Guest Lecturer Board Member
Resume:
CRAIG KEYS JD, MA
Los Angeles, CA 90018
**********@*****.***
EDUCATION
USC Marshall School of Business, Certificate in Real Estate Finance UCLA PhD Program, Dean’s Fellow in Urban Planning
University of California, Juris Doctorate, UC Hastings College of the Law. Columbia University, Joint JD-MA Degree Program in Media Sociology & Law. University of California, Berkeley, Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Live Nation, SME Division, (Los Angeles, CA)
Senior Vice President, Business Strategy & Legal Affairs –
* Manage strategic partnerships and business affairs; and advise company President
* Conceive, recommend and direct short-term and long-term business strategies
* Plan and develop corporate policies and compliance processes
* Draft entertainment business and employment related agreements
* Evaluate and develop new business opportunities and existing revenue streams Oversee company’s entertainment business and legal affairs matters. Provide business planning and legal documentation support for the company’s sales management, event productions, licensing, artist entertainment bookings, and strategic partnership negotiations world-wide. Evaluate business practices and assess business opportunities. Develop and recommend entertainment business strategies. Responsible for advising, developing and managing public communications efforts and the implementation of short and long-term business plans. Manage internal management policies, disciplinary actions, and operational compliance matters. Support President’s external relations campaigns, business development activities, and general company management. 2017 - Present NC NVISION LLC (“Bethune Urban Village Projects”) (Los Angeles, CA) Equity Partner and Head of External Relations –
In a part-time, entrepreneurial capacity; while also managing business affairs for Live Nation, I am pursing ventures to finance and develop mixed-use, biotech, clean- technology incubators, and workforce housing and live-work facilities in Los Angeles. I provide negotiation, entitlements, contract management, legal drafting, advisory and strategic support to the NC Vision LLC partnerships between Keys Consulting Group and Urban America, Hart Realty, Capri Urban Development, and NVision Development. 2017 - Present
University of Southern California, (Los Angeles, CA) Associate Senior Vice President, Civic Engagement –
* Managed various local, state and federal economic development lobbying and community outreach efforts
* Maintained close working relationships with elected officials and federal agencies
* Directed all operations of key community programs and partnerships Responsible for managing several operational divisions within Government and Community Relations: USC Housing Law Clinic, Office of the Ombudsman, Economic Development, Academic Partnerships, Educational Partnerships, Community and Government Partnerships, as well as supporting key University policy initiatives and development projects such as land use entitlements of the
$400M USC Village Specific Plan and USC Health Sciences Campus Master Plan projects. Managed permitting, construction compliance, business relocations, facilities build outs and tenant improvement matters, and external communications and strategic partnerships with elected officials, community leaders, nonprofit organizations, local businesses, and USC faculty, staff and students in support of the university’s construction priorities. Worked closely with LA City Council Offices, Community Stakeholders, USC Government Relations, and USC Deans. Acted as official University spokesperson on real estate development issues. 2012 2017 Keys Consulting Group, Business & Policy Advisors. (Los Angeles, CA) Principal Consultant –
* Provide business and legal affairs management for land development and entertainment companies
* Provide case management, analyses and legal research support for law firm clients
* Negotiate and draft licensing, merchandising, co-production, and talent contracts
* Manage legal entitlements, RFP responses, and financial due diligence for city, state and private real estate development clients
* Testify before local and state agencies on behalf of technology and entertainment clients.
Consult in the entertainment industry for iconic live event venues, and for recorded music and visual media content producers and distributors such as: Miramax Films, OM Records, Fox Films, Boutique Media Inc., Mixology Agency, Danny B Productions, Spundae Records, The End Up, A&R Select Studios, LA Supper Club, and The Walt Disney Company. Prior clients also include Loeb & Loeb LLC, Villa Development, DLA Piper LLC, Greenberg Traurig LLP, J.H. Snyder Company, Green Institute for Village Empowerment, CALFED Ecosystem Restoration Program, Supperclub LA, Daniel & Brook Real Estate Investment Trust, and Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency. 2007 - 2012
Weston Benshoof Rochefort Rubalcava MacCuish LLP. (Los Angeles, CA) Director of Government Relations –
* Cultivated strategic relationships with city, county and state agencies and officials
* Obtained legal entitlements for commercial and residential construction projects
* Negotiated Development agreements for Target, Home Depot and Sears projects
* Manage government affairs and lobbying matters for firm clients
* Represented projects in environmental, planning, and other administrative hearings Responsible for obtaining legal entitlements & environmental clearances, providing technical analyses, serving as client’s legal advocate before various government agencies and commissions. Client projects included among other things: Dance hall and music venue approvals, General Plan Amendments, city planning and zoning due diligence, residential and commercial entitlements, redevelopment projects, subdivision approvals, affordable housing projects, lobbying and political outreach for land use ordinances. Advised and represented business clients with respect to various federal and state agency regulatory matters. 2004 – 2007
Redevelopment Agency, City of Thousand Oaks, (Thousand Oaks, CA) Senior Redevelopment Manager –
* Negotiated agreements for construction of government subsidized housing projects
* Obtained government financing, permits & clearances for affordable housing projects
* Oversaw home loan underwriting for city and agency-financed housing
* Provided government relations outreach at local, state and federal levels Worked closely with federal, state and local policy-makers, as well as private investors, and community stakeholders, to finance and develop multi-family housing projects. Responsible for Agency’s handling of land entitlements, project financing and coordination with government agencies for urban development projects. Oversaw business and community relations. Made regular appearances before the Redevelopment Agency Board, Planning Commission, and City Council. 2002 - 2004 Community Redevelopment Agency, City of Los Angeles, (Los Angeles CA) Legislative Policy Manager –
* Tracked local, state and federal legislation and directed advocacy efforts
* Performed due diligence analyses on CRA housing and commercial projects
* Drafted and implemented project investment and development guidelines
* Lobbied Planning Commission and City Council for development approvals Served as a chief advocate for CRA projects seeking approvals from city decision-makers. As a member of Agency's Executive Management Team, coordinated and maintained public and governmental support for Agency projects, including revitalization of the historic Vision Theater and Ebony Theater. Directed oversight of housing and commercial construction policy analyses, project area focus, setting of economic development priorities and financial resource management. Coordinated City, State and Federal legislative efforts for the Agency. Directed three legislative committees to track, analyze and make recommendations to the City Council and the Mayor regarding pending legislation. 2000 - 2001 SELECTED COMMUNITY & PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES
University of Southern California, Department of Political Science Faculty Lecturer- Clinical Teaching Professor of Applied Politics and American Political System teaching two classes during the 2019-2020 Academic Year. Order of the Golden Bear, UC Berkeley
Member- Admitted as a Fellow in 2016 for service to the University. 2016 – present
Fernando Pullum Performing Arts Center
Board Member- Serving as a board member of a local performing arts non-profit serving children from historically disadvantaged communities. 2016- present 24th Street Theatre
Board Member- Serving as a board member of a local Los Angeles downtown community theater serving children and adults. 2015- present University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business Lecturer- Designed curriculum and lectured several courses in entrepreneurship, entertainment industry business practices, and technology incubation. 2013-2017 Academic Years.
California State University, Northridge, Department of Public Administration Adjunct Professor Developed and taught graduate course on intergovernmental relations for Masters in Public Policy program. 2009 University of California, Los Angeles, Luskin School of Public Affairs Graduate Course Guest Lecturer Lectured class on city planning, land use law, and the role of music and arts in fostering community economic development. 2008 U.S. Department of Commerce, District Export Council Commissioner - Appointed to help expand import export business opportunities for sustainable technology firms located in the southern California region. Promote procurement, manufacturing and services opportunities domestically and abroad through various Department of Commerce programs. 2010 – 2013 33rd Assembly and 37th Congressional District Commissions Commissioner - Appointed to two commissions advising Hon Karen Bass, on matters impacting the environment and health of communities. 2010 – 2013 Commission on Conventions & Tourism, Council District 10 (Los Angeles, CA) Commissioner - Advised the City Council Member Herb Wesson on tourism, entertainment, and economic development issues within the Tenth Council District. 2003 – 2005
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