CONNIE DESIMINI

adri7r@r.postjobfree.com

**** ****** **** **** – Apt. 2H ● Larchmont, New York, 10538 ● 914-***-****

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

A highly motivated leader, detail -oriented professional and office manager with diverse experience to meet the goals and objectives of the organization. Work closely with the Executive Director by overseeing the grants management and reporting systems and support efficient communications and operations for the team.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (a division of the New York Community Trust), Hartsdale, NY

Grant and Scholarship Administrator & Office Manager February 2016 – Present

Grant & Scholarship Management:

Manage, organize and implement all functions related to the foundation’s $3MM operating budget and endowed funds, grants and scholarships

Prepare quarterly reports for the Executive Director and Program Officers and analyze the grant budget to ensure correct calculations of fund categories

Responsible for all grant, contract and scholarship administration and develop new strategies for efficient processing

Strategically optimize the grants and scholarship administration process by streamlining the grants procedures and creating a scholarship online portal with New York counterparts and Foundant management system

Lead and steer the scholarship process and procedures to the school administration and committees by working closely with high schools in Westchester County

Grant Budgeting and Reporting:

Execute detailed charts and reporting for the Executive Director for funds totaling over $3 million in 2021

Processed 69 grants from competitive grant budget greater than $3MM in 2021

Track and record detailed administrative budget and provide complete and accurate records and reconciliations for month and year-end for team and New York office

Collaborate with Directors to submit approved and accurate contract and grant documentation

Communications:

Act as primary contact person with grantees and high school scholarship administration

Manage relationships with the fund holders and grantees, and successfully communicate and develop donor reports, competitive grant spending policy and year-end reporting for the Executive Director

Compliance:

Ensure internal and external procedural adherence of the grant awards, monitor payments and reports, and grant closing

Oversight of all grant administration and set the retention management of both hard and electronic documentation for the organization

Interprets the grants, contracts and scholarship requirements and due diligence policies and best practices for the foundation

Office Administration and Operations:

Review and approve all invoices/expenses submitted and interface with the New York office for processing payments

Manage IT equipment and software, oversee IT contractors, help desk and troubleshoot computer and printer issues

CARMINE VELLA & CO., INC. (CPA/Accounting Firm), New Rochelle, NY June 2015 – February 2016

Administrative Assistant

Provide high level administrative support to owner and team which includes coordination of appointments, meetings, and conference calls

Act as liaison to support all operations and ensure effective and timely communication with the team and clients

Prepare and review materials and correspondence for meetings and ensure data accuracy in company records

Provide additional support such as special projects as needed, reviewing mail, maintain files and process forms

MARCHON EYEWEAR INC. (a division of Altair), New York, NY July 2014 - June 2015

Executive Assistant to Product Development Department, Sun & Optical Wear

Coordinated the product design development process from initial product sample creation to production

Built client and vendor relationships to provide service that exceeds expectations

Maintained multiple executive appointment schedules by planning and coordinating meetings and conferences

Supported team including Director and Sr. Manager by gathering research for competitors within the industry

Developed timelines to help keep ensure tasks are completed in a timely manner towards project completion

Created and modified all presentations, agendas and matrices using PowerPoint and Word

Developed line sheets for brand analysis and price comparisons on Excel

Scheduled client or vendor appointments to review the product and new materials

Prepared and reviewed materials and drafted correspondence for meetings

Ensured technical data accuracy under an extremely fast paced environment and ability to prioritize tasks at hand

Participated in regular departmental meetings, training and development sessions by the Director

Additional responsibilities included reviewing mail, ordering supplies and assisting with special projects as needed

LI & FUNG USA (FISHMAN & TOBIN, INC.), New York, NY 2007 - 2014

Executive Assistant/Product Coordinator to Director

Developed and prepared sample and production paperwork by working closely with the Tommy Girl & Nautica teams

Informed management of major issues or changes in the development process to ensure accurate paperwork and receipt of a quality product that met all production requirements

Interfaced and assisted the Design, Sales and Merchandising teams to improve processes and handle daily correspondences to make the business run smoothly

Worked closely with the Director to set up compliance database for all trim components and packaging

Maintained all binders, tracked and identified quality and technical issues and informed management of major style changes or proto sample errors and updates

Analyzed, critiqued and reviewed all incoming samples and coordinated solutions based on product information

Assisted Sr. Designer to develop the new line plan based on current product line analysis, market and trend research resulting in increased Walmart Sales for Girl’s and Boy’s Uniforms for Spring 2010

KRAFT FOODS INCORPORATED, Tarrytown, NY 1996 - 2005

Assistant Project Manager, Global Security Controls & Business Continuity

Worked closely with 15 Information Technology professionals in successful execution of auditing processes for Kraft’s Security Department

Assisted in the Development of project plans, information reports and strategic planning throughout the audit

Communicated the computer documentation and testing strategy plans to the team which ensured that the product met the specifications and was deployed successfully

Coordinated meetings, delivered presentations on audit progress, prepared written documentation and status reports for Senior Management, Internal Compliance team and External Auditors

Reviewed, analyzed audit results, implemented and presented remediation suggestions to Management that resulted in the prevention of audit penalties

Developed and managed timelines/calendars to achieve the project goals and objectives

Lan Administrator, Client Access Services

Performed technology needs analysis to all employees domestically and globally

Supported server, network and desktop hardware, software and applications

Created employee profiles, troubleshooted network problems and assisted with customer care calls

EDUCATION

Pace University, Pleasantville, NY

B.B.A. in Business Administration

Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York, NY

A.A.S. in Fashion Design - GPA 3.5 - Dean’s List

COMPUTER Microsoft Office: Excel, Word and Outlook, Adobe, Photoshop & Illustrator, Salesforce, Foundant, Filemaker, WebPDM, PLM Systems, Dropbox, Manage Zoom Webinars & Meetings

SKILLS/OTHER Appeared on HGTV’s My First Renovation “Sister Sister” Episode, Netflix “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, Board Member 2012 – Current at Larchmont Gables Co-op building, Volunteered - Westchester Community College, assisted with the ESL and the Project Transition’s Displaced Homemaker programs 2018 -2019

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