resume - garrison, robert s. 08:16

3
ROBERT S. GARRISON, ESQ. 715 Kimball Avenue Westfield, NJ 07090 (908) 239-7704 mobile [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertsgarrison PROFILE Government Affairs Expert ~ Proven Administrator ~ Legal Professional Accomplished executive and legal professional offering a unique background of experience that in- cludes work across private and government sectors. Highly analytical, innovative, and organized with a history of developing plans and successfully managing complex projects using sophisticated reporting and data management tools. Proven record for building productive relationships with all organizational, local, state and federal coun- terparts. Strong operational management skills combined with collaborative style that results in strong positive relationships with employees, consultants, and municipal bodies. Strong critical thinking and problem solving competencies supported by high level written and oral communication capabilities. An effective and highly ethical agent and skilled negotiator with excellent interpersonal and organizational skills. EXPERIENCE PRESIDENT MARCH 2015 - PRESENT CEIBA CONSULTING, LLC Ceiba Consulting, LLC, provides government relations, strategic lobbying, political consulting an grass- roots advocacy throughout the State of New Jersey and the surrounding region. The firm’s experience draws upon years of work in the private and public sectors, as well as, serving on numerous govern- mental bodies on all levels of government in a bipartisan way. We have advised governors, legislators, county and local officials and candidates for US Senate to municipal government. Our areas of exper- tise include economic development, procurement, government contracting, and labor relations. Utilizing strong advocacy and negotiation skills, combined with a well-established network of political and gov- ernmental contacts, Ceiba Consulting has a strong track record of delivering excellent results for its clients. Ceiba’s lobbying services include legislative tracking and monitoring, the drafting letters and testimony on behalf of our clients before legislative and regulatory bodies and providing regular reports in order keep our clients up to date on their issues. In addition to traditional government relations ser- vices, Ceiba advises businesses in a variety of indus- tries including real estate developers in their ef- forts to build support around key development projects throughout the region, projects finance, con- struction, public utilities, transportation and health care. DIRECTOR FEBRUARY 2011 - FEBRUARY 2015 BERGEN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Assist the County Executive, Freeholder Board, County Administrator, Department Directors and Con- stitutional Officers research, develop and enact innovative policies, programs, plans and procedures. Represent the County Executive at many federal, state, regional and municipal meetings. Coordinated the activities of various county departments, divisions, offices and agencies. Reporting to the County Administrator and the County Executive, responsible for a budget of over $3.5 million and management of forty employees within six divisions, including Regional Planning and Transportation, Land Use and Development Review, Open Space, Data Resources and Technology and Construction Board Appeals/ Planning Board, and Community Development. Responsible to ensure department functioned within Federal, State and County policies, rules, and regulations. Responsible to provide land, environmental, economic, and transportation planning expertise, and coordinating all facets of planning practice in Bergen County. Accomplishments and Examples of Work Included:

Upload: robert-garrison

Post on 18-Jan-2017

38 views

Category:

Documents


4 download

TRANSCRIPT

ROBERT S. GARRISON, ESQ. 715 Kimball Avenue • Westfield, NJ 07090

(908) 239-7704 mobile • [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertsgarrison

PROFILE

Government Affairs Expert ~ Proven Administrator ~ Legal Professional

Accomplished executive and legal professional offering a unique background of experience that in-cludes work across private and government sectors. Highly analytical, innovative, and organized with a history of developing plans and successfully managing complex projects using sophisticated reporting and data management tools.

Proven record for building productive relationships with all organizational, local, state and federal coun-terparts. Strong operational management skills combined with collaborative style that results in strong positive relationships with employees, consultants, and municipal bodies. Strong critical thinking and problem solving competencies supported by high level written and oral communication capabilities. An effective and highly ethical agent and skilled negotiator with excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.

EXPERIENCE

PRESIDENT MARCH 2015 - PRESENT CEIBA CONSULTING, LLC Ceiba Consulting, LLC, provides government relations, strategic lobbying, political consulting an grass-roots advocacy throughout the State of New Jersey and the surrounding region. The firm’s experience draws upon years of work in the private and public sectors, as well as, serving on numerous govern-mental bodies on all levels of government in a bipartisan way. We have advised governors, legislators, county and local officials and candidates for US Senate to municipal government. Our areas of exper-tise include economic development, procurement, government contracting, and labor relations. Utilizing strong advocacy and negotiation skills, combined with a well-established network of political and gov-ernmental contacts, Ceiba Consulting has a strong track record of delivering excellent results for its clients. Ceiba’s lobbying services include legislative tracking and monitoring, the drafting letters and testimony on behalf of our clients before legislative and regulatory bodies and providing regular reports in order keep our clients up to date on their issues. In addition to traditional government relations ser-vices, Ceiba advises businesses in a variety of indus- tries including real estate developers in their ef-forts to build support around key development projects throughout the region, projects finance, con-struction, public utilities, transportation and health care.

DIRECTOR FEBRUARY 2011 - FEBRUARY 2015 BERGEN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Assist the County Executive, Freeholder Board, County Administrator, Department Directors and Con-stitutional Officers research, develop and enact innovative policies, programs, plans and procedures. Represent the County Executive at many federal, state, regional and municipal meetings. Coordinated the activities of various county departments, divisions, offices and agencies. Reporting to the County Administrator and the County Executive, responsible for a budget of over $3.5 million and management of forty employees within six divisions, including Regional Planning and Transportation, Land Use and Development Review, Open Space, Data Resources and Technology and Construction Board Appeals/Planning Board, and Community Development. Responsible to ensure department functioned within Federal, State and County policies, rules, and regulations. Responsible to provide land, environmental, economic, and transportation planning expertise, and coordinating all facets of planning practice in Bergen County.

Accomplishments and Examples of Work Included:

o Efficiently and effectively managed the development of a Comprehensive Master Plan for Bergen County to guide policies, planning, and priorities and provide support to municipali-ties in their decision-making regarding planning and zoning efforts to embrace the full spec-trum of county resources, services, programs, policies, and organizational structure.

o Set an action agenda with an emphasis on the future of transportation and open space for Bergen County, including Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR), Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Complete Streets program.

o Developed and honed research, information resources, and technology that expedite and integrate the work of the Department as well as disseminate data and information to the County’s other departments and the public-at-large while managing day-to-day operation of department’s database system, website updating, development application reporting, and document scanning and archiving.

o Maintained oversight of transportation investments on a regional and statewide scale, par-ticularly through our role as primary liaison to the North Jersey Transportation Planning Au-thority (NJTPA), as well as our efforts in conjunction with the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), NJ Transit, and other regional transportation agencies.

o Reviewed all applicable Subdivision and Site Plan Applications for Bergen’s 70 municipali-ties in accordance with state enabling legislation (County Planning Act), the County Site Plan and Subdivision Resolutions and Ordinances and the County Engineer’s design stan-dards.

o Negotiated with developers and municipalities in ensuring that the impacts are not only ad-dressed and mitigated in accordance with the aforementioned resolutions and ordinances, but are integrated as proposed improvements into County and Municipal capital projects.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FEBRUARY 2011 - FEBRUARY 2015 BERGEN COUNTY IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY Reporting directly to the Commissioners and managing provision of solutions and access to favorable financing as well as ensuring continuous improvement of health care services rendered by Bergen Re-gional Medical Center. Collaborated with CFO in budget creation and managed relationship with BRMC, including all construction and maintenance projects, overseeing staff and hired professionals. Responsibilities in RFP and RFQ processes.

Accomplishments and Examples of Work Included:

o Oversaw the Lease and Operating Agreement (LOA) with the operator of the 1200 bed County Hospital (Bergen Regional Medical Center), ensuring contract compliance, coordi-nation with State and Federal regulators, developed and supervised a $10 million capital improvement program, and strategic planning for the hospital’s future.

o Managed the oversight of four separate BCIA financing programs: Stand-Alone Financing Program (over $5 million); Municipal Pooled Finance Program (Under $4 million); Munibanc Program (primarily for equipment lease financing); and Renewable Energy Financing Pro-gram for solar and energy savings projects.

TREASURER / ADMINISTRATOR JANUARY 2001 - JANUARY 2011 NJ LABORERS’ POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE / LABORERS’ EASTERN REGION POLITICAL EDUCATION FUND Direct all political operations for a 25,000 member union. Advise union leadership and membership on political issues at all levels of government. Administer and oversee all aspects of a $1.5 million PAC. Coordinate and manage the daily functions of the PAC. Ensure Federal Election Commission, federal lobby, and NJ Election Law Enforcement compliance, as well as, manage overall financial management of the PAC. Responsible for the administration and implementation of PAC education and growth plan (including, solicitations, member correspondence, database management, reporting, and PAC Board

communications). Develop innovative strategies for internal PAC solicitation programs to increase em-ployee participation and contributions to the PAC. Recruit, train, and manage PAC Political Captains. Work closely with PAC Board and select senior management to implement PAC education and mem-bership campaign. Work with Regional staff to compile and review candidate requests for support and develop strategies for giving.

DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MARCH 1997 - DECEMBER 2000 NJ LABORERS’-EMPLOYERS COOPERATION & EDUCATION TRUST (NJ LECET) Manage New Jersey legislative agenda for a labor-management organization which included a variety of issues including: worker safety, prevailing wages, transportation infrastructure funding, and economic development. Represent the interests of the Union and signatory contractors with regard to federal, state, and local legislation and regulations and to support government and industry initiatives to im-prove public-private partnership around critical infrastructure development Draft and deliver testimony before legislative committees and regulatory bodies. Build alliances and coalitions with unions, associa-tions, and community organizations to support political or issue campaigns and organizing projects.

ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENT AND LEGAL EXPERIENCE Westfield Board of Education - Board Member 2016 - Present North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) - Alternate Board Member 2011 - 2014 Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) - Board Member 2010 - 2013 Florio, Perrucci Law, LLC - Of Counsel 2009 - 2010 Governor’s Local Government Ethics Task Force - Member 2009 - 2011 Rutgers University, Union Leadership Academy - “Labor & Politics” - Lecturer 2008 - 2010 Union County Planning Board - Member 2006 - 2011 Hudson County Board of Elections - Chairman 2004 - 2005 Harrison Redevelopment Agency - Commissioner 2002 - 2005 Hudson County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee - Member 2003 - 2005

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Rutgers University New Start Career Network - Volunteer Career Coach 2016 - Present Great Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce - Member 2015 - Present Leadership New Jersey Graduate Organization (LNJGO) 2002 - Present New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC) - Trustee 1998 - Present

EDUCATION Juris Doctorate 2001 Rutgers School of Law Newark, NJ Urban Legal Clinic

Master of Government Administration 1997 Fels Institute of Government - University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Sweeney Scholar

Bachelor of Arts 1994 Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ History and Political Science Henry Rutgers Scholar; Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society; Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society

Undergraduate Associates Certificate 1994 Eagleton Institute of Politics - Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ

PROFESSIONAL LICENSES New Jersey State Bar Admitted 2008 New Jersey State Life & Health Insurance Agent Licensed 2016