Head of Community Engagement

• Jan 2022 - Present

Attorney and Legislative Research Analyst

• Oct 2019 - Dec 2021

Attorney and Legislative Research Analyst within the office of the Memphis City Council tasked with guiding public policy and researching best legislative practices in the areas of economic development, government affairs, historic landmarks, housing and community development, land use and zoning, park space and environmental initiatives, public art, public safety, public works, technology, tourism, transportation, and youth development services for the purpose of writing new, revised, and innovative legislation for the City of Memphis. Show less

Attorney and Qualified Tax Expert, Low-Income Tax Clinic and Consumer Unit

• Aug 2018 - Oct 2019

Staff Attorney and Qualified Tax Expert within the low-income tax clinic and consumer unit of Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc., tasked with representing clients on federal income tax issues in a variety of forums including the U.S. Tax Court. In addition to federal income tax law, my practice extended to issues involving consumer rights law, business planning strategies, education law, civil rights, debt settlement, debt negotiation, as well as civil litigation within the state and federal court systems. Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc. is the primary provider of civil legal representation to low-income families in the western Tennessee counties of Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Lauderdale. Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc. helps individuals and families facing critical, sometimes life-threatening, situations such as: Domestic violence, mortgage foreclosure, eviction, or homelessness, income tax, consumer fraud, predatory lending, wrongful denial of health care, food stamps, unemployment compensation, and special challenges facing children and the elderly. Visit Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc. at malsi.org for more information. Show less

Co-Founder and Attorney

• Jan 2014 - Oct 2019

Co-founder of Whitney Entertainment Brokers, LLC - an entertainment-based event, concert, and festival production company leveraging bold innovation to contribute high-impact work to the music and arts community. With a team of content producers, music programmers, and creative strategists, we provided live-music programming, multi-platform marketing, artist management, and strategic partnership services to musicians, music venues, and privately-owned organizations. In five years, the company expanded its services and operations to four cities and four states. As a Co-Founder doing business in New Orleans, Louisiana and Memphis, Tennessee, my role involved conceptualizing innovative live-music events marketed toward music consumers in the Greater New Orleans and Greater Memphis areas. Additional job responsibilities included conducting entertainment-based legal research and writing, performance contract drafting and negotiations, talent acquisition, client-facing sales, brand management, multi-platform marketing efforts, as well as locating new venues and other creative spaces to produce live-music events, concerts, and music festivals. Show less

Judicial Law Clerk, Civil District Court Judge Monique E. Barial

• May 2015 - Jul 2016

Judicial Law Clerk to Civil Court Judge Monique E. Barial tasked with preparing bench memos for each day’s general docket of cases. Conducted legal research on topics including the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), 401(K) plans, individual retirement accounts, pension funds, insurance, community property partition, protective orders, civil injunctions, and divorce. Drafted judicial orders. Verified citations in judicial opinions. Scheduled pre-trial conferences. Communicated with counsel regarding case management and procedural requirements to ensure compliance with the Local Rules. Assisted the Honorable Monique E. Barial and her staff of licensed attorneys during all courtroom proceedings within Division H, DRS-III, of the Orleans Parish Civil District Court. Show less

Judicial Extern, U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey

• May 2014 - Aug 2014

Judicial Extern to U.S. District Court Judge Jay C. Zainey tasked with reading and discussing case pleadings and memorandums filed by parties setting forth the facts, issues, case law, and recommended dispositions for motions involving civil rights, foreign national, drug offense, and sex offense matters. Participated in all pre-trial conferences. Observed all bench trial and jury trial proceedings. Worked closely with the Federal Rules of Evidence and Civil Procedure. Judicial Extern to U.S. District Court Judge Jay C. Zainey tasked with reading and discussing case pleadings and memorandums filed by parties setting forth the facts, issues, case law, and recommended dispositions for motions involving civil rights, foreign national, drug offense, and sex offense matters. Participated in all pre-trial conferences. Observed all bench trial and jury trial proceedings. Worked closely with the Federal Rules of Evidence and Civil Procedure.

Legal Defense Advocate

• May 2014 - Aug 2014

Legal Defense Advocate tasked with representing high school students at charter school suspension and expulsion hearings. Won multiple expulsion cases that resulted in special needs students being readmitted to high schools of their choice in the Greater New Orleans, Louisiana area. Researched the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as well as Individualized Education Programs (IEP). Performed field investigations with students, counselors, and school administrators to provide the best representation possible for my education advocacy clients. Show less

Economic Development Intern

• Jan 2013 - May 2013

Economic Development Intern tasked with drafting grant applications for community development corporations. Developed websites to provide locally-owned businesses with access to tax credit and tax incentive programs, loan fund programs, and P.I.L.O.T. (Payment-in-lieu-of-taxes) programs. Economic Development Intern tasked with drafting grant applications for community development corporations. Developed websites to provide locally-owned businesses with access to tax credit and tax incentive programs, loan fund programs, and P.I.L.O.T. (Payment-in-lieu-of-taxes) programs.

Development Associate, Grant Writing and Capital Fundraising

• Jun 2011 - Oct 2012

Development Associate tasked with drafting grant applications and developing capital fundraising strategies to support long-term capacity projects. Development Associate tasked with drafting grant applications and developing capital fundraising strategies to support long-term capacity projects.

Law Clerk, Shelby County Attorney Kelly Rayne

• Jul 2011 - Sep 2012

Law Clerk to Shelby County Attorney Kelly Rayne tasked with performing legal research and providing technical support to attorney case work. Used digital media to develop presentations to train Shelby County government employees in the areas of Ethics, Resolutions, Parliamentarian Rules of Order, Purchasing and Contracts. Drafted, edited, and commented on proposed contracts between locally-owned small businesses and Shelby County government for the procurement of goods and services. Observed Shelby County Board of Commissioners general and committee meetings. Show less

• 2010 - 2011

Music Festival Programmer tasked with producing an annual outdoor and indoor music festival featuring over thirty live acts ranging from Trombone Shorty and Kid Cudi to Grammy Award winner Ben Harper and Juno Award winner Feist. Conceptualized, designed, and developed each festival from the planning phase, to the production phase, to day-of-management and event execution. Oversaw the annual talent buying and contract negotiation processes for selecting each festival's lineup of artists and bands. Reviewed individual performance contracts for each performing artist and band. Oversaw the organization's annual budget. Created new media marketing and advertising strategies to enhance ticket sales campaigns. Designed and produced festival merchandise apparel to increase gross proceeds of sales. Executed day-of-event tasks to ensure successful programming outcomes. Utilized print-based, online, and on-air media services to advertise each festival to three separate state-based consumer markets. Show less

• 2007 - 2011

Concert Programmer tasked with producing an annual ten-month performing arts concert series featuring over thirty live acts ranging from Ravi Coltrane and Blue Note Records recording artists to the Grammy Award winning Mariachi los Camperos de Nati Cano. Traveled extensively representing Vanderbilt University at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Conference in New York, NY for the purpose of scouting and securing international musicians, bands, and dance troupes for future series. Traveled extensively representing Vanderbilt University at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Conference in New York, NY to attend seminars on improved methodologies for presenting innovative concert-based and performing arts-focused events. Participated in the annual selection of musicians, bands, and dance troupes for each year's performing arts concert series. Reviewed all artist contracts for each performing musician, band, and dance troupe. Oversaw the organization's annual budget. Oversaw the organization’s individual events budget. Oversaw the venue box office at each event. Executed day-of-event tasks to ensure successful programming outcomes. Show less

Research Fellow, Digital Media Archiving, Historic Preservation, and Community Outreach

• May 2010 - Aug 2010

Research Fellow tasked with creating a digital archive of interviews chronicling the Civil Rights Era and its present-day effects on Memphis, Tennessee. Research Fellow tasked with creating a digital archive of interviews chronicling the Civil Rights Era and its present-day effects on Memphis, Tennessee.

Development Associate, Marketing and Capital Fundraising

• May 2009 - Aug 2009

Development Associate tasked with developing marketing campaigns aimed at raising awareness for sickle cell disease within minority communities. Development Associate tasked with developing marketing campaigns aimed at raising awareness for sickle cell disease within minority communities.

Mayoral Intern, Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton

• May 2007 - Aug 2007

Mayoral Intern to Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton tasked with providing logistical support to youth literacy initiatives. Mayoral Intern to Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton tasked with providing logistical support to youth literacy initiatives.