Experience

Elgin Math and Science Academy Charter School

• United States
• Primary and Secondary Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Operating Officer

  • Dec 2020 - Present

  Elgin, Illinois, United States My role is in leadership of a young public charter school, alongside our Principal and Chief Strategy Officer. I led the successful application process for a charter renewal on favorable terms, and successive major financing of major construction/expansion projects I also managed. Notably, EMSA achieved a credit rating by Moody's in its fifth year, assisting our efforts to affordably finance our capital expansion. I have direct responsibility for all non-academic functions of the School:… Show more My role is in leadership of a young public charter school, alongside our Principal and Chief Strategy Officer. I led the successful application process for a charter renewal on favorable terms, and successive major financing of major construction/expansion projects I also managed. Notably, EMSA achieved a credit rating by Moody's in its fifth year, assisting our efforts to affordably finance our capital expansion. I have direct responsibility for all non-academic functions of the School: finance and operations, facilities and technology, advocacy and adminstration.

• Real Estate Development Consultant

  • Jul 2020 - Dec 2020

  Elgin, Illinois, United States I was retained to plan and obtain financing, and plan and budget construction, of a new Middle School/Gymnasium facility.



U.S. Department of Treasury, CDFI Fund

• External Reviewer

  • May 2020 - Jul 2020

  External reviewer providing expert scoring of applications for funding to the FY2020 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund.



Great Lakes Academy Charter School

• United States
• Education Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Administrative Officer

  • Apr 2019 - Feb 2020

  Chicago, IL Responsible for administrative and financial oversight, technology infrastructure, and operational supports to the School, and for management of the construction and financing connected with the School's expansion. *Worked with the Finance Manager to achieve an Audit without findings for FY2019: -reviewed and approved Accounts Payable -reviewed, edited, and approved monthly financial statements -reported on monthly financial statements to Board -reviewed and… Show more Responsible for administrative and financial oversight, technology infrastructure, and operational supports to the School, and for management of the construction and financing connected with the School's expansion. *Worked with the Finance Manager to achieve an Audit without findings for FY2019: -reviewed and approved Accounts Payable -reviewed, edited, and approved monthly financial statements -reported on monthly financial statements to Board -reviewed and approved organizational payroll -reviewed and approved cash accounting -tracked and approved supply orders -responsible for CPS compliance items with 100% completion rate -interfaced with third-party auditors throughout the Audit process *Negotiated purchase of larger campus from Archdiocese of Chicago, summer/fall 2019. *Oversaw the successful design and construction of School improvements, summer 2019. *Oversaw the bidding of summer 2020 construction work, winter 2019-20. *Conducted successful RFP processes for a new banking partnership and facility cleaning service. Show less



Northwestern Settlement

• United States
• Individual and Family Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Operating Officer, Director of Operational Supports

  • Oct 2014 - Apr 2019

  Chicago, IL Responsible for administrative oversight, operational support, and advocacy to all programs, including the Settlement's public charter school Rowe Elementary, early childhood program, offsite educational Camp, theater company, and food pantry. Responsible for the successful acquisition, financing, and construction of a $14M Middle School Addition to the Settlement's historic Chicago campus utilizing New Market Tax Credits, bank loans, and philanthropy. *Built a team of brokers… Show more Responsible for administrative oversight, operational support, and advocacy to all programs, including the Settlement's public charter school Rowe Elementary, early childhood program, offsite educational Camp, theater company, and food pantry. Responsible for the successful acquisition, financing, and construction of a $14M Middle School Addition to the Settlement's historic Chicago campus utilizing New Market Tax Credits, bank loans, and philanthropy. *Built a team of brokers, consultants, architects, and contractors to redesign real estate strategy, execute property swap, and meet challenging timeframes for phased development of Middle School. Each phase of the project was delivered on-time and under-budget: *Worked with President and Board to comprehensively select the best banking partner; closed needed interim and permanent debt capital financing with excellent terms. Annual debt service of $622,000 with $9.1M in "true" permanent capital debt, for a $14M project: *Created financial model demonstrating that the Settlement's child care program could break even by expanding, provided its enrolled children qualified for Head Start, Child Care, and Preschool for All. This strategy was adopted and led to the program's financial stabilization. *Partnered with another Chicago charter network to jointly bid out the school food program, greatly improving food quality and nutrition, boosting student participation rates significantly, while generating positive cash flow of more than $200,000 annually. *Created and implemented a documentation and lobbying strategy to win much-needed seven-figure capital investment by the Chicago Board of Education in the school facility leased by Northwestern Settlement. The Settlement did not contribute financially. Show less



Instituto del Progreso Latino

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Administrative Officer

  • Nov 2012 - Oct 2014

  2520 South Western Avenue, Chicago IL 60608 *Responsible for all aspects of facilities development and construction, facilities management, information technology support, legal and administrative compliance, and food program. *Effectively supported a turnaround of the IHSCA high school from FY13 to FY14, resulting in greatly increased student educational growth and enrollment, and an improved operating position. *Measurably improved facilities management and IT service while reducing expenses by 20%. *Successfully led… Show more *Responsible for all aspects of facilities development and construction, facilities management, information technology support, legal and administrative compliance, and food program. *Effectively supported a turnaround of the IHSCA high school from FY13 to FY14, resulting in greatly increased student educational growth and enrollment, and an improved operating position. *Measurably improved facilities management and IT service while reducing expenses by 20%. *Successfully led Instituto's transition to School Food Authority status and bid out the contract resulting in increased student participation, better nutrition, and positive cashflow. Show less



Noble Schools

• United States
• Primary and Secondary Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Chief Administrative Officer

  • Nov 2009 - Nov 2012

  Chicago, IL Member of the leadership team that set goals for Noble's growth from a student body of less than 4,000 to more than 8,000 students. Managed operational support team across compliance, HR, food, facilities planning and asset management. Key achievements: *Created and successfully implemented a multi-year strategy to sustainably lower Noble's per-student facility expense by roughly 25% between FY10 and FY13. *Originated and successfully negotiated the long-term lease of a… Show more Member of the leadership team that set goals for Noble's growth from a student body of less than 4,000 to more than 8,000 students. Managed operational support team across compliance, HR, food, facilities planning and asset management. Key achievements: *Created and successfully implemented a multi-year strategy to sustainably lower Noble's per-student facility expense by roughly 25% between FY10 and FY13. *Originated and successfully negotiated the long-term lease of a large school campus with a TDC of less than $14M, and a NSF rental cost of just over $2.00, completed on-time and under-budget. *Led the development of three new school campuses, one gymnasium, and a series of renovations at existing campuses. Delivered every facilities project on schedule and within approved budget. *Originated and successfully negotiated the long-term sublease of an existing high school campus site, in a takeover context, at a nominal capital cost, on-time and on-budget. *Successfully negotiated the lease of three school buildings from CPS, whose facilities were affordably renovated in phased, summertime construction, always on-time and on-budget. *Created and implemented Noble's first-even capital investment strategy, prioritizing capital improvements in existing campuses to increase enrollment within existing school footprints, safeguard student safety, and aid instruction. *Created an implemented a documentation and lobbying strategy to win seven-figure investment by the Chicago Board of Education in school facilities owned by the Board, and leased by Noble. *Improved Noble's food program to HUSSC Gold standard while reducing nominal dollar cost by more than 13% between FY10 and FY13. *Created an operations support position, which rapidly generated improvements in campus office management, cash flow, and financial practices. *Maintained a perfect administrative compliance record with Chicago Public Schools and Illinois State Board of Education Show less



IFF (CDFI)

• United States
• Financial Services
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Senior Project Manager

  • 2002 - 2009

  Greater Chicago Area Performed contractually defined consulting services and led all aspects of facility development on behalf of nonprofit organizations in metropolitan Chicago. Chief responsibilities were to guide my clients' decision-making and lead teams of professionals to achieve the clients' goals. Assessed and guided clients' decision-making about facilities; located and evaluated properties for development; led the real estate negotiating team; solicited and awarded contracts for architectural and… Show more Performed contractually defined consulting services and led all aspects of facility development on behalf of nonprofit organizations in metropolitan Chicago. Chief responsibilities were to guide my clients' decision-making and lead teams of professionals to achieve the clients' goals. Assessed and guided clients' decision-making about facilities; located and evaluated properties for development; led the real estate negotiating team; solicited and awarded contracts for architectural and construction services; ensured projects' compliance with regulatory standards; closed financing; efficiently and prudently built or renovated buildings on time, on budget and on schedule. Key achievements: Noble Network of Charter Schools, 2005-2009. Led IFF's facility development for this client totaling five high school campuses and $43 million of expenditure. *Successfully completed projects include counseling and service agencies, childcare centers, and public charter schools: Noble Network of Charter Schools, Concordia Avondale Place, Cathedral Counseling Center, Howard Area Community Center, Juvenile Protective Association, and Search Developmental Center. Work covered feasibility and scheduling; negotiation of leases and purchase agreements; presentations to and discussions with Boards, donors, and financing partners; management of governmental grants; construction consistently on schedule and on or under budgets affordable to the client. I was unique in having extensive assignments both in "up front" feasibility assessment, and also as an Owner's Representative guiding in predevelopment, construction, and construction payments. *I closed and successfully completed projects utilizing tax-exempt bond financing, lease incentives, subordinated conventional loans and municipal, state, and federal capital grants. I consistently left clients well positioned to repeat the process with the same stakeholders and my employer publicly endorsed by the clients. Show less