Lydia Drescher

Dedicated and driven professional with over 20 years of collective experience in Administration, Customer Service, Business Management, and Organizational Development. Especially skilled in verbal and written communication. Strong ability to be flexible and learn new skills enthusiastically. Customer-oriented worker with proven ability to maintain diplomacy while seeking out the best solution for client. Collaborative team player recognized for working well with diverse communities and providing an environment of openness and trust. Detail-oriented multitasker practiced in managing multiple priorities successfully in fast-paced settings. Analytical problem solver knowledgeable of legal and insurance industry practices, procedures, and compliance. Organized manager with strong proficiency in maintaining accurate client records and interactions. Selected skills include: Legal Research, Interviewing, Federal Laws and Codes, Cultural & Heritage Grant Writing, Reservation-based Micro-Finance, and Human Resource Management.

• Selected to work with Smithsonian Institute linguists and scholars in collaboration with the National Museum of the American Indian or Native American language restoration, which helped expand a tribal dictionary.
• Researched grants and developed prospect lists of potential financial donors, and assisted with grant writing and strategic planning for the building of the Longhouse Cultural Centre carving and weaving studios - a collaboration between U.S. Native American and Māori scholars of New Zealand.
• Provided Administrative support and grant writing for a $5M capital campaign for the building of an Indigenous Arts campus and Master's in Fine Arts in Indigenous Arts Program at the Evergreen State College campus.
• Researched and examined Indigenous socio-economic issues, language and culture in a month-long project focusing on Indigenous economies and micro-loan programs that assist Indigenous women to start or expand a small business.
• Designed a product and marketing plan for the CIELO Sewing Project, an immigrant women's training program that promotes self-sufficiency through home-based business.
• Developed a social entrepreneurial business plan to create a revenue stream within a small business enterprise for a non-profit organization.
• Researched and wrote an extensive analysis of the Lakota Funds, a micro-finance model that promotes economic sustainability and entrepreneurship on the Pine Ridge Reservation, SD.

• Paralegal Certification, Tacoma Community College, Tacoma, WA, Winter 2023, Accredited by the American Bar Association. Courses included: contract law, business law, real estate law, civil and criminal procedure, legal research, and writing, interviewing and investigations, legal documents, pleadings, and briefs.
• Bachelor of Arts, Social Entrepreneurship & Small Business Enterprise, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA, 2014
• Communications, Waikato Institute of Technology, Hamilton, Waikato, NZ, 30 credits towards a Bachelor's degree, Courses include media marketing, writing, podcasting, documentary film, and photography. 2020.-2021.
• WA State Disability and Health Licensure, Office of the Insurance Commissioner, 2019