Keith L. Morris, JD, MPA
Solves Problems | Builds Collaborations | Innovates Every Chance
Lansing, moving to Indianapolis,MI
Summary
Results-oriented nonprofit executive with demonstrated record of accomplishment in streamlining operations, increasing profits and maximizing market penetration. Decisive leader promoting operational improvements, market expansion and positive corporate culture as keys to success.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
Work History
President and Chief Executive Officer
Elder Law Of Michigan, Inc.
Lansing, MI
08.2013 - Current
- Facilitated over $1.5M in annual operating budget for 8+ years.
- Supported and supervised team of over 20 legal and social-service professionals.
- Set strategic course for organization, working closely with Board of Directors, stakeholders, and team members.
- Achieved under-budget and on-time project management to adhere to project goals.
- Increased workflow of client services by analyzing data and maximizing opportunities for improved productivity across several areas, from providing client services to authorizing payments.
- Implemented Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion concepts into human resource practices, providing client services, and prioritizing targeted efforts for outreach.
- Designed and secured funding for several innovative projects, which are listed below.
Vice President
Elder Law Of Michigan, Inc.
Lansing, MI
10.2010 - 08.2013
- Spearheaded cross-functional initiatives across programs to increase efficiencies and achieve organization and program goals, resulting in overall reduction in annual fixed and variable expenses by 12% and 15%, respectively.
- Developed performance goals for programs and outlined processes for achievement.
- Clarified roles, responsibilities and expectations of staff through use of person-level objectives and known results.
- Designed and implemented new internal compliance system that allowed designated staff to review financial and performance transactions, determine whether documentation is complete, and report if transaction is appropriate.
- Expanded referral system to focus on ways healthcare providers would use system and possible barriers to successful implementation. Worked with Research Fellow for Sparrow Healthcare Systems in Lansing, Mi, to evaluate need and use of system in emergency rooms, hospitals,doctors' offices, rehabilitation, and at patient's home.
Program Director, Center for Elder Rights Advocacy
Elder Law Of Michigan, Inc.
Lansing, MI
10.2008 - 10.2018
- Developed national technical assistance program for senior legal hotlines from ground up, laying out framework, and defining roles.
- Created new system of resource sharing for senior legal service programs.
- Developed and recommended policies and procedures for evaluating senior legal services programs.
- Created, implemented, and evaluated standard collection of de-identified, case-level data from up to 30 senior legal hotlines annually for reporting national-level client profiles and outcomes of services. This process is model for federal government's now required reporting for senior legal services.
- Published 10 national annual reports that included in-depth analysis of data collected and showed profiles of clients served, types of cases, and impact of senior legal hotlines.
- Mentored up to eight statewide hotline managers concurrently in achievement of program development, delivery objectives, securing funding and sustainability, etc.
Director of Operations
Elder Law Of Michigan, Inc.
Lansing, MI
06.2002 - 10.2010
- Mentored and supervised diverse workforce of 20-30 staff, managing scheduling, supervision, and performance management
- Implemented new custom internal accounting system that more accurately budgeted and monitored expenditures, resulting in number of budget variations reduced by 80% and stronger monitoring use of grant funding.
- Improved client satisfaction scores and impact of services by creating standard operating procedures handbooks and training
- Spearheaded development of statewide referral system to connect older adult clients to all needed services, regardless of where first asked for help
Visiting Associate Professor, Legal Writing
Western Michigan University
Lansing, MI
01.2005 - 12.2015
- Instructed over 2,500 law students over 10 years on legal research and writing methods and advanced legal drafting, ensuring each student understood writing process for informative and persuasive documents.
- Reinforced value of plain language writing, concise and structured drafting, and not writing like lawyer through real-world scenarios.
- Used different learning modes and types of technology to engage students in achieving learning outcomes.
- Provided students with constructive, encouraging, and corrective feedback.
Education
Masters in Public Administration - Nonprofit Management
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 09.2005 - 12.2008
Juris Doctor - General Practice
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 09.2000 - 05.2003
Bachelor of Science - Human Resource Management
Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC 09.1989 - 12.1993
Skills
Program oversight
Project Management
Business planning
Financial Management
Interpersonal Communication
Process Design and Implementation
Data Analysis and Reporting
Consulting
Budgeting
Problem-Solving
Self-Motivated
Collaborations
Information Management
Written Communications
Verbal Communications
Policy Development
Compliance Oversight
Resource Development
Communications Management
Timeline
President and Chief Executive Officer
Elder Law Of Michigan, Inc.
08.2013 - Current
Vice President
Elder Law Of Michigan, Inc.
10.2010 - 08.2013
Program Director, Center for Elder Rights Advocacy
Elder Law Of Michigan, Inc.
10.2008 - 10.2018
Masters in Public Administration - Nonprofit Management
Western Michigan University
09.2005 - 12.2008
Visiting Associate Professor, Legal Writing
Western Michigan University
01.2005 - 12.2015
Director of Operations
Elder Law Of Michigan, Inc.
06.2002 - 10.2010
Juris Doctor - General Practice
Western Michigan University
09.2000 - 05.2003
Bachelor of Science - Human Resource Management
Winthrop University
09.1989 - 12.1993
Affiliations
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Senior Advisory Committee Member
- Michigan Poverty Law Program's Advisory Group
- Justice Initiatives of the State Bar of Michigan
- Sixty-Plus Elderlaw Clinic, WMU, Board of Directors
- Southeast Michigan Senior Regional Collaborative
- Michigan Dementia Coalition
- Healthcare Workforce Initiative
- Michigan Attorney General's Elder Abuse Taskforce
- National Association of Senior Legal Hotlines
- Lansing Area AIDS Network Board of Directors
INNOVATIVE PROJECTS
Projects researched and designed to address identified needs. These projects focused on building capacity of community organizations, increasing knowledge of barriers to service, improving equity of access to services, and creating strategic nontraditional partnerships. Many of these have been supported and implemented. These are just a few examples:
- Closed portal website where trained staff at community organizations can access information on all benefits and services available to older adult in Michigan. Website would have links to all resources, screening tools, brochures, way to refer client for assistance, live chat for questions, and reporting on outcomes of case assistance.
- Coordinated questionnaire that, after determining which benefits and services to apply for, combines questions for all required applications and removes duplicate questions. After generated questions are answered, all applications needed will be generated and filled out. Most applications will be electronically submitted.
- In two minority communities, local advisory groups with businesses, service providers, and government officials to address older adult food insecurity by soliciting ideas from group members and providing members with material to distribute to older adults, passively or actively.
- Coordinate outreach efforts among numerous senior service providers in same service area to have one flier, one phone number, one message that connects older adults to all of services potentially available.
- Conduct a LEAN Agile process evaluation on application process used by staff to assist older adults to determine why half of the clients did not complete the process.
- Build stronger partnerships between healthcare providers and community-service providers that allows for trust that older adults have in doctors as basis to educate, motivate, and connect older adults with needed services.
- Build more user-accepted and integrated system to facilitate referrals and coordination between healthcare, community-service providers, government agencies, and caregivers.