LINDA K. MILLER


CAREER SUMMARY

Executive Director/Professional Administrator with extensive experience in agency startup, program development, implementation and all other aspects of managing agencies that offer direct services on site to populations with specific needs.

Solid experience in defining needs of a service population while honoring the individuality of those being served, then creating and implementing programs that respond to those needs, as well as hiring and developing staff to deliver services. Efficient, budget-conscious administrator sets strategic priorities for the organization. Effective communicator with a wide range of people, including staff, volunteers, media, community leaders, elected officials and the target population. Expert in organizing large special events.

Program Administration:
• Initiated three programs from startup to full implementation - the Victims Assistance Center, the Adult Offender Center and the Tennessee Board of Paroles.
• Developed policy and procedures and established program protocols.
• Developed and monitored budgets and 24/7 staffing rosters.
• Wrote and supervised federal grants.

Staff  Management:
• Developed staff postings outlining job qualifications and skills required.
• Supervised and/or interviewed staff at all levels from manager to entry-level positions.
• Interviewed, hired and supervised interns from local colleges and universities.

Community Relations:
• Hosted monthly TV show on the Library Channel for five years to educate the community on issues that affect victims of crime.
• Conducted numerous TV and radio interviews and made many presentations to community and professional groups as a member of the Tennessee Board of Paroles, prison administrator, executive director of victims service agency and of a housing facility for critically ill children and as a consultant to a music academy and museum.
• Wrote and distributed a monthly newsletter for the Victims Assistance Center and a quarterly newsletter for Ronald McDonald House.
• Built community awareness for Soulsville USA by outreach in the community through arranging tours for elected officials, community leaders and major donors and making presentations across the community.



PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
RONALD McDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF MEMPHIS. INC.  January 2002 to Present

Executive Director
Manages day to day operation of housing facility for 51 outpatients of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and their families.
• Supervises a staff of 23 on 24/7 schedules.
• Manages an operating budget of over two million dollars a year and a 64,000 square foot facility. 
• Offers all services that a family requires to maintain a home-away-from-home.
• Works with a large volunteer corps to enhance the services offered to the families.
• Represents the organization before community groups, donors, McDonald 's owner/operators, members of the Board of Directors and St. Jude officials and professional staff.
• Directs fund-raising activities, events and marketing efforts.


HOWELL McQUAIN STRATEGIES   June 2001 - December 2001

Consultant
Joined public relations and marketing firm to work with nonprofit agencies in building their visibility in the community to increase their service base and enhance their fund-raising capacity.

Worked extensively with Soulsville USA In the areas of community education and governmental relations. Souilsville involved the building of The Stax Museum of American Soul Music and the Stax Music Academy, a $20 million project.

• Arranged tours of project for project developer with key members of the community.
• Handled contracts with local and federal government officials regarding matters related to Souilsville.
• Created tracking system to monitor tours and follow-ups for future fund development.
• Served as a resource to staff on issues related to grants.
• Made presentations to community groups and led tours of the project.
 
Worked with a mental health center to develop a marketing plan for a name change, expansion to a location in an under served area and other issues of importance to the Board of Directors.


VICTIMS ASSISTANCE CENTER. SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT   1995 - 2001

Executive Director
Proposed concept and created the agency for Shelby County Mayor Jim Rout in 1995. Center became local hub for victim services and was recognized nationally.
• Managed a staff of seventeen, including 10 grant-funded positions and 7 county positions.
• Offered broad range of direct services on site to over 4,000 families a year.
• Managed a budget of over $500,000 a year.
• Developed comprehensive services for victims of all crimes with an emphasis on women and children who were victims of domestic violence and families who had lost a relative in a homicide.
• Introduced culturally sensitive programming for Hispanic victims of crime.
• Chaired and organized an annual dinner for 600 people. Raised funds to enable all crime victims to attend free of charge.
• Facilitated collaborations among victim service agencies across the county and state.
• Worked with Tennessee State Legislature to sponsor legislation of interest to crime victims.
Named "Victim Advocate of the Decade" at the 1999 Victim Rights Dinner.


SHELBY COUNTY DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS   1994 - 1995

Interim Deputy Director
In the Transition of the Administration of Shelby County Mayor Jim Rout
• Responsible on a 24/7 basis for 2,700 inmates, male and female, of all custody levels.
• Supervised 1,000 employees, including unionized employees.
• Administrative and management responsibility for all aspects of service delivery to inmates, including housing, food service, medical and dental services, clothing, recreation and programs such as GED, drug and alcohol and sex offender treatment.
• Responsible for safety and security of staff, inmates and visitors.
• Administrative oversight of a $33 million budget, personnel, grounds and fleet maintenance and upkeep.
• Responsible for public relations in working with volunteers, public and elected officials, community organizations and work release employers.

                      
ADULT OFFENDER CENTER. SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT 1990 -1994

Administrator (Warden) -  Appointed by Mayor Bill Morris
• Served as the owner's representative in the construction of the $7 million facility.
• Supervised hiring and training of staff.
• Phased in inmate population to the 600 bed adult male correctional facility.
• Supervised 100 employees and a $750,000 budget.
• Responsible tor safety and security of staff, inmates and visitors as well as all services required by the inmates.


TENNESSEE BOARD OF PAROLES 1979 - 1989

Parole Board Member - Appointed by Governor Lamar Alexander
• One of five board members with administrative responsibility for 100 employees of the statewide agency.
• Met with inmates in all Tennessee prisons, held hearings and made parole decisions.
• Considered Executive Clemency cases on behalf of the governor.
• Traveled the state and met with victims and their families, concerned citizens, media representatives, elected and criminal justice officials.



EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Memphis State University
Taxpayer Advocacy Panel - Selected in 2002 as one of two representatives from Tennessee to serve on a national board of 100 citizens who worked with the U. S. Department of the Treasury to institute reforms in the IRS.
Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, 1996 to 2004
Appointed by Governor Don Sundquist
Chair of the Juvenile Justice and Grant Reviews Committees
Juvenile Justice Reform Commission, 1998 - 1999
Appointed by Governor Don Sundquist
Chair of the Prevention and Intervention Committee
Selected by Department of Justice, National Institute of Correction in Longmont, CO
Seminars on Key Issues of Correctional Administrators, Developing Culturally Sensitive Programs, Programs for Sex Offenders and Stress Management for Corrections Personnel
Selected by Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime
Advanced Leadership Training for Administrators of Victim Service Agencies


SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Downtown Rotary Club
Methodist LeBonheur Early Childhood Initiative
Leadership Memphis - Class of 1994
FBI Citizens Academy
Memphis Shelby Crime Commission
Mid-South Fair
Friends of Memphis Pink Palace Museum
Colonial Acres and Sea Isle Neighborhood Associations
Dismas House, National and Local Boards
City of Memphis Civil Service Commission
Panel of American Women
Goals for Memphis/Memphis Jobs Conference
Served on fund-raising committees of American Heart Association, Epilepsy Foundation, the Memphis Arts Council and St. George's Episcopal Church.


SUMMARY OF POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

2004 - Selected to serve as an Alternate Delegate for George W. Bush to the Republican National Convention.

2002-Shelby County Committee for Lamar Alexander tor U.S. Senate; David Kustoff tor Congress Committee; Committee to Re-elect County Commissioner Linda Rendtorft; Committee to Re-elect State Representative Joe Kent (since 1978).

2000 - Elected as a Delegate tor George W. Bush to the Republican National Convention.
                 Served as Chair for the Night Telephone Bank tor the Bush Campaign.

1998 - "Statesmen of the Year" for the Ninth Congressional District

Campaigns: Held major positions in campaigns tor Bill Gibbons (tor every office he has sought); Judge Julia Gibbons; Mayor Jim Rout (both campaigns); Governor Don Sundquist (both campaigns), governor Lamar Alexander (both campaigns) and Jane Hardaway for Public Service Commission. Worked in the campaigns for almost every local, state and national Republican candidate since 1970. Worked as precinct captain, poll worker and poll watcher for many GOP candidates for over 30 years.

Republican Party and GOP Club Offices: Parliamentarian (2002) and Third Vice President (2001) of the Shelby County Republican Women's Club; Former President of Shelby County Republican Career Women; Former Steering Committee Member, Corresponding Secretary and Recording Secretary of the Shelby County Republican Party, Former Primary Board Member. Has served on numerous committees such as the Sample Ballot Committee (2002); Lincoln Day Dinner Committees and Ward and Precinct Committee.