Experience

Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven

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

• Social Action Committee Chair

  • Nov 2020 - Present

  • Represents the interests and concerns of the Greater New Haven Jewish community through advocacy, relationship building, and developing and deploying strategic action plans. • Fosters meaningful relationships among diverse ethnic, racial, religious and interest groups, building coalitions on mutual concerns. • Facilitates communication, collaboration and partnerships between congregations and community stakeholders to support initiatives in several areas, including antisemitism, food insecurity, access to medical care, immigration, period poverty, health, the environment, racial justice, etc.



Michelle Wachsmann Translation Services

• Woodbridge, Connecticut

• Founder and Principal

  • 2003 - Present

  • Supports organizations across the country by delivering Spanish language services of the highest quality, on or before deadlines, with a proven and verifiable track record, including All Our Kin, National Association for Family Child Care, ACES, TPS HR Services, Blueprint Benefit Advisors, Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies, Recovery Network of Programs, and Newtown Youth and Family Services, Inc. in CT, Foster Web Marketing in Fairfax, VA, among others. • Completed special projects at Women´s Fund of Rhode Island, Atlanta´s Feminist Women´s Health Center, Girl Scouts San Diego, Jersey City Office of Sustainability, Central Outreach & Advocacy Center in Atlanta, ESMoA in El Segundo, California, Young Playwrights' Theater in Washington, D.C. and Children´s Advocacy Alliance in Las Vegas.



Eversource Energy

• United States
• Utilities
• 700 & Above Employee

• Manager of Special Projects & Project Services

  • Jun 2022 - Dec 2022

  • Led the Right-of-Way Coordination team across all service territories and supported the development of a process to effectively manage work activities on all rights-of-way and integrate various sources of disparate information across the company´s footprint. • Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to create and implement specific outreach strategies and tactics applicable to external stakeholders. • Researched and proposed a strategy for the company to meaningfully engage with environmental justice communities, and facilitated learning opportunities to strengthen the knowledge of environmental justice principles and communities.



LifeBridge Community Services, Inc.

• United States
• Mental Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Encore!Connecticut Fellow | UCONN Department of Public Policy| Community Relations Consultant

  • Mar 2020 - Nov 2020

  • Developed a community relations strategy by creating a community relations policy and plan that identifies the agency’s key stakeholders in the Bridgeport communities in which they operate and beyond, and establishes the mechanisms to build and nurture positive, strong, sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships between the agency and those key stakeholders. • Developed a community relations strategy by creating a community relations policy and plan that identifies the agency’s key stakeholders in the Bridgeport communities in which they operate and beyond, and establishes the mechanisms to build and nurture positive, strong, sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships between the agency and those key stakeholders.



Kidalicious, LLC

• Woodbridge, Connecticut

• Founder and Principal

  • Jun 2014 - Jun 2017

  • Launched a successful company teaching hands-on healthy cooking skills to children. • Strategically grew the business by building a strong network of referral partners to leverage word of mouth advertising as well as personal recommendations. • Established community partnerships with the Valley Initiative to Advance Health & Learning in School (VITAHLS), a partnership between the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, Griffin Hospital and the Naugatuck Valley school districts. • Partnered with local Recreation Department, Massaro Community Farm, Girl Scout troops and local libraries to deliver healthy cooking programs to elementary school children. • Maximized a social media and public relations strategy to extend the brand’s reach.



Empresas Leon Jimenes S.A. (An affiliate of Philip Morris International)

• Government Affairs and Policy Consultant

  • 2002 - 2004

  • Advised and acted for the company during negotiations of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). • Crafted the strategy that clearly articulated and communicated the economic impact of changes to the tax policies to multiple constituents. • Steered negotiations to achieve a favorable outcome for both sides, including saving the corporation from incurring significant financial losses.

• Government Affairs Manager

  • 1998 - 2002

  • Built the government affairs area within the Communications Department into the internal resource for ESG initiatives, and accomplished elevating it to a vital and impactful resource and advocate.• Managed all regulatory, legislative and public policy aspects of the company and its 4 distinct business units. • Supported executive leaders and organizational strategic initiatives by developing and expanding long-lasting, sustainable partnerships with government officials, business associations and community-based organizations, nationally and internationally.• Managed the company’s community engagement and events program and ensure alignment with organizational agendas and goals.• Communicated specific agendas and goals efficiently and effectively by creating and managing a complex network of national and international relationships.• Leveraged relationships to support and strengthen local communities through education, sports, arts and culture and the protection of the natural environment.• Motivated key stakeholders to participate in government lobbying by outlining the significant economic impact to their business based on the forecasted results of proposed legislation. • Analyzed the impact of foreign trade policies on the company’s profitability. Sponsored economic impact research studies to demonstrate tangible outcomes from various legislation scenarios. • Orchestrated activities and communication between negotiating teams, subject matter experts, constituents and corporate executives. • Collaborated with a think tank to advocate for fiscal transparency from the government and improved budget management as part of the Institutional Initiatives for a New Economic Model: A Budget Law Proposal.



Organización de los Estados Americanos

• United States
• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Legal Officer

  • Jun 1997 - Dec 1997

  • Developed a legal information system for the Department of Legal Cooperation and Communication. • Conducted research for the Department of International Law to create a uniform process to regulate guaranteed loans. • Organized a conference on the Regional Responses to Forced Migrations in Central America and the Caribbean. • Developed a legal information system for the Department of Legal Cooperation and Communication. • Conducted research for the Department of International Law to create a uniform process to regulate guaranteed loans. • Organized a conference on the Regional Responses to Forced Migrations in Central America and the Caribbean.



Guzmán Ariza

• Dominican Republic
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Associate

  • 1994 - 1996

  • Managed the legal formation of corporations for foreign clients and advised on all operational aspects. • Advised foreigners on legal aspects involved in investment operations in the Dominican Republic, ranging from small property sales to complex transactions. • Managed the legal formation of corporations for foreign clients and advised on all operational aspects. • Advised foreigners on legal aspects involved in investment operations in the Dominican Republic, ranging from small property sales to complex transactions.



Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra

• Dominican Republic
• Education Management
• 700 & Above Employee

• Legal Advisor

  • 1993 - 1994

  • Presented and advised low-income clients in penal and family law affairs before First Instance Tribunals and Appellate Courts. • Presented and advised low-income clients in penal and family law affairs before First Instance Tribunals and Appellate Courts.