Crystal Carr Cook

Experience

• 

  Navajo Nation

  Feb 2014 - Sept 2014

  Legislative District Assistant

  Manage constituent inquiries and casework, facilitate and coordinate communication between the Representative, legislators, state officials, staff, agency personnel, stakeholders and constituents in the development and advancement of legislation. Served as a liaison between the Council Delegate and constituents of the Legislative District; exercising independent judgment to determine and implement appropriate courses of action. Manage daily operation of the district office. Manage the Council Delegate’s schedule and travel arrangements, providing all materials. Represent the office at legislative and community events, as well as, local chapter meetings. Communicate with other legislators and their representatives, state officials, government personnel and media outlets. Assist with writing press releases, newsletters, website content and speeches. Occasionally arranged public appearances and special events for Council Delegate Phelps. Write grants and proposals for the legislative district area. Also was required to write resolutions for our various projects and often presented the resolution for q&a and concerns the public had. Show less

• 

  Northern Arizona University

  Nov 2014 - Feb 2018

  Coordinator

  Responsible for accomplishing the 7th Generation Money Management project objectives of expanding the financial literacy of Native American High School students. Key project management responsibilities include creating clear and attainable project objectives, building of the 7GMM requirements, and managing the constraints of the project management triangle, which are cost, time, scope, and quality. Read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.Assist in the coordination and collaboration of the AZ Tribal Economic Development Directors roundtable. Show less

• 

  Grand Canyon Trust

  Jan 2015 - May 2015

  Native America Program Associate

  • Incorporate DinéHózhó as an L3C under the Navajo Nation, which includes the following tasks: A) Revise the existing articles of incorporation. B) Revise the existing bylaws. C) Revise the existing plan of operation. • Plan and execute an event in Window Rock to educate and market DinéHózhó L3C as well as celebrate the recent incorporation of the L3C legislation into the body of Navajo business law, which was signed into law on December 29, 2014.• Create a business plan for the Diné Innovative Networks of Economies in Hózhó L3C, which includes the following tasks: A) Research business industry, market and competitors and select three business ventures. B) Research best organization and management structure for L3C. C) Tell story about DinéHózhó services and desired social impacts, D) Research on how to market business and create a sales strategy. E) Research sources of funding (e.g. crowd funding) and recommend funding strategy. F) Create financial projections.• Ensure that we put in place the proper investment opportunity to secure start-up financing from the Navajo-Hopi Land Commission and Navajo Business Industrial Development Funds. This includes revising the DinéHózhó prospectus to be presented to potential investors. Show less

• 

  FEMA

  Feb 2015 - Mar 2018

  Tribal Affairs Specialist

  Provides subject matter expertise in tribal affairs. Served in a reservist status. Deployed to Texas, Washington DC, and Florida in the wake of the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Worked directly with the Seminole Nation and assisted the tribes emergency management department. Primary duties include the following:• Conducts preliminary tribal research;• Completes cultural competency research as directed and brief to appropriate audiences;• Reviews the tribe’s profile and incident specifics;• Makes initial contact to obtain an invitation from tribal officials;• Creates and maintains a tribal activity contact log with all pertinent information;• Conducts meetings with tribal officials as appropriate;• Prepares and delivers a presentation at a tribal meeting (e.g. Tribal council, Business committee, Tribal subcommittee, and/or Tribal emergency manager)• Prepares communication in response to inquiries from or about tribes in coordination with appropriate leadership. Show less

• 

  Office of Navajo Government Development

  May 2017 - May 2019

  Commissioner

  Commission on Navajo Government Development – The Navajo Nation, Window Rock, Arizona As Commissioner, provide direction and guidance to the Office of Navajo Government Development to fulfill commission goals to use Diné Fundamental Law in providing expertise, advisement, and policy recommendations to the Navajo Nation government as it relates to government reform in structure, ethics, accountability, and transparency.

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  Dine' College (formerly Navajo Community College)

  Feb 2018 - now

  • Direct and coordinate with other legislative personnel within the Navajo Nation government, State Legislature (AZ and NM), and Federal government offices to coordinates with other legislative personnel and lobbying efforts. • Is responsible for monitoring developments and alerting President of possible impacts and, if needed soliciting and compiling information regarding possible actions to address legislation.• Provide analysis of potential legislation and its impact on the College. Monitor and report on findings from academic and other research organizations that relates to Diné College’ policy agenda. • Develop and maintain knowledge of current and emerging trends, issues, and perspectives in higher education within federal, state, institutional, nonprofit, and foundation sectors. Maintains and develops various databases and materials for internal and external use that provide information about state legislators, members of Congress, council delegates, and Diné College’s presence in legislative districts. • Summarize and interpret relevant legislative, judicial, and executive actions. • Draft articles and other member communication materials, including grassroots initiatives and special project summaries.• Assist under the direction of the President, is the development of special projects to further the economic wellbeing, academic mission, and nation building of the Navajo Nation.• Works in collaboration and directs the Grant Proposal Developer in identifying opportunities that require grant proposals to potential funders.• Coordinate and direct Diné College staff in the crafting and research for special projects.• Coordinate and assist the President in development and distribution of scholarships and funding opportunites related to scholarships. • Perform other duties as assigned. Show less Direct and coordinate with other legislative personnel within the Navajo Nation government, State Legislature (AZ and NM), and Federal government offices. Coordinates with other legislative personnel on lobbying efforts. Be responsible for monitoring developments and alerting President of possible impacts and, if needed soliciting and compiling information regarding possible actions to address legislation. Provide analysis of potential legislation and its impact on the College. Monitor and report on findings from academic and other research organizations that relates to Diné College’ policy agenda. Develop and maintain knowledge of current and emerging trends, issues, and perspectives in higher education within federal, state, institutional, nonprofit, and foundation sectors.Maintains and develops various databases and materials for internal and external use that provide information about state legislators, members of Congress, council delegates, and Diné College’s presence in legislative districts. Assists with the major projects and capital outlay proposals regarding new construction and infrastructure projects. Other skills include directing and managing multi-million dollar budgets. Project management of sub-recipient awards with multiple agencies and various levels of government entities.• Serves as a member of the Presidents executive team and actively participates in strategic institutional planning, policy development, and problem resolution.• Provides excellent judgment, diplomacy, and understanding of the College’s issues to support the President.• Handles various special projects and advise the President on a wide variety of executive and administrative matters, helps set the tone for communications emanating from the President’s Office, and represent the President, as needed, with internal & external constituents. Show less Contributed to Diné College’s advocacy and research agenda through policy analysis and research that advances the College’s higher education agenda policy for Diné College at the local, state, and federal level. Additional responsibility to support day-to-day efforts in liaising with Navajo Nation Council, and other agencies, as well as collaborating with the entire staff in fulfillment of the College’s mission and goals.Research and policy analysis on higher education and related areas and write reports, publish findings, and give presentations. Develop and maintain knowledge of current and emerging trends, issues, and perspectives in higher education within federal, state, institutional, nonprofit, and foundation sectors. Summarize and interpret relevant legislative, judicial, and executive actions. Draft articles and other member communication materials, including grassroots initiatives and policy summaries. Develop and distribute a variety of information materials, including public policy positions, testimony, speeches, and other presentations. Assist in organizing annual Local and National Legislative Summits. Monitor and report on findings from academic and other research organizations that relates to Diné College’ policy agenda.Write multi-million dollar proposals for new infrastructure at the various campuses. Show less

  • Director Of Legislative Affairs and Special Projects

    Oct 2021 - now

  • Director Of Legislative Affairs and Policy

    Mar 2019 - Sept 2021

  • Policy Analyst

    Feb 2018 - Feb 2019
• 

  Office of Navajo Government Development

  Oct 2019 - Oct 2021

  Commissioner

  Commission on Navajo Government Development – The Navajo Nation, Window Rock, Arizona As Commissioner, provide direction and guidance to the Office of Navajo Government Development to fulfill commission goals to use Diné Fundamental Law in providing expertise, advisement, and policy recommendations to the Navajo Nation government as it relates to government reform in structure, ethics, accountability, and transparency

• 

  Hołdzilei Hiking Strong

  Nov 2021 - now

  Chief Executive Officer