Sarah Mikesell Growney
Pine Haven,Wyoming
Summary
Innate and learned ability to lead. Adaptable and can organize, contribute, accommodate, inspire, train, collaborate, encourage, or participate to suit required needs. Quick learner and passionate professional with strong managerial, analytical, and people skills. Adept writing skills and detail-driven, persuasive advocate and negotiator, task-oriented, and desire to contribute to financial and personal success of organization and directors, owners, and employees. Seeking fast-paced, dynamic private sector professional position collaborating with team.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Procurement Advisor
Apex Accelerator, University of Wyoming
01.2023 - Current
- Lead, guide, recruit, advise, and train Wyoming businesses in all aspects of complex government contracting, resulting in over 76 million in revenue for Wyoming businesses (fiscal year 2022-2023)
- Break complex process into obtainable bite-sized pieces, setting businesses up for success
- Enable clients through technical assistance to identify federal, state, and local contract opportunities, and obtain, and perform under contracts
- Provide cyber-security assistance and guidance on federal security clearance required to work with the Department of Defense and other agencies
- Advise clients on composing complicated and detailed government contracting bids
- Program personalized bid-searches in client database matching clients’ capabilities
- Recruit and register clients on private industry vendor portals and the Federal Systems for Awards Management (SAM) database
- Council businesses on building compelling capability statements to sell their business to the government
- Develop and lead monthly trainings for businesses on cyber-security, foreign ownership, control, and influence, small business certifications and set asides, composing and finding bids, and working with federal agencies
- Maintain fast-paced calendar with clients and team members
- Design marketing content for Apex Accelerator program, including press releases, client and partner communications, trainings, social media, and web content
- Collect and report data for Department of Defense funder
- Diligent, responsive, efficient, accountable, and professional remote employee.
Gift Shop and Independent Book Store Owner, Manager, Operator
The Thistle
Cody, Wyoming
01.2013 - 01.2023
- Exercised all facets of positive customer relations, including growing and broadening customer base, increasing Facebook users by 2.5 K and Instagram users by 1.5 K
- Sought, procured, and displayed all unique product including designing five display narratives annually
- Fulfilled contracts with vendors
- Hired, managed, and maintained employees (100 % employee retention minus two employees through family moves)
- Implemented and designed forecasting and budget system to increase profits through QuickBooks and Excel
- Collaborated with chamber, non-profits, and local sports teams for donations, partnerships, and support
- Led business community through Covid response, and profited during Covid shut down by implementing dynamic, creative, humorous, and innovative marketing and services.
Lobbyist, Grassroots Organizer, Campaign Manager, Public Policy Analyst and Advocate
American Heart Association, Wyoming Women’s Foundation, Park County Prevention
01.2001 - 01.2013
- Initiated first (and last) successful legislative tax campaign on tobacco leading to decrease in statewide tobacco use and increased state and county revenue by identifying the issues that would speak to a conservative community and building a campaign around that
- Successfully designed and launched Equality Initiatives campaign and analyzed and recommended best practice science-based prevention efforts to multiple agencies and institutions
- Designed, drafted, and implemented media campaigns, public policy strategies, talking points, and social media content
- Collaborated statewide and nationally with stakeholders, legislators, state agencies, and provided expert testimony in front of legislative committees and donors
- Built extensive grassroots networks statewide from the ground up to support efforts
- Presented nationally on unusual nature of successful tax campaign in tax-resistant state.
Law Office Manager and Paralegal
Covington and Burling, Lewis and Roca, Holden and Walker
Washington DC and Phoenix
01.1995 - 01.2001
- Managed all aspects of law firm including accounting, purchasing, billing, and implementation of communication systems of new construction start up firm, achieving profitability within six months
- Directed case management work as lead paralegal in large class employment discrimination case through all stages including victorious two-month jury trial (client, John Deere)
- Analyzed employee contracts, financial statements, and coordinated with outside vendors for out of state trial office, including computer systems, travel, storage, and logistics
- Liaised with hiring manager to obtain staff.
Education
B.A. Cum Laude - Government (law focus)
Skidmore College
Post Grad work - Human Resources and Physiology
Univ. of Phoenix/Arizona State University
Skills
- Critical thinker
- Analytical
- Works well under pressure
- Productive relationship builder with multiple personality types
- Strong presentation skills
- Commitment and loyalty
- Self-starter
- Creative problem solver
- Born leader with effective ability to inspire and organize others for change
- Efficient and successful remote professional
- Microsoft Office Suite
- QuickBooks
- Lexis Nexis/Westlaw
Certification
- Certified Crossfit Coach
- Cyber Security Readiness Certificate
- Cyber Security Leader Certificate
- Linked-In Learning Leadership Certificate
- CPR certified
- Remote Work Foundations Certificate (2024)
- Business certification (and when I complete)
- Neosara Center IC (Client/Event database)
- Freshman Year completed of Government Contraction University (Govology)
Awards
- 2011 Wyoming Atta Girl Award Presented by First Lady Nancy Freudenthal
- 2011 Soroptimist Rocky Mountain Woman of the Year Award
- 2020 Wyoming Council for Women Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist
References
- Dossie Overfield, Park County Commissioner, retired from Northwest Rural Water District, 34 Lane 20, Cody, WY. 82414, 307-587-5388, Dossieoverfield@gmail.com
- Janet Jares, Retired, previously Tobacco Prevention Program Manager, Wy. Dept. of Health, 1827 Rd. 217. Cheyenne, WY. 82009, 307-286-2353, Janetljares@gmail.com
- Jason Mincer, Program Director, Enroll WY, 6715 Stonewood Dr. Cheyenne, WY 82001, 307-287-1401, wyomingmincer@gmail.com
- Richelle Keinath, Administrative Coordinator, Laramie Parks and Recreation, 920 Boulder Dr. Laramie, WY. 82070, 307-745-0315, rjkeinath@gmail.com
Hobbies and Interests
Fitness, hiking, water and sunshine seeking, dog loving, cooking, traveling, and reading.
Timeline
Procurement Advisor
Apex Accelerator, University of Wyoming
01.2023 - Current
Gift Shop and Independent Book Store Owner, Manager, Operator
The Thistle
01.2013 - 01.2023
Lobbyist, Grassroots Organizer, Campaign Manager, Public Policy Analyst and Advocate
American Heart Association, Wyoming Women’s Foundation, Park County Prevention
01.2001 - 01.2013
Law Office Manager and Paralegal
Covington and Burling, Lewis and Roca, Holden and Walker
01.1995 - 01.2001
B.A. Cum Laude - Government (law focus)
Skidmore College
Post Grad work - Human Resources and Physiology
Univ. of Phoenix/Arizona State University
- Certified Crossfit Coach
- Cyber Security Readiness Certificate
- Cyber Security Leader Certificate
- Linked-In Learning Leadership Certificate
- CPR certified
- Remote Work Foundations Certificate (2024)
- Business certification (and when I complete)
- Neosara Center IC (Client/Event database)
- Freshman Year completed of Government Contraction University (Govology)