BIO
I've devoted my career to enhancing opportunities for people and communities, with an emphasis on the rising generation. I can't wait to learn how I could serve your organization, and help advance your mission.
A graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School, I work for nonprofits in a variety of capacities. As a leader, manager, and consultant, I have experience in organizational growth and change efforts. In assisting a variety of organizations—from international to neighborhood, political to educational—I work with a variety of people, settings, and resource bases.
Most recently, I served as Interim Executive Director for several organizations, helping clarity goals and needs, and setting incoming leaders up for success. By “staying calm and inspiring confidence,” I help orient all the stakeholders to the unique opportunity they have to (re)align their efforts with their mission and values, and find opportunities to increase reach and impact.
Prior to that, I served as CEO of the Junior State of America Foundation, where I helped an 85-year-old, $6 million nonprofit that supports teen civic leadership development. We navigated JSA through significant turbulence to: develop a theory of change, overhaul governance, change its name, develop new programs and impact measures, realign its strategy and organization, receive the largest donation in the group’s history, build alliances, and enhance stakeholder engagement—while dramatically improving JSAF’s financial health.
Previously, I served seven years as Associate Director of the Post Carbon Institute, a leading-edge think tank focused on energy, environment, economy, and equity.
Before that, I was the Coordinating Director of the Chaordic Commons, Inc., a group created by Dee Hock, the founding director of VISA, to develop new forms of organizations in pursuit of human flourishing on a healthy planet.
I served as Executive Director of Common Cause Massachusetts, a citizen-led organization working for representative and inclusive government. I co-led a broad coalition of organizations that successfully passed a Clean Elections Law via ballot initiative, and then mounted a legislative and legal strategy to uphold and implement that law.
I was the Director of Communications for the Annenberg Institute for School Reform and the Coalition of Essential Schools. I held similar posts with Oxfam America and the Institute for Defense and Disarmament Studies.
I've been a spokesperson for several organizations and coalitions, making numerous appearances on television and radio. I lead discussions and workshops on a variety of topics, including democracy, adult development, intergenerational collaboration, communications, and faith and politics.
I've been a consultant to numerous organizations, and I'm trained as an Interim Executive Director and a mediator.
I began my career as a journalist—reporting, writing feature stories and commentary for national publications, and serving on the editorial teams of several magazines.
As an editor, I help writers/speakers find their authentic voices and engage readers/listeners in productive, respectful conversations that lead to intended outcomes.
I'm an effective, drama-free writer, fluent in a variety of writing styles: blogs, reports, op-eds, and more. I've had hundreds of pieces of writing published, and have edited four books, numerous reports, letters, articles, and more.
I live in Richmond, CA, with my spouse. I love community-building, coaching, trail running, and meditating.
RESUME (SEE ALSO LINKEDIN PROFILE)
Chief Executive Officer: Junior State of America Foundation
* Turned around a $6 million teen civic leadership organization
* Reduced debt from $775,000 to $200,000; freed up endowment assets; transformed $300,000 in negative net assets into $1,000,000+ under investment
* Secured largest donation (a multi-year, $1 million capacity-building investment) in JSAF’s 85-year history
* Revamped strategy, governance, programs, and impact measures—within serious financial constraints
Associate Director, Strategy & Development Director: Post Carbon Institute
* Led Theory of Change and strategy alignment for $1 million think tank
* Developed award-winning video with more than 1.7 million views, and www.resilience.org
* Set and delivered on ambitious fundraising strategy, broadened (by more than 50 percent) base of support
Interim Managing Director: Chaordic Commons
* Guided a nonprofit through a strategic crisis and reorganization; developed social networking platform
Executive Director: Common Cause Massachusetts
* Co-led passage (via ballot initiative) and defense (via Supreme Court) a groundbreaking Clean Elections Law
* Increased fundraising income by 75 percent while rebuilding organizational infrastructure
Director of Communications: Annenberg Institute for School Reform
* Built out $1.2 million strategic communication strategy for $10 million, 900+ school network nonprofit
Director of Education, Outreach & Communications, Director of Publications: Oxfam America
* Redesigned 18-person, $1.3 million communication strategy for $14 million economic justice nonprofit
Director of Publications: Institute for Defense & Disarmament Studies
* Produced rigorous, influential publications for progressive think tank and advocate on arms control issues
Editor, Managing Editor, and Writer
* Redesigned gray tabloid into a color glossy magazine; authored, edited, published hundreds of articles
Consultant on Growth, Strategy, and Impact
* Assisted nonprofits like Harvard Kennedy School, Americans for Safety & Justice, Urban Tilth, Center for Ecoliteracy, New Profit, Conservation Law Foundation, Boston Natural Areas Network, Tikkun, among many
Education
* Harvard Kennedy School, MPA
* University of Virginia, BA