Melissa Driver Beard

Experience

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  UNFPA

  Jan 1993 - Jan 1994

  Intern / Consultant

  • Assisted the Deputy Chief of the Technical and Evaluation Branch in the preparation of background documents for the evaluation of the local production of contraceptives in China and India.

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  American Cancer Society

  Jan 1995 - Jan 1997

  Project ASSIST Manager

  • Managed day-to-day operations of ACS volunteer and staff and coordinated state and local coalitions’ programs and trainings related to ASSIST through teen/adult smoking cessation and prevention efforts.• Supported statewide mini-grants program through ASSIST and assist in grant-writing for two conference related grants.• Served as the legislative voice for ASSIST in state legislature with regard to tobacco policy.

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  North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

  Jan 1997 - Jan 1998

  Program Coordinator - NC State Board of Education

  • Assisted the Assistant Executive Director of the State Board of Education with board meetings, manual updates, state and local meeting planning, and Charter school activity.

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  Prevent Blindness North Carolina

  Jan 1998 - Jan 2002

  Outreach Coordinator

  • Co-manage statewide vision screening certification and training program.• Recruit local coordinators and training program participants throughout the state in all counties.• Serve as liaison to local coordinators in all N.C. counties.• Hire and train new vision screening certification trainers. Supervise one assistant and 4 - 8 trainers.• Lobby state legislature and generate local support for program as needed.• Assist in coordination of statewide training calendar for approximately 4000 participants and trainers.• Lead training sessions and serve as PBNC representative at various state conferences.• Design high school HOSA training program and offer training/certification to high school students.• Manage annual HOSA award application process.• Develop, improve, promote and market training curriculum throughout state.• Author, distribute and advance North Carolina’s only state-wide comprehensive vision resource guide.• Assist in the development of any/all new policies regarding the vision screening certification program. Show less

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  North Carolina Society of Surveyors

  Jan 2002 - Jan 2008

  Executive Director

  • Manage NCSS day-to-day operations including staff/ consultant management, training and evaluation, coordination of events, membership development activities, Board functions and continuing education programs. • Develop annual budget for review by the Budget and Finance Committee. Manage $500K budget.• Edit and publish all event and educational promotional materials and catalogs as well as quarterly magazine. .• Prepare Board agenda and Board materials in collaboration with NCSS President. Implement Board policies and strategies in compliance with governing documents and the strategic plan. Prepare training materials for and lead new officer orientation.• Plan annual convention and trade show for approximately 300-400 attendees and over 50 exhibitors with assistance from Convention Committee. Choose convention sites and negotiate all hotel, facility, instructor and entertainment contracts. Edit and publish all convention publications and promotional materials. Solicit sponsorship funds from member vendors. Coordinate volunteer activities with local chapters.• Act as registered lobbyist for NCSS and point person for all direct contact with members of the North Carolina General Assembly. Work with NCSS Legislative Committee and Board to establish legislative priorities and agenda. Secure passage of priority legislation and defeat of adversarial efforts. Assist NCSS PAC members in coordination of all PAC activities.• Maintain member database and manage database upgrades. Track member continuing education credit in database and for submittal to the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Land Surveyors.• Serve as liaison to NCSS’s 501(c) 3 organizations, NCSS Education Foundation and NCSS MAPS, Inc., and assist in fundraising and educational activities, grant preparation volunteer coordination and Board meetings for both organizations.• Lead State Affiliates Executives’ Forum for the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping. Show less

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  Engineering World Health

  Jan 2009 - Jan 2012

  Executive Director

  • Quadrupled annual budget to nearly $3M, increased individual giving by 500% and corporate/foundation giving by over 1000% enabling the organization to hire 20 domestic and foreign program staff in 4 new program countries.• Performed assessments and evaluations on-site in all program countries and actively participated in-country as a program instructor and EWH liaison.• Raised program profiles to ensure increased program participation, profit, and performance within mission.• Directed strategic organization mission shift to student education to include K-12 STEM and global health education, university student study abroad programs, and programs focused on in-country training for local participants.• Cultivated and maintained key relationships with donors, funders, and board members. • Interfaced with corporate, foundation, and academic partners and represented EWH as a featured speaker and panelist at a variety of domestic and international conferences.• Worked with board members and advisors to establish strategic and operational strategies for the organization. Show less

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  Driving Force Relations

  Feb 2009 - Jan 2018

  Principal

  Providing consulting and training for nonprofit boards of directors and seminars on nonprofit management, board service, and fundraising.

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  Central American Medical Outreach

  Dec 2012 - May 2013

  Grants Research and Development Manager - Contract
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  International Focus, Inc.

  Jan 2013 - Jan 2015

  Executive Director

  • Led the strategic restructuring process involving heads of multiple ethnic associations, the board of directors, and new staff and volunteers resulting in a new mission statement, strategic long-term plan, and brand management campaign.• Integrated international visitors’ leadership programs and staff seamlessly into the organization, increasing revenue, organizational stability, and brand recognition.• Established collaborations with numerous individuals, nonprofits, foundations, universities, and state and federal agencies, increasing cross-promotional opportunities and establishing reputation as a convener of multi-ethnic groups.• Facilitated aggressive public relations, membership, and fundraising campaigns in tandem with re-branding strategies producing significant growth in donations.• Managed multiple awareness generating/ membership events, fundraising events, and lectures in addition to the organization’s signature event, the International Festival of Raleigh. Implemented changes to majors events that yielded increased attendance, sponsorship, media coverage, recognition, and revenue. Show less

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  Curamericas Global

  May 2013 - Jul 2013

  Interim Executive Director
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  Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE)

  Jan 2015 - Jan 2016

  Executive Director

  • Managed operations in the US and Rwanda, including communications and marketing, fund development, strategic relationships, and scale. Enabled, empowered, and held staff accountable for meeting and exceeding goals.• Developed and executed on strategic plans in collaboration with Rwandan staff to improve operational efficiencies which resulted in a 1900% increase in production and sales. • Ensured transparent governance and integrity of financials by establishing annual budget and multi-year projections and by developing and implementing internal controls and employee guidelines, yielding improvements in accountability.• Led fundraising efforts for both philanthropic and investment funding by building relationships with existing and new contacts, developing funding networks, and raising over $500K to meet operating budget, and fund new initiatives.• Leveraged corporate partnerships to increase brand visibility, funding opportunities, and donations of time and talent.• Advanced the evolution of the strategic messaging and communications portfolio and to raise visibility of the organization by representing SHE in the non-profit, for-profit, global health, education, women and girls, and agricultural sectors. Show less

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  ReedScott

  Jan 2017 - Jan 2019

  Consultant

  A partnership formed to help organizations thrive in the short term and sustain in the long term by engaging its members, staff, and stakeholders in new and innovative ways to meet their ever-changing needs when, where, and how they want.We bring value to professional and trade associations, other nonprofits, and their service providers.Our structure enables us to move quickly with seasoned, knowledgeable professionals to provide thorough recommendations. We assist in implementing strategies and best practices to transition to a very relevant organization with a more compelling value proposition to reach and satisfy a larger audience in a rapidly changing market. Show less

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  Chatham Outreach Alliance Inc

  Jul 2018 - now

  Executive Director

  CORA’s mission is to create a community without hunger. Our goal is to serve an additional 13% (1202 people) of Chatham County residents facing food insecurity. With increased funding, we believe that we can reach this goal by expanding our outreach, removing barriers to access, and providing nutritional food choices. Approximately 14% of the population in Chatham County live at or below the poverty level ($24,600/year for a family of 4). CORA operates under USDA Food and Nutrition Services Eligibility Guidelines, thus meeting food insecurity needs for families making $49,200/year for a family of 4. These guidelines allow us to serve more people and better meet our mission. Show less