Consulting in public affairs and public policy; strategic planning, nonprofit organizational development and management; monitoring and evaluation; executive transitions, leadership development; political processes and citizen participation. Political campaign management, strategic advice. Clients have included: US Agency for International Development (BPA: Civil Society, 2012 - 2013); Peerless Rockville Historic Preservation; Checchi and Company; Kelley Campaigns; International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES);University of Maryland at Baltimore County; National Albanian American Council; Centers for Civic Initiatives (Bosnia and Herzegovina); Saferworld (UK); Womens Action for New Directions; Friends Committee on National Legislation; Montgomery County, MD Department of Family Resources; University of Maryland Center on Aging; Massachusetts Dept. of Mental Hygiene; Arrowstreet (planners and architects).

Standards for Excellence is a voluntary accreditation program for the nonprofit sector throughout the US. It addresses major areas of nonprofit governance and management and contains specific implementation goals, provides a structured and measurable approach to building capacity, ethics accountability, sustainability and effectiveness. Initiated by the Maryland Association for Nonprofit Organizations, the Code has been adopted for use in other states. As a Licensed Consultant I can work with organizations to improve capacity to achieve these high standards. During 2012-13 I was one of 30 national nonprofit thought leaders appointed to the national Code Strengthening Task Force that conducted a comprehensive review of the Standards. The changes and enhancements recommended by the Task Force have now been adopted. For many years I have served as Peer Reviewer, working as a part of a team to evaluate applications for certification.

Bosnian Handicrafts, Inc. is a US 501c3 that supports the educational and training work of its sister organization, social enterprise Bosnian Handicrafts (BH Crafts) based in Tuzla, Bosnia - Herzegovina. Begun as a project of Norwegian Peoples Aid to engage women devastated by the losses of war with a means of income, the FairTrade certified BH Crafts is a success story. Hundreds of women have been trained to hand craft toys, high quality items for the home and clothing for men, women and children. It also contracts to produce private label items for established clothing lines. Other items are artisan signed and exported for sale by boutiques and high end catalogues in the US, Asia and Europe. For a list of boutiques selling BH Crafts items in the US and internationally, or to order online, see the website above.

LTO Coordinator on International Election Observation Missions to: Montenegro (Early Parliamentary, 2002; Presidential, 2002; Repeat Presidential, March 2003; Repeat Presidential, May 2003) ; Kazakhstan (Parliamentary and Second Round - 2004); Albania (2005)Long Term Observer, Montenegro (Municipal 2002); Moldova (Parliamentary, 2019) Short Term Observer - Belarus Presidential 2001; Kazakstan Presidential 2005; FYROM-Macedonia 2nd Round 2009; Bosnia & Herzegovina 2010; Kyrgyzstan 2011; Ukraine 2012 & 2014; Tajikistan 2013; Russia 2016; FYROM Macedonia 2017, 2018.

BASIC is a small but influential policy organization that works on both sides of the Atlantic to encourage sustainable transatlantic security policies and to develop the strategies that can achieve them. It partners with other international NGOs that share its goals and promotes public understanding of the danger of growing nuclear arsenals.

I was a candidate to be Mayor of the City of Rockville, Maryland, challenging the incumbent Mayor. Three of the four candidates who ran on a non-partisan slate with me were elected (or re-elected) and will serve as the Councils majority over the next four years.

Board Chair of Emerge Maryland and Member Board of Directors of Emerge America, the premier national organization encouraging, recruiting and training Democratic women to run for local and state office, get elected and to seek higher office. Emerge works in fourteen states, more than 60 % of Emerge trainees nationwide who chose to seek office succeed in securing appointed or elected positions. 60% of the alumnae of Emerge Marylands first two classes of this intensive, cohort-based seven-month training program are already running for office and several have been appointed to state or local boards or commissions.

A political and social network of young, pro-choice, Democratic women that provides a forum for advancement, mentoring and leadership opportunities.

Principal in consulting firm serving political parties, candidates, governments, foundations, universities, and nongovernmental organizations in the United States and abroad in strategic planning, strategic communications, assessments, organizational development, strengthening and expansion. Clients and projects were in US, Central Asia and Europe.

Served as senior resident staff in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1999, and as a consultant and trainer between 2000 and 2007 providing a range of organizational development, strategic planning, and leadership development services to NDI civic partners, most of whom engaged in domestic election monitoring, in countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Serbia, Croatia, Indonesia and Iraq.

Served as interim director of small nonprofit that has significant impact helping women re-renter workforce by providing not only professional attire, but also coaching and support on a variety of skills needed in the workplace. Helped expand financial support and partnered with businesses and government agencies, including the Office of the US Trade Representative, to expand training and service programs.

Implemented mission-wide development of civil society policy that I developed for 500-preson international organization. This began in 100-person Democratization Department, which I also helped to dramatically reorganize and reformulate to increase effectiveness, relevance and results.

Developed civil society program for international intergovernmental organization responsible for nation-wide democratization efforts. Played key role in reorganizing and refocusing 100 person department.

Election Supervisor, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sept 1998; Out of Kosovo Voting (in Serbia) 2001

Served for a second time as acting Executive Director of highly regarded historic preservation organization. Focused on: developing staff skills; developing new programs and additional community outreach; updating technical systems; revamping branding and communications strategy;developing collections policy; diversifying funding sources; and improving financial and accounting systems. Partnered with National Building Museum to expand its program for middle school students, Investigating Where We Live, to suburban community; initiated newsletter features highlighting local historic sites and created new program such as history tours on bikes, to expand community base.

On behalf of several national arms control, religious and human rights organizations developed and obtained major foundation grants for project of targeted outreach and public events to increase public support for the conventional arms control measure, ArmsTrade Code of Conduct, increasing active support base by involving 25 new groups. The Code was the basis for the Arms Trade Treaty, ratified by the UN in 2013.

For a coalition of 40 major national womens organizations served as member of its Defense and Foreign Policy Task Force (covering election of 1992), then as Chair (covering election of 1996) selecting, promoting, and advocating appointment of exceptional women to cabinet and sub-cabinet positions, making significant progress in two traditionally male dominated areas.

Lobbied Congress and Executive branch on nuclear and conventional arms control and womens issues. Served as Legislative Coordinator of the Arms Trade Working Group, a national coalition advocating control of conventional arms sales. The Land Mines Treaty and the Arms Trade Treaty both emerged in large part within this group. Staffed WAND PAC, which made key early endorsements of Congressional candidates in the 1992 Year of the Woman.

Chief aide to delegate who served on Ways and Means Committee, High Technology Task Force through successful campaign to State Senate. Managed constituent casework, liaison with governors office, executive agencies, local officials and organizations, served on campaign, managing multi-candidate party slate

Dates approximate.

Founding Director of innovative agency ensuring that older people received a full spectrum of services to enable them to stay in their homes. As the largest of the initial seven private, nonprofit home care corporations created in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Elder Affairs, SCHCC attracted an inspired community-based board of directors and a talented, dedicated staff. It partnered with the rich array of resources in Cambridge and Somerville to understand and document challenges facing the elderly - such as access to transportation and legal help - worked with local businesses, universities, and other nonprofits to develop and implement programs to address those needs. A key element of the statewide model was the concept of developing standards for service, then contracting with local providers - in both the business and nonprofit sectors - to develop and provide services under contract to SCHCC. 

Starting as the sole employee to work with the board to plan the organization, I hired staff to set up management, financial, administrative systems; developed and submitted applications for funding; recruited more superb staff to create, implement and oversee program; established the organizational framework - from personnel policies, benefits, client-centered organizational ethics; proactively reached to establish lasting relationships with community, press, and local, state and federal elected and appointed officials. 

The Massachusetts Home Care model emerged from the vision and tireless efforts of Secretary of Elder Affairs, the late Jack Leff. SCHCC and its community benefitted from his leadership as well as support from its Member of Congress, Tip ONeill. The HCC model received national attention, even a visit to SCHCC from Deputy Secretary of HHS, Frank Carlucci, but not enough to affect most elder care funding directed to institutionalization the last 40 years.

Forged agreement among contending parties on buildable alternative to a previously rejected interstate highway as part of this landmark regional transportation study advisory to the Governor. Responsibilities expanded from liaison between technical staff and citizens groups and elected officials to supervising technical staff in one of three planning sub-regions, co-supervising regional goods movement study, and serving on circumferential transit study team. Organized workshops, public hearings, provided technical assistance in preparing hearing testimony, drafted reports for the public and policy makers.