Amanda Pitman

Experience

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  Hanley Wood and Parade Magazine

  Jan 1994 - Jan 1998

  Magazine Publishing

  • Worked as a production assistant

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  Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce

  Jan 1999 - Jan 2000

  Manager of Communications

  Reported to the Vice President at this business assistance and economic development organization dedicated to helping local Brooklyn-based businesses grow. While completing graduate degree, collaborated on promotional campaign to advance Chamber's economic development initiatives and reposition Downtown Brooklyn as a 24-hour community.• Produced borough-wide tasting event, attended by 800+, to publicize Brooklyn restaurants and establish borough as a food and dining destination.

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  New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2001

  Director of Community Relations and Government Affairs

  Served as critical liaison between Commission, City Council, City Planning Commission, Community Boards, developers and land use lawyers on priority issues to facilitate designation of 10 individual landmarks and two historic districts per year. • Oversaw outreach to civic organizations to increase awareness of Agency's designation and regulatory processes and enhance cooperation for the Agency's initiatives. Monitored status of contentious projects throughout approval process to ensure positive outcomes at public hearings. Show less

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  Hunter College

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2006

  Director of Special Events

  Developed and executed events plan to raise visibility of College and its initiatives, foster partnerships with neighboring institutions and establish Hunter as a leader in urban public education.• Produced and managed ~30 events per year, including building dedications, special guests' visits, e.g. Bill Clinton, and the College's commencement ceremony attended by ~5,000. • Co-produced writers series that featured authors such as Salman Rushdie; grew average attendance from ~50 to 100+.• Improved creative functions of event design process: supervised graphic designer, streamlined production of promotional materials and developed consistent stylistic identity for annual events.• Projected and monitored annual events budget of $100,000+.• Tapped by former boss at Landmarks Commission to accompany her after she became President of Hunter College. Show less

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  New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development

  Jan 2006 - Jan 2008

  Director of Communications and Events

  Serving as deputy to the Assistant Commissioner for Communications and Public Affairs, devised and executed comprehensive events plan to promote Mayor Bloomberg's 165,000-unit affordable housing plan.• Produced multi-agency events, including ~5 mayoral events per year, to raise awareness of Agency's priorities, educate public on affordability issues and expand support for affordable housing citywide.• Identified and implemented new speaking opportunities for senior leadership, which enhanced outreach efforts, strengthened relationships with key stakeholders and built cooperation for future initiatives. • Collaborated on cross-functional projects to develop educational campaigns with external partners. • Prepared briefings for the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners for speaking engagements. Show less

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  Columbia University

  Jan 2008 - Jan 2015

  Reporting to the Vice Provost, served as the central coordinator of all functions and day-to-day activities of this new division focused on enhancing resources to attract and retain top faculty and managing University-wide projects related to talent acquisition.• Developed processes to support the reorganization and expansion of the Provost's office: proposed onboarding and staff evaluation procedures and provided input on restructuring.• Supported Vice Provost with overhauling the University's faculty housing policy governing 2,000+ units, a cross-departmental initiative, resulting in clearer eligibility guidelines and improved compliance process. • Managed the reallocation and renovation of select office space to accommodate expanding Provost's office and facilitate more efficient collaborations between units.• Served on the University's infectious diseases task force establishing travel protocol for researchers working in West Africa during Ebola outbreak. • Tapped to move to office following SIPA dean's transition to Provost. Show less Served as liaison between Dean and senior staff, offices of the President and Provost, and other deans’ offices.• Researched and prepared briefings for Dean’s weekly public appearances and meetings.• Raised profile of SIPA within the University and externally by working with communications team and senior staff to develop high impact public forums and lectures for students, faculty, alumni, and external community.• Collaborated on production of SIPA’s annual report distributed to ~10,000+ alumni and supporters.• Managed Dean's transition to Provost in coordination with Chief of Staff and central administrators. Show less

  • Director of Planning, Office of the Vice Provost for Administration and Planning

    Jan 2013 - Jan 2015

  • Assistant to the Dean, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)

    Jan 2008 - Jan 2013
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  The Rockefeller University

  Jan 2015 - Jan 2018

  Special Assistant to the President

  Served as member of six-person team supporting the President at this leading center for biomedical research and education with responsibility for prioritizing and coordinating projects and timetables.• Provided day-to-day management of President's front office, including supervision of Executive Assistant, to ensure President was informed of commitments and had time to focus on priorities.• Collaborated with fundraising team to streamline preparation of briefing packets for donor meetings and President's participation in cultivation events, contributing to the success of a 9-year, $500+ million campaign.• Served on board of Friends of the East River Esplanade, a local civic organization committed to the restoration of Manhattan's East River greenway, to maintain effective working relationship during construction of campus extension and ensure philanthropic support was well managed. • Oversaw strategic collaboration with Lincoln Center’s Global Exchange initiative to produce inaugural program, attended by 300+ cultural leaders, exploring the intersection of art and science.• Working with Executive Vice President and senior staff, supported facilitation of successful presidential leadership transition; orchestrated incoming President's briefings with key staff, faculty, and supporters. Show less

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  Trinity Church Wall Street Philanthropies

  Jan 2018 - Jan 2021

  Managing Director, Operations and Planning

  Oversaw the planning, support, and oversight functions of the Philanthropies team charged with leading the Housing and Homelessness, Racial Justice, Mission Real Estate Development and Leadership Development funding initiatives of Trinity Church Wall Street. • Managed a team of five to develop and refine a set of goals, processes, and structures to ensure an effective grants program, a reorganized function of the church, facilitating a significant increase in annual funding to be awarded from ~$10 to $30+ million. • Implemented changes to grant review and approval process, resulting in a standardized system and an increase in total grants awarded from ~50 to 100+ per year. • Developed departmental administrative procedures to support and unify a restructured team that grew from <10 to 25+ members, and managed transition to remote work due to pandemic.• Collaborated with GMI leadership to create a monitoring and evaluation function to track initiatives' impacts, and developed new role to establish and manage system.• Led the redesign of grant materials and rating system, creating clearer and more consistent proposals for funding approval to the Vestry. • Oversaw budget process for department, including administrative costs, totaling ~$40+ million. • Managed cross-cutting projects, like designing and executing semi-annual staff retreats and offsite meetings. Show less

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  Heron Pond Farm

  Jan 2021 - Jan 2021

  Seasonal Harvest Crew Member

  Served on a small team responsible for harvesting, transplanting and preparing for market a large variety of vegetables, berries, and flowers at this for-profit vegetable crop farm, with a Community Supported Agriculture program of 700+ members.

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  Cornell Center for Regional Economic Advancement

  Jan 2023 - now

  Program Manager, Dairy Innovation Initiatives

  Serve as program lead for two dairy innovation initiatives that are part of a larger portfolio of Food & Ag innovation programs administered by CREA. Hired in 2022 to launch and formalize both the Northeastern Dairy Product Innovation Competition, funded by the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center with a $1M grant from the USDA, and the Dairy Runway program, funded through the New York State Dairy Promotion Order. Both programs provide resources to support food entrepreneurs in the development of value-added dairy products, from ideation to market.• Served as lead in the production, development, and launch of the first-ever Northeastern Dairy Product Innovation Competition, modeled after Grow-NY, and designed to support dairy innovators, including small farms, in scaling value-added dairy products from prototype to the next level. Collaborated with CREA marketing team in designing competition’s website and recruiting 50+ applicants. Engaged dairy specialists and industry leaders to serve as application reviewers, mentors, and judges. Developed and managed 10-week accelerator component to facilitate coaching and prototyping training, leading to a daylong, in-person pitch session and selection of three winners. • Launched and formalized the Dairy Runway program, an entrepreneurship initiative designed to support idea-stage dairy entrepreneurs. Secured funding for renewal of Program, 2024-2025. Ongoing responsibilities of this hybrid, cohort-based entrepreneurship program include: overseeing applicant recruitment process, enlisting guest speakers, expanding and updating curriculum in collaboration with instructors, securing Cornell Entrepreneurs in Residence as business coaches, and managing project associate• Responsibilities also include collaborating with CREA’s director of Food & Ag Innovation programs in developing the Northeast Regional Food Business Center Hub, a partnership initiative funded through the USDA. Show less