Experience

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  Abilities First, Inc.

  • Director of Strategic Initiatives

    • Jun 2021 - Present

    Awarded $1.9 million in first 2 years, designing innovative programming, project managing cross-agency initiatives, overseeing grants management to elevate agency's visibility and impact.• Agency's first Director of Grants, promoted 2023.• Secured OPWDD grant for $700,000 for Life Skills Lab to foster greater independence of residents.• Project manager to build enabling technology program, launch community collaborative Teaching Kitchen to promote cooking independence and medication adherence.• Secured NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council award of $400,000 to develop an online resource for persons with IDD, families and providers navigate transition processes. • Project manager for new app development, Abilibee, to promote advocacy and bring clarity to transition through NYS systems.• Convene statewide Advisory Council and sit on DDPC Communities of Practice workgroup on transition transformation..•. ACM Lifting Lives, Academy of Country Music foundation, award of $8,500 for adaptive musical instruments for music therapy program. 1 of 9 awards made nationwide.• CFA award of $300,000 to build new classrooms, therapy space, and expand school services at two k-12 schools creating 40 new jobs. • $45,000 to complete preschool playground to provide greater access for non-ambulatory children

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  Self-Employed

  • Newburgh, NY

  • Grants Writer & Plan Strategy

    • Jun 2016 - Jun 2021
    • Newburgh, NY

    • First round of Mid Hudson Momentum Fund $3.05 million for mixed use City of Newburgh project.• 2022 CFA award of $1 million to Poly Craft Industries to relocate and build new facility.• ESSHI award for $747,000 for 5 years to renew commitment for supportive housing and 3 consecutive Mother Cabrini Health Foundation awards of $250,000, $300,000 and $150,000 to Newburgh Ministry to expand homeless services • Two 2019 CFA grants named Priority Projects by the Mid Hudson Regional Economic Development Council. WB Sweetners awarded $865,900 and Graft Cider $ 264,000• Developed strategy, plan design, and authored grant proposal for Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative awarded $500,000 to Newburgh Ministry. Program development, data collection, monitoring and assessment to increase savings, build resiliency, and financial health in low-income City of Newburgh families.• Three ESSHI (Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative) grants awarded $3.75 million to the Newburgh Ministry for 30 units over 5 years and $4.375 million to RECAP for 15 units in Newburgh and 20 in Middletown over 5 years.• Developed and authored second capital grant for Phase 2 for Chenango Memorial Hospital Redesign of ambulatory care and outpatient services awarded $9 million in Round 3 of the Statewide Healthcare Transformation Program.• Program Assessment for the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-kill’s signature program, Girls’ Leadership Workshop and ECCEL, a collaborative program with 4 Hudson Valley community colleges.• Authored white paper advocating an anchor institution model for health network to address the social determinants of health in three pilot communities• Delivered over $5 million in grants and incentives for high tech lighting design manufacturer expansion project to create 200 new jobs.• Reframed community needs and wrote 3-phase strategy for Chenango Memorial Hospital for ED Redesign. Award of $9 million in Round 1 of Statewide Healthcare Transformation grant.

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  THINC, Inc.

  • Fishkill, NY

  • Program Manager, Population Health Improvement Program

    • Apr 2015 - Apr 2016
    • Fishkill, NY

    • Convene Steering Committee of 20 senior healthcare providers and two workgroups through purposeful meeting planning to develop a regional strategy that addresses health equity as social justice.• Program design and implemented two collaborative pilot programs: Blueprint for Health Equity, an experiential learning project for healthcare provider teams and Mental Health First Aid to provide Hudson Valley libraries the tools to connect the public with behavioral health resources in a community based setting.• Recruited workgroups of community based organizations to identify best practices, assess community strengths, and create collaborative initiatives with 7 local health departments, Westchester Medical Center for Regional Health Innovation, Montefiore Hudson Valley Collaborative, and Refuah Health Centers.

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  The Greater Newburgh Partnership

  • Newburgh, NY

  • Director of Administration and Grants

    • Jan 2013 - Dec 2014
    • Newburgh, NY

    • Project manager rewriting the City Zoning Code with a focus on inclusion, accountability, and transparency. Project is the winner of the New York Planning Federation Pomeroy Award for Zoning Achievement. New code adopted in 2015.• Conceived “Waterfront to Warehouse” strategy to revitalize the City of Newburgh’s Broadway as a model for Transit Oriented Development resulting in designation as a Mid Hudson Regional Economic Development Council 2014 Opportunity Area. • Secured collaborative funding resulting in $3.4 million in grants.

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  Jewish Family Service of Orange County NY

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

  • Director of Development

    • Oct 2011 - Dec 2012

    Multi-program, social service agency’s first Director of Development bringing visibility to the work of a small agency by creating community partnerships for increased impact, and growing individual donor base through comprehensive communications strategy.

  • Interim Executive Director

    • Apr 2012 - May 2012

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  Guardian Life

  • Newburgh, NY

  • Chief Of Staff

    • Apr 1994 - Oct 2011
    • Newburgh, NY

    • Chief of Staff for Guardian Life 50-year career agent, inaugural Hall of Fame recipient , and three times sales leader in a company with thousands of agents. • Managed 14 person office servicing client's administrative needs with roster of over 4,000 insurance policies and equity assets in excess of $43 mil in both individual and qualified plans. • Developed estate and succession planning as liaison with attorneys and accountants to implement. • Supervised affiliated actuarial firm for in-house servicing of over 400 qualified pension and profit plans.

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  Self Employed

  • New York, NY

  • Freelance Commercial TV Producer

    • 1978 - 1993
    • New York, NY

    Produced notable, award winning TV commercials & print advertising for such clients as AT&T, Colgate Palmolive, Monsanto, Maxell & Sony including the best selling dorm room poster of all time.