Experience - CORE Alliance

Executive Director

2008 - 2011

I previously served as the Executive Director of CORE Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit disaster relief organization based in Houston, Texas. I was principally responsible for the Hurricane IKE and Haiti Earthquake relief efforts of C.O.R.E. Alliance. 

I was responsible for all operations and management of the organization. As Executive Director (i.e. CEO), I was responsible for:

• Creating and directing the overall vision and strategy of the organization.
• Growing the financial capacity of the organization.
• Managing all paid staff and volunteers.
• Creating teams to oversee all aspects of operations.
• Developing policies and procedures necessary for safe and efficient operations.
• Responsible for donor relations, donation management and grant writing.
• Accommodating special circumstances of celebrity volunteers, and serving as organization liaison for press and television.
• In December 2008 I testified before the Texas Legislature regarding Lessons Learned from Hurricane Ike on behalf of the non-profit disaster relief sector.
• Creating and producing marketing materials, including print, web, and video.
• Coordinating with supporting organizations such as Orphan Grain Train, Builders without Boarders, and World Vision.

Under my overall leadership, over 3,300 volunteers flowed through the C.O.R.E. Alliance base camp during the 6 months following Hurricane IKE. 249 flooded homes were cleaned and sanitized, hundreds of additional yards and trees were cleared of debris and 13 uninsured or underinsured homes were partially or completely rebuilt. Approximately $300,000 in cash donations and grants were received, and we estimated that the community was saved over $1.7 million due to the efforts of C.O.R.E. Alliance volunteers.

Upon conclusion of Hurricane IKE efforts, I maintained C.O.R.E. Alliance and its partners in a state of readiness and re-launched active relief efforts in support of the Haiti Earthquake. Over 2,000 volunteers in 5 cities built 700 modular homes that were shipped to Haiti. Approximately $400,000+ in cash and $250,000 of in-kind donations and grants were received, providing temporary housing to 5,000-7,000 victims of the Haiti earthquake.