Experience

Kids Win Missouri

• United States
• Public Policy
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Community Planning and Research

  • Aug 2023 - Present

  Facilitate and direct community planning projects, partnerships, and initiatives related to early care and education in Missouri. Support communities in evaluating their current child care and early education landscape, fiscal resources available, and the true cost of implementing a high-quality early education system that meets the community’s needs. Utilize tools such as coalition development, leadership development, fiscal mapping, and cost modeling to result in community-driven plans. Facilitate and direct community planning projects, partnerships, and initiatives related to early care and education in Missouri. Support communities in evaluating their current child care and early education landscape, fiscal resources available, and the true cost of implementing a high-quality early education system that meets the community’s needs. Utilize tools such as coalition development, leadership development, fiscal mapping, and cost modeling to result in community-driven plans.



Saint Luke's Health System

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Program Manager Community Health Initiatives

  • Jan 2019 - Aug 2023

  Responsible for planning, developing, and managing SLHS’ community benefit program. Provide leadership on CHNAs and community-based organization partnership strategy. Responsible for planning, developing, and managing SLHS’ community benefit program. Provide leadership on CHNAs and community-based organization partnership strategy.



University of Missouri Extension

• Education Administration Programs
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Assistant Extension Professor State Specialist

  • Jul 2016 - Jan 2019

  Responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating statewide health and nutrition Snap-Ed programming. Managed regional and statewide cross-functional teams responsible for linking research to programs/practice at the local level delivered by Extension faculty (e.g., food systems, health disparities, nutrition). Co-coordinated the SNAP-Ed Policy, Systems and Environment (PSE) Program of statewide food access and physical activity curricula delivered by 25 regional faculty. Founded USDA approved Snap-Ed national best practice healthy retail program to increase access to healthy food - Stock Healthy, Shop Healthy. Developed evidence-based curriculum. Designed and delivered nationwide trainings for universities and local/state health departments on program planning, implementation, data collection, reporting and evaluation. Show less

• Community Development Specialist

  • Jul 2007 - Jul 2016

  Responsible for creating and implementing adult education curriculum and programs, collaborating with community-based organizations, and serving in a leadership role at the local and regional level. Co-founded an applied research center at University of Missouri-St. Louis (Creating Whole Communities). Organized and facilitated forums reaching over 600 people annually. Directed/facilitated the Neighborhood Leadership Academy – St. Louis’ premiere leadership development program for residents, volunteers, nonprofit and government staff, and community leaders. Maintained active alumni program for over 230 people. Specialized in community development facilitation and trainings in leadership practices and styles, facilitation, strategic planning, needs assessment, mind mapping, and grant writing. Co-chaired City of St. Louis Department of Health Food Access/Food Security Team – a coalition of over 30 community-based organizations. Strategically recruited and engaged new members, pursued pilot programs, sought funding and sustained the network over time. Built partnerships and maintained coalitions with nonprofits, community-based organizations, universities, foundations, stakeholders, elected officials, city and state-level agencies, and leaders. Partnerships resulted in over $560,000 in grants and contracts for community health related initiatives. Show less



St. Louis County

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Comprehensive Planner

  • Aug 2005 - Jul 2007

  Long-range urban planner for south St. Louis County. Coordinated across St. Louis County Government departments to deliver county strategic plan, and neighborhood preservation and planning programs. Co-authored key County planning documents. Long-range urban planner for south St. Louis County. Coordinated across St. Louis County Government departments to deliver county strategic plan, and neighborhood preservation and planning programs. Co-authored key County planning documents.



Slavic Village Development

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

• Community & Youth Orgnizer

  • Aug 2000 - Aug 2005

  Responsible for working with local resident leadership to drive issue-based and neighborhood-wide organizing to win campaigns on problems impacting the community. Organized campaigns on education, transportation, access to safe physical activity environments, healthcare, access to healthy food, and safe, clean environment. Responsible for working with local resident leadership to drive issue-based and neighborhood-wide organizing to win campaigns on problems impacting the community. Organized campaigns on education, transportation, access to safe physical activity environments, healthcare, access to healthy food, and safe, clean environment.



Jesuit Volunteer Corps

• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Jesuit Volunteer

  • Aug 2000 - Aug 2001

  Served as a Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) member - a lay person, year-long, full-time volunteer program that upholds the values of social justice, simplicity, and community. Volunteered at Slavic Village Development in Cleveland, Ohio. Served as a Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) member - a lay person, year-long, full-time volunteer program that upholds the values of social justice, simplicity, and community. Volunteered at Slavic Village Development in Cleveland, Ohio.