El Paso, Texas, United States
As a professional planner specializing in community and economic development issues, I provide training, management advice and planning leadership to counties, municipalities and community-based organizations. My main focus -- well-honed through nearly thirty-five years of experience serving scores of communities -- revolves around strategic and comprehensive planning, community needs assessment, environmental infrastructure development, zoning admin., creative public involvement strategies and grant writing. My chief goal is to apply innovative methods to help interdependent people and communities plan a sustainable development path to meet the challenges of the future. I also provide international community development expertise, backed by years of experience managing development programs in Latin America. Fluent in Spanish. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: • Over 30 years of successful community development and grant writing experience; • Secured upwards of $50 million in state and federal funding for infrastructure projects in multiple communities; • Coordinated strategic planning efforts and authored final strategic plans for community-based organizations, resulting in their sustained growth and development; • Designed and administered Community Needs Assessment & Visioning Surveys to support local planning efforts in various communities, resulting in clear identification of project priorities as well as paths to implementation; • Authored a successful $3 million grant proposal for community development programs, funded by U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services; • Managed the growth of CARE’s agroforestry program in Guatemala – even in the face of general civil strife. Main program features praised by World Bank evaluation team. Specialties: Strategic Planning; Community Infrastructure Planning & Project Development Local and regional economic planning Community Needs Assessment; Survey Design and Data Management Grant Writing; Public Participation Strategies
Applying my decades of experience in community development and professional planning to assist rural communities in their pursuit of enhanced quality of life and economic opportunity. I work closely with local leaders and volunteers, in coordination with relevant state and federal agencies, to undertake vitally needed community improvements revolving around environmental infrastructure, public health and housing. Central to my mission is a targeted program of training and technical assistance focusing on the colonias and rural communities of rural West Texas.
• I serve as the County’s primary liaison for rural economic development and historic and cultural heritage preservation; • Principally responsible for planning and organizing community projects and economic incentives aimed at improving quality of life and tourism potential, largely focused on the county’s rural sector; • Produced County’s first systematic assessment of strategic priorities for economic development within the Historic Mission Trail Corridor.
Managed economic development and sustainability projects and activities, and performed professional planning work in the administration and implementation of short and long-term plans for rural and small towns located within El Paso County, TX. I provided professional level assistance to the City of El Paso's Economic Development Department and I served as the primary liaison for small town and rural economic development and planning throughout the County of El Paso.
Professional consulting and training aimed at rural communities, covering various aspects of community development, from local transportation and comprehensive planning issues to environmental infrastructure planning, water resource protection, and strategic planning for local and regional economic development. Key activities and accomplishments: • Provided training, management advice and technical assistance to communities in the areas of community development, planning and resource protection; • Managed the needs, expectations, and interactions of local officials, community stakeholders, and organizations involved in community development and planning projects; • Provided funding application assistance, assessments of local resources and conditions, and advised local officials; • Designed and implemented comprehensive community surveys tailored to local needs, in support of planning efforts; • Developed planning documents and environmental assessments; • Provided policy recommendations for infrastructure asset management and watershed protection; • Authored successful grants for sustained program funding; • Spearheaded strategic planning initiatives for institution-building among organizational clients.