Experience

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  Henry J Knott Warehouse

  • Executive Director

• 

  The Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation

  • United States
  • Philanthropy
  • 1 - 100 Employee

  • Program Director

    • Jan 2023 - Present

    In my role as the Foundation's inaugural Program Director, I am responsible for working collaboratively with the Foundation's trustees to design and implement a learning agenda around our grantmaking. Broadly speaking, my new role is to expand and deepen relationships with community partners; and manage the planning and implementation of Trustee engagement opportunities with the goal of making more informed and meaningful decisions within our foundation grants portfolio. I am excited and honored to be taking on this new role.

  • Grants and Information Technology Manager

    • 2011 - Dec 2022

    Managing a grant portfolio of approximately 50 grants totaling $2 million annually, I review and evaluate grant submissions as well as formulate, implement and communicate strategies enabling the Foundation to achieve mission impact. It translate the board’s philanthropic priorities into a streamlined grantmaking workflow by using technology to communicate priorities to applicants and the broader community via the web, face-to-face meetings and regular e-news; design and maintenance of our online grants application system; ensuring the integrity of data; refinement of board and grantee reporting templates and plotting knowledge management systems.I also serve as the lead for all things technology related; including network maintenance, troubleshooting for staff and applicants, procurement of hardware and software, technology budgeting; negotiating and monitoring vendor contracts; monitoring of trends in the field of grants management systems and technology best practices; website project management and maintenance, and, most importantly, keeping staff and grant applicants calm in the face of technology related challenges. Accomplishments in my current role include, transitioning the Foundation’s grantmaking system to the online IGAM platform creating greater efficiencies in our grantmaking process; improving our reporting systems to capture more detailed information; redesign and implementation of grantee reporting requirements to decrease grantee administrative burdens and enhance the creation of internal and external knowledge based networks and, working directly with the board to answer the “why” of our philanthropic giving.Looking ahead, I seek to further enhance the Foundation’s capabilities for knowledge sharing and information management; improve the Foundation’s ability to understand and measure our education technology impact; continue to refine current grantmaking processes to improve the philanthropic experience for all of my stakeholders.

  • Program Assistant

    • 2007 - 2011

    Primary responsibilities included providing staffing, preparation of data, and reporting support to standing and ad-hoc committees; updating and maintaining the Foundation’s website; researching and drafting white papers and reports on a wide range of topics; maintaining strong communicative relationships with board members and external stakeholders and representing the Foundation at various philanthropic conferences and convenings.Executed the successful migration of the Foundation’s grantmaking database from a legacy DOS based platform to MicroEdge GIFTS; ensuring data integrity, working with the Executive Director and Program Officer to translate funding priorities into system codes, and providing training in system use to the staff.Work to develop my understanding of basic nonprofit accounting, budget development and board governance while cultivating an appreciation for importance of being mission critical. These skills were further enhanced in my current role of Grants and Information Technology Manager.Accomplishments included increased professionalization of the Foundation’s grantmaking reporting and data collection processes; research and drafting of strategies around the Foundation’s arts & humanities and human services portfolio; development of a measurement tool for school based funding; improved communication with stakeholders through a redesigned website presence and enhanced customer service to grantees confirmed through an administered survey.

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  Internatinal Business-Government Relations Counsellors, Inc.

  • Washington, D.C.

  • Project/Office Manager

    • 2004 - 2007
    • Washington, D.C.

    Based in Washington, D.C., the firm provides research and analysis support to clients doing business around the world.Wrote and edited content for the firm’s Who’s Who and Federal Register notices; managed the technical operations and data integrity of the company’s database system; maintained and updated website; planned and organized conference for membership organization, Global Offset and Countertrade Association; served as liaison with property management, building services staff, security and general contractors and successfully navigated the ordering of the perfect birthday cake 18 times per year.In this role I also researched, negotiated and executed the rollout of a new CRM system and was responsible for related staff training.

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  dug Nap

  • Burlington, VT

  • Artist's Assistant

    • 2003 - 2003
    • Burlington, VT

    Mr. Nap is a Burlington based artist whose work can be categorized somewhere between outsider and folk art. His work ranges from paintings, cards and books to the performative arts. Tracked inventory for all items related to greeting card sales using Excel; supported sales reps, businesses and customers interested in, or currently carrying the greeting card line; invoiced, packed, and shipped orders; placed collection calls and worked with the bookkeeper on the monthly reconciliation of accounting books.Provided support for gallery shows, canvas prep, and general gallery operations; responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the artist’s collective work’s database.

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  Ornamentals

  • Austin, TX

  • Artist's Assistant

    • 1998 - 2001
    • Austin, TX

    Managed day to day operations of small high-end craft business. Organized production and shipping schedules to meet customer demands; maintained inventory for all aspects of the business using QuickBooks and Excel; researched production techniques and materials for development of product line and, assisted in the design and construction of trade/retail show booths.

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  Texas Nurses Association

  • Austin, TX

  • Research Assistant/Legislative Aide

    • 1997 - 1998
    • Austin, TX

    Research Assistant: drafted report on school health services for the Texas Board of Health; researched and analyzed school health services in Texas and the U.S. for the Texas Department of Health’s School Health Task Force; made policy recommendations and provided support as necessary to the Board and the Task Force.Legislative Aide: identified and monitored legislation of particular concern to registered nurses in Texas during the 75th Texas Legislative Session; lobbied members of the legislature and state agencies on a wide variety of health care and nursing issues; worked in coalition with other health related provider and consumer groups; communicated legislative initiatives and outcomes to association members; wrote legislative alerts and articles for association publication NurseWatch and, planned and executed RN Day at the Capitol for over 400 Texas registered nurses.

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  Shakti Foundation/PROSHIKA

  • Dhaka, Bangladesh

  • Independent Consultant

    • 1995 - 1996
    • Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Shakti Foundation: Designed a micro-credit advocacy tool to promote women’s economic development in Bangladesh; provided technical assistance to clients, loan officers and community leaders to locate appropriate business resources/markets; researched and prepared report on the relationship between micro-loans and female control of financial resources and, conducted an advocacy and strategic planning workshop for Shakti staff.PROSHIKA’s Institute for Development Policy Analysis and Advocacy: Analyzed and evaluated the organization’s Social Forestry Programs; conducted interviews with project managers and area participants at program field sites and, assisted in strategic planning for the Institute.

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  The Center for Public Policy Priorities

  • Austin, TX

  • Policy Intern

    • 1995 - 1995
    • Austin, TX

    Developed policy manual for public and private agencies on hunger and nutrition issues in the state of Texas; facilitated coalition building and information sharing between The Center and other anti-hunger organizations; represented The Center at related community meetings.

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  Consumers Union

  • Austin, TX

  • Policy Intern

    • 1994 - 1995
    • Austin, TX

    Conducted research and analysis on financial, environmental and health policy issues; participated in the design and implementation of surveys examining public policy activities of particular concern to low-income Texans; created reports, hearing testimony, press releases and Op-Eds and, tracked legislation.

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  Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service (CRS)

  • Washington, D.C.

  • Senior Production Assistant

    • 1988 - 1993
    • Washington, D.C.

    Supervised staff of six production assistants and coordinated division’s Research Associate Program; guided CRS research studies, speeches, committee reports and books from outline to production; served as liaison between CRS/Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division and House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees; managed time-sensitive inquiries from congressional staff and constituents; created and maintained an extensive recruiting database and, produced and disseminated promotion and publicity materials.