Executive Officer Chief

Location:

Los Angeles, CA

Posted:

July 09, 2024

Contact this candidate

Resume:

Donald Flaherty Fajardo

310-***-****

*****@***.***

PROFILE

An experienced CEO/Executive Director of both non-profit and for-profit organizations. Extremely creative, think “outside the box” individual with the innate ability to see the “Big Picture” in situations. A successful leader with the “Superpower” to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds and bring groups of people together to work toward a shared vision and goal. SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

• Entrepreneur who has built multiple organizations into successful enterprises.

• Well versed in budget development and responsible fiscal management.

• 15 years of experience managing multifaceted fundraising/development programs that have raised more than $18 million dollars.

• Extensive international work experience in Europe and Mainland China.

• 16 years of creative oversight and development of P.R. and advertising campaigns.

• Experienced facilitator of professional development and ongoing staff education programs.

• Awarding winning film writer/director/producer.

• Produced and managed over 300 live shows and events.

• Have extensive professional and personal relationships in Hollywood and the artistic community.

• (Fun Fact) Worked as an intern at the Krase, Bailey, Reed-Krase, law firm while in high school. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

IRMA’S PLACE PRODUCTIONS - LOS ANGELES CA 2008 - 2024 A production house specializing in TV/film, intellectual property development, and social media content creation.

ROLE - Managing Partner/Creative Director

Responsibilities and accomplishments include:

• Part of the founding team that built the company from ground up into a globally recognized boutique production house.

• Responsible for, capital fundraising, budgeting, operations, and business initiatives.

• Business development - increased new clients and revenue by 15% annually.

• Creative producer and lead writer/director of the company’s slate of film/TV and web content.

• Produced and directed East Meets West, an award-winning documentary for China Central Television that has been watched by over 100 million viewers in mainland China.

• Best Writer/Director 2017 Golden Film Awards.

RECENT CLIENTS

China Central Television

Amazon Prime

Pacific Crest Youth Arts Organization

The Walt Disney Company

Nova Lifestyle

Ventanarosa Productions

Jacksonville State University

GOLD YOUTH ARTS ORGANZATION - SAN DIEGO CA 2005 - 2022 An award-winning 501C-3 non-profit, that provides music, dance and life changing performances opportunities to youth and young adults.

ROLE - Founder and Executive Director

Responsibilities and accomplishments include:

• Started the program as an after school performing arts program serving inner-city youth in Hawthorne CA. Built it into an internationally recognized performing arts organization that serves over 500 youth and young adults annually from around the world.

• Executive duties included administrative oversight, finance/budgeting, curriculum development, program coordination, and government compliance.

• Managed 60 paid staff, 300 volunteers, and 500 plus participants annually.

• Created an ongoing training program for all staff and volunteers that increased retention rates and lead to improved job satisfaction ratings by participants.

• Acted as the liaison to all governmental bodies, community leaders, non-profit organizations, and business leaders.

• Secured and managed over 50 corporate partnerships/sponsorships from a variety of companies including, Yamaha, Conn Selmer, Gatorade, and Nike.

• Managed fundraising initiatives - developed an organizational specific CRM for the comprehensive tracking of all donations, grants, capital campaigns, and all other revenue streams.

• Secured over $5 million in donations/gifts/grants in the past two years.

• Implemented successful community outreach programs and oversaw the creation of the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

• Successfully managed the pivot to Covid protocols and the transformation of the organization’s delivery of services to an online model during lockdowns.

• Voted “Director of the Year 2021” by Drum Corps International. CENTINELA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT - LAWNDALE CA 1998 - 2010 An inner-city high school district serving the cities of Hawthorne, Lawndale, and the unincorporated areas surrounding Los Angeles International Airport.

ROLE - Director of Bands Hawthorne High School

Responsibilities and accomplishments include:

• Managed the music department’s performing ensembles, educational programs, and curriculum development process.

• Established the department’s first fundraising/development program - raised over $200,000 annually.

• Built the HHS Percussion Ensemble into the most award-winning organization in district’s history with over 200 state, regional and national titles.

• The HHS Band was the featured performing ensemble at the 2002 California State Superintendent’s Conference. Received the “Spotlight Award” for excellence in music education and the band was featured as an example of what is possible at an inner-city school.

• Created an after-school study program that helped participating students achieve grade-level reading and math parity on CA State testing with resource rich students.

• Founded Gold Drum & Bugle Corps as an after school and summer program for local youth and young adults in the Hawthorne area. Group became the first high school-based drum corps in the world recognized by Drum Corps International.

STATESMEN PERFORMING ARTS ORG. - LEICESTER ENGLAND 1994 - 1998 A UK based non-profit that provides music and dance instruction coupled with performance opportunities to youth and young adults.

ROLE - Artistic Director and Program Coordinator

Responsibilities and accomplishments include:

• Provided artistic and design oversight to all the organization’s performance ensembles. Acted as a lead instructor to all the music and dance programs.

• Developed the recruitment and retention protocols for staff, participants, and volunteers of the organization.

• Helped establish the organization’s brand identity.

• Facilitated program specific training for students and ongoing training for the educational staff.

• During tenure, the organization’s ensembles won over 50 awards and titles. HYATT REGENCY HOTEL – NEWPORT BEACH CA 1990 - 1994 A four-star resort hotel on the back bay of Newport Harbor. ROLE - Valet Parking Assistant Manager

Responsibilities and accomplishments include:

• Provided oversight of the valet parking department at the resort. Duties included logistics, revenue reporting, and all aspects of customer service.

• Voted “Staff Member of the Month” four times.

• Oversaw training and onboarding for new staff members.

• Managed the scheduling of 40 plus workers.

• Worked with senior hotel management to resolve all issues associated with customer service and parking at the resort.

• Worked with the valet management team to increased parking revenue by 10 percent annually. EDUCATION

Pepperdine University - Malibu CA

1997: Ed.D. Institutional Management

{Dissertation Title: Study of a Cooperative Promotional Agreement Between the Walt Disney World Resort and Drum Corps International}

Pepperdine University - Malibu CA

1993: M.Ed. with California Single Subject Credential California State University at Fresno - Fresno CA

1990: BA, Music Education

College of the Sequoias - Visalia CA