ABOUT ME
• Strategic leader with a forward-looking mindset and strong reputation for creating cultures, infrastructures, and policies that enable achievement for employees and organizational goals.
• Hands-on executive team leader with accessible and welcoming demeanor, and work style that fosters a culture of teamwork, collaboration, and success while retaining individual accountability.
• Impeccable personal, professional, and business ethics with the legacy of dedication, loyalty, and moral courage.
EDUCATION
MILWAUKEE INSTITUTE OF ART AND DESIGN
AREA OF STUDY: ILLUSTRATION
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY AREA OF STUDY: THEOLOGY
ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING
Speaker and Presenter on Substance Use Disorder at the AFL-CIO Building Trades Conference, Human Concerns Summit 2019, 2019 Wisconsin Summit on Opioid and Meth, and various retreats and trainings in the Greater Milwaukee Area
Member of various strategic planning committees for multiple organizations.
Coordinated retreats that focused on spiritual growth and community building for both adults and teens.
Presented at the Greater Milwaukee Catholic Education Conference
Led national and international leadership experiences to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, The Llama Foundation in New Mexico, Alabama, California, and Minnesota
Advised the Global Youth Leadership Institute at Pius XI
Trained in Mindfulness practices at the Greater Milwaukee Mindfulness Center
Trained in Restorative Circle Practices
Participant as a Cohort Graduate for the Leadership Advancing Character & Culture in Schools
WORK EXPERIENCE
Founder and Executive Director at 4th Dimension Sobriety — 2013 - Present
Provide guidance and leadership regarding the overall direction, focus, vision, and mission of 4th Dimension Sobriety Inc and 4th Dimension Recovery Center LLC
Proactively identify institutional strengths and weaknesses to formulate program plans based on needs, wants, and effectiveness
Perform management activities such as interviewing, hiring, evaluating and terminating of staff
Provide continuous leadership and education to staff to drive performance and program improvement
Maintain and cultivate relationships with referring professionals, the Milwaukee Business Community, treatment providers, and social agencies
Develop innovative marketing plans to reach the masses through social media, podcasting, web marketing, event planning, and traditional outreach
Director of Faith Formation / Dean of Students — 2015 - 2018
• Created a culture of spiritual exploration and faith development by providing a safe and accessible environment for the faculty, staff, students, and families in Pius’ care
• Implemented programs and initiatives to integrate Pius XI’s mission, vision, values, identity, and heritage
• Worked collaboratively with parents, students, and other stakeholders to foster broad-based support of school’s mission.
• Collaborated with several student, teacher, and administrative groups including: 2012 Strategic Plan Committee, 2018 Strategic Plan Committee, Diversity Committee, Safety Committee, Discipline Committee, and various ad-hoc committees
• Continually assessed and modified school policies and procedures to provide Pius XI with an optimal learning environment and safe cultural experience
• Guided the school in its spiritual development through retreats, small discussion groups, school-wide prayer services, and character/culture building experiences.
• Forged and maintained relationships with other Catholic schools to build a common purpose and direction in all that we do
• Worked with faculty to solidify assessment practices for school-wide faith outcomes and objectives
• Organized and executed school-wide events that aligned spiritual principles with social action, character development, values, and purpose.
AVID Teacher and Coordinator at Pius XI Catholic High School — 2012 - 2016
Managed and coordinated specialized staffing for identified students in partnership with the counseling center and support staff
Partnered with teachers and administration in documenting data to assure annual certification
Co-Led the building site team in facilitating monthly meetings, focusing on instructional best practices
Became an instructional leader, sharing techniques and materials through formal or informal professional
development to help staff members across disciplines work with all learners.
Assisted teachers who requested help in implementing instructional strategies in their classroom and as part
of their practice
Conducted and taught the AVID elective curriculum, while working with individual teachers, parents, and
students to create intervention/check-ins around areas of concern
Recommended the use of internal/external resources such as tutors, counselors and college prep programs
Conferred with parents and notified them of student’s plan for improvement and the setting of goals.
Served as a Character and Culture Committee Chair.
Theology Teacher at Pius XI Catholic High School — 2012 - 2015
Implemented the teaching and educational instruction of upper level courses that included Justice and Liberation, Nonviolent Spirituality and Leadership, Christian Mysteries, Morality and Ethics, New Testament, Hebrew Scriptures, and the Spirituality of Death and Dying
Developed curriculum, lesson plans, activities and projects that engaged students and drove learning
Led the implementation of school wide initiative of Restorative Justice and Circle Practice
Created and constantly updated a mindfulness curriculum and led daily practices for students and staff
Theology Teacher at Messmer Catholic High School / 2006 - 2012
Created and taught upper level theology courses that included Morality, Social Justice, Death and Dying, and Love, Marriage and Sexuality to students in grades 9-12.
Implemented data driven instruction and technology into the Theology curriculum, while delivering differentiated instruction for English Language Learners.
Assessed student progress; created individualized educational strategies in accordance to student needs.
Created field experience opportunities to connect students to content areas.
Leveraged strong relationships with students, staff and family members.