AMBER N. OSTRANDER
DENVER,CO
Summary
Results-driven leader with 15+ years of experience in grant management, strategic planning, and program development. Proven success in scaling operations, securing $5B+ in funding, and leading high-impact initiatives to reduce homelessness and improve social services. Adept at stakeholder engagement, financial oversight, and team leadership to drive measurable outcomes.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Consultant
ANO Strategies, LLC
07.2024 - Current
- Evaluate client needs and expectations, establishing clear, intentional goals for each engagement
- Provide guidance and support in the planning, creation, administration and financial continuance of non-profit and grant programs
- Collaborate with stakeholders, leadership, and organizational teams to better understand operational needs and recommend appropriate solutions.
- Research appropriate grant opportunities for non-profit organizations in order to increase funding
- Develop funding timelines and calendars to ensure timely application to all funding deadlines
- Streamline internal processes to enhance team efficiency and improve overall project outcomes.
Chief of Operations and Support
California Interagency Council on Homelessness
06.2021 - 07.2024
- Led the Council through unprecedented growth from 2 grant programs, 5 staff and $650 million in grant funding to 6 grant programs, 35 staff and $5+ billion in grant funding
- Managed federal and state audits including audit interviews, providing formal responses to findings and developing process improvement strategies for improved outcomes
- Created and administered a $5 million Technical Assistance Program to support 115 grantees and resulted in a 50% increase in the development of lived experience advisory boards and 100% compliance in setting data drive numerical goals to reduce unsheltered homelessness
- Collaborated with the Data/Research division to develop presentations, tools, dashboards and resources for to assist grantees with overall data quality improvement utilizing the Homeless Data Integration System (HDIS)
- Coached and mentored 35 grant division staff and 6 direct reports through a year of drastic organizational change a hybrid work environment
Chief of Grant Implementation
Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council
10.2019 - 06.2021
- Developed and implemented the $3.5 billion Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP) for 13 large cities, 58 counties and 44 Continuums of Care in California
- Successfully partnered with the State Controller's Office during the COVID-19 Pandemic to reduce disbursement timelines from 90 days to 14 days to ensure funding to local governments in crisis
- Coordinated meetings between grantees and various state and federal departments to support strategic, innovative ways to use HHAP, Project Roomkey, CDBG, ESG-CV, HUD VASH, YHDP and HOPWA funding
- Collaborated with the Council to development of the Guide to Strategic Uses of State and Federal Funds to Prevent and End Homelessness and the Action Plan for Preventing and Ending Homelessness in California
- Managed the request for proposal and procurement process to secure $5 million in contracts for experts in racial equity, permanent housing strategies and youth program development
- Contributed in the design and deployment of the Homeless Data Integration System (HDIS) to make data California System Performance Measures
Assistant Chief of Administration
California Health and Human Services Agency
03.2012 - 06.2019
- Provided leadership, professional development, and project management for 12 direct reports
- Developed, monitored, maintained the Agency office budget of $15M
- Coordinated the recruitment and hiring process for executive level positions while abiding by state mandated hiring practices to ensure fairness and transparency
- Maintained over 100 confidential personnel files to ensure compliance with the State Personnel Board audit standards for fair hiring practices
- Trained, mentored, and supported all administrative staff on various projects including procurement, budgets, personnel, grant management and customer service
- Served as the Agency lead for the Supervisors Academy and Leadership Development Academy, providing training and development to 150 new supervisors, veteran supervisors, and upper management each year
- Facilitated the Personnel Officers workgroup comprised of 35 human resources executives across 13 state departments responsible for hiring, professional development, contracts, budgets, and audits
- Provided updates on administrative developments to high level executives including Boards, Councils, Directors, Chief Deputies, and Governor's Advisors
Contract and Compliance Manager
Contractors State License Board - Enforcement Division
07.2009 - 03.2012
- Developed and monitored Memorandum of Understandings and Interagency Agreements between the Contractors State License Board and the Department of Justice, Employment Development Department, Department of Industrial Relations, and the Department of Insurance
- Developed, edited, maintained, and distributed statistical reports that tracked production
- Identified work production obstacles and solutions and presented them to the Chief of Enforcement, monthly
- Assisted Public Affairs in the development of the Annual Report to the Legislature that highlighted Board achievements
- Monitored pilot programs to identify potential issues that could be detrimental to the program's success
- Identified clear expectations for staff working on pilot programs to ensure that objectives were met
Membership Coordinator
Rotary Club of Sacramento
05.2007 - 07.2009
- Maintained all activities around membership recruitment including member databases, member informational materials, and orientation requirements
- Assisted with the planning of fundraisers that involved soliciting high value items for silent auctions and online fundraising events
- Organized attendance for weekly lunch meetings in a formal setting for 100+ Rotarians including special accommodations and scheduling of quest speakers suggested by members
Manager of Development and Community Outreach
United Way of Butte & Glenn Counties
04.1999 - 04.2007
- Managed annual giving campaigns including Giving Tuesday, Bowl-A-Thon, Adopt-A-Family and Giving Gala with silent auction raising $500,000, annually
- Participated in community outreach efforts to provide stakeholders with a solid awareness of the United Way mission, the programs we support and how to get involved with the organization
- Researched and applied for over $800,000 in grant funding, annually
- Chaired the Citizens Review Committee in which members of the community came together to make decisions on where local funding should be allocated
- Monitored the Ryan White/Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) federal grant expenditures in 6 counties to ensure compliance with federal contract guidelines
- Reviewed & synthesized state government correspondence pertaining to the Ryan White CARE Act including grant proposals, policies, and contracts
- Established and coordinated the volunteer program for over 100 volunteers
- Developed volunteer duty statements, scheduled orientations and lead all outreach activities
Education
Master of Arts - Educational Leadership And Management
California State University, Sacramento
Sacramento, CASkills
- Problem-solving
- Team leadership & development
- Client relationships
- Cultural awareness
- Public speaking
Accomplishments
- Supervised team of 15 staff through unprecedented times of the COVID-19 Pandemic
- One of 540 Fellows selected from 6500 top graduate students and emerging leaders for 2015-2016 Education Pioneers Leadership Development Program in Memphis, TN.
- Received award for outstanding transformational leadership from the California Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council for leading teams in the implementation of grant programs through aggressive timelines and policy changes.
- Served as President from 2017 - 2022 on the First Love Yourself, INC. Board of Directors - an organization providing self-love workshops to disadvantaged youth.
Certification
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility - Why it Matters for Leaders - February 2024
- Project Management, California Human Resources - May 2020
- Chairing Interview Exams, California Human Resources – June 2016
- Skelly Officer Training, California Human Resources - April 2016
- Dealing with Difficult People, CPS HR Consulting – March 2016
- Leadership Academy - California Human Resources - February 2015
Timeline
Consultant
ANO Strategies, LLC
07.2024 - Current
Chief of Operations and Support
California Interagency Council on Homelessness
06.2021 - 07.2024
Chief of Grant Implementation
Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council
10.2019 - 06.2021
Assistant Chief of Administration
California Health and Human Services Agency
03.2012 - 06.2019
Contract and Compliance Manager
Contractors State License Board - Enforcement Division
07.2009 - 03.2012
Membership Coordinator
Rotary Club of Sacramento
05.2007 - 07.2009
Manager of Development and Community Outreach
United Way of Butte & Glenn Counties
04.1999 - 04.2007
Master of Arts - Educational Leadership And Management
California State University, Sacramento
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