Joseph Michael McWilliams IV
New College of Florida
AUSTIN,TX
4
Languages
12
years of professional experience
Director of Finance and Governance guides financial stewardship, internal controls, and board-facing governance for a large commercial mushroom farm and agricultural research enterprise. Aligns $2M+ budgeting, compliance, and reporting with day-to-day operations to support growth and disciplined decision-making. Connects finance priorities to production and research goals across a complex agricultural setting.
Work History
Director of Finance and Governance
4 Years 2 Months- Oversaw operations of large commercial mushroom farm and agricultural research enterprise, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and enhancing overall productivity..
- Led financial strategy development to support organizational growth and sustainability.
- Streamlined budgeting processes, enhancing accuracy and reducing variances.
- Oversaw cash flow management, optimizing working capital for operational efficiency.
- Implemented forecasting models to support strategic decision-making and resource allocation.
- Assisted with recruiting, interviewing, and hiring new department employees.
- Prepared monthly reconciliation of bank accounts and took corrective actions on deviations.
Video & Podcast Producer
5 Years 7 Months- Wrote, recorded and edited self-produced video essays on a variety of topics.
- Used a multimedia approach to enhance complex storytelling and politico-cultural messaging.
- Produced engaging video & podcast content, enhancing audience engagement through storytelling techniques.
- Streamlined post-production workflows by developing efficient editing processes and leveraging automation tools.
- Reviewed scripts and made changes to improve wording, flow or interest levels, consistently producing highly successful shows.
Copy & Content Editor, CRISEA Project
1 Year 5 Months- Edited documents and academic papers for European Union funded Competing Regional Integrations in Southeast Asia (CRISEA) project, ensuring clarity and coherence to enhance research dissemination.
- Edited and proofread academic manuscripts to ensure clarity, coherence, and adherence to university standards.
- Collaborated with faculty to develop engaging content for publications and online platforms.
- Managed editorial calendar to streamline publication processes and meet project deadlines efficiently.
Thai Language Translator
1 Year 8 Months- Translated Thai language materials and provided English language tutoring for Buddhist monk at monastery in Germany, facilitating cultural exchange and language acquisition.
- Translated documents between English and Thai, ensuring accuracy and cultural relevance.
- Collaborated with clients to understand specific language needs and preferences.
- Revised translations for clarity, coherence, and adherence to client guidelines.
Permaculture Landscape Designer, Co-Founder
1 Year 7 Months- Co-founded edible and ecological landscaping company, focusing on habitat restoration and implementing carbon-farming food forestry practices to enhance local ecosystems.
- Designed sustainable landscapes incorporating native flora to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop innovative landscape solutions addressing environmental challenges.
- Conducted site assessments to determine optimal design strategies, ensuring functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Founder, NCF Food Forest and Carbon Farm
11 Years- Collaborated with students to transform a former parking lot into a fully integrated food forest and carbon farm, enhancing local biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
Student Head of Organic Gardening & Agroforestry
2 Years 9 Months- Taught and organized organic gardening class, structured curricula, led classes and independent study projects, and conducted flora tours of campus.
Education
M.A. - Languages and Cultures of Southeast Asia
B.A. - Agroecology
Skills
Budget management
Financial reporting
Operations management
Process improvement
Team leadership
Strategic planning
Governance oversight
Stakeholder management
Program management
Business development
P&L management
Cash flow forecasting
Revenue forecasting
KPI reporting
Grant management
Board relations
Contract negotiation
Languages
English: Native speaker
Thai: Advanced (spoken and written)
Spanish: Intermediate (spoken and written)
Lao: Basic (spoken), intermediate (written)
Timeline
Director of Finance and Governance
Fallen Oak Mycology
06.2022 - CurrentRead More
Video & Podcast Producer
Power First Media
01.2021 - CurrentRead More
Copy & Content Editor, CRISEA Project
University of Hamburg
01.2020 - 06.2021Read More
Thai Language Translator
Wat Borami
01.2020 - 09.2021Read More
Permaculture Landscape Designer, Co-Founder
The Florida ReWilding Collective
03.2018 - 10.2019Read More
Founder, NCF Food Forest and Carbon Farm
New College of Florida
08.2015 - CurrentRead More
Student Head of Organic Gardening & Agroforestry
The New College of Florida
08.2014 - 05.2017Read More
The New College of Florida, State Honors College
B.A. from Agroecology
Read More
The University of Hamburg
M.A. from Languages and Cultures of Southeast Asia
Read More
Awards & Honors
Four time scholarship recipient, Longboat Key Garden Club 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021, Dean’s List, The University of South Florida 2012 - 2013, Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Recipient 2012 - 2017
Publications
“Urban food forestry transforms fine-scale soil function for rapid and uniform carbon sequestration”, Urban Ecosystems, 2023