Being a business-oriented  person, I offer my work experience in the form of my professional resume.

 

Laura Knott-Twine, M. A.

 

32 Gray Pine Common                                                                          Telephone -  (860) 676-8131

Avon, CT 06001                                                                                     E-mail -    rltwine@comcast.net

 

OBJECTIVE

     To apply the experience of over thirty years of diverse business management as business owner, executive director and CEO, administrator, manager, team organizer, senior business counselor, professor, trainer, economic and community development, researcher, analyst, articulate communicator, and founder and designer of an award winning museum.

 

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

 

HARTFORD PRESERVATION ALLIANCE, INC. (HPA)                                                              2005 – present

Executive Director—The Executive Director is the Chief Executive Officer of HPA.  The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors, and is responsible for the organization’s consistent achievement of its mission and financial objectives. The mission of the HPA is to preserve and revitalize Hartford, Connecticut’s unique architectural heritage and neighbor character. The HPA works towards community revitalization, especially for low and moderate income neighborhoods. The Executive Director oversees the daily operations of the corporation and its office.  In program development and management the Executive Director provides leadership in developing program, organizational and financial plans and carries out plans and policies authorized by the board.  Prepares a budget; see that the organization operates within budget guidelines; approves expenditures within the budget. Responsible for the employment, and release of all personnel, both paid staff and volunteers.

 

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF WOMEN’S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP (SBA-OWBO),

AT THE ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD, CT                                                 1999 – 2004     Director—manages and directs all daily activities of the SBA-OWBO within a prescribed budget, including, but not limited to, one-on-one business counseling.  Acts as a pre-qualifier of small business loans presenting analysis of loan applications and business plans, including start-up costs and sales projections.  Provides planning, support systems and resources for start-up and existing small businesses such as teaching government contracting and procurement.  Serving over 550 new and existing business clients annually.  Created and taught small business workshops and seminars, writing curriculum and the producing class handouts. Interviewed and hired instructors for ancillary small business workshops. Provided online business counseling nationally using both Internet and Intranet. Contributed to the national SBA and Entrepreneurial Center’s web sites. Reported directly to the Federal Government, through the Small Business Administration Office (SBA) in Washington D C, all business client data collected with analysis of that data. Represented the SBA and The Center at all functions.

 

THE UNION INSTITUTE AND UNIVERSITY/VERMONT COLLEGE                                                              2002 – present

   Professor in Social Sciences, Business and Management— Vermont College Undergraduate Degree Program, teaching full 15 credits semesters that is an alternative, brief residency or virtual-online and distance learning program for working adults.  The university also offers: creative writing, fine arts, psychology, sociology, history, women's studies, and teacher licensure.  The program offers independent and interdisciplinary study, individual mentors, and a progressive educational philosophy that prepares students for their Batchelor of Arts and graduate study. In 2004, Vermont College’s undergraduate degree program celebrated its 40th year.

 

GIRL SCOUTS, CONNECTICUT TRAILS COUNCIL, INC.                                                                              1997 - 1999

   Field Executive—oversaw the general operations of Girl Scout activities in an eight town area, commonly known as the Farmington Valley in Connecticut—serving over 1,775 girls.  The job entailed working with over 750 adult volunteers and leaders providing them training, program development, Girl Scout Council services, interpreting policies and programs.

 

WINDHAM TEXTILE AND HISTORY MUSEUM, INC., CT                                                                                  1980 - 1995

   Founder & Project Director— Inaugurated an educational and historical institution.  Organized and lead a community group which became incorporators and directors.  Researched, collected, organized and donated the original collection.  Secured and administrated $1,676,000 in local, state, national, private foundation and corporate grants.  Additional funds were secured through private donations, programs and exhibits.  Designed, planned and curated all permanent historic exhibits, working with a 10 member building committee, 28 sub-contractors and 100s of community volunteers.

 

Executive Director and CEO – Worked with professional consultants to establish educational programs, changing exhibits, research and library services.  Worked with a 14 member Board of Directors and executive staff to create and implement programs of policy making, personnel management, fiscal controls, property management and fundraising.  Directed a professional and volunteer staff of over 30 people, serving 1,800 members and over 150,000 visitors.  Effectively worked on national, state and local levels with business and government leaders. 

·            Also:  Economic Development endeavors:  • Co-authored the successful application for the Enterprise Zone Designation in Willimantic, CT.  • Successfully worked with the Department of Environmental Protection for the Museum and the former American Thread Site to be chosen as a Heritage State Park.    • Served on the National Heritage Corridor Committee • Served on local, regional and national Economic Development, Community and Advisory Commissions.

 

ORCHARD HOUSE WEAVERS, WINDHAM, CT                                                                                                   1980 - 1985

   Small Business Owner —selling a full line of her own hand woven items, while holding an exclusive franchise selling LeClerc Corporation of Canada’s looms, spinning wheels and related textile equipment. She instructed over 400 adults in textile design, handweaving and hand spinning in her studio.  Lectured, exhibited and demonstrated at museums, galleries, universities and at public and private schools all over New England.

EDUCATION

 

Norwich University, Vermont —        MA – Sociology and Women’s Studies               1999

                                                            Area of Concentration: Business

                                                            BA – History /Writing and Literature                  1998

 

Small Business Administration (SBA)            Business Counseling/Technical Assistance         2000-2004

 

Additional Skills

·         Computer literate: MS Office Suite and Windows XP, extensive experience in Internet and Telnet research, and qualitative research software, including training others in its use.

·         Keynote and guest speaker at Economic Development, Business and Tourism workshops and seminars.

·          

Professional Affiliations, Community Work, Honors and Awards

·         1978—1985—Awards for Handweaving, Spinning and Fiber Arts—Marlborough Community Arts, Manchester Art Association, Old Saybrook Art Show, Wadsworth Athenaeum “Connecticut Artist”

·         1986—Co-authored, the successful application for the Enterprise Zone in Willimantic, CT

·         1980—Founded and incorporated as a 501 (C) (3)) The Windham Textile and History Museum, Inc.

·         1986—1988—Northeast Connecticut Visitors District:  Vice President 1987—1988; Secretary 1986

·         1988—Willimantic Chamber of Commerce and Windham Board of Selectman “Cupid” Award

·         1988—1995—National Heritage Corridor Park Advisory Board

·         1988—1990—Windham’s Town Planning Advisory Board

·         1988—1995—Served on Windham County Economic Development Committee and Boards

·         1989—1995—Museums of Northeast Connecticut Association-Charter Member

·         1990—1996—Advisory Board—National Institute of Puppetry, at UCONN

·         1990—Recipient of the State of Connecticut’s “Governor’s Tourism Award”

·         1991—1992—Vice Chair of the Windham Tercentenary Committee-300th Birthday Celebration

·         1993—1995—Advisory Board—Eastern Connecticut Chapter of the National Railway Society

·         1997—1999—Association of Girl Scout Executive Staff

·         Life Member of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America and parliamentarian for the Board of Directors of Girl Scouts, Connecticut Trails Council

·         2002—Recipient of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 2002 Women in Business Advocate of the Year, Connecticut District Office.

·         2004-2006—Who’s Who in American Women.

·         2005—Active Member of National Trust for Historic Preservation

·         2005—Active Member of Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation

·         2005—Active Member of Hartford Preservation Alliance, Inc.

·         2005—Active member of Connecticut Preservation Alliance