ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Secured and saved over $1 Billion for Texas’ largest school district in state and federal funds. The bulk of these dollars are savings towards recapture payments to the state, given the passage of House Bill 3 in 2019.

Successfully passed legislation improving student access to dual credit, resulting in a 15% increase in students taking college-level courses in high school.

Worked cross coalition to protect the state’s economic development programs to recruit and retain businesses in Texas.

Headed up the planning for three outstanding two-day federal advocacy trips for 30 business executives and CEOs to Washington, D.C.

Led and launched grassroots effort for Texas’ largest metro chamber of commerce, Greater Houston Partnership, resulting in $2 billion in state appropriations for the 2012-2013 biennium for water infrastructure.

Managed public affairs campaigns and developed outward facing communication materials for the department.

Oversaw the launch of the Houston school district’s first-ever advocacy toolkits: #HISDStrong, Legislative Center and #FixSchoolFinance

Engineered and led large-scale community outreach campaigns on HISD’s recapture, or Robin Hood, referendum. Elevated the conversation on the problems with state’s school finance system and Robin Hood structure.

Activated the community and led efforts to secure a one-year pause on state ratings for HISD post-Hurricane Harvey.

Created and managed a new community-led advocacy group for HISD, the Houston Education Advocacy Representatives (HEAR). This group had 66 meetings in the capitol in 2019 to push the need for school finance reform and lowering Robin Hood payments to the state.

Built and managed successful events and rallies for the high-profile gubernatorial candidate, Bill White.

Led statewide campaign outreach for the African American community. Planned an exciting East Texas Tour.

Managed volunteer teams and paid staff to generate significant turnout in primary and general elections. Led grassroots get-out-the-vote program for Southeast Texas.

Chief executive for historic statewide campaign for Democratic presidential candidate, philanthropist and former Mayor of New York, Mike Bloomberg. With no name recognition in Texas and with only 68 days to prepare, our campaign came in third place on Election Day (March 3) and secured almost 300,000 votes in the Democratic primary.

Top visionary for campaign trips for the principal and his surrogates in Texas. Planned 7 principal trips including 2 bus tours producing large crowds in major cities. The surrogates we hosted were senior advisor and journalist Tim O’Brien, businesswoman and first lady Diana Taylor, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, and Law and Order actor Sam Waterston.

Managed almost 200 employees, 9 departments and 19 field offices statewide, including Houston headquarters. Responsible for hiring and strategy across all state departments: Organizing, Political, Constituency, Communications, Digital, Trips, Training, Data and Operations. Shared daily and weekly reports with senior staff at National HQ on the state’s successes, challenges, and key metrics for voter contact, communications, community engagement, digital outreach and political endorsements.

Worked closely with Central Region and National HQ staff to open offices, plan campaign trips, process sponsorships, advocate for resources, and increase capacity on the Texas team.

Chief spokesperson for Bloomberg 2020’s movements in Texas with the media. Featured in the Wall Street Journal, Texas Monthly, Texas Tribune, Fox 7 Austin, Houston Chronicle and the Washington Post.

The Texas team exceeded goals and beat all other state teams nationwide in communications, digital, political endorsements and organizing. Organizing knocked on over 1,000,000 doors statewide by Election Day; Communications produced over 30 front-page stories between late December and March; Digital had the most impressions on Twitter and Facebook; Political secured 111 endorsements statewide including business, community leaders, current and former elected officials.

Advised national paid media team on effective ad buys (TV, Radio, Print, Digital) and printed mailers for certain voting populations. Envisioned “get-out-the-vote” full-scale paid media plan involving influential Texans in targeted media markets.

Successfully trained 30 CEOs to lobby on Capitol Hill on behalf of Houston's business community.

Prepared several groups of HISD superintendents and trustees for local, state and federal meetings with leadership offices, other elected officials and staff.

Developed and led school finance training for new advocacy group of community leaders at HISD, called the Houston Education Advocacy Representatives (HEAR).

Trained fellows of school-based organizations.