MYRA CAMPBELL
Washington,DC
Summary
Seasoned professional offering outstanding, agency-wide FOIA requests caseload management, processing and execution. Versed in presentation, editing, communication & cross-cultural team management skills. High-energy, results-oriented leader with an innovative, creative & no-exceptions attitude in tight-deadline environments. Vast experience executing in high-pressured environments. Desire higher-level position in FOIA management.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Govt. Info. Specialist - 40 Hrs/wk $117+k
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
08.2023 - Current
- Serve as FOIA (SME) subject matter expert for agency in area of Intake. Provide consultation services to other departments and participating in cross-functional projects as needed.
- Optimized FOIA request execution by training Intake team to fine-tune and sharpen all our procedures and steps independent and within Secure Release. Taught team to make requests reflect realtime actions in SR and foresee any potential questions regarding execution and providing supporting info to speak to such inquiries. Outcome was that agency’s initial FOIA request response time was reduced by close to five (5) days.
- Created training plan for entire team by scheduling training multiple trainings via DOJ, along with providing ongoing copyediting knowledge, etc. to synchronize Intake Team’s level of knowledge regarding FOIA and proper FOIA requests execution.
- Designed, coordinated and facilitated training workshops for FEMA Program Offices, Researchers & legal staff regarding particulars on the law of FOIA & their responsibilities in responding to requests for documents (RFDs).
- Revised correspondence templates and standard procedures for Intake Team's policies to ensure that all communications are clear and concise in addition to making sure we prevent any upticks in appeals and/or litigation.
- Lead a team of FOIA Analysts (Intake), delegating tasks effectively and provide ongoing feedback & advise analysts, POCs and requesters regarding FOIA laws. Give buy-in on team member’s performance levels.
- Since coming aboard, my team’s average weekly closings grew from mid 20s to close to 45 thru 56 closures/week.
- Created and began publishing biweekly RFD reports for all POs. Since starting in Dec 2023, agency's backlog reduced considerably (close to 100) in under six (6) months.
- Scour different queues in SR to identify trends, performance lags or upticks, usage statistics, and find areas for improvement between FOIA requests, Privacy Act requests, consultations, etc.
FOIA Analyst/OGC Staff Asst. - 40 Hrs/wk - 80K
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
11.2019 - 08.2023
- Management efforts devised for agency’s FOIA program resulted in me receiving Outstanding Employee Performance Evaluations for three (3) consecutive years due to proper execution and closing of over 2700 requests.
- Solely maintained DOEE’s FOIA requests caseload via email and federal AINS FOIAXpress (FX) system under District government. Initiate communication with requesters, review particulars of requests and forward to the appropriate inter-agency contacts if not individuals in other agencies. Applied redactions to responsive documents based upon FOIA regulations. Occasionally forward documents to legal team for review. Draft invoices based on time spent for research and review, copies made, electronic documents, etc. & receive payment(s) from requesters. Applied Bates stamping if necessary; released information to requesters, entered additional pertinent information in FX before closing requests. Issued weekly & quarterly FOIA RFD reports to promote progress & reduce lag.
- POC for all FOIA inquiries & complaints, finding solutions to problems. Interfaced w/ E-level management regarding real-time posture of FOIA caseload, identifying to-date successes & gave suggestions for improvement.
- Established new Standard Order of Procedures (SOP) for extracting information from various departments via Request for Documents in an attempt to remedy long-standing disconnect between they and FOIA Office. Regularly reviewed responsive documents and exact laws and stipulations upon requesters regularly to ensure protection of identities, personal financial information, etc., i.e. requiring parental disclosure permissions regarding test records of minors, banking information, etc. Exercised understanding and active execution of the “Open Government” policy mandated by the Freedom of Information Act established in 1967 and all addendums added. In addition, obtained knowledge and practice of adherence to the Paper Reduction Act, the E-Government Act of 2002, the Privacy Act and the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016. Offered verbal and written explanation to all inquiries regarding "Open Government" laws and FOIA policies in addition to those within the new COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020.
- Maintained a rolling knowledge and understanding of FOIA Exemptions 1-9. Answered FOIA requests appropriately within the DC's 15-day time period while exercising understanding of full & partial-disclosure, as well as disposition for accountability and transparency. Reviewed and determined responses to appeals when received.
- DOEE ranks #2 in receiving the highest amount of FOIA requests in the city averaging at least 10 new cases per day. At the onset of coming aboard, I devised an action plan to remedy a longstanding delinquency in FOIA request load processing. Well over 1000 requests were active, and grossly delinquent. After putting initial plan in action, released letters in quarterly phases, contacted requesters on delinquent requests to ascertain if they still needed/desired the information. Such resulted in a wave of responses resulting in over 25% of the requests being officially withdrawn by requesters and closed in a two-week period and hundreds more in 1st six (6) months of beginning said initiative. New action plan proved to General Counsel & agency Director that putting program in my hands was excellent decision. At close of 1st fiscal, I was one (1) of few presented an “Employee Excellence Award for Outstanding Performance & Achievement” before the entire agency, signed by my agency’s Director.
- Managed “Request for Documents” assignments and staff to ensure requests schedule was maintained thereby preventing agency from suffering a lag in response times to complete FOIA requests in mandated 15-working days & permissible 10 additional, if necessary. Concise understanding of proper record-keeping within FX ergo established proper working culture within agency & with requesters. Habitually entered detailed notes within FX request files ergo enabling any successor to easily grasp the exact series of events and reasoning behind certain determinations if revisiting a request were ever necessary for inquiry or litigation. Intermittently trained RFD Responders and management regarding requirements and specifics of FOIA law to ensure they protected agency with their actions as well, i.e. immediately forwarding FOIA inquiries to FOIA Office, reframing from creating new documents in attempt to answer request, meeting quarterly to balance their departments input and output numbers, identifying things to address, departmental victories, etc.
- Created FOIA Processing Study Group/Forum made for collaboration and exchange of knowledge regarding FOIA processing laws as well as particulars of using AINS FOIAXpress system.
- Served as direct assistant to the agency's General Counsel and nine (9) Assistant General Counsels with a myriad of needs and responsibilities, e.g. governing department budget, managing correspondence, assigned proofreader for agency, procurement, etc.
Executive Assistant to Director - 40 Hrs/wk - $44K
UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION
02.2017 - 11.2019
- End-to-end facilitation of all departmental scheduling, event planning, etc.
- Served as the face of the department. Was responsible for explaining intricacies of all principles, policies & guidelines of the HUD Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) as it relates to budget, population served & qualifying/disqualifying factors.
- Regularly liaised between/collaborate with staff of city and federal government in various program efforts, training, etc. i.e. DOES, DCHD, DC City Council, Mayor's Office, & HUD.
- Interfaced regularly w/constituents speaking on the department's and director's behalf.
- Wrote, prepared &/or copy-edited correspondence, executive-level reports, memos & presentations on Director's behalf. Prepared documents for Director's signature.
- Provided direct staffing & senior-level administrative support to entire division & Division Director; greet visitors & establish order for senior-level offices.
- Compiled data, update and maintain program databases. Established and maintained effective recordkeeping system for the Community Reinvestment Division.
- Safeguarded & maintained optimum confidentiality of all information, i.e. verbal, tangible &/or electronic. Liaised between Director and other departments to facilitate ease with translation and transparency of information, project collaborations, etc. Reached out to area organizations and community representatives. Organized events, handled special projects, organized meetings & established itineraries regularly. Audited processes regularly to find alternatives to induce work productivity & reduce redundancy & delay.
- Tracked department expenditures, budget projections & weekly timelines. Procured monthly reports to reflect. Procured & maintained spreadsheets dedicated to monitor division's productivity. FY Factors measured, i.e. amounts awarded, demographics, type of assistance, budget received & distributed.
- Maintained active electronic roster for the Housing Services Foreclosure customers and assisted with preparation of activity reports to be submitted to DC-DHCD.
Executive Asst. to Project Mgr. - 40 Hrs/wk - $50K
DC WATER CLEAN RIVERS PROJECT - DIVISIONS A & Z
05.2012 - 10.2015
- Delegated and managed staff workload and output ergo promoting staff development and training.
- Investigated pending issues and drafted responses to urgent requests. Cooperated with & liaised between unions, employees & private insurance providers to resolve billing issues and handling media inquiries.
- Scheduled in-person meetings, corporate conference calls and prepared conference rooms. Wrote and distributed meeting minutes to appropriate individuals. Managed PM's day-to-day calendar.
- Created and maintained advanced Excel spreadsheets to develop rolling reports and lists for inter, intra and external office use. Established and managed company's tangible and electronic filing systems for records, reports and irregular documents, i.e. schematics, blueprints, etc.
- Final word on all aspects of company's weekly payroll summation, submission and distribution. Endorsed weekly certified payrolls contracts. Enforced all laws in accordance with Dept. of Labor standards regarding wage, hiring & workplace fairness, etc.
- Counseled employees with iron-clad information on vast array of issues from basic to those of a highly sensitive nature, i.e. court proceedings, garnishments, citizenship, potential deportation, etc.
- Final word on all comprised outgoing correspondence and answered all incoming correspondence requiring signature of Business Office management. Liaised between internal departments, sub-contractors, unions, health plans & government agencies such as DOES, USCIS & Homeland. Submitted monthly compliance reports using COR system, established & maintained all filing systems. Updated Accounts Receivable reporting enhancements and reconciliation procedures.
- Managed travel arrangements, travel accounts and work-related reimbursements for use of equipment, amenities and boarding. Efficiently implemented check tracking SOP which factored in long-term tracking strategies.
- Organized office layout, ordered furniture and maintained condition of office, supplies of inventory.
Special Committee Writer/Editor - 50 Hrs/wk - 35K+
D.C. CITY COUNCIL
06.2005 - 12.2005
- Worked directly for Chief of Staff to meet daily public relations/media responsibilities, i.e. copy-editing, developed Councilmember's speeches & correspondence, comprising press kits & press releases.
- Researched & created summarizing reports for upcoming council meetings.
- Organized council meetings, community events, accommodations & met with constituents daily.
Sr. Web Editor/Journalist - 45 Hrs/wk - $20K+
NBC25 NEWS
09.2002 - 01.2003
- Established & preserved site's editorial integrity by serving as final word decision maker for website's content, layout, and format with use of Web Content Management System (webCMS).
- Developed stories, edited news copy and streamed video with concurrent newscast.
- Copy-edited & cross-referenced reporter's stories to ensure accuracy before publishing.
- Networked with webmasters from nationwide affiliates, answered viewer inquiries via phone, social media and/or in-person regarding community concerns, previously aired/published information, etc.
- Position fine-tuned hands-on news judgment & attention to detail.
Education
MBA -
University of Phoenix
Tempe, AZ01.2024
BACHELOR OF ARTS - COMMUNICATION STUDIES/Broadcast Journalism
Morgan State University
Baltimore, MD2002
Skills
- Final level QC & signatory authority
- Formulate & conduct both agency-wide FOIA trainings and private trainings to specific POs
- Maintain high Interpersonal skills
- Adept in FOIAXpress, Secure Release by Deloitte & PAL
- Versed MS Office 365, SharePoint, QuickBase, Payment Net, DIFS, expert level
- Maintain optimum review/redaction capabilities
- Execute deliberate & exact prejudice to protect privacy &/or identity
- Coordinate requests, facilitate meetings, collaborate w/legal
- Versed in FOIA, policies, exemptions, codes, etc
- Deliberate Top-shelf work-ethic
- PR & Customer Service 10 years
- Investigative Research & Fact-checking
- Relay facts to vast audiences w/transparency
- Executive-level Writing & Copy-editing
- Division-level Point-of-contact
- Efficient Communicator
- Optimum use of Sensitivity & Tact
- Revamping & developing agency’s FOIA SOPs
- Meticulous attention to detail, revisions/editing
- Project & Office Management
- Analytical Skills & Planning
Timeline
Lead Govt. Info. Specialist - 40 Hrs/wk $117+k
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
08.2023 - Current
FOIA Analyst/OGC Staff Asst. - 40 Hrs/wk - 80K
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
11.2019 - 08.2023
Executive Assistant to Director - 40 Hrs/wk - $44K
UNITED PLANNING ORGANIZATION
02.2017 - 11.2019
Executive Asst. to Project Mgr. - 40 Hrs/wk - $50K
DC WATER CLEAN RIVERS PROJECT - DIVISIONS A & Z
05.2012 - 10.2015
Special Committee Writer/Editor - 50 Hrs/wk - 35K+
D.C. CITY COUNCIL
06.2005 - 12.2005
Sr. Web Editor/Journalist - 45 Hrs/wk - $20K+
NBC25 NEWS
09.2002 - 01.2003
MBA -
University of Phoenix
BACHELOR OF ARTS - COMMUNICATION STUDIES/Broadcast Journalism
Morgan State University
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