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Research & Design Fellow
Baton Rouge, LA
Jan 2015 - Mar 2016 (1 year 2 months)
Transdisciplinary team of coastal scientists, planners, designers, and engineers who support community resilience by studying and responding to issues of settlement, coastal restoration, flood protection, and the economy.
• Conduct and synthesize ethnographic and design research, and lead design development of products, environments, and media.
• Design and manage schematic/construction drawings, diagrams, 3D models (CAD/physical), and content development.
• Collaborate with staff and faculty researchers, and manage graduate research assistants in concept exploration and evaluation.
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COO
Imagine Soap
Feb 2013 - Jan 2015 (1 year 11 months)
• Establish and cultivate board of advisors and transdisciplinary start-up team
• Manage team development, market research, design and translation of focus group materials, and product testing
• Create investor pitch, network with interested investors, contributors, and partner NPO in Cap Haitien, Haiti
• Present company concept and carry through rigorous statewide business competition
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Founder/Executive Producer
American Volunteers, LLC
May 2011 - Jan 2015 (3 years 8 months)
Developed and pitched two TV concepts, documenting volunteering and service in disrupted American communities.
• Galvanized small production team to write, film, and produce two TV concepts: “American Volunteers” and “Disaster Junkies,” including a pilot and several online short webisodes set in New Orleans and Chicago.
• Networked with volunteer organizations, created project plans, and maintained online presence in social media
• Signed “American Volunteers” with two Emmy Award winning producers and pitched concept to 3 national networks
• Initiated redevelopment of concept into “Disaster Junkies,” involving graphic design, new project narratives, concept video, and networking with partner production company.
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Archive Researcher
Rochester Institute of Technology
Sep 2013 - May 2014 (8 months)
Coordinating Vignelli Center for Design Studies online archival content for Product Time Capsule collection.
• Research, compile and write compelling narratives of designers processes and intent via online multimedia platform.
• Elicit noteworthy designers’ participation and interest in contributing to the collection
• Conceptualize vision for Product Time Capsule, establishing opportunities in interface and content design/growth
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Project Manager
New Path Recovery
Sep 2011 - Feb 2012 (5 months)
Homeowner and contractor consulting for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
• Advised contractors on flood plain levels and liaised between contractors and state program officials
• Coordinated all NPR HMGP consulting, grant application procedures, training, and grant implementation.
• Monitored employee workload and analyzed workflow to identify challenges and funding opportunities.
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Home Rehabilitation Coordinator
All Hands Volunteers, Inc
May 2011 - Sep 2011 (4 months)
• Post-tsunami, established relationships with city government, contractors, suppliers and community leaders.
• Spearheaded focus groups, interviews, and research assessments to determine appropriate relief methods.
• Conceptualized amendments to original grant based on new qualitative inputs; negotiated with Habitat For Humanity International (funder) to approve recommended changes to preconceived relief operation.
• Re-designed $250K rebuilding action plan to effectively rehabilitate 50 households in four months, through the disbursement of starter-grants, local volunteer mobilization, and/or skilled contractor/carpenter mobilization.
• Recruited and trained local volunteers in case management procedures to communicate with program beneficiaries, serve as translators, conduct site assessments and assist with database entry.
• Supported Project Tohoku Director in overall base camp operations and logistics.
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Mitigation Analyst - Disaster Recovery Unit
GCR & Associates, Inc.
Feb 2010 - May 2011 (1 year 3 months)
• Oversaw Hurricane Katrina recovery grant processes, through coordination with New Orleans’ homeowners and Office of Community Development staff.
• Consulted directly with over 90 homeowners regarding: requisite home elevations to flood plain level, home rebuild monitoring, document collection, and grant distribution
• Conducted outreach to low-income, multi-ethnic communities, to increase eligible homeowner grant applications.
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Technical Assistance Coordinator and Green Building Advisor: Americorps VISTA
Global Green USA
Jan 2009 - Feb 2010 (1 year 1 month)
• Launched the set-up and delivery of weatherization and green building training to low-income homeowners through community workshops, presentations, advertisements and city-wide panel discussions.
• Developed policies and procedures for implementation of weatherization—guided homeowners through the process.
• Expanded sustainable building consultations and home inspections to over 100 low-income homeowners.
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Construction Supervisor
New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity
Jun 2008 - Jan 2009 (7 months)
• Post-Katrina, managed various construction stages of over 25 homes, involving the ordering, receiving and storing of materials to be used in conjunction with upcoming building phases.
• Managed AmeriCorps volunteers and conducted training and education in construction techniques, volunteer management, material assessment and ordering, as well as subcontractor coordination.
• Accommodated volunteers’ skill levels and ensured those skills were safely applied to various projects.
• Collaborated with field staff to ensure the quality and timeliness of volunteers’ products.
• Interacted and communicated with homeowners in a respectful and sensitive manner through home completion
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Assistant Construction Supervisor: AmeriCorps Direct
New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity
Aug 2007 - Jun 2008 (10 months)
• Post-Katrina, co-managed construction stages of over 30 homes in Orleans and St. Bernard parishes
• Assisted as the construction supervisor in the fulfillment of the duties listed above