Experience

March 15, 2011

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Over 20+ years of experience in:

Development and grants management. Initiated and secured first-time funding from multiple private, corporate and municipal sources; directed, executed and documented fund raising plans and events.
Strategic planning and facilitation. Led new groups and established agencies through the process exercises necessary to ignite critical thinking as it applies to short and long-range planning, programming, constituency needs, governance, organizational development, leadership recruitment and retention.
Organizational design and capacity building. Created a 10-Point Outline with over 70 specific process management steps for the successful initiation, implementation and reporting measurement tools for event and program documentation.
Budget management. Taken proactive steps to reduce existing deficits budgets within agencies up to $1.3 million during long and short-term appointments and initialized self-sustaining practices for emerging programs.
Advocacy work and constituency building. Spear-headed innovative public awareness and community outreach initiatives which focused directly on organization penetration within a given marketplace and in government.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2006 – Present

CIME4enterprises, inc. Jacksonville, FL

Founding Partner & Principal Consultant

Created viable public awareness campaigns that included the creation of: websites, videos, special events, fund raising initiatives, social media engagement and collateral print materials.
- Established and presented guidelines for improved organizational structure and leadership development.
- Generated concept ideas for written formats, content delivery, graphic style and image continuity for branding.
- Provided blueprints for strategic plans and on-going implementation for capacity building, leadership recruitment, volunteer training, donor cultivation, constituency needs assessment and program configuration.
- Responsible for the introduction of CiviCRM to the marketplace – a comprehensive constituent relationship management software solution designed specifically to meet the needs of advocacy and non-profit groups.
- Instrumental in the advancement of: Save Africa Global, Jacksonville Young Democrats, Literacy Pros of Jacksonville, Operation Community Restore, Project Chance,HaitiHealth & RehabCenterand Bands Against Breast Cancer.
1986 – 2006
Sheryl Ross Productions Southwest, FL; Jacksonville, FL; Buffalo & Erie County, NY
Owner
- Created a group theater package which successfully partnered corporate sponsors, an upscale restaurant and Studio Arena Theater (a LORT member) to benefitWestern New York non-profits.
- Generated $30,000 of new contractual tour bookings during a 3-month period for Empire State Ballet.
- Orchestrated all logistics necessary for the inaugural exhibition of The Names Project Quilt inSouthwest Florida.
- Successfully received awards for every grant written consecutively over 20-years from diverse funding sources.
- Executed talent casting for stage and video, writing/producing/directing, public relations coordination, team formulation, sub-contractor negotiations, research and development, content and design for written materials including publications, proposals, acquisition letters, newsletters, press releases, scripts and branding.
1997 – 1998
Planned Parenthood of Collier County Naples, FL
Development Officer
- Identified prospective donors and respective giving levels from current and lapsed supporters, staff, volunteers the community-at-large and other constituencies
- Raised more than $147,000 in new money, representing a 57% increase in contributions over the previous year
- Managed peer giving committees, donor cultivation, stewardship activities and community event
- Directed prospect research efforts to develop profiles and approach plans for major donors
- Formulated strategic planning requirements necessary to mount a $1.5 – $3 million Capital Campaign
- Secured first-time funding from the Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation of Collier County to create a signature event to showcase countywide agencies providing specific programs for women and girls
- Personally negotiated a major in-kind facility donation from The Ritz-Carlton,Naples
- Provided strategic information, technical support, organizational assistance and marketing resources to all event sponsors, participants and attendees
- Created collaborative partnerships with over 30 community-based organizations to participate in CollierCounty’s inaugural Women’s Awareness Day
1993 – 1996
Jewish Community Alliance Jacksonville, FL
Adult Services Director
- Directed strategic planning, program development, fiscal integrity and budget accountability for two primary departments within a $1.3 million agency
- Combined Adult and Senior Adult Activities Departments and increased program productivity by 50%
- Produced a significant reduction in departmental expenditures within an existing agency deficit budget
- Developed volunteer recruitment guidelines and served as staff liaison for nine standing committees
- Secured first-time and second-round funding from Jacksonville Community Foundation garnering over $15,000 for diversity programs
- Supervised all aspects of dual-department fund raising solicitation, including face-to-face appeal, special event planning and direct mail campaigns
1989 – 1990
Niagara Frontier Folk Arts Council, Inc. Buffalo & Erie County, NY
Executive Director
- Transformed 26-year old grass-roots organization into a registered 501(c)(3) agency
- Garnered unprecedented operational funding from the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation
- Developed short and long-term agency goals and facilitated Solicitation & Allocation Training of key leadership
- Directed all facets of administration, strategic planning, budgets and marketing
- Formed positive inter-organizational and inter-agency relations with effective community leadership
- Secured $31,000 of new money from city, county and private funding sources
- Negotiated and obtained a 2-year in-kind donation of $18,000 of prime real estate for an office/Drop-In Center
- Identified and cultivated funding resources and endowment prospects for beneficiary groups
EDUCATION:

Rochester Institute of Technology, College of Fine and Applied Arts Rochester, NY

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Communication Design
Associate in Applied Arts, Art & Design

AWARDS & HONORS:

Public Awareness Award in a Middle Market – Corporation for Public Broadcasting

2002 Aurora Award in Community Relations for Writing & Producing

2001 Telly Award in Social Services for Writing & Producing

Certificate: AIDS 104

Certificate: “AIDS is Everybody’s Business”- The 2nd Annual Minority AIDS Coalition/HRS Symposium IV District

Life Member of the United Way Loaned Executive Club

AFFILIATIONS & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

Registered ASCAP Writer

Emcee – On the Red Carpet, West Council of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville, FL

Sponsor – Cocktails for a Cause, Save Africa Global, Inc.,Jacksonville,FL

Sponsor – Cocktails for a Cause, Project Chance, Jacksonville, FL

Sponsor – Cocktails for a Cause, Jacksonville Urban League, Jacksonville, FL

Sponsor – Holiday Runway, Save Africa Global & West Council of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville, FL

Chairperson – University Club Business Connect,Jacksonville, FL

Member – Jacksonville Young Democrats, Jacksonville FL

Board Member/Advisor - Women’s Network of Collier County, Naples, FL

Advisor - Collier County Triad S.A.L.T. (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together) Naples, FL

Registered ASCAP Writer

Emcee – On the Red Carpet, West Council of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville, FL

Sponsor – Cocktails for a Cause, Save Africa Global, Inc.,Jacksonville,FL

Sponsor – Cocktails for a Cause, Project Chance, Jacksonville, FL

Sponsor – Cocktails for a Cause, Jacksonville Urban League, Jacksonville, FL

Sponsor – Holiday Runway, Save Africa Global & West Council of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville, FL

Chairperson – University Club Business Connect,Jacksonville, FL

Member – Jacksonville Young Democrats, Jacksonville FL

Board Member/Advisor - Women’s Network of Collier County, Naples, FL

Advisor - Collier County Triad S.A.L.T. (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together) Naples, FL

Committee Coordinator - T.E.A.M. (Treatment, Education & AIDS Awareness for the Millennium) Naples, FL

Founding Board Member/Officer - The Joe Logsdon AIDS Foundation, Naples, FL

Founding Board Member - Project C.H.A.N.C.E., Amelia island, FL

Board Member - National Kidney Foundation, Buffalo, NY

Member - University/Community Advisory Council, University at Buffalo, Educational Opportunity Center

Advisor - Cystic Fibrosis, Buffalo, NY

Founding Board Member – Niagara Frontier AIDS Alliance, Buffalo, NY

Advisor - Kids Escaping Drugs, Buffalo, NY

Founding Committee Member – Curtain Up, Buffalo, NY