Jessica Taylor

Experience

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  U.S. Department of State

  Jan 1997 - Jan 1997

  Intern for Bureau of Finance and Management Policy, Office of Budget and Planning

  Assisted budget analysts with foreign service separation liability funds for over 50 countries and assessment of inflation rates for overseas posts. Created reports, spreadsheets, and correspondence for several State Department programs and other federal agencies.

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  United States Air Force

  Jan 1998 - Jan 2002

  Contracting Officer

  Military Officer (Captain), served as business advisor entrusted to spend millions in taxpayer’s dollars in our nation’s defense architecting contracts with private businesses in services, construction, and commodities. Rated by two different commanders as the #1 officer in unit for two consecutive years.Fiscally responsible for over $21.1M in service and construction contracts.Led research team for $55M service contract - exceeded Air Force productivity standards by over 60%.Selected as Employee of the Quarter from 400-person organization.Lead contracting officer for humanitarian mission in austere remote location for construction of 500-person camp in Las Gracias, Honduras.Executive Officer for CEO-equivalent of Contracting Directorate, handpicked for 400-person organization. Managed multiple duties such as performance reports, fiscal responsibilities, and personnel issues. Show less

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  Family Service Association of Greater Elgin

  Jan 2002 - Jan 2004

  Director Consumer Credit Counseling Service

  Director of community based credit counseling and financial literacy program at a private, not-for-profit United Way agency serving over 3,000 clients annually.Responsible for all aspects of program (management of staff, marketing, program budgeting, grant writing, public relations, client customer service and creditor relations).Ensured compliance with state regulators and accrediting bodies for $1.4M+ annually in client debt payments.Oversaw content and delivery of thousands of community financial literacy programs, credit counseling sessions, and debt management programs.Performed as Certified Consumer Creditor Counselor, providing clients with budgeting and financial advice.Directed considerable program improvements including the coordination of two major software upgrades and an 85% increase in electronic payments.Increased revenues 45% from creditor contributions in just one year. Show less

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  National Foundation for Credit Counseling

  Dec 2004 - Dec 2013

  Senior leader at the nation’s largest and longest-serving non-profit credit counseling organization representing almost 100 non-profit members with over 800 locations nationwide serving 3M consumers annually. Set strategy for the organization's creditor relations and managed creditor relations staff, consultants, and volunteers.Top revenue-generator for the organization, leading team that secured $14.3M+ in funding for national initiatives.Developed and maintained relationships with senior executives and operations managers of financial institutions including 18 Fortune 500 companies.Improved cooperation, increased efficiencies, and instituted pro-consumer changes through management of project teams of diverse stakeholder volunteer groups. Show less

  • Senior Vice President of Creditor Partnerships

    Oct 2012 - Dec 2013

  • Vice President of Creditor Partnerships

    Jul 2009 - Sept 2012

  • Senior Director of Creditor Relations

    Jan 2009 - Jul 2009

  • Director of Creditor Relations

    Feb 2007 - Jan 2009

  • Membership Director

    Dec 2004 - Feb 2007
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  Jessica Whiat Consulting, LLC

  Jan 2014 - Aug 2019

  Principal

  Consulting services in the areas of project management, development, relationship management, community engagement, process improvement, survey research, and communications. Previous engagements included:• Development, communications, and project management for the Center for Social Development and the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis, a national private university ranked #18 nationally• Project management, strategic leadership guidance, survey research, and communications for Villa di Maria Montessori School, a St. Louis-based Montessori school• Ideation support for Operation Civilian Support, a start-up supporting veterans of military service• Training and relationship management for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, a national non-profit foundation with $20M+ in annual revenues Show less

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  Villa di Maria Montessori School

  Aug 2019 - Jun 2024

  Chief Operations Officer

  Strategic partner to the Head Of School, Board of Trustees and senior leadership team to forward the school strategically in accordance with its mission. Responsible for the oversight and management of non-programmatic components including: facilities, risk management and security, housekeeping, technology, etc. Provided leadership, management, and vision to ensure that the business has effective people, operational controls, and administrative and reporting procedures in place.

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  Montessori Training Center of St. Louis

  Jun 2024 - now

  Executive Director