate-wide major gifts training reaching field staff. Conducted Donor Strategy meetings in various offices to build strong pipeline of donors through relationships in the community and with Special Events staff and Executive Directors.Served as Interim Executive Director for the San Diego Division from June 2006-October 2006Received the Affiliate Coach of the Year Award in 2007 and the AHA's National Excellence in Major Gifts Award in 2008. Selected to serve on Inaugural Leadership Forum for the Western States Affiliate in 2007.

• Staff Recruiter

  • Oct 2001 - Dec 2005

  Voluntarily stepped down from previous role as Senior Vice President to take on this newly created position of Staff Recruiter to achieve better work-life balance with a growing family. Served as the first inside AHA Staff Recruiter for the Western States Affiilate developing standards, systems and best practices for the position.Proactively searched for new candidates to join the American Heart Association through networking and online research.Transitioned all advertising to online postings saving the organization over $250,000 in newspaper ads in first year serving in position.Reduced vacancy-to-hire rate from over 110 days to 73 days.Tracked hiring process including hiring rate, hiring sources and referrals.Trained all new hiring managers on Western States Affiliate hiring process.Handled all job postings and interviews for an average of 20 openings at a time.Selected to serve on National Recruitment Committee and National Retention Committee with the AHA’s National Center in Dallas, Texas

• Senior Vice President

  • Dec 1997 - Nov 2001

  Managed all aspects of the American Heart Association’s largest special event at the time, Jump Rope for Heart, as well as Hoops for Heart, overseeing growth in the JRFH program income from $1.9 million to $4.5 million.Directly supervised staff of 37 Youth Market Directors throughout Utah, Nevada and California, overseeing all hiring, management, training, recognition, retention and terminations.Handled overall budget, goal setting and initiation of ROI tracking.Embraced a 75% increase in direct reports including the addition of two Vice Presidents as a result of growth in late 2001.Held staff accountable in a positive, respectful, compassionate and motivating manner through excellent supervisory skills.Recognized multiple times with Exceeds Expectations performance rating from CEO/Executive Vice President and served as active member of Senior Management Team.Implemented our first Customer Relationship Management System (Siebel) to all direct reports.Served as Chairman of Employee Giving Campaign raising a record-breaking $94,000, increasing average gift from $270 to $370 per employee in 2000-2001 campaign year.

• Deputy Executive Director/Executive Director

  • Aug 1995 - Dec 1997

  Achieved a campaign income increase of 30% in two yearsOversaw the most successful Heart-to-Heart Gala (Heart Ball) in the 16 year history of the event reducing expenses from 42% to 28% and increasing corporate sponsorship by over $100,000, a 66% increase. Recruited first Corporate Cabinet/Executive Leadership Team for the event.Managed largest Heart Walk in the California Affiliate raising $235,000 net in 1997 which was an 11% increase, personally secured over $100,000 in corporate sponsorship in 1996 and 1997.Created first Corporate Cabinet/Executive Leadership Team for the Heart Walk separating the Logistics Committee from the Revenue Generating committee for the first time ever.Staffed the Orange County Division board of directors in partnership with Regional Vice President.Supervised team of six Division Directors (fundraising staff) and four Administrative Assistants.Under my leadership, the Orange County office was the first office in the state to embrace and transition to a specialized and functionalized structure in 1997.

• Director of Special Events (Fundraising)

  • Jan 1994 - Aug 1995

  Directly implemented fundraising activities personally raising $125,000 through the Los Angeles Heart Ball and Magic Johnson’s Celebrity Golf Tournament while assisting in staffing large corporate committees for both events, the largest events of their kind in California at the time raising over $500,000.Served as primary special event trainer and consultant to sixteen development staff supervising a special events assistant and two administrative assistants.During my tenure, Jump Rope for Heart income increased by 30% and attrition rate dropped from 19% to 14%, and American Heart Walk income increased 75%.

• Senior Regional Director

  • Aug 1992 - Jan 1994

  During a major downsizing effort, volunteered to double my territory and workload to manage four Branch Boards, sixteen standing committees, and all fundraising, educational and communications activities for a total of 21 South Central Los Angeles County cities.Handled ongoing volunteer leadership recruitment, training, retention and recognition.Implemented first-time American Heart Walk in Cerritos raising $21,000, three times the goal.Accepted additional responsibilities in vacant territories on a regular basis.Promoted from Regional Director to Senior Regional Director after first year of employment with the Greater Los Angeles AffiliateReceived the Staff Outstanding Achievement Award for 1993.

• Field Director

  • Mar 1991 - Aug 1992

  Met or exceeded all program, fundraising, and communication goals.During first four months of employment, increased income 33% over previous year through several special events including a golf tournament, Jump Rope for Heart events, and Celebrity Waiter Dinner eventsStaffed the Corona/Norco Branch and the Riverside Branch of the American Heart Association.Built the Ontario/Montclair Branch from scratch, and reorganized the Upland/Rancho Cucamonga Branch successfully recruiting Board Members and Committee Chairmen.After one year of employment, was asked to serve on a staff task force with Executive Vice President to determine strategic changes and improvements within organization.Trained new staff.