Experience

Collaboration.Ai

• United States
• Business Consulting and Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President, Engagement & External Affairs

  • Jun 2023 - Present



City of Minneapolis

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Chief Of Staff, Mayor Jacob Frey

  • Mar 2018 - Jan 2022

  -- Served as key advisor to Mayor -- Responsible for strategic direction and planning, management, and operations of 13-person team -- Led the recruitment and hiring process for eight high-level department head searches over 4 years -- Manage complex and extremely sensitive issues with internal and external partners to ensure successful outcomes on policies, projects, and day-to-day operations -- Navigate relationship management, crisis communication, and emergency strategic planning for major events and critical incidents including massive fires, public safety matters, homeless encampments, and large-scale events such as NCAA Final Four and the trials of the officers involved in George Floyd’s death -- Creatively oversee $1.5 million office budget with limited discretionary spend -- Routinely maneuver complex political relationships to promote Mayor’s goals and priorities Show less



Minnesota Department of Human Services

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Community Supports

  • Nov 2015 - Mar 2018

  -- Led engagement and strategic planning process for staff of roughly 300 -- Managed hiring process for several highly competitive, key leadership positions in administration -- Engaged in weekly grounding conversations and championed the work of the Equity Committee -- Worked closely with Human Resources to manage difficult personnel issues in a unionized environment -- Supported Assistant Commissioner in leading organizational change efforts to streamline department structure and efficacy Show less



Medica

• United States
• Insurance
• 700 & Above Employee

• Communications Manager

  • Apr 2013 - Nov 2015

  -- Led strategic communication efforts with highly regulated business segments; Medicare and Medicaid -- Leveraged consumer insights from focus groups, polling and other research to craft communication to members and key stakeholders -- Directed production and set expectations between teams to produce member marketing materials -- Led strategic communication efforts with highly regulated business segments; Medicare and Medicaid -- Leveraged consumer insights from focus groups, polling and other research to craft communication to members and key stakeholders -- Directed production and set expectations between teams to produce member marketing materials



Minnesotans United for All Families

• St. Paul, MN

• Deputy Campaign Manager

  • Oct 2011 - Nov 2012

  -- Developed strategic communications plan to advance campaign objectives for historic ballot initiative victory -- Led selection process for paid media vendors -- Hired, trained and supervised communications staff of four; managed 16-person board committee -- Collaborated across departments to develop goals, budget and strategic plans for presence at all high-profile events varying in length from one hour to 12 days, and ranging in attendance from 20 to 200,000 -- Developed strategic communications plan to advance campaign objectives for historic ballot initiative victory -- Led selection process for paid media vendors -- Hired, trained and supervised communications staff of four; managed 16-person board committee -- Collaborated across departments to develop goals, budget and strategic plans for presence at all high-profile events varying in length from one hour to 12 days, and ranging in attendance from 20 to 200,000



Senator Amy Klobuchar

• Minneapolis, MN

• State Policy Director/Political Director

  • Feb 2011 - Oct 2011

  -- Managed constituent services staff -- Mastered policy and political stances of various stakeholders to ensure Senator was briefed daily -- Advised Senator on long-term planning and strategy -- Planned and implemented Senator's 87-county tour across Minnesota -- Managed constituent services staff -- Mastered policy and political stances of various stakeholders to ensure Senator was briefed daily -- Advised Senator on long-term planning and strategy -- Planned and implemented Senator's 87-county tour across Minnesota



Exponent PR

• United States
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Counselor

  • Jun 2010 - Jan 2011

  -- Researched, developed and delivered new business proposals -- Created strategic public relations plans in consultation with client, including timeline, traditional and social media outreach and materials within specified budget -- Assembled and led team to manage client accounts, including anticipating and managing client crises -- Researched, developed and delivered new business proposals -- Created strategic public relations plans in consultation with client, including timeline, traditional and social media outreach and materials within specified budget -- Assembled and led team to manage client accounts, including anticipating and managing client crises



Thissen for Governor

• Bloominton, MN

• Campaign Manager

  • Mar 2009 - Jun 2010

  -- Developed and implemented strategic plan in highly competitive and widely watched statewide effort -- Coached and managed candidate and staff of 12; advisory group of key opinion leaders -- Successfully managed $500,000 budget, containing expenses and making payroll -- Set and managed benchmarks for staff, candidate, and advisory board; built and maintained relationships with key stakeholders -- Successfully positioned candidate for current leadership post as Minnesota House Speaker Show less



Progressive Majority

• Political Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Political Director

  • Jan 2007 - Feb 2009

  -- Partnered with stakeholder organizers to identify 94 potential candidates in 2 years in specified areas -- Developed individualized strategy, core messaging advice, and brand identity for candidates -- Designed 6 month long training program with partner organizations to coach female candidates -- Partnered with stakeholder organizers to identify 94 potential candidates in 2 years in specified areas -- Developed individualized strategy, core messaging advice, and brand identity for candidates -- Designed 6 month long training program with partner organizations to coach female candidates



Luger for Hennepin County Attorney

• Hopkins, MN

• Campaign Manager

  • Mar 2005 - Nov 2006

  -- Developed and executed strategic plan for first time candidate, building broad coalition of bipartisan support -- Created and executed fundraising strategy to raise $600,000 in increments of $500 or less over 20 month period -- Developed and executed strategic plan for first time candidate, building broad coalition of bipartisan support -- Created and executed fundraising strategy to raise $600,000 in increments of $500 or less over 20 month period



Congresswoman Betty McCollum

• Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Communications/Field Staff

  • Jan 2001 - Dec 2004

  -- Handled all media inquiries -- Coordinated direct mail and print ad placement; developed and maintained website content -- Crafted and managed layout design of quarterly newsletter -- Wrote and edited internal and external communications documents, including speeches, press releases and memos -- Recruited and built relationships with volunteers to engage key audiences -- Handled all media inquiries -- Coordinated direct mail and print ad placement; developed and maintained website content -- Crafted and managed layout design of quarterly newsletter -- Wrote and edited internal and external communications documents, including speeches, press releases and memos -- Recruited and built relationships with volunteers to engage key audiences



Congressman Bruce Vento

• Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Legislative Assistant

  • Jun 2000 - Dec 2000

  -- Represented Congressman's positions to constituents and interested groups -- Managed constituent correspondence -- Represented Congressman's positions to constituents and interested groups -- Managed constituent correspondence



Target

• United States
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Contract Recruiter

  • Feb 2000 - May 2000

  -- Researched national grocery store chains to identify qualified candidates for SuperTarget management positions -- Researched national grocery store chains to identify qualified candidates for SuperTarget management positions



Northwestern Mutual

• United States
• Financial Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director of Recruitment

  • Oct 1998 - Jan 2000

  -- Fostered relationships with students, campus groups and business leaders to identify prospective employees -- Fostered relationships with students, campus groups and business leaders to identify prospective employees