DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY // County of Santa Clara - Office of Supervisor Dave Cortese
I currently serve in the Office of Supervisor Dave Cortese, a senior member of the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors, representing District Three (Sunnyvale, Milpitas, North San Jose, East San Jose). I developed the office’s first official strategy to proactively brainstorm, process, and organize communications outputs; developed a strategic office restructure plan which focused on quantitative measurement of impact and success, identified improvements in organizational processes to increase efficiency. I also support staff cultivation of experience and skill growth by serving as a mentor to junior staff on how to appropriately and successfully represent Supervisor in one of the County’s more ethnically diverse districts.
DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND POLICY // Compass Family Services
I managed the development, creative direction, and quality control of all organizational communications (e.g. press, newsletter, letters of support, videos, annual report, social media, etc) in partnership with the Communications Manager. I also oversaw and developed all policy-related strategy, advocacy, and lobbying activities; served as main representative of organization to community partners and policymakers on issues of housing, homelessness, childcare; and drove campaign participation of organization in coalition efforts to secure funding and resources for homelessness. I eventually would co-chair the Homeless Emergency Services Providers Association Family Homelessness Subcommittee (the main advocacy group for homelessness issues in San Francisco) and help draft language and poll messaging for the landmark 2018 Proposition C campaign, as well as trained petition signature gatherers.
As one of three people of color (POC) in an Executive Leadership Team of 10, served a key role in helping management understand and support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) conversations and initiatives. Some of my initiatives included:
Spearheading the development of an employee mentorship program by surveying staff needs
Advocating for a paid DEI employee to support a majority POC employee workforce
Participating in a two-day DEI conference through a partnership with Tipping Point
As part of the Development Team, I also launched the organization’s first social media ad campaign featuring 1-minute videos from Wonder Woman and Justice League actress Connie Nielsen, ZenDesk CEO Mikkel Svane, and many other Compass supporters.
IN THE NEWS: Article 1 | Article 2 | Article 3 | Article 4 | Panel Speaker
DISTRICT DIRECTOR // U.S. House of Representatives
I managed the daily administration, operations, communications, strategic direction, and programs of a Silicon Valley Member of Congress, where I supervised a majority-female staff of 7. I made decisions as an extension of the Congressman for over 700,000 residents living in Silicon Valley (the only majority-minority district in the U.S. mainland). Throughout my time working in Congress, I built a diverse network of working relationships throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond which includes grassroots groups, non-profits, tech, local/state/federal government officials, business executives, influential political leaders, etc. In 2016 alone, I managed the successful coordination of a landmark 52 events and meetings with influential leaders, including U.S. Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Julian Castro and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx.
Fun Fact: We became the first Congressional office to use Eventbrite to organize our events when I used it for one of Congressman Honda’s town halls!
POLITICAL DIRECTOR // Mike Honda for Congress
I directed the political and operations arms of one of the nation’s most-watched and contested Congressional campaigns during the 2014 cycle. I was the only female senior staff member. I successfully executed a targeted and diverse community engagement strategy, staging over 30 events with leaders from ethnic groups, interest groups, and politics, including: U.S. Representative Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Representative Barbara Lee, and Former Obama for America Political Director Peggy Moore. I also coordinated the candidate’s million-dollar television ad shoot, managing all operational aspects including: venue procurement, contracts, catering, volunteer recruitment, logistics, travel, etc.
COMMUNITY ADVOCATE // Asian Law Caucus
Asian Law Caucus is the nation’s first nonprofit legal service provider for low-income Asian Americans. I was a community organizer under ALC’s Criminal Justice Reform program, where I simultaneously developed a Know Your Rights with Police training program for students, supported organizing efforts in San Francisco, and developed an organizing program for the Fresno County Hmong community.