Experience

• University of Georgia - Fanning Institute

  Senior Doctoral Fellow

  • Coordinated framework, data collection, community engagement, and preparation of comprehensive plans for parks and recreation, healthcare, land-use, and public facilities;
  • Coordinated Georgia Department of Natural Resources composting regulation redesign, Georgia Hospital Authority curriculum redesign, and Georgia Development Authority training evaluation;
  • Analyzed long-term effectiveness and success of city-county consolidations;
  • Developed feasibility study for proposed city-county consolidation, with focus on existing service demands, revenue streams, demographic characteristics, and land-use practices;
  • Tracked and analyzed sales tax revenue trends; property tax valuations and revenue; and revenue diversity and stability for city, county, and school district governments across Georgia;
  • Obtained grant-funding and devised research methodology for research on a) university-community relationships and b) stakeholder engagement in coastal Georgia policy development; and
  • Developed curriculum and co-instructed graduate-level (MPA) courses in Collaborative Community Development, Local Government Management, and Seoul (SK) Study Abroad Seminar.
  

• Western Carolina University

  Assistant/Adjunct Professor

  • Conduct scholarly research, econometric analysis, and peer-reviewed academic publication in the fields of intergovernmental relations, public budget/finance, economic development, local government management, citizen engagement, and public affairs/administration education;
  • Execute and present research for academic and practitioner audiences at professional conferences in the fields of public administration/affairs and public policy;
  • Serve as panel chair, discussant, and blind-reviewer for research conferences and journals;
  • Develop and teach graduate (MPA) courses in Public Policy Formulation, Public Policy Analysis, Public Financial Management, Community Economic Development, and Public Sector Research Methods;
  • Develop and teach undergraduate courses in Public Policy and American Government; and
  • Provide current event interviews with regional television and radio stations, and provide invited opinion/editorial pieces on current public management issues for regional print media.
  

• USPS OIG

  Public Policy Analyst

  • Responsible for public policy research, econometric modeling, analytical techniques for public policy studies, and conducting analysis of public policy issues;
  • Perform quantitative empirical research on operational, economic, and financial policies and practices of USPS, assessing implications of current practices and impact of potential policy changes;
  • Develop relationships with postal industry stakeholders in the public, private, non-profit, and academic sectors and work collaboratively in policy research and recommendations for improvements in efficient and effective policy regarding postal economics and operations;
  • Identify problems, assess adequacy of existing programs, and recommend evidence-based policy changes;
  • Prepare briefing materials for Inspector General and other senior leadership;
  • Conduct policy oriented research in development of innovative approaches to new and existing problems in postal economics; and
  • Apply public policy analysis, market research methods, quantitative techniques, and qualitative research to contribute to white papers related to financial, economic, business, and policy issues.

• Georgia Department of Community Affairs

  Director, Office of Planning and Research

  • Oversee research, design, and dissemination of surveys to 159 county governments, 530+ municipal governments, and 1,100+ local government authorities;
  • Train and instruct city and county governments and local government authorities on successful completion of required survey instruments and monitor data quality for improvements of instruments;
  • Direct collection, analysis, and interpretation of survey responses from local governments and authorities, including quantitative and qualitative analysis of management practices, finances, wage/salary measures, debt issuance, and excise taxes;
  • Monitor compliance status of local governments and authorities in the submission of mandated surveys and take action in stances of non-compliance, providing support for entities unable to comply;
  • Supervise preparation of publications and presentations explaining survey findings for internal and external audiences, and revising/updating on a regular basis;
  • Advise Division Director and Deputy Commissioner on proposed legislation and its impact, including completion of fiscal note analysis of proposed legislation and constitutional amendments and the resulting financial impact on local governments;
  • Ensure all statutory requirements are met regarding research functions, including all reports and correspondences that are required to be transmitted to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, members of the General Assembly, local elected/appointed officials, local authorities, probate judges and others; and
  • Oversee staff and ensure work, training, and discipline programs are followed by research staff.
  

• Georgia Municipal Association

  Research Associate

  • Researched and authored studies on municipal employee layoffs, municipal governance and management structures, election administration, library funding/accessibility, and local government fiscal stability;
  • Developed operations forecast and business plan on municipal compost operations; and
  • Co-executed “Downtowns as Building Blocks to Recovery” statewide economic development initiative.