Janet Burgess-Russon
Provo,UT
Summary
Dynamic Executive Director with a proven track record at Operation Underground Railroad, specializing in strategic planning and partnership development. Successfully established over 300 NGO collaborations, enhancing anti-trafficking initiatives. Adept at budgeting and financial management, while fostering community engagement and innovative solutions to drive impactful change in vulnerable populations.
Overview
2024
2024
years of professional experience
Work History
Strategic Alliances-Executive Director
Operation Underground Railroad
12.2021 - 05.2023
- Developed and implemented strategic initiatives to combat human trafficking on national and international levels.
- Established vetted partnerships with 300+ NGOs and community organizations to expand efforts against exploitation.
- Researched and vetted NGOs before partnering.
- Traveled to meet with NGO's and their partners, inclucing law enforcement, former military and LE, government administrators.
- Advocated for anti-trafficking policy changes at local and national levels to strengthen legislation by working with lobbying organizations.
- Worked closely with organizational leadership to guide operational strategy.
- Collaborated internally with departments such as Donor Relations, Education, Outreach (Law Enforcement partnerships in 50 states), PR, Ops (Operations)
- Consulted on specific Operations in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Latin America and Europe.
- Offered grants and/or other tangible assistance and collaboration opportunities to NGOs in the anti-human trafficking space.
- Represented organization at conferences and events.
- Introduced NGOs to others in anti-trafficking NGO network/ database with whom they held a similar focus in anti-trafficking.
- Collaborated with legal, accounting and other professional teams to review and maintain compliance with regulations.
- Maintained and contributed to database of 300+NGOs by following up with each organization weekly or monthly to access changing needs.
Children Need Families-Executive Director
Operation Underground Railroad
01.2018 - 12.2021
- Developed and implemented strategic initiatives to facilitate adoption grants to U.S. and Canadian families adopting children from countries with high-risk trafficking rates of minors.
- Created new policy, applications and SOP for the department, based on industry standard.
- Collaborated with 20+ Hague accredited adoption agencies both domestic and international.
- Communicated directly in Spanish and French with adoption agencies and orphanages.
- Personally oversaw 220 adoptions, maintaining a 3 year relationship and follow-up with each adopting family.
- Designed website and promotional materials for the department and initiative.
- Responsible for a budget of 1-2+MM, annually.
- Organized and presented grants in person, surprising families with balloons, flowers and a film crew to present adoption awards of 10-40K, including an interview of each family on film. These presentations were known as "Balloon Raids".
- Facilitated a grant of 1MM to Rods Heros for the adoption of Down Syndrome orphans in China and abroad.
- Worked closely with Slave Stealers to raise awareness for anti-human traffiking of minors worldwide, including involvement in the blockbuster film, The Sound of Freedom.
- Managed and reviewed budgeting processes quarterly with CFO to ensure financial sustainability and operational efficiency
- Created industry standard for adoption grant process, metrics and grant program effectiveness.
- Oversaw financial management, ensuring fiscal responsibility and long-term sustainability for the department.
- Monitored compliance with laws and regulations to protect organization from legal liabilities and penalties by communicating with legal department.
- Represented organization to local public by giving presentations and speeches and participating in all company events.
- Exercised appropriate cost control to meet budget restrictions and maximize profitability.
- Developed strategic partnerships within the organization to expand the organization's reach and influence.
- Built and maintained a strong company teams by hiring and training qualified staff as the budget and outreach expanded to include more adoption agencies, orphanages and potential adoptive families.
- Aligned department vision, goals, and objectives with company strategy to achieve consistently high results by creating an extensive 1-5 year plan.
- Increased organizational efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing new systems such as improved application, eliminating repeat documentation for applying families, dedicating staff to assist and oversee each family through the application process.
- Optimized operational workflows.
- Created promotional materials and provided insightful information to social media, websites and print media to educate public.
- Facilitated successful compliance with industry standards and regulations such as Hague compliance.
- Expanded organization's outreach, executing strategic partnerships with local and international NGOs.
- Optimized resource allocation, conducting thorough needs assessments and prioritizing project funding.
- Collaborated with legal, accounting and other professional teams to review and maintain compliance with regulations.
Peaks Ice Arena-Executive Director of Skating
Provo City Corporation
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Humanities And Languages
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT04-1992
Skills
- Community engagement
- Program management
- Strategic planning
- Project management
- Operations management
- Budgeting and financial management
- Staff management
- Relationship building
- Public speaking
- Program leadership
- Innovation and creativity
- Operational planning
- Partnership development
- Grant writing
- Speechwriting
- Outreach programs
- Education
- Team leadership, training, and development
- Coaching and counseling
- Goal setting
- Executive leadership
- Innovative and visionary
- Policies and procedures
- Employee motivation and performance
- Planning and coordination
- Approachable leader
- Process improvement
- Effective communicator and public speaker
- MIssion and vision
- Operations oversight
- People and culture
- Board reporting
- Employee coaching
- Adaptable and flexible
- Client relationship building
- Program administration
- Policy development
Accomplishments
- Awarded Outstanding Employee for 5 years recognizing continued service and leadership to the organization.
- Fluency in Spanish. Proficiency in German and French. Limited proficiency in Italian.
- Former competitive figure skater as youth and adult.
- Expert level skier and former Sundance ski instructor.
- Competitive equestrian and Arabian horse owner. 15 Blue Ribbions including Championships.
- Well traveled.
- Interests include helping others, serving, educating and being educated, learning and applying new skills, reading, spending time with family and friends.
- Sports and physical interests: alpine and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, figure-skating, hiking, horseback riding, tennis, paddle boarding, small craft sailing, swimming, working out.
- Travel
Affiliations
- Rotary International
- USFA
Languages
French
Limited Working
Spanish
Professional Working
English
Native or Bilingual
Interests
- Enjoy participating in [activity] for overall physical and mental well-being
- Gym Workouts
- High-Intensity Interval Training
- Swimming
- Pilates
Timeline
Strategic Alliances-Executive Director
Operation Underground Railroad
12.2021 - 05.2023
Children Need Families-Executive Director
Operation Underground Railroad
01.2018 - 12.2021
Peaks Ice Arena-Executive Director of Skating
Provo City Corporation
Bachelor of Arts - Humanities And Languages
Brigham Young University
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