Legislative Affairs Executive with Government Strategy Expertise

Sharon Seyler

*** **** **.

Port Republic, NJ ***41

Cell – 609-***-****

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

Objective: Dedicated professional seeks legislative executive position. Committed to working with associations, informing and updating on legislative issues pertaining to their association and providing direction.

Highlights: Articulate individual experienced in delivering testimony, writing position statements, speaking with local and federal legislators and the community, coordinating special events, legislative research and public relations background.

Excellent interpersonal skills, strong communicator, culturally sensitive, self-starter,

skilled multi-tasker, fast learner, detail oriented, deadline driven, legislative, education and public policy background, community outreach and grassroots advocacy background.

Employment: Dec 2020 – current

Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs and Business Development for Duane Morris Government Strategies. Trenton, NJ

Responsibilities include:

Managing legislation that pertains to client related issues: Education, healthcare, infrastructure, budgets and policy. Grassroots advocacy efforts and business development activity for related client issues.

I am currently responsible for obtaining funding through federal grants (EPA), state budget resolutions (Education) and legislation (Health).

DMGS maintains a PAC - we support mostly incumbent public officials in both parties.

I am a registered lobbyist for the state of NJ.

June 2007 - Present

Legislative Advocate/Lobbyist – New Jersey School Boards Association

Trenton, NJ

Responsibilities include:

Collaborate with school board members, legislators and members of the community to continually update all entities on the impact of local and federal legislation pertaining to public school districts.

Attend county association meetings to address issues and explain legislation and policy to board members and parents when applicable.

Coordinate lobbying events on the local and federal level for school board members and parent groups when applicable.

Collaborate with other education associations to educate members regarding issues pertaining to public education and school districts

Respond and inform legislators and board members on all education policies.

Present and compose public testimony to legislators at committee hearings on the state and federal level.

Compose articles for weekly school board newsletter and NJSBA School Leader Magazine.

Produce a legislative directory for board members.

Liaison to NSBA. Take the lead on federal legislation, member of Every Student Succeeds Act stakeholder group for the NJDOE. Host all federal advocacy events for NJ board members.

Oct. 2004 – Jan 2007

County Program Coordinator - New Jersey School Boards Association – Trenton, NJ

Responsible for coordinating county school board meetings for the seven southern counties in NJ: Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Atlantic and Cape May.

Responsibilities include:

Provided each county with 5-7 meetings per year

Provided training programs as the focus for the meetings

Invited legislators to attend at least one meeting per year in each county

Created invitations, programs and agendas

Provided locations for meetings to be held

Sep. 2003 - May 2004

Communications Specialist - Girl Scouts of South Jersey Pines

Egg Harbor Township

Media advisories, recruited volunteers and fund development events

Sep.2002 - June 2003

Public Relations Consultant for Galloway Charter School - Atlantic County

Created press releases and advertisements for the school

Assisted with special events for the students and parents

Attended professional development training and orientation

Sep. 1995 - Jan. 2001

ActingPublic Information Officer – County of Cape May

The Public Information Office served under the county administrator and the board of chosen freeholders. The department was responsible for providing media with information pertaining to services from all departments within Cape May County.

Responsibilities: Managed the department for all operating expenses.

Producing press releases, media advisories and distribution to local media outlets

Collaborating with other departments in creating projects that dealt with the public services.

Coordinating special events: ribbon cutting ceremonies, dedications and conferences

Assisting departments with special projects: invitations, flyers, photos, power point presentations and slide shows

Producing and writing scripts for a monthly public service show on Channel 40

Monitoring of all finances within the department

May 1994 – Sep. 1995

Assistant Public Information Officer – County of Cape May

Assisted in all responsibilities stated above.

Sep. 1991 – Nov. 1993

Assistant - Department of Cultural and Heritage – County of Cape May

Assisting in coordinating material for state grants

Clerical responsibilities for the department

Supervising the finances and operations of Cold Spring Village

(Living history museum in Cape May, NJ)

Writing drafts for press releases

Coordinating events for the Village

Education:

Jan. 2001 – June 2003

Atlantic Cape Community College, Mays Landing, NJ 08330

Associates Degree in General Studies

BA/MA - Thomas Edison State College - Communications/Organizational Leadership – not completed.

Certifications in the following subjects during my employment:

Public Speaking

Organization skills

Team building

Marketing

Public Relations

Lobbying

Knowledge and Skills of Software:

Microsoft Office – Word, Excel, Personify and Power Point

Committees: current positions

Co-chaired the NJSBA Health and Wellness Task Force

Hunger Free NJ - lead by Advocates for Children of NJ

Feed Atlantic City Students - Southern Region Outreach Group

Currently sit on the Sustainable NJ Health & Wellness Task Force

Member of Steering Committee for Conference of State Association Legislative Staff - NSBA

Member of the ESSA Stakeholder group for NJDOE

Advisory member for We Raise NJ

Human Trafficking Committee for NJDOE

Assessment Committee for NJDOE

Ad Hoc Committee for Education Law Center

Healthy Schools Now for Work Environment Council

References: Upon request.

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