Mary Behm-Steinberg
International Coordination Specialist
Summary
Accomplished multilingual leader eager to lead and grow organizations through adaptation to creative multicultural solutions. Skilled in strategic planning, problem-solving, and communication with good understanding of business principles, project management and team leadership. Collaborative with creative problem-solving and highly adaptive.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Chair, Human Welfare & Community Action Commission
City of Berkeley
02.2023 - 06.2024
- Implemented succession planning strategies that ensured continuity in leadership during critical transitions.
- Championed diversity initiatives to include active participation of low-income and disabled stakeholders
- Collaborated with state and city officials to bring the City of Berkeley into compliance with federal law and save millions of dollars in Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) funding
- Planned recruitment and renewals of designated committees.
Commissioner
Homeless Commission, Human Welfare and Community A
11.2018 - 06.2024
- Managed stakeholder relationships to ensure alignment with organizational objectives and priorities by identifying City programs out of compliance with the ADA until the end of the Homeless Commission in 2022.
- Proposed innovative housing solutions, such as the Public Reverse Mortgage, which gained consideration internationally
- Rose from Commissioner in the HWCAC to Vice Chair and eventually Chair, during which time I ensured City compliance with federal law and saved City CSBG funding
Freelance Editor and Book Cover Designer
Self
01.2000 - 01.2016
- Managed multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality editorial work.
- Prepared, rewrote, and edited pieces to improve readability and impact.
- Communicated directly with writers to collaboratively assess work and guide editorial improvements.
- Created original artwork for book covers
Fair Trade Importer
The Behm-Powell Collection
11.1992 - 05.2000
- Developed a fair-trade business in Chinese antique country furniture and folk art from scratch with no prior training or experience
- Selected each piece personally onsite and developed long-term relationships with Chinese pickers and shippers
- Navigated US customs with my own pro forma invoices, tailored to meet legal requirements in the absence of usable documentation from trade partners
- Designed and implemented a unique shop display which encouraged clients to linger and learn about the products
Program Representative III
The Committee on Legal Education Exchange With Chi
01.1991 - 08.1992
- Managed and wrote grants for program budgets and resources of over $ one million dollars effectively, ensuring timely completion of projects within allocated funds.
- Coordinated between American legal scholars, including both law professors at various universities and their Chinese partners at Chinese educational institutions from around the country, as well as the Chinese Ministries of Justice and Education as well as the US Embassy in China and the Ford Foundation
- Represented the University in China during an intensive summer study program in Shanghai
- Planned in-country events in Shanghai and Beijing
- Negotiated US placements for Chinese legal scholars
Education
Bachelor of Arts - French, Mandarin, Political Science
05.2001 -
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Summa Cum Laude
- Co-winner of first annual HC Hu Award for Excellence in Mandarin
- Regent's Scholarship for Academic Excellence
- Internship, Arizona State Senate
Mandarin
French
Skills
Strategic leadership
Affiliations
- Berkeley Disability Rights Coalition
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Full Professional
Catalan
Full Professional
French
Professional Working
Chinese (Mandarin)
Professional Working
German
Elementary
Italian
Elementary
Portuguese
Elementary
Interests
Art
Creative Writing
Learning new languages
Timeline
Chair, Human Welfare & Community Action Commission - City of Berkeley
02.2023 - 06.2024
Commissioner - Homeless Commission, Human Welfare and Community A
11.2018 - 06.2024
Arizona State University - Bachelor of Arts, French, Mandarin, Political Science
05.2001 -
Freelance Editor and Book Cover Designer - Self
01.2000 - 01.2016
Fair Trade Importer - The Behm-Powell Collection
11.1992 - 05.2000
Program Representative III - The Committee on Legal Education Exchange With Chi
01.1991 - 08.1992
Nanjing University - , Mandarin
Université Catholique De Lille - , French