OBJECTIVE

Director, Community Engagement… To serve in an executive management role regarding policy issues, strategic initiatives and intergovernmental relations by working closely with other governmental entities, quasi-public agencies and private sector organizations.

 

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

Highly experienced, effective and well-connected business executive with an outstanding track-record of devotion to public and private sector policy formation and local economic development services.  Emphasis is on utilization of human capital to develop various models of economic development and intergovernmental relations through the development and implementation of plans to secure funding for projects and programs. Ability to carryout economic impact research, analysis, project coordination, and legislative liaison activities.  Ability to coordinate governmental programs collaborating with federal, state and local officials and legislative bodies to advance the interests and business plans of the organization and its constituencies. Strong knowledge of the methods and procedures for securing grant funding-both government and private.

Areas of expertise:

-   Lobbying and Legislative Affairs: ability to ensure that interests are heard, protected, and promoted

-   Public Relations and Communications: define internal and external images, develop strategic plans, handle media inquiries, manage public relations and legal issues associated with a crisis

-   Grasstop Strategies: ability to ensure "grasstops" those people whose views carry weight with a wide circle of friends and associates, are well-informed about a client's specific interests, without the public spotlight that results from a full-blown grassroots campaign

-   Grassroots Strategies: ability to bring issues to the attention of decision makers through grassroots initiatives; can mobilize public officials, establish legislative networks, use e-mails, phones and fax alerts, develop direct mail pieces, and build community coalitions

-   Assistance with Local Government Affairs: provide assistance to clients with local taxation and business tax, land use and zoning, and grassroots constituent mobilization issues

-  Business Strategic Relations and leveraging

GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

FORMER MEMBER, ILLINOIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Springfield, Illinois.

Elected for four terms to the Illinois House of Representatives (1978 – 1986)

• Enacted laws, statues and performed investigative duties for the State of Illinois
• Chaired and served on numerous committees and commissions that regulated commerce and industry throughout the state of Illinois, including Banking, Revenue, Labor and Commerce, Energy and Environmental and Higher Education
• Sponsored and advanced through the legislative statues establishing multi-bank holding companies, maternity and child care leave, and the capital construction/expansion of McCormick Place Annex
• Chairman, House Governmental Operations Committee

W.V. ROUSE AND ASSOCIATES LTD., Evanston, Illinois

        Governmental Management Consultant

• Wrote numerous government and business impact studies, including the City of Springfield’s Government Impact Report on Federal Revenue Sharing
• Provided written impact reports to local government officials on capital construction projects

ILLINOIS HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, Chicago, Illinois

Asst. Director, Governmental Affairs

• Created and supervised the legislative initiatives for the state of Illinois Hospital Association [private-not for profit facilities]
• Development testimony and monitored regulatory compliance for the association members
• Developed presentations for Hospital Board members and executives regarding governmental compliance
• Familiarity and knowledge of health care cost containment initiatives and third party reimbursement protocol required in this position

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

STEWART TITLE GUARANTY CORP. Hoffman Estates, Illinois                                                                             2002 - 2008

        National Manager-Strategic Relationships.

Stewart Title Guaranty [SISCO] is the third largest real estate settlement services-technology Corporation in America based in Houston, Texas.

• Multi-cultural market development and establishment of trade association alliances
• Membership of the SISCO national advisory Multi-Cultural Market Advisory Board

APRIL COBRA ENTERPRISES, INC., Chicago, Illinois.                                                                                               1992 - 2008 

        President/CEO (Founder)

General contractor, construction manager, engineering and global venture consultants services firm. Company specializes in underground utilities work (water main, sewer, excavation and remediation) for various entities, provides interior finishes (carpentry) and miscellaneous concrete services. Division staff performed environmental task work in the preliminary, remediation and wetlands delineation fields.

• Oversaw 25 -70 staff and field employees on both public and private sector projects. Annual billings ranged from $1.5 million to $5 million aggregate; the largest single contract, $4.7 million, involved underground flood relief work for three public agencies simultaneously
• Handled all administration, management and supervision of all contracts undertaken by the firm; approved purchases of major items of supplies and materials; established company policy and procedures; made all company financial decisions; secured new business; led all company public relations activities and handled labor union negotiations when necessary
• Managed multiple environmental investigations for FDIC throughout the six midwestern states simultaneously

HARRELL, INC., Streamwood, Illinois.                                                                                                                               1990 –1992

        Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales.

Firm generated $4 million annual sales in general contracting and construction management services

• Executive duties included construction management services, sales promotion, and project management
• Functioned as assistant project manager for $11 million Chicago Midway Airport underground storm sewer detention structure with post tension roof slab and taxiway extension rehabilitation project, completed 6-months early
• Performed compliance, MBE certification monitoring, bid preparation and cost estimates

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE 

MAGNUM ENTERPRISES, INC., Chicago, Illinois                                                

        Founder and Chairman of the Board

A diversified, small business, minority owned and operated real estate development and general contractor corporation

• Employed 5-15 employees in general construction field project that included: Lake Grove Village Apartments. Concrete work. South Shore Bank Project.  Development of residential rehabilitation project (concrete/plumbing)
• Sub-contractor to East Lake Management Company. Mechanical and concrete services
• Case International (Construction Management) McCormick Place Annex. Provided sub-contractor

BLUE CROSS ASSOCIATION, Chicago, Illinois

Staff Specialist – Comprehensive Health Planning

• Researched and published circulars on national and state regulatory policy on third party pay clients.
• Traveled and lectured to various association members on the Hill-Burton construction law and it’s implications for hospitals and Blue Cross State Charters.
• Provided staff support for department-division officers in the design of new governmental reimbursement policies, which might impact the BCA membership.

FORMAL EDUCATIONAL/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

MCCORMICK THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, Chicago, Illinois.                                        2000

Master’s of Divinity Degree [M.Div.] & Ordained Itinerant Elder within the AME Church.

ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY, Chicago, Illinois,                                                                       1972

M.A., Public Administration. Thesis on: “Revenue Sharing and Governmental Transfer Payments.”

CATAWBA COLLEGE, Salisbury, North Carolina, 1969.

B.A., Political Science/Pre-Law. Honors and Activities: Dean’s List, International Relations Club (Vice-President), Student Government, Human Relations Committee, Basketball (full scholarship) & Track.

 

APPENDIX A : PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC MEMBERSHIPS

• Ebenezer AME Church, Evanston, Illinois
  • Former Asst. Pastor and Dir. of Men’s Ministry
  • Teacher of Men’s Sunday School Class
  • Director, Men’s Choir
  • Former Steward Board Member
  • Former, Director, Evangelism and Outreach Ministries
  • Midweek Bible Study Instructor and Curriculum Coordinator
  • Ebenezer Delegate, Annual Conference on Worship and Evangelism (AMEC)
• Former Board Member, Peace Center [POPLC], Schaumburg, Illinois
• Beatrice Cafferty Youth Services Organization, Past Board Member
• American Society for Public Administrators
• NAACP, former member of Evanston, Illinois Chapter
• Former member of United Friends Society-World Affairs Institute
• National Association of Health Services Executives, former treasurer of Midwest Chapter, chairman of Committee on Governmental Operations
• Illinois Child Abuse and Abandonment Committee, founding board member
• Midwest Association for Sickle Cell Anemia, former advisory board member
• Illinois Advisory Hospital Council, appointed by former Illinois Governor Daniel Walker
• American Civil Liberties Union, former member, Chicago Chapter
• Larry S. Bullock Youth Foundation, founder and chairman
• Chatham Business Association, former Board member
• Chatham-Avalon Local Development Corporation, past president
• Evanston Housing Coalition,(Past) Board member (Ebenezer AME Church representative)
• Suburban Black Contractors Association, Founder and President
• Chicago Building Trade Association, former Member
• American Association of Christian Counselors, Member
• Journey from Pads to Hope, board member and chairperson, Development Committee
• Weekly Radio Show Host, “The Faith Factor: Jew and Christian in Dialogue”, WYLL [AM1160], elk Grove Village, Illinois.

 

APPENDIX B : AWARDS AND CITATIONS

• Distinguished Public Service Award, Man of the Year, awarded by the Illinois Citizens for the Performing Arts Foundation.
• Volunteer Service Award, Robert Taylor Homes, Local Advisory Council.
• Community Service Award, Radio Station WGRT.
• Who’s Who in Black America, National Black Journalist Publication.
• Community Service Award, Radio Station WBEE.
• William L. Dawson Excellence Award, Young Democrats of Illinois.
• Man of the Year, Young Democrats of Cook County.
• Man of the Year, Illinois Cultural Citizens Foundation Award.
• Outstanding Young Man of America, Outstanding Young Man of America Association.
• Civic Contribution Awardee, National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc.
• Legislator of the Year, Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies.
• Community Recognition Award, National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc.
• Legislator of the Year, Chicago Teachers Union.
• Legislator of the Year, Association of Illinois Firefighters Award.
• Legislator of the Year, Illinois State Police, Fraternal Order of Police.
• Legislator of the Year, American Legion Award.
• Top 100 Men of Metropolitan Chicago, Ebenezer AMEC Church, 1995.
• Vision Keeper Award Recipient, The Evanston Ecumenical Action Council, 1997.
• Man of faith Award, Ebenezer AME Church, 1999 {” Believers faith Conference Award”}
• NAREB@ Presidential Award, “ John F. Haynes-Democracy in Housing Award”, Presented National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Los Angeles, Calf., 2005.