Laura Stewart
Dover,DE
Summary
20+ years work experience in administrative law specialties within the federal and local government. Skilled in areas of legal research, writing, document review, witness preparation, and litigation support. 3 years of supervisory work experience. Analytical professional with technical knowledge and critical thinking skills to thrive in data-driven environments. Tackles challenges with positivity and drive to overcome. Works great alone or with others and consistently exceeds expectations.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Litigation Support/ FOIA Analyst
Windsor Group, LLC
03.2023 - Current
- Supporting FOIA program activities at the Bureau of Indian Education, Department of Interior in collaboration with the Office of the Solicitor.
Lead FOIA Analyst
Tech Op Solutions
10.2022 - 02.2023
- Created performance metrics for management to gauge productivity and individual performance of FSC contractor team members
- Communicated status briefings to COR in response to inquiries regarding case management
- Established recurring team meetings, cultivated team dynamics among analysts, introduced positive reinforcement to improve morale and sense of contribution to organizational goals
- Reviewed cases and provided quality improvement guidance at the first-tier review level
- Offered training guidance and development opportunities to team members.
FOIA Analyst
Palmer Staffing
10.2020 - 04.2022
- Reviewed large investigative and audit files while using Exemptions 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 to exempt information from public access
- Coordinated subject matter expert reviews with Office of Audit investigators to decipher their work product in relation to the original agency records subject to FOIA release
- Wrote final responses for the FOIA Chief’s final review and signature
- Assisted senior officials with the configuration of a new FOIA database tracking system (FOIAXpress)
- Completed large page count reviews of responsive records to reduce the FOIA backlog.
Senior FOIA Analyst
Deceris LLC
09.2019 - 03.2021
- Trained and developed proficiency to search for responsive records on multiple enforcement databases and securities filings records systems
- Managed an average 30 assigned FOIA cases in a FOIA Xpress database tracking system
- Prepared final packages (including final FOIA response letter) for the FOIA Branch Chief’s review
- Closed out all FY 2020 cases assigned to me prior to the end of that fiscal year
- Assisted other teammates to complete additional cases for annual closeout.
Supervisory Government Information Specialist
Department of Health and Human Services
06.2017 - 06.2018
- Managed the FOIA and Privacy programs for eight Agency components within the Department of Health and Human Services
- Supervised six federal employees and contractors working as Government Information Specialists
- Managed budget issues for the workgroup supported by a congressional fee-based system – billing monthly for completion of each initial FOIA and each FOIA appeal at a flat rate established for each case type
- The amount charged for all cases completed was used to pay for all office overhead and personnel costs
- Processed FOIA and Privacy initial cases and/or appeals for CDC, FDA, Office of Research Integrity, etc
- Completed personnel assessments and performance management counseling
- Managed outreach to interagency senior officials regarding program mission and completion of performance milestones.
FOIA Chief, Employee Engagement Officer, Executive Secretariat Team Lead
Small Business Administration
09.2013 - 06.2017
- Managed the Agency’s decentralized, national FOIA program powered by 100+ FOIA liaisons assigned to program offices who are responsible for responding to their assigned programs’ FOIA and Privacy Act requests
- Provided FOIA/Privacy Act training and guidance to the liaisons
- Assisted the liaisons to spot legal issues with more complex FOIA matters
- Received and processed FOIA appeals of initial FOIA determinations issued by these offices
- Managed a team of two Government Information Specialists
- Prepared and submitted quarterly and annual FOIA statistics and the annual Chief FOIA Officer FOIA report to the Department of Justice
- Supported all technical support for the FOIA Online FOIA tracker database
- Accomplished the Office of Information Technology rollout of the SBA public website to access agency loan data with cross-functional teamwork with OIT, the programming office responsible for maintaining SBA loan data, and the agency administrator.
Government Information Specialist
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
10.2011 - 09.2013
- Worked to establish the FOIA program at a newly created federal agency
- Provided information and training to financial and legal staff with limited prior government experience
- Managed highly politicized FOIA requests from government accountability, partisan Political groups, law firms, and media
- Processed largest page counts and most complex financial and bank supervision records to respond to FOIA requests.
Representational Paralegal, Communications Specialist/FOIA Analyst
U.S. Veterans Affairs Department
09.2002 - 10.2011
- Accumulated nine years of professional experience with increasing responsibilities as a result of promotions within the Department of Veterans Affairs. Successfully transitioned between roles including paralegal duties, congressional correspondence, and FOIA/Privacy.
Education
Bachelor of Science Business -
University of Phoenix
12.2022
Paralegal Certificate -
Texas School of Business, Southwest Campus
12.1991
Skills
- KPI analysis
- Issue Identification
- Regulatory Compliance
- Documentation And Reporting
- Workflow Analysis
- Information Gathering
- Report Preparation
- System Analysis
- Budget Forecasting
- Evidence-Based Decision Making
- Business Operations Analysis
- Contract analysis
- Team Collaboration and Leadership
- Strategic Planning
- Analytical Thinking
- Process Improvements
- Project Management
- Deadline Adherence
- Compliance Analysis
- Continuous Improvement
- Multiple Priorities Management
- Policy improvements
- Budget Development
Training And Professional Groups
- DOJ Annual FOIA Trainings
- International Privacy Professionals, CIPP/G by Exam Certification, 03/01/08
- American Society of Access Professionals
- Multiple training events taught by Richard Huff through USDA, OIP, and AINS
Timeline
Litigation Support/ FOIA Analyst
Windsor Group, LLC
03.2023 - Current
Lead FOIA Analyst
Tech Op Solutions
10.2022 - 02.2023
FOIA Analyst
Palmer Staffing
10.2020 - 04.2022
Senior FOIA Analyst
Deceris LLC
09.2019 - 03.2021
Supervisory Government Information Specialist
Department of Health and Human Services
06.2017 - 06.2018
FOIA Chief, Employee Engagement Officer, Executive Secretariat Team Lead
Small Business Administration
09.2013 - 06.2017
Government Information Specialist
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
10.2011 - 09.2013
Representational Paralegal, Communications Specialist/FOIA Analyst
U.S. Veterans Affairs Department
09.2002 - 10.2011
Bachelor of Science Business -
University of Phoenix
Paralegal Certificate -
Texas School of Business, Southwest Campus
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