My CV

Work, Training, Education

Consultant (Freelance), December 2019 – Present

Fostered and facilitated development projects for private clients in Memphis and Germantown, TN, including planned developments, site plans, preliminary plans, and final plans; apply knowledge and experience with codes and regulations.

Authored letter of intent memos and completed fiscal analysis on new development projects.
Managed land use development application process on behalf of clients, representing client projects at various staff, board, and commission meetings.
Recruited and created a leadership profiling and assessment process in the hiring of two Battalion Chiefs, the Director of Development, the Human Resource Director, and the Town Administrator for the Town of Collierville.
Developed marketing and public relations materials to select potential MALP candidates for the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation, resulting in a broad selection of applicants.
Managed, investigated, analyzed and publish ten weekly land use and development stories in the Atlanta Metro by reviewing technical reports and interviews.
Analyze and summarize large-scale data files for legislation employing strong attention to detail and accuracy.
Serving as a subject matter expert in creating graduate-level online public administration courses at Cambridge College.
Monitoring and summarizing legislative initiatives and measures on behalf of clients.

Assistant to the Town Administrator, January 2020 – December 2020 Town of Collierville, Collierville, TN

Served a fast-growing Town of ~50,000 in part-time/temporary role created to meet community needs; shared strengths and background in municipal management.

Developed a new hiring process to serve as a model for future hires at department management levels; coordinated initial implementation in hiring for the Town’s police chief position.
- Implemented a new method to expedite the hiring timeline during COVID-19 pandemic by 3–4 weeks while incorporating feedback and candidate evaluations from multiple stakeholders, including elected officials.
Managed outreach and strategic messaging related to the 2020 Census, promoting resident participation to ensure a complete count. Created content for publication across websites and social media and targeted specific poor-performing census blocks with increased engagement efforts.
Developed a leadership academy for town employees at all levels to reinforce town values, exemplify leadership, increase credibility, provide mentorship, enhance communication skills, and provide employees with tools to identify opportunities to optimize operations and roles.
- Anticipated outcomes include improved ease of identifying the next line of management in the Town’s succession planning.
Created and implemented a standardized decision-making process for officials to evaluate the pros and cons of planned development ordinances, eliminating the “politics” of the approval process.
- Maximized quality of development by allowing for creative design based on unique features of each property without compromising standards. Decreased potential for errors and confusion when pulling zoning and building permits.

Community Development Director / Assistant City Administrator, January 2003 – July 2019 City of Sartell, Sartell, MN

Administered programs and activities for a city of ~17,500, doubling in size during tenure and earning recognition as one of the fastest-growing communities in Minnesota. Built relationships with public, non-profit, and private sectors, gained consensus and became a trusted partner with policymakers, stakeholders, and citizens. Served as a staff liaison on numerous boards, councils, and commissions. Researched and authored comprehensive plans, environmental reviews, and various zoning, subdivision, and administrative ordinances.

Created and administered the City’s strategic public relations and marketing communication plan incorporating various publications, public outreach materials, and marketing materials, ensuring focus for maximum marketing clarity. Improved awareness and generated thousands of comments on the comprehensive plan through virtual open houses.
Wrote transportation, economic development, and park / open space grant applications totaling more than $7 million.
Facilitated smart growth balanced with robust infrastructure and recreational investments to elevate Sartell to a top-10 community for families in Minnesota.
Initiated development, mentorship, evaluation, and refinement of planning and building department and programs and policies to meet organizational goals. Grew planning department to include city planner, building official, building inspector, fire inspector, code technician, and various other consultants and civil engineers.
- Streamlined site plan processes to increase ease of development, resulting in millions of square feet of commercial, industrial, and multi-family development.
- Led the planning department through various ordinance development processes, including a new wetland protection ordinance, comprehensive updates, numerous contentious annexation negotiations, and various developments with legal and regulatory challenges.
Coordinated and administered strategies for retention and investment of small businesses, housing, and industry in alignment with the City’s comprehensive plan.
- Led collaborative efforts with business interests that resulted in the creation of land uses aligned with a “medical alley.”
- Recruited significant private resources and state, county, and local funding to provide a significant new public ballpark and revamped a private golf course for the community and a new regional park amenity.
- Spearheaded exploration of costs for the economic reuse of a former paper mill site, including assessment of potential contamination and remediation, led to creating a task force and ordinance amendments to facilitate development.
Contributed to oversight of large municipal construction projects, including $11 million community center and $15 million public safety facility. Reviewed contracts, contributed to design decisions, and facilitated approval process; ensured alignment to timeline and budgets.
Lobbied at Minnesota State Legislature on planning and public interest needs, including providing conference committee testimony on city-initiated bills. Provided expert testimony for civil and land use-related lawsuits.

Teaching & Training Experience

Public Administration Instructor, 2019 – Present University of Memphis, Memphis, TN

Urban Issues

Public Administration Online Instructor, 2018 – Present Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, NH

Leadership, Public Administration, Governance, Community Development

Public Administration Instructor, 2018 - Present Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ

Public Administration, Finance, State and Local Government

Public Administration Instructor, 2019 St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud State, MN

Public Human Resources

Trainer-Instructor, 2015-2019 Government training services, St. Paul, MN

Education & Certifications

Doctorate in Public Administration (DPA) Hamline University, St. Paul, MN

Dissertation: “Conflict Transformation: How Minnesota City Managers Transform City Council Conflict.”

Master of Arts in Urban Planning, summa cum laude Minnesota State University-Mankato, Mankato, MN

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and Community Studies, cum laude St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN

American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certified Planner, 2002 – Present American Planning Association (APA)

Nominated to Fellows of American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP), 2019 APA, Minnesota Chapter

Leadership & Volunteer Activities

Policy Committee Member, 2017 – 2018 League of Minnesota Cities

Leadership Council Board Member, 2014 – 2016 Minnesota State University-Mankato,
Urban and Regional Studies Institute

At-Large Commission Member, 2013 – 2014 Greater MN Regional Parks and Trails Commission

Appointed to the role by the Governor of Minnesota