IT in Latvia--About the Author

The Landscape of Information Technology in Latvia:

About the Author

        Christina Deady lived in Latvia for two years (1998-2000) as a Business Advisor and NGO Developer with the U.S. Peace Corps. Below please find a resume to summarize Christina’s educational and professional background:

EDUCATION

American University, Kogod School of Business, Washington, DC

Master of Business Administration degree                                                               May 2002

n     Concentrations: Economic Development and Management of Global Information Technology

n     Awards: Scholarship, Kogod Merit Award, Master’s Award, “Graduate Scholars List” for 3.9 GPA

n     Activities: This Week @ Kogod e-newsletter Assistant Editor, Fall 2001 Orientation Coordinator

Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Bachelor of Arts degree                                                                                               May 1992

n     Major: Psychology

n     Awards: Student-Alumni Relations Group Leadership Award; Dean’s List; Who’s Who; Scholarship

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Training Resources Group, Inc. (TRG), Alexandria, VA

Business Development Team                                                                             June 2001 - Present

n     Develop and produce letter proposals and provide production support for larger proposals, including major government contracts

n     Produce project budget spreadsheets

n     Manage organizational databases, including project management and consultant databases

n     Participate in the development and implementation of a corporate communications strategy including research, targeted networking, updating and enhancing TRG website, other activities

n     Research, draft TRG’s marketing materials including corporate newsletter and press releases

U.S. Peace Corps, Republic of Latvia

SED/NGO (Small Enterprise Development/Non-governmental Organization) Program

Training Coordinator, SED/NGO Program’s Pre-Service Training            May 2000 – July 2000

n     Developed curriculum and lead 3-month training for in-coming volunteers in SED/NGO program

n     Regularly evaluated progress of trainees in four main skill areas, and worked with them to design action plan to achieve necessary skill level

n     Supervised three assistants

Business Consultant and NGO Developer                                                     June 1998 - May 2000

n     Advised entrepreneurs, government officials & NGO leaders in nine rural villages—resulted in a regional economic development plan, business incubator, micro-finance & credit unions in each community

n     Taught three-month series of seminars in various communities to Latvian entrepreneurs in basic business skills— skills transfer was sustainable, as the courses were then lead by the original group of participants

n     Trained and assisted Latvian NGOs in fund raising, marketing of services, internal management, strategic planning and board development through seminars and hands-on involvement

n     Lead national conference, “Collaboration of NGOs and Governments”

n     Taught computer skills, including Word, Excel, Access basics, e-mail and Internet usage

n     Elected by peers to serve in positions of increasing responsibility with the Advisory Council of the three Baltic countries to Peace Corps’ administration—as Trainee Representative then SED/NGO Group Representative and then a full term as President

Self Reliance, Inc. (SRI), Tampa, Florida

Director of Housing                                                                         October 1994 – April 1998

n     Expanded First-time Homebuyers’ Program from conception to $1.4 million budget

n     Managed 3 programs and team of thirteen staff, resulting in 100 new homebuyers/year and 120 homes/year rehabilitated for “handicapped” accessibility

n     Oversaw asset management, including acquisition, rehabilitation and sale of real estate

n     Responsible for fundraising and fee development for all programs, as well as program marketing

Director, Housing Independence, Inc.                                            October 1994 – April 1998

n     Simultaneously serving in two roles—as Director of Housing for SRI and as Director of this SRI subsidiary, Housing Independence, Inc.

n     Responsible for purchase and rehabilitation of 57-unit apartment complex

n     Responsible for property management of two apartment complexes with a total of 81 units, including capital improvements, overall organizational development and team of 5 staff

Housing Assistance Coordinator                                                      January 1994 – October 1994

n     Created, launched and implemented First-time Homebuyers’ program

n     Assisted low-income families and persons with disabilities in becoming homeowners by providing assistance with credit counseling, budgeting, and loan processing through closing

n     Worked closely with government officials and their homebuyer assistance programs—served as liaison for SRI, and as advisor to local government for disabled persons and first-time homebuyers

Hillsborough Rural Community Development Corporation (HRCDC), Tampa, Florida

Project Manager/Grant Writer                                                               April 1993 – January 1994

n     Increased organization’s overall budget by 45% in nine months of employment

n     Designed and implemented credit counseling and loan processing procedures; assisted first-time homebuyers in securing financing from initial interview through closing

n     Successfully marketed Hillsborough Rural Community Development Corporation (HRCDC), resulting in a new brochure, a “What’s Right About Tampa Bay” TV news segment and a Certificate of Appreciation for Service to the Community from the Board of County Commissioners

PUBLICATIONS

n     How to Find Money: A Handbook for Finding the Right Grants, Investors and Other Resources to Help Realize Your Projects (in Latvian)

n     A Code of Ethics for Latvian NGOs (in Latvian)

Last updated December 13, 2001

EDUCATION
American University, Kogod School of Business, Washington, DC
	Master of Business Administration degree May 2002 n Concentrations: Economic Development and Management of Global Information Technology n Awards: Scholarship, Kogod Merit Award, Master’s Award, “Graduate Scholars List” for 3.9 GPA n Activities: This Week @ Kogod e-newsletter Assistant Editor, Fall 2001 Orientation Coordinator
Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
	Bachelor of Arts degree May 1992 n Major: Psychology n Awards: Student-Alumni Relations Group Leadership Award; Dean’s List; Who’s Who; Scholarship
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Training Resources Group, Inc. (TRG), Alexandria, VA
	Business Development Team June 2001 - Present n Develop and produce letter proposals and provide production support for larger proposals, including major government contracts n Produce project budget spreadsheets n Manage organizational databases, including project management and consultant databases n Participate in the development and implementation of a corporate communications strategy including research, targeted networking, updating and enhancing TRG website, other activities n Research, draft TRG’s marketing materials including corporate newsletter and press releases
U.S. Peace Corps, Republic of Latvia SED/NGO (Small Enterprise Development/Non-governmental Organization) Program
	Training Coordinator, SED/NGO Program’s Pre-Service Training May 2000 – July 2000 n Developed curriculum and lead 3-month training for in-coming volunteers in SED/NGO program n Regularly evaluated progress of trainees in four main skill areas, and worked with them to design action plan to achieve necessary skill level n Supervised three assistants
	Business Consultant and NGO Developer June 1998 - May 2000 n Advised entrepreneurs, government officials & NGO leaders in nine rural villages—resulted in a regional economic development plan, business incubator, micro-finance & credit unions in each community n Taught three-month series of seminars in various communities to Latvian entrepreneurs in basic business skills— skills transfer was sustainable, as the courses were then lead by the original group of participants n Trained and assisted Latvian NGOs in fund raising, marketing of services, internal management, strategic planning and board development through seminars and hands-on involvement n Lead national conference, “Collaboration of NGOs and Governments” n Taught computer skills, including Word, Excel, Access basics, e-mail and Internet usage n Elected by peers to serve in positions of increasing responsibility with the Advisory Council of the three Baltic countries to Peace Corps’ administration—as Trainee Representative then SED/NGO Group Representative and then a full term as President

Self Reliance, Inc. (SRI), Tampa, Florida
	Director of Housing October 1994 – April 1998 n Expanded First-time Homebuyers’ Program from conception to $1.4 million budget n Managed 3 programs and team of thirteen staff, resulting in 100 new homebuyers/year and 120 homes/year rehabilitated for “handicapped” accessibility n Oversaw asset management, including acquisition, rehabilitation and sale of real estate n Responsible for fundraising and fee development for all programs, as well as program marketing
	Director, Housing Independence, Inc. October 1994 – April 1998 n Simultaneously serving in two roles—as Director of Housing for SRI and as Director of this SRI subsidiary, Housing Independence, Inc. n Responsible for purchase and rehabilitation of 57-unit apartment complex n Responsible for property management of two apartment complexes with a total of 81 units, including capital improvements, overall organizational development and team of 5 staff
	Housing Assistance Coordinator January 1994 – October 1994 n Created, launched and implemented First-time Homebuyers’ program n Assisted low-income families and persons with disabilities in becoming homeowners by providing assistance with credit counseling, budgeting, and loan processing through closing n Worked closely with government officials and their homebuyer assistance programs—served as liaison for SRI, and as advisor to local government for disabled persons and first-time homebuyers
Hillsborough Rural Community Development Corporation (HRCDC), Tampa, Florida
	Project Manager/Grant Writer April 1993 – January 1994 n Increased organization’s overall budget by 45% in nine months of employment n Designed and implemented credit counseling and loan processing procedures; assisted first-time homebuyers in securing financing from initial interview through closing n Successfully marketed Hillsborough Rural Community Development Corporation (HRCDC), resulting in a new brochure, a “What’s Right About Tampa Bay” TV news segment and a Certificate of Appreciation for Service to the Community from the Board of County Commissioners
PUBLICATIONS
	n How to Find Money: A Handbook for Finding the Right Grants, Investors and Other Resources to Help Realize Your Projects (in Latvian) n A Code of Ethics for Latvian NGOs (in Latvian)