Michelle Owens

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Tybee Island, Georgia, United States

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Timeline
About me
Assistant City Manager at City of Tybee Island
Education
- Point Park University
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  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD Community Engagement
  PhD candidate in ABD status (all but dissertation) with a research focus on responsible and equitable tourism at the intersection of housing, community development, and resident impacts. Completion in Spring 2025
- University Of Memphis
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  MA Urban Anthropology
  Activities and Societies: Anthropology Club; Graduate Fellowship Research Assistant at Center for Urban Research & Extension (CURE), conducting field research in underserved areas of Memphis, Tennessee. Duties included community outreach, and data collection and data analysis related to neighborhood impacts of the HOPE VI federal grant program.Edited the book "Community Building in the 21st Century," and co-authored a chapter on building community capacity via digital mapping. Published by the School of American Research Advanced Seminar Series.
- Savannah State University
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  BA Mass Communications
  Activities and Societies: Student Newspaper, editor; Mass Communications Club; Dean's List; Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society; magna cum laude. Minor: English Literature
Experience
- Orange County Government
  Jan 2003 - May 2011
  Worked in the Neighborhood Preservation and Revitalization Division. Key responsibilities included long-range planning and program administration to preserve and protect neighborhoods, and to build capacity among neighbors to maintain their neighborhoods. Administered Safe Neighborhoods grant program, crime prevention grant program and non-profit grant program. Worked in the Housing and Community Development Division conducting all aspects of grants management for the federal Community Development Block Grant program and ensuring compliance with federal fair housing laws. Key responsibilities included working with sub-recipients on program planning, administration, monitoring and evaluation, and closeout, as well as data tracking and analysis.
  - Principal Planner
    Aug 2005 - May 2011
  - Senior Planning & Development Assistant
    Jan 2003 - Aug 2005
- Michelle Owens Yoga and Yoga East Teacher Training
  Jun 2011 - Mar 2022
  Small Business Owner
  Owner/Director of Yoga East Orlando, specializing in group yoga instruction, individual yoga sessions, custom-curated yoga retreats, yoga teacher training programs and yoga business coaching, with a special focus on serving military personnel with PTSD and combat-related injuries.
- Orange County Government, Pine Hills Neighborhood Improvement District
  May 2015 - Sept 2019
  Executive Director
  Led the Pine Hills Neighborhood Improvement District special taxing district, established by Orange County Government to redevelop urban commercial corridors in collaboration with local government, non-profits, neighborhood residents, and civic organizations. Key responsibilities include working with local government for program resources, budgeting and financial tracking, managing office staff, coordinating advisory board activities, collaborating with local residents educational institutions and businesses. Show less
- City of Tybee Island
  Sept 2019 - now
  Served as chief administrative officer for a 145-person municipal government, overseeing 11 departments and a $20 million dollar annual budget for a seasonally fluctuating population of 3,000 to 50,000 full and part-time residents. Key responsibilities include carrying out the strategic plan of the city council, delivering a balanced annual budget, securing funding for large capital improvements, and cultivating a high-performing organizational culture with effective leadership and team-building. Show less
  - Assistant City Manager
    Sept 2024 - now
  - Interim City Manager
    May 2023 - Sept 2024
  - Assistant City Manager/Director of Communications and Outreach
    Sept 2021 - Apr 2023
  - Director, Development Authority/Main Street Program
    Sept 2019 - Aug 2021
Licenses & Certifications
- Registered Yoga Teacher (500 hours)
  Yoga Alliance
  May 2011