Natalie Warren

• Communicated regularly with executive team members to deliver pertinent details related to progress status and direction for projects.
• Assessed project resource requirements to support strategic execution.
• Conducted independent analyses to resolve program deficiencies.
• National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership-based organization that builds resiliency in communities nationwide. It serves as the forum where organizations share knowledge and resources throughout the disaster cycle — preparation, response, recovery and mitigation — to help disaster survivors and their communities. To fulfill this mission, National VOAD fosters more effective service to people affected by disaster through convening mechanisms, outreach, advocacy, and as a champion and facilitator for the application of our values and core principles.

• As the Executive Director for the Southeast and Deep East Texas Chapter, based in Orange, Texas, I played a vital role in supporting mission capacity building, and strengthening community relationships. This position primarily focuses on external relations, serving as the face of the American Red Cross in the assigned territory. Spending time communicating the Red Cross programs, capabilities, and opportunities for community involvement, while collaborating with community volunteer leaders and the Chapter Board.
• Developed and implemented strategic plans to ensure organizational growth and development.
• Cultivated relationships with key stakeholders, including board members, donors, sponsors, partners, and community leaders.
• Provided oversight of all departments to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Created a collaborative environment that fosters innovation and encourages employee engagement.
• Recruited, trained, mentored, evaluated, coached, and managed staff members to ensure success in achieving their goals.
• Organized regular meetings with board members to discuss progress on initiatives and solicit feedback.
• Developed marketing strategies to promote the organization's mission throughout the community.
• Evaluated existing programs for improvement opportunities while identifying new program ideas based on market analysis.
• Coordinated special events such as conferences or workshops designed to raise awareness about the organization's mission.
• Served as spokesperson at press conferences or interviews when needed.
• Maintained positive relationships with media outlets to increase visibility of organizational activities.
• Set organization direction and developed strategies and tactics to fulfill mission.
• Established strategic direction and goals to accomplish objectives.
• Informed board and committee about trends, issues and activities to facilitate policy-making.
• Assessed potential collaboration opportunities to enhance organizational value and improve efficiency.
• Recruited, hired, and trained employees on operations and performance expectations.
• Implemented quality metrics to track business needs and lead diverse projects.

• Act as facilitator with government and local service providers across the disaster cycle and provide direct services as needed.
  
• Ensure American Red Cross services are available to diverse communities
  Mobilizes the local community to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.
• Recruits and trains volunteers, partners, and community agencies to ensure necessary disaster services are delivered. Delivers new training as needed.
• Develops material resources such as shelter and vendor agreements.
• Gives presentations to schools and community organizations to develop awareness of and preparedness for disasters
• Manages local responses by managing and deploying volunteers on a daily basis in a rapid and accessible manner.
  Serves during times of disaster as the operational leadership for the territory and participates as a leader on larger operations regionally or nationwide. Accountable for the implementation of the disaster services program in accordance with established metrics.
• Leads and manages a primarily volunteer team responsible for disaster preparedness, response and recovery programs. Ensures the development of Disaster Leadership Volunteers in each of the functional areas of the disaster cycle.
• Implements and participates in local planning, exercises and training called by local partners (VOADs, SNCAs and LEPCs).
  Interfaces with community leaders, corporations, businesses and government agencies and provides Red Cross input.

The Deep East Texas Council of Governments Disaster Case Management program was established to provide long-term case management services to citizens affected by the devastation of Hurricane Ike. DETCOG provided a team of case managers in offices throughout the seventeen county region of service to perform intake, assessment, development of long-term recovery plans, referrals, and proactive advocacy for clients as necessary. My position was required to travel between offices and oversee their operations. I was responsible for supervising and directing approximately ten case managers who performed the routine case management. My work involved developing and maintaining long-term contact with clients, client families, and service providers for medical, social, educational, and related service needs. I had to identify barriers to service for both clients and providers and develop procedures to counteract these.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversaw multiple county offices; supervised and directed a minimum of 10 caseworkers.
  Interviewed clients to gather information to assess service needs.
• Developed and implemented service plans to meet client needs.
  Coordinated service provider activities.
• Provided ongoing case management and served as liaison between clients, client families and service providers.
• Identified problem areas, service gaps, and barriers to services for clients.
  Assisted in providing policy and procedure changes.