Michelle Young
Arlington,VA
Summary
Experienced leader with over two decades of success in leading teams either by managing or fundraising for high-stakes political races at the federal, state, and local levels. Skilled in developing efficient processes, maintaining high standards, and aligning efforts with best practices in fast-paced and ever-evolving environments. Demonstrated ability to effectively manage budgets, analyze data to identify trends and project cash flow; individual, corporate and organizational fundraising; compliance and operational excellence.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Deputy Chief of Staff
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13)
01.2022 - Current
- Served as New Member Orientation Transition Aide, overseeing District office setup and operations, participating in hiring of DC and select District office staff and supervised onboarding to ensure office policies and procedures were communicated.
- Developed Scheduling protocols; lead DC and District scheduling, ensuring the Congresswoman's time is being used strategically to accomplish our legislative goals and maintain and cultivate relationships with stakeholders.
- Supervise two operational staff, developed a system to streamline communication with constituents, decreasing response times by 25% and increased operational efficiency among staff in preparation for constituent meetings.
- Oversee Human Resources aspects, including staff paid leave, remote work, office expenditures and reimbursements, travel, and onboarding and offboarding of staff.
- Manage paid intern budget and work with Staff Assistant on hiring.
- Advise Member and staff on select legislative topics as they relate to the District.
Senior Advisor
Nikki for Congress
01.2021 - Current
- Currently manage the campaign’s off-cycle budget, including reconciling, compliance, analyzing spending trends and supervise the campaign's finance operation to ensure it meets its quarterly goals; provide local political insight to Member and team.
- During the 2024 cycle, managed a $2.5M campaign budget, achieving a 16% victory, outperforming Democrats up and down the ballot in each county and increasing our cycle over cycle margins; supervised a team of 10 staff, paid media consultants and plans, finance and compliance, communications, scheduling, field and operations.
- During the 2022 cycle and DCCC "Red to Blue" race, led a team of 4 finance staff to successfully achieve fundraising goals to execute a $5M campaign budget that resulted in a 12% margin of victory in a 'purple' district.
- Assessed fundraising infrastructure and devised a strategy to use fundraising best practices, crafted compelling messages for the candidate and team, coached candidate and fundraising surrogates on making fundraising asks; expanded donor base by 78% within three months.
- Served as mentor to the campaign manager and provided support when needed on budget matters, political strategy, scheduling and operations.
Chairman/Fmr. Campaign Manager and Finance Dir.
Citizens for Lisa Madigan
11.2013 - Current
- Managed a $4M campaign budget and led a statewide paid media strategy that successfully re-elected Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to a fourth term with a 21% margin of victory.
- Supervised the consultant team and oversaw entire campaign operation, including communications, finance, compliance, field, scheduling and operations.
- During the off-cycle, networked with donors to fundraise and generate over $1.5M; planned and executed small and large-scale fundraising events throughout Illinois; managed the budget, compliance and recordkeeping.
- On behalf of AG Lisa Madigan, participated in Democratic Attorneys General Association's (DAGA) events and conferences; coordinated among Democratic AG political staff to combine efforts against President Trump's many attacks on core Democratic values.
- Currently, manage the political committee’s budget, record expenditures and receipts, prepare and file financial reports in compliance with Illinois state law.
- Work with former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan on how to best support Democratic AG candidates during election cycles.
Director of Operations and Marketing
RE/MAX Professionals
09.2019 - 12.2021
- Launched and managed "Marketing to the MAX" - a program that provided personalized marketing plans for the office's 80+ REALTORS®, increasing agent retention and lead generation by 20%; generated targeting lists; and developed social media, printed content and direct mail pieces for agents.
- Established and directed the office's 'BoomTown!' program, an innovative lead generation platform and CRM to scale agent transactions.
- Provided weekly in-person and virtual trainings on modern technology tools to generate leads, develop individual business plans and maintain a database to streamline communication with current clients and cultivate new leads.
- Oversaw office operations, managed 4 staff to ensure excellence in agent support with Multiple Listing Service (MLS) management and Dotloop to track transaction progress from start to finish.
- Provided back-up support to office's bookkeeper, assisting with compiling, tracking and reconciling expenditures, processing payroll and commission checks to agents.
- Organized large-scale client appreciation events.
- Met with agent leads to educate them on the benefits of being a RE/MAX agent; increased recruitment by 10% year over year.
Co-founder and Principal
For the Win Campaigns, LLC
01.2018 - 09.2019
- Served as political and fundraising consultant to 10+ Illinois state legislative races and Erik Jones for Congress in IL-13, EMILY's List and Cheryle Jackson’s Grit & Grace Day Conference.
- Worked with clients on building campaign infrastructures, training candidates and campaign staff on best practices for managing a budget, building a sound finance operation, compliance, developing a field plan and managing the candidate's time; participated in paid consultant calls and provided guidance with paid media plans.
- Developed online content and direct mail pieces to boost candidate visibility.
Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
Chicago Public Schools (CPS)
04.2012 - 09.2013
- Oversaw Chicago Public Schools’ (CPS) Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to represent CPS and the 400,000 students it serves before federal, state and local governing bodies.
- Managed 10+ staff and contractual lobbyists to secure and maintain public funding levels; track legislation and garner support for CPS' legislative initiatives.
- Leveraged political networks and industry knowledge to strengthen advocacy efforts.
- Worked with team to troubleshoot challenging situations, including a historic teacher's strike and school closings.
Director of Correspondence
Office of Mayor Rahm Emanuel
05.2011 - 04.2012
- Supervised the Mayor’s Correspondence Unit by drafting, proofing, editing letters and proclamations on behalf of Mayor Rahm Emanuel during his first term.
- Collected and tracked constituent casework and collaborated with city commissioners to resolve issues.
Deputy Campaign Manager; Political Director; Downstate Director
Illinois State Comptroller Daniel W. Hynes
01.2003 - 01.2010
- Served as a key member of Dan Hynes’ political team during his races for IL Governor, re-election to IL State Comptroller and U.S Senate.
- Built political coalitions with Democratic Party organizations, elected officials, labor organizations and constituency groups throughout Illinois to garner endorsements.
- Managed off-cycle budget and fundraising operation.
- Trained and mentored interns and volunteers to support the field and fundraising operations.
- Negotiated vendor contracts and managed relationships.
Local Government Affairs Director
Illinois Association of REALTORS®
01.2005 - 01.2006
- Monitored local governing bodies and legislative issues on behalf of the North Shore-Barrington Association of REALTORS® nearly 4,000 residential and commercial real estate professionals.
- Managed Government Affairs Committee and advised association’s leadership and members on suggested positions to take on proposed ordinances.
- Organized grassroots advocacy and direct mail campaigns on local issues pertaining to the industry.
- Coordinated member lobbying efforts in Washington, DC and Springfield, IL.
Education
B.A. - Law & Society
American University
WASHINGTON, DC01.2003
Skills
- Budget
- Cash flow
- Fundraising
- Donor cultivation
- Event management
- Compliance expertise
- Operational Excellence
- Problem-solving
- Data management
- Scheduling
- Coalition building
- Results orientation
Languages
Spanish
Elementary
Italian
Elementary
Timeline
Deputy Chief of Staff
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13)
01.2022 - Current
Senior Advisor
Nikki for Congress
01.2021 - Current
Director of Operations and Marketing
RE/MAX Professionals
09.2019 - 12.2021
Co-founder and Principal
For the Win Campaigns, LLC
01.2018 - 09.2019
Chairman/Fmr. Campaign Manager and Finance Dir.
Citizens for Lisa Madigan
11.2013 - Current
Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
Chicago Public Schools (CPS)
04.2012 - 09.2013
Director of Correspondence
Office of Mayor Rahm Emanuel
05.2011 - 04.2012
Local Government Affairs Director
Illinois Association of REALTORS®
01.2005 - 01.2006
Deputy Campaign Manager; Political Director; Downstate Director
Illinois State Comptroller Daniel W. Hynes
01.2003 - 01.2010
B.A. - Law & Society
American University
Similar Profiles
Yariel CamachoYariel Camacho
Intern at Congresswoman Emilia SykesIntern at Congresswoman Emilia Sykes
Peyton DavisPeyton Davis
District Office Intern at Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-MccormickDistrict Office Intern at Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-Mccormick
Cody VadenCody Vaden
District Director at Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne TX-24District Director at Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne TX-24