John Ma
San Jose,CA
Summary
Proven track record in rapidly designing and executing innovative ground operations for startups and grassroots initiatives, including first US basic income pilot for people experiencing homelessness and successful “political outsider” signature-gathering campaign for Los Angeles transportation reform Measure HLA. Energetic leader skilled at managing cross-functional teams, aligning diverse stakeholders, and building public-private partnerships to drive organizational change and deliver collective wins on tight timelines. Eager to apply operational and organizational development skills to solving challenges facing space startups.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Business Manager
Cyndi Chen DDS
04.2024 - Current
- Streamlining front-office operations and growing patient base to sell a 20-year dental practice producing at industry's 90th percentile nationwide
- Grew 5-star review count +150% in 3 mos; +87.3% new patients YoY
- Managing HR and facilities; piloting & integrating new workflows & software; redesigning web presence (e.g., DrCyndiChen.com); leading new marketing and referral efforts
- Managing sale process; vetting and working with brokers and buyers
Director of Product
Miracle Messages
04.2023 - 03.2024
- Managed 5 field teams' client outreach & onboarding operations across 4 US regions, growing program enrollment by 27% and retention by 6%
- Drove internal and customer-facing software & workflow improvements (Salesforce, Mailchimp, Squarespace, Acuity), and devised & executed digital marketing strategies (paid search, email content marketing, social media, website development, original video content) that led to 54% increase in volunteer enrollment
- Mentored colleagues through changing roles in a dynamic startup environment, including the Director-level promotion of a direct report
- Staffed & managed semesterly intern program
Outreach Specialist
Miracle Messages
02.2022 - 03.2023
- Led design & execution of a 15-month multi-region operation to locate, recruit, onboard, & support 759 unhoused adults for the US's first randomized controlled trial basic income program serving people experiencing homelessness (Miracle Money California)
- Established & maintained partnerships with 60+ government offices, nonprofits, & housing sites across 6 cities to drive program enrollment and engagement
- Coordinated & delivered cash transfers and administrative & social support to hundreds of unhoused participants across the life of the study, including 12 monthly payments of $750 to 103 of the participants
- Study Summary & Findings: bit.ly/miraclemoneyusc
Campaign Organizer
POWER (People Organized for Westside Renewal)
10.2021 - 10.2022
- Co-led a 10-person team that helped 800+ low-income tenants (primarily seniors & disabled adults) secure COVID-19 rental assistance to avoid eviction & utilities shutoff
- Organized multilingual door-to-door canvassing of hundreds of public and private housing units to bring tenants together in neighborhood groups to access public assistance, learn renters' rights, & build community relationships
Field Director
Healthy Streets LA
02.2022 - 07.2022
- Directed a $1MM citywide field operation that obtained 102k unique voter signatures in 120 days (with 83% validity), to successfully place Measure HLA on Los Angeles City's March 2024 ballot
- Created team, role & pay structures to drive rapid accurate in-person signature collection, and logistics to restock field teams and collect & QA completed packets, enabling real-time campaign decision-making & performance-based compensation
- Hired, trained, and directed hundreds of paid and volunteer signature collectors working citywide, seven days a week, over four months
- Synthesized daily postmortems, household-level voter data, and real-time field conditions to guide daily team deployments & tactics
Director of Strategy & Operations
Fox Entertainment
08.2012 - 04.2022
- Managed the development, adoption, and maintenance of Fox Broadcasting Co.'s first Business Intelligence platform that reported on combined traditional & streaming viewership ($1.3MM annual budget)
- Created & managed workflows to track 120 distribution deals across 27 countries to help launch Fox Entertainment's post-merger international distribution business ($35MM/yr revenue)
- Co-founded & co-chaired FOX ACE, Fox Corp's largest employee resource group (ERG) that served 500+ Asian American & Pacific Islander employees (and allies) companywide
- Organized entry- and mid-level employees across FOX to secure acceptable Return To Office policies as a FOX Culture Committee board member
- Hired as Business Analyst - Aug 2012; Manager, Strategy & Operations - Apr 2014; Director, Strategy & Operations - May 2019
Education
Master of Arts - Process-Oriented Facilitation & Conflict Studies
Process Work Institute
Portland, OR06-2020
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA05-2011
Skills
- Strategic initiatives
- Process improvement
- Issue resolution
- Partnership development
- Team building and leadership
- Operational oversight
- Project management
- Coaching and mentoring
- Verbal and written communication
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Public speaking and presentation
Languages
Chinese (Mandarin)
Upper intermediate (B2)
Spanish
Elementary (A2)
Interests
Athletics (Olympic weightlifting, circus sports, open water swimming), peer counseling & community-based mental health, political advocacy & community-building
Timeline
Business Manager
Cyndi Chen DDS
04.2024 - Current
Director of Product
Miracle Messages
04.2023 - 03.2024
Outreach Specialist
Miracle Messages
02.2022 - 03.2023
Field Director
Healthy Streets LA
02.2022 - 07.2022
Campaign Organizer
POWER (People Organized for Westside Renewal)
10.2021 - 10.2022
Director of Strategy & Operations
Fox Entertainment
08.2012 - 04.2022
Master of Arts - Process-Oriented Facilitation & Conflict Studies
Process Work Institute
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
University of Southern California
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