AMBER SCHMIDT
Warwick
Summary
Accomplished leader in non-profit management seeking to further my career path within environmental and public health advocacy. Demonstrates strong analytical, communication, and teamwork skills, with proven ability to quickly adapt to new environments. Eager to contribute to team success and further develop professional skills. Brings positive attitude and commitment to continuous learning and growth.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Rethink Disposable Zero Waste Organizer
Clean Water Action
01.2022 - Current
- Planning, coordinating, and implementing ReThink Disposable Initiatives with particular emphasis on outreach and recruitment of schools/restaurants and other entities to establish cost-effective and efficient reusable food containers and bag strategies in line with CT, MA, and RI laws
- Grant writing and tracking
- Major donor cultivation resulting in multiple $20k+ donations
- Engaging with BIPOC, women, and LGBTQ+-owned restaurants with an emphasis on Environmental Justice neighborhoods
- Participate in CT, MA, and RI state zero waste policymaking efforts in partnership with others
- Deep understanding of public health and environmental policy in CT, MA, and RI
- Lobbying and providing testimony on legislation
- Make public presentations, create outreach materials, coordinate social media, and organize events
- Help with fundraising activities
- Perform data collection and impact analysis
- Create case studies on cost savings and waste reduction
- Support Clean Water Action’s field and phone canvasses with briefings, trainings, and materials
- Helped transition over 2 dozen school cafeterias to reusable foodware in CT, RI, and MA
- Created reuse educational materials for students and school administrators
- Created a zero-waste racing model and transitioned 7 races to reusable cups
Canvass Director
Clean Water Action
04.2016 - 05.2023
- Raised over 1.4 million during tenure
- Recruited, hired, and trained a team of canvassers
- Completed payroll, petty cash, deposit logs, variable salary reports, cash flow, and other reports as requested
- Created and implemented a budget, regularly reviewing Net and IMR reports to stay on track
- Strategized with the management team on performance and implemented action plans to increase success
- Wrote and implemented a detailed office and recruitment plan each quarter
- Conducted briefings on Cultural Competency, Sexual Harassment, and Skills
- Developed Field Managers, Assistant Directors, and Canvass Directors
- Trained and promoted three Canvass Directors under my supervision
- Selected to train four Canvass Directors from other Clean Water Action offices
- Worked with the State Director and the Advisory Board on election endorsements
- Conducted phone canvass outreach, including fundraising, public comment, vote by mail, and 2020 presidential candidate persuasion
- Selected by the Canvass Supervisor team to co-chair an ongoing workgroup of all Canvass Directors to overhaul the canvass department’s training files
- Selected to help facilitate National All-Staff Briefings, working across multiple departments to oversee and facilitate content, time management of presenters, ongoing participation of offices, and dissemination of notes/resources to participants
- Selected to participate in DEJI (Diversity, Equity, Justice, and Inclusion) trainer program to develop and facilitate workshops nationally
- Selected to run quarterly office administrator briefings for all canvass operations nationally on recruitment and administrative practices
National Canvass Administrator
Clean Water Action
05.2020 - 04.2021
- Compiled all national canvass income and distributed weekly, monthly, and year-to-date reports
- Synthesized all canvass budgets for the National Canvass Coordinator to review
- Created a tracking document for field-to-phone individual performance
- Completed and distributed all the canvass Net and IMR reports
- Designed and facilitated educational Zoom workshops for all office 2021 prospective summer interns. Coordinated across departments to design panels for the workshops
- Tracked national GOTV shifts during the 2020 election using ThruTalk and submitted income with appropriate grant/contract information to the financial department
Run External and JEDI Campaigns when requested
Planned Parenthood, Dawn Euer for State Senate, Our Streets Providence, Clean Air Taunton/ Coalition for Social Justice
2014 - 2019
- Coordinate with coalition partners on awareness campaigns outside of the scope of Clean Water Action’s campaign work
- Developed and executed campaign deliverables
- Track all campaign expenses and income and report to various departments as needed
- Work with coalition partners to develop the rap and outreach strategy
- Trained canvassers to conduct outreach on Black Maternal Healthcare in BIPOC communities in Providence, RI
- Trained canvassers to register voters in under-resourced communities in Newport, RI
- Trained canvassers to conduct outreach to businesses and residents along new bicycle lane routes throughout Providence, RI
- Trained canvassers to conduct outreach on a proposed gasification plant in an Environmental Justice community and generate at-the-door phone calls to influential city councilors in opposition to the proposed plant
- Trained canvassers to use MiniVan to record interactions for CSJ and Clean Air Taunton for further outreach
New Hampshire Director
America Votes
09.2016 - 10.2016
- Was selected from a pool of eight directors to run the New Hampshire GOTV campaign in 2016
- Hired independent contractors to canvass in Nashua and surrounding areas in New Hampshire for Colin Van Ostern for Governor, Peggy Gilmour for State Senate, and Maggie Hassan for US Senate
- Handled all internal reporting to the canvass, finance, and program departments
- Fostered an ongoing relationship between Clean Water Action and America Votes for future elections-related work
Field Manager
Clean Water Action
12.2014 - 04.2016
- Excel in field canvassing deliverables including membership, fundraising, and public comment
- Hired, trained and managed staff
- Regularly asked to cover the office during the Canvass Director’s absence
- Traveled to offices in Philadelphia and Oakland for training and skill share
- Received the Clean Water Action John O’Connor Award for excellence
Field Manager
Citizens Campaign for the Environment
01.2012 - 10.2014
- Field canvassing on local issues and comprehension of CT Legislature and policy
- Hired, trained and managed staff
- Passed the first plastic bag ban east of the Mississippi
- Worked in the White Plains office to pass a ban on fracking for the State of NY
Education
Associate's Degree - Graphic Design
Middlesex Community College
01-2010
High School - undefined
Daniel Hand High School
Madison, CT01-2005
Skills
- Grant-Writing and Major Donor Cultivation
- Oral and Written Policy Testimony
- Organized
- Knowledge of issues and policy campaigns
- Ability to organize complex projects
- Proficient in working independently and in a team
- Ability to set and meet deadlines
Timeline
Rethink Disposable Zero Waste Organizer
Clean Water Action
01.2022 - Current
National Canvass Administrator
Clean Water Action
05.2020 - 04.2021
New Hampshire Director
America Votes
09.2016 - 10.2016
Canvass Director
Clean Water Action
04.2016 - 05.2023
Field Manager
Clean Water Action
12.2014 - 04.2016
Field Manager
Citizens Campaign for the Environment
01.2012 - 10.2014
High School - undefined
Daniel Hand High School
Run External and JEDI Campaigns when requested
Planned Parenthood, Dawn Euer for State Senate, Our Streets Providence, Clean Air Taunton/ Coalition for Social Justice
2014 - 2019
Associate's Degree - Graphic Design
Middlesex Community College