Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer

• Oct 2017 - Present

CEO

• Oct 2017 - Present

Executive Director

• Nov 2017 - Present

Author; Illustrator; Editor; Book Designer

• May 2000 - Present

Editor in Chief

• 2003 - Present

Publisher, Editor, Graphic Artist & Novelist, Publicity, Web design & author platform, Sales & Marketing, Recruitment and Acquisitions, Contracts. Publisher, Editor, Graphic Artist & Novelist, Publicity, Web design & author platform, Sales & Marketing, Recruitment and Acquisitions, Contracts.

Melody Curtiss

• 1988 - Jan 2022

Business & Nonprofit Legal Consultant, Litigation, ADR/Mediation Specialist. Broad range of content expertise from contracts, labor and employment law to land use & planning, large scale litigation, motions and appeals practice in Plaintiff's actions (personal injury to civil rights and criminal law.) Small scale personal dispute advocacy and representation in Juvenile, Family Law and Probate, Contracts and Real Estate. Mediation and meeting facilitation services for dispute resolution and organizational strategic planning. Campaign management. Skilled mediator and mediator trainer. (Developed the first cerficate ADR manual and training program for Industrial Accident Insurance/Worker Compensation mediation.) Providing affordable services to non-profits, pro bono litigation & appeal services w/public interest impact, public advocacy and lobbying services for commercial and NGOs, mediation, strategic community planning and dispute resolution services. In-house counsel for SarahRose Publishing. Prepare press releases, briefing sheets, statements, white papers and information/advocacy flyers and brochures. Research legal issues, draft factually accurate, legally sound, logical and persuasive motions, briefs and pleadings, advocate client position and argue before the court or tribunal on behalf of client. Draft contracts, negotiate settlements and mediate disputes. Uphold the swift, just, ethical and meritorious tenents of the law and advocate improvement in process, and work toward appropriate modifications, extensions and applications of the law. Show less

Founding Member

• Mar 2007 - Nov 2017

Coordination of legislative, policy & business initiatives. Professional planning and evaluation services. Research, statistical analysis and technical report writing. Feasibility & needs assessment. Creative team recruitment & coordination. Business entity development. Message development, marketing & communication strategy. Fundraising strategies, budget & revenue planning. Constituency management, customer service & community outreach. Coordination of legislative, policy & business initiatives. Professional planning and evaluation services. Research, statistical analysis and technical report writing. Feasibility & needs assessment. Creative team recruitment & coordination. Business entity development. Message development, marketing & communication strategy. Fundraising strategies, budget & revenue planning. Constituency management, customer service & community outreach.

VLC recruitment/Boiler Room Co-lead

• Sep 2016 - Dec 2016

Special project management. Team training & coordination of high-level volunteers. Election Day National Boiler Room - LBJ voter protection. Post-election matters. Co-lead DNC Rapid Response Team; Co-lead Victory Leadership Council - post-primary coalition building for party unity and post-general reorganization planning; linking national and state voter suppression response team to local precincts to address emerging issues in last 24-hour election cycle. Special project management. Team training & coordination of high-level volunteers. Election Day National Boiler Room - LBJ voter protection. Post-election matters. Co-lead DNC Rapid Response Team; Co-lead Victory Leadership Council - post-primary coalition building for party unity and post-general reorganization planning; linking national and state voter suppression response team to local precincts to address emerging issues in last 24-hour election cycle.

Talk Show Co-Host

• 2006 - Sep 2016

President/CEO

• Oct 2006 - Aug 2012

Directed operations of a complex provider organization w/state contracts & for-profit enterprise ventures, a nonprofit gaming facility & a used clothing/trucking operation. Report to Board of Directors. PERSONNEL • Hire, fire, promote & discipline staff based on personnel manual, job description, regulatory requirements & performance. Establish training requirements; approve training requests. • Represent organization in workplace related disputes, worker compensation, EEOC & unemployment. • Direct senior staff, teams of inter- & intra- agency personnel, contractors & volunteers. • Direct activities of program specialists; evaluate program progress in meeting program objectives. BUDGET & FINANCE: • Prepare/present budgets in line w/board objectives. • Propose budget amendments based on revenue projections. • Identify funding sources & collaborators for organizational enhancement/resource optimization. • Plan, direct, coordinate activities of fundraising volunteers and contractors & finance staff. PROPERTY, PROGRAM & FACILITIES MANAGEMENT: • Manage property on seven sites, negotiation of leases, sales & acquisitions, management of donated real property, tax & use issues. • Assess projects & programs - cost estimates, schedules, & performance requirements. • Provide recommendations on source selection or select contractors within approved perimeters, approve contract terms, plans & budgets, subcontractors, addition or discontinuance of contractor. • Develop & implement fundraising/revenue plans w/projections, timelines & assignments of achievable goals, strategies & tasks. • Propose program renewals, reductions, closures & replacements in line w/ objectives, budget & revenues. PLANNING & PR • Provide strategic planning guidance, emerging issues & coordinate board response. • Represent organization before regulators, funding authorities, public, and relevant constituencies t • Present staff studies, publications, curricula, marketing materials, policies & procedures. Show less

Regional Advisor - Board Member (nonvoting)

• 2010 - 2012

Advising the Voting Representative from the region on policy, rules, regulations, laws, emerging legal, business and social issues relevant to the care of children in out-of-home placement. Advising the Voting Representative from the region on policy, rules, regulations, laws, emerging legal, business and social issues relevant to the care of children in out-of-home placement.

Commissioner - Environmental Community

• 2006 - Jun 2008

Reviewing staff presentations, conducting public hearings on land use policy and regulation, making policy change recommendations to the city council, investigating factual allegations regarding policy issues and participating on task forces in matters of Shoreline, Upland Water, Environmental, Development and Land Use regulation relevant to a large metropolitan area with active military and industrial sea ports, light and heavy rail transportation, significant Industrial, Agricultural, Aquacultural, Residential and Recreational/Conservation issues. Show less

Business District Representative

• 2006 - 2006

Representing the concerns of the business owners in matters of development policy by a small incorporated community bordered on three sides by a large urban area, and the third by a regulated waterway. Representing the concerns of the business owners in matters of development policy by a small incorporated community bordered on three sides by a large urban area, and the third by a regulated waterway.

Attorney

• 2005 - 2006

Pro bono services to non-profits and volunteer services in the public interest, in house counsel for SarahRose Publishing. Extensive experience in all phases of litigation, including research, discovery, motions, trials and appeals, and in arbitrations, alternate dispute resolution, partnering and mediations. Public Interest Law. Contracts, Litigation, Wills & Trusts, Civil Rights, Personal Injury and Family Law, and economic development policy, including nonprofit consulting, fundraising, grant writing, venture capital loans and application package compilation. Show less

Director of Investigations/Legislative Liaison

• 2000 - 2005

Duties, Accomplishments and Related Skills: • Legislative Liaison during period of major revision of accounting practices laws; • Drafted proposed legislation and rules, attended hearings and testified before State Legislature on behalf of agency, • Liaison with Governor's office and Office of Budget; • Prepared reports for Board, held hearings for draft rules; • Presented on behalf of agency to National and State professional associations, • Design and produce training materials for internal and external training; • Provided training to licensees regarding regulatory compliance and fraud; • Participated in national standards reviews for ethical practices, • Supervised and trained professional investigative staff, • Investigated allegations of misconduct and prepared recommendations for disciplinary action of Licensed Certified Public Accountants, • Drafted internal procedures for investigations and investigation manual; • Prepared budget reports, • Senior Staff - Direct report to agency head. Show less

Deputy Executive Director

• 1996 - 2000

Employed as Director of Education and Research for the 501(c)(6) professional trade association for worker's compensation regulators. Promoted to Deputy Director. • Developed, Designed and Prepared curriculum for WC mediators and judges, and taught professional education courses in Alternative Dispute Resolution, • Edited and published International Workers Compensation Journal, • Project Manager for Electronic Data Interchange Standards development group (EDI and ANSI X12), • Supervised and trained professional program staff, and all staff after promotion, • Managed library, • Developed website and web tools, • Prepared testimony and presented in Congressional hearings, • Participated in national think tanks in the area of work injury management and regulation, • Prepared reports to Board of Directors, compiled reports of Committee Chairs • Planned, directed and managed All-Committee Conference • Directed multi-disciplinary team for standards and policy development • Wrote grant proposals, prepared budgets for programming and all budgets after promotion. • Review and drafting of contracts, contract proposals and legal opinions for facilities, personnel, intellectual property and organizational collaborations. Show less

Director of Defense Services

• 1993 - 1995

Administrative supervision and support to the Public Defender, Contract Counsel, and Appointed Counsel Systems for felony defense of indigent persons. • Recommend authorization of appropriate expenses for defense attorneys handling indigent cases and review billings submitted by counsel, including investigators and expert witnesses such as psychiatrists, forensic pathologists, accident reconstructionists, or other professionals. • Provide professional training opportunities for legal staff; conduct human resource investigations and make recommendations for disciplinary action. • Supervise felony defender staff with respect to non-professional work activity. • Coordinate and oversee contracts and providing information and recommendations to the Board regarding regional expansion, legal and legislative issues, including facilities issues and lease acquisitions. • Provide information to attorneys, judicial officers, and the general public regarding the Boards regulations and policies and defender operations and make recommendations to the Board regarding systemic changes and improvements. • Draft regulations, policies, procedures, legislation and proposed testimony. • Prepared budget recommendations and proposals for the Governor's office for general budget and for the special Capital Defense office after Death Penalty enacted in 1994, • Provided testimony at legislative hearings for bills identified as relevant to the agency, including criminal laws, criminal procedure and administrative regulations for public agencies. Show less

Attorney

• 1990 - 1993

Public Interest Law. Contracts, Litigation, Wills & Trusts, Civil Rights, Personal Injury and Family Law, and economic development policy, including nonprofit consulting, fundraising, grant writing, venture capital loans and application package compilation. Public Interest Law. Contracts, Litigation, Wills & Trusts, Civil Rights, Personal Injury and Family Law, and economic development policy, including nonprofit consulting, fundraising, grant writing, venture capital loans and application package compilation.

Chair; Member

• 1990 - 1993

Presiding over Board matters and setting meeting agendas; presiding over public meetings and hearings on public policy on defense services, adjudication of counsel fee disputes, and promulgation of regulations pertaining to the public defense of people charged with felonies in the State of Kansas. Presiding over Board matters and setting meeting agendas; presiding over public meetings and hearings on public policy on defense services, adjudication of counsel fee disputes, and promulgation of regulations pertaining to the public defense of people charged with felonies in the State of Kansas.

Partner

• 1991 - 1992

Lobbying for public interest and women's issues before the public and Federal, State and Local officials. Lobbying for public interest and women's issues before the public and Federal, State and Local officials.

Attorney

• 1987 - 1990

Scheduler/Field Advance Coordinator

• 1986 - 1987

Constituent Services Liaison

• 1985 - 1986

Law Clerk

• 1984 - 1985

Secondary School Teacher

• 1981 - 1982

other

• 1955 - 1980

Enlisted Personnel

• 1974 - 1975