Summary
Overview
Work History
Skills
Additional Information
Education
Work Availability
Timeline
NIKOLE BRUNS

NIKOLE BRUNS

executive leader
Denver,Colorado
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Summary

Passionate professional with decades of leadership experience in government and nonprofit agencies. Demonstrated strengths in strategic planning and operational improvements, policy analysis and project management, budgeting and contracts. Proven abilities in the areas of stakeholder engagement and community relations, communications, performance management, and fiscal reporting and compliance.

Overview

28
28
years of professional experience

Work History

Executive Director

The Link – A Community Assessment & Resource Center
01.2019 - 02.2023
  • Led the nonprofit collaborative, multi-agency, single point of access for youth at risk of becoming involved in the justice system, managing 24 hour day-to-day operations and all personnel matters including supervision and coaching for a team of up to 14 employees, interns, and contractors; remained open a throughout the pandemic providing in-person service to families and law enforcement partners
  • Strategic and operational successes include creating performance/supervision standards, improved fiscal management of a budget of $850,000 and the center’s intergovernmental agreements and contracts, negotiated lease agreements and coordinating logistics to move the entire center and partner agencies to a new/improved location saving more than $52,000 over three years, and over $10,000 savings in two years with a customized client management system which improved data tracking and reporting abilities
  • Developed and implemented communications for the organization including branding standards, internal and external-facing documents, annual reports, and media response; created and maintained website, social media and content, as well as all marketing and informational materials
  • Established Board of Directors best practices such as for conflict of interest, recruitment, regular and timely communications; introduced changes to structure for governance and advisory level board of directors, revising bylaws; brought agency into compliance with state and funding partners
  • Built and maintained relationships with municipal stakeholders and behavioral health partners, school districts, law enforcement agencies, city councils, county commissioners and regional elected leaders, municipal and district public defenders and prosecutors, city and district courts, probation/diversion agencies, and community organizations with whom partnership could improve impact and clients’ success
  • Represented the agency and youth justice matters through service on the executive committee of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, the Collaborative Management Program, the Juvenile Services Program Committee, and the North Metro Community Diversion Board; joined efforts in justice reform and community wellness such as the collaborative violence prevention programming in Aurora and Denver.

Deputy Director

Office of Behavioral Health Strategies, City and County of Denver
11.2016 - 12.2018
  • Appointed Interim Executive Director managing all operations, the 31-person mayoral-appointed commission and its three committees, and assumed all director duties 11/2017 through 09/2018.
  • Ensured the integration, execution and evaluation of strategic initiatives and investments for the Office of Behavioral Health Strategies (OBHS) including the work of the Crime Prevention and Control Commission (CPCC); filled open seats, onboarding appointed members, identified committees’ leadership and goals, facilitated values/mission work, and developed structure and by-laws revision
  • Leadership and oversight included direct supervision of 9 personnel, administration of initiatives, budgets totaling $9,000,000, and over 45 contracts and MOUs which included developing scope of work, negotiating terms, tracking and invoice approval, modifications and extensions, any RFP/RFA/informal bidding processes, and grants management with federal and state funding
  • Leveraged partnerships to further the office’s goals by developing and maintaining positive and productive relationships with funders, commissioners, stakeholders such as the Departments of Human Services, Safety, and Public Health, city and district attorneys, public defenders, other offices and agencies
  • Orchestrated data management and sharing, incorporating each for program-related decision making, developing a communications framework to better share the goals and vision of the Office with internal and external stakeholder and partners, and worked to create strategies and goals of OBHS and for the city
  • Represented the office and appointed and elected leaders at meetings, committees, events, and as requested.

Manager of Special Projects & Outreach

Denver Public Schools
03.2013 - 11.2016
  • Worked in cooperation with superintendent and senior staff, legal, Safety and Security, Communications, Transportation, and Facilities Management, as a member of the chief of staff’s team for a school district which served over 90,000 students and supported Board of Education directors and community attendees at meetings, public comment sessions, Town Hall, and regional gatherings in their Denver districts
  • Led key projects for the district such as school-based faculty meetings, ensuring goals and culture-driven messaging as well as structured feedback to administrators further informing strategy and action, and created/maintained process for CORA requests, responses, and the ongoing management of district records
  • Volunteered weekly in a middle school classroom to stay connected to DPS mission and vision and served on the Internal Equity Team, driving crucial conversations about change regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts; was member of districtwide “Transformers” team which continued the district’s values-based work in promoting and sharing positive culture and solutions for teams
  • Developed work plans and communication for senior leaders through project life cycles and directed citywide outreach and cross-functional projects internally and on behalf of DPS with neighborhood, school and community groups, including overall engagement in the development of DPS’ 2015 strategic plan, Denver Plan 2020 and the year-long engagement and coordination for acting on the plan’s undefined goal: Support for the Whole Child.

Program Director

America SCORES Denver
02.2011 - 03.2013
  • Led after-school program in ten elementary schools combining literacy, soccer, and service-learning; provided public outreach, performed general administrator tasks, championed special events, created content for publications, developed and maintained website and social media
  • Recruited, trained, and provided supervision for 40 writing and soccer coaches who implemented America SCORES programming, including AmeriCorps and Coach Across America members, and managed all volunteer engagement and oversight.

Area Service Representative

Citizen Watch Company of America
12.2003 - 02.2011
  • Awarded 2005 “ASR of the Year” award by Citizen Watch Company of America for outstanding service in Colorado and seven-time winner of regional awards for highest percentage or dollar increases in national accounts.

Director and Program Supervisor roles

Youthtrack Inc. and Family Tree, Inc.
Lakewood, CO
1995 - 1999
  • Awarded “Counselor/Case Manager of the Year” by Colorado Association of Family and Children’s Agencies, 1996

Skills

  • Proficient with a variety of computer applications, virtual/remote connections, and social media
  • Engaging communicator – adapting to varied audiences, comfortable with public speaking and group facilitation as well as professional presentations, writing, and editing
  • Emotionally intelligent team player with ability to empower and engage individuals
  • Strategic thinker with experience in demanding environments – capable of managing multiple projects, responsibilities, and relationships

Additional Information

Commissioner, Office of the Municipal Public Defender, City and County of Denver 2019-present

Director, East High Rugby Football Club Board of Directors 2018-present

Volunteer, sports-based youth organizations and multiple DPS schools 2004-2020

Lobbyist, Colorado Women’s Agenda and citizen advocate in other non-partisan organizations 2003-2012

Volunteer, Parents Life Line - Nicholson, Spencer, and Associates 2000-2004

Volunteer, Finance Committee - Cherry Creek Arts Festival Summers 1996-2002

Education

Bachelor of Arts - English/Psychology

University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE

Ongoing professional training through national and regional workshops, seminars, and conferences

Work Availability

monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline

Executive Director - The Link – A Community Assessment & Resource Center
01.2019 - 02.2023
Deputy Director - Office of Behavioral Health Strategies, City and County of Denver
11.2016 - 12.2018
Manager of Special Projects & Outreach - Denver Public Schools
03.2013 - 11.2016
Program Director - America SCORES Denver
02.2011 - 03.2013
Area Service Representative - Citizen Watch Company of America
12.2003 - 02.2011
Director and Program Supervisor roles - Youthtrack Inc. and Family Tree, Inc.
1995 - 1999
University of Nebraska - Lincoln - Bachelor of Arts, English/Psychology

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