Aisha Chism, Mpa Email & Phone Number

Greater Chicago Area

Consulting Services in Community & Municipal Disaster Recovery, Emergency Management, CDBG, CDBG-DR, DRGR specialist, grant and program management, and Project Management. FEMA training and certification in BCA IS-00276.a (novice level), FEMA Hazard Mitigation knowledge.Can provide guidance with NFIP data, FEMA claims, contract development, cost reasonableness analysis for construction estimates and bids (rehabilitation projects) and quality assurance for CDBG and CDBG-DR projects. Currently working on a full-scale Acquisition and Buyout Program utilizing CDBG-DR funds to acquire properties in the floodplains and mitigate repetitive loss.

Chicago, Il

• Currently working on a full-scale Acquisition and Buyout Program utilizing CDBG-DR funds to acquire properties in the floodplains and mitigate repetitive loss.• Provide technical assistance and training on the requirements for use of DRGR.• Certified FEMA IS-00276.a BCA fundamentals course.• Provide procedural support related to financial processing, reviewing, and drawing reimbursement requests through DRGR.• Assist in developing, maintaining, and managing utilization of the DRGR system.• Revise existing DRGR Action Plans and budgets.• Developing Quarterly Performance Reports (QPR’s).• Produce draw-down requests for review and approval in DRGR.• Generate and submit quarterly performance reports.• Assist in the distribution of DRGR access.• Develop best practices and process flow charts for reimbursement packet review, draw request review, and check processing and disbursement that ensure proper quality control, meet HUD’s requirements for documentation, and meet ongoing timelines for draw request review and payment.• Provide in-depth ongoing training on 2 CFR Part 200 and all HUD and federal cross-cutting regulations required for establishing systems and process flow charts that will meet HUD compliance.• Provide guidance on policies and procedures for reimbursement request review regarding HUD guidelines, and help in the revision of existing draw procedures.• Manage multi-million dollar budget, periodic increase/decrease activity budgets.• Revise grant budget based on Expenditure Extension approvals, project budget revisions.• Weekly financial tracking, reconciling against Finance Department and Oracle reports.• Setting up new projects, activities and action plans based upon the financial needs and grant.• Assist with other CDBG-DR program needs.

Greater Chicago Area

• Provided analysis and developed an assessment of Unmet Needs and analyzed housing and economic development reports/trends, affordability, housing cost burden data analysis for Cook County, IL CDBG-DR programs.• Grant program management, application reviews, implementation and program administration, project management duties for Cook County Department of Planning and Development.• Reviewed and developed general policies and procedures manual including relocation, URA, duplication of benefits and developed Internal monitoring procedure for increased execution of program monitoring and accountability of managing funds.• Provide Action Plan and Overall CDBG, CDBG-DR policy consulting services.• Managed CDBG-DR entitlement grant, expenditure and disbursement tracking by rounds and quarterly.• Reviewed and developed new policies and procedures for the County’s residential resilience/rehab programs.• Provided professional management and consulting assistance in the development and implementation of Housing Projects, replacement housing, PSH, acquisition and buyout and relocation.• Managed data and assisted in preparing technical reports.

Phoenix, Arizona Area

Developed and recommended measures for assuring personnel safety, and to monitor and/or anticipate hazardous and unsafe situations. • Increased productivity and improved federal compliance by 80% by re-organizing new hire requirements and instituting OSHA/RCRA training protocol.• Launched new hazard reporting system within first 10 days of employment• Trained personnel on safety auditing, proper machine use etc.• Influenced better assessment of engineering controls and PPE standards.• Prepared a site-specific Safety and Health Plan; published Safety Message/Plan as required.• Identify and correct occupational safety and health hazards.• Continuously monitor workers for exposure to safety or health hazardous conditions.• Alter, suspend, evacuate or terminate activities that may pose imminent safety or danger to employees.• Take appropriate action to mitigate or eliminate unsafe conditions, operations, or hazards.• Provided training and health & safety information.• Perform assessment of engineering controls and PPE.• Comply with OSHA, RCRA, EPA, various federal agency standards.• Document both safe and unsafe acts, corrective actions taken on the scene, accidents or injuries, and ways to improve safety on future incidents. • Identify hazardous situations associated with the incident.• Review the Incident Action Plan (IAP) for safety implications.• Exercise emergency authority to stop and prevent unsafe acts.• Investigate accidents that have occurred within the incident area.• Maintain Unit/Activity Log and Hazard Reports

Phoenix, Arizona Area

• Managed a new-hire team of 25 new adjusters for 4 cycles of training.• Lead Coach and Learning Development Coordinator at #1 Insurance, Customer Service and Financial company.• Evaluated, investigated, negotiated and settled property claims for valuable personal property and dwelling losses for members of the United States military and affiliate federal agencies. • Managed contractors and remote project management. • Managed relocation of members whose homes deemed unlivable due to disasters covered by policy.• Nominated & won Director’s Diamond award for outstanding job performance.• Handled Catastrophe claims for Super Storm Sandy, Midwest Floods, various snowstorm and freeze claims, liaised FEMA flood claims, hail and CA wildfires.

Phoenix, Arizona Area

Evaluate, investigate and close single vehicle auto claim losses for members of the United States military and affiliate federal agencies.

Hammond, In

• Point of contact for state & federal agents for general/major projects & city programs; Instrumental in revamping the cities underutilized paint program to a thriving service for residents• Gathered data to make recommendations, prepared staff reports• Liaised with Finance Manager to create & approve budgets• Monitored activities and audited operations for 14 sub-recipients – remote and onsite.• Scheduled and attended board and city council meetings/ hearings for reporting and checks and balance requirements• Executed grant management, fundraising and operations for a city non-profit organization as Liaison.• Conducted environmental reviews; Specialized in HUD relations, compliance, monitoring, labor laws.• Understanding of project scheduling, budgeting and implementation, reporting and measuring project progress. • Implemented general policies established by state officers for Procurement & federal contracts; Performed daily operations-Section 106 Reviews.

Hammond, In

• Responsible as Project Manager for full execution of 10+ annual events for 200-1200 guests; Successful venue sourcing, site/contingency planning, budget, negotiations, entertainment, recruiting, vendor liaison, etc.• Advised administrators on feasibility, cost-effectiveness and regulatory conformance of proposals for special projects, events and ongoing programs; Consulted with administrators and planning councils to discuss bottom line strategy for events.• Instrumental in executing venue selection, décor, food, mc and agendas successfully for the city, mayor and other visiting politicians; Arranged set up, transportation, decorations, refreshments and entertainment.***Event planner duties continued into new position after promotion***

Master Of Public Administration (M.P.A.), Public Administration

Bachelor’S Degree, Criminology

Thesis work on Juveniles Convicted as Adults and the Long-term Effects published in the International Journal of Criminal Justice..

Bachelor’S Degree, Psychology

Activities and Societies: Psi Chi, National Honor Society