Stacie COLSTON Patterson
Indianapolis,IN
Summary
Dynamic legal and operational leader with a proven track record, excelling in team leadership development and strategic roadmap development. Spearheaded diversity initiatives and achieved significant membership revenue growth, showcasing exceptional cross-department collaboration and commercial transaction management skills.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Legal Counsel
YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
04.2023 - Current
- View and engage in all work through a diversity, inclusion, accessibility, equity, and belonging lens.
- Reporting to the Vice President of Legal and Risk Management, respond to requests for legal research and review of necessary statutes, policies, and documents, and provide feedback on the risk and liability of new and existing programs and partnerships.
- Lead the contract process by providing collaborative training and feedback to program leads, drafting all necessary agreements, and reviewing and providing feedback on policies and procedures.
- Reviewed advertising materials for accuracy and compliance with applicable laws before release into the marketplace.
- Provided general legal advice on best practices for compliance, input on business decisions, contract negotiations, and legal strategies for litigation and other legal activities. Created and facilitated needed training regarding processes and policies.
- Create and facilitate needed training regarding processes and policies.
- Serve the Association as a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, and Hype Team for Association events.
Associate Executive Director
YMCA of Greater Indianapolis
09.2020 - 04.2023
- Reporting to the District Vice President, I led the day-to-day operations of the center and encouraged and expected creative and diverse solutions to membership promotion, program enrollment, space utilization, and policy enforcement.
- Led recruitment initiatives designed to attract highly qualified professionals from various backgrounds into leadership roles within the organization.
- Within the first four months, the District Vice President added one direct report and one dotted-line report to three director supervisees.
- Coached five direct reports, including the Youth & Family Program Director, who oversees day camp.
- By month 20 in the position, all revenue-generating departments were placed under my purview.
- In the first month, June 2022, that the membership department was added to my portfolio, the center exceeded its membership revenue target for the first time that fiscal year.
- Acted as a liaison for two Center Advisory Board committees, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Marketing; sit on a third board committee, Financial Development; and contribute to the bimonthly board meetings by drafting and presenting the operations report.
- Created, monitored, and reported on the annual budget, including monthly variance reports, approving and denying expenditures, and tracking progress toward revenue targets.
- Guided the leadership team by executing organized and meaningful meetings, creating templates for success, and establishing attainable and stretch goals for the ultimate success of the center.
- In response to staff feedback, we implemented a professional development committee to ensure that all staff voices are represented in the delivery of pertinent professional development offerings.
- Developed and facilitated a strategy for contacting, engaging, and connecting with new and prospective members that enforces needed accountability for strategy execution.
- I participated in the Association Diversity, Inclusion, and Global Equity Committee, and the Racial Equity Task Force as the Workplace Champion.
- Led the Association Accessibility Committee, Dress Code Revamp Taskforce, and Membership for All Taskforce.
Legal Projects Manager
Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity, Inc.
Indianapolis, Indiana
12.2017 - 04.2020
- Deployed across four separate and unique organizations: Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Chi Omega Foundation, Alpha Chi Omega National Housing Corporation, and Pearl Stone Partners, LLC.
- As the first in-house legal professional, I developed a strategic plan framework for compliance efforts and legal responses.
- Led response to legal concerns and litigation, including drafting demand letters, negotiating settlements, participating in mediations, corresponding with opposing counsel, and coordinating participation from outside counsel for contract labor, employment, personal injury, and corporate governance matters.
- Reviewed existing employment documents and drafted new employment contracts across all levels of employment.
- Reviewed existing consumer and corporate contracts and agreements, and drafted needed contracts and agreements.
- Led the Employer Shared Responsibility Provisions IRS penalty response team. Developed a strategy for response, and interfaced with the IRS and individual chapters to implement the strategy.
- Developed and implemented a contracts approval process with authorized signatories, with spending limits. Through this process, we created minimum requirements for contracts and procurement, and drafted standard clauses.
- Created and facilitated internal professional development opportunities on various topics, including contracts, discovery, and using appropriate language when communicating via writing.
- Facilitated leadership development retreats and various trainings, in-person and virtually.
- Coached collegiate chapters and their leadership in leadership development, risk mitigation, officer transitions, and applying transferable skills.
- Created, maintained, and implemented all resources, education, engagement, and training for Vice Presidents of Facility Operations and their positional and chapter advisors for 146 collegiate chapters.
- Collaborated with colleagues on committees, including document retention, employee classification, and fun committees.
Independent Risk Management Consultant
03.2017 - 12.2017
- Reviewed, assessed, and made recommendations for improvement to the chapter and member investigation processes.
- Collaborated with staff members to create and facilitate training regarding the processes.
- Reviewed and provided recommendations for the improvement of the Alcohol Skills Training Program, including the creation of a new module addressing sexual assault and alcohol use. Created an updated facilitation guide with the additional module.
- Addressed and reviewed contracts and insurance inquiries with the insurance partner, MJ Sorority.
- Created and completed a leadership audit for chapters where mitigating risk was a challenge.
- Partnering with the executive boards, we created a plan to gain or enhance leadership skills, and ensure knowledge and skill transfer to the incoming executive boards.
- Addressed concerns and answered questions regarding chapter relations and standards (CRS), the accountability, and governance area of chapter operations.
- Managed the CRS specialists, a team of national volunteers who assist chapters in their region.
- Created and implemented an animal accommodations process.
Education
Certificate - Diversity and Inclusion
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York09.2020
Juris Doctor -
The University of Illinois Chicago School of Law
Chicago, Illinois05.2009
Bachelor of Arts - French
Butler University
Indianapolis, Indiana05.2004
Skills
- Team Leadership Development
- Cross-Department Collaboration
- Commercial Transaction Management
- Staffing and Onboarding
- Effective Change Implementation
- Strategic Roadmap Development
Volunteer Experience
- DEI and Recruitment Information Advisor, Alpha Chi Chapter, Alpha Chi Omega, 2025 - present
- Chair, Butler University Black Alumni Association, 2023 - present
- Board Member, YMCA Camp Eberhart Alumni Association, 2022 - 2023
Selected Presentations
- Walk-Up Songs, Celebrating Victories and Season Long Themes: Bringing Lessons from Sport to the Office, YUSA National Women’s Leadership Resource Network Virtual Conference, 03/24
- Inclusive Communication: From Ursula to Eeyore, Key Club International Summer Leadership Conference, 07/21
- Honoring and Preserving Our Black Girl Magic, Panelist, 02/21
- Black Motherhood in 2020, It’s Just You and Me Podcast, 11/20
- A Heart for Service: Inclusive Leadership in Challenging Times, Key Club International Global Engagement Rally, 10/20
Admissions
Illinois State Bar
Timeline
Legal Counsel
YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
04.2023 - Current
Associate Executive Director
YMCA of Greater Indianapolis
09.2020 - 04.2023
Legal Projects Manager
Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity, Inc.
12.2017 - 04.2020
Independent Risk Management Consultant
03.2017 - 12.2017
Certificate - Diversity and Inclusion
Cornell University
Juris Doctor -
The University of Illinois Chicago School of Law
Bachelor of Arts - French
Butler University
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