I have 17 years of experience in the state government and education industry , with expertise in university budgeting. I’m the founder of Kompact Consulting, and author of informational how-to blog posts and ebooks on state government and university issues. In my career, I’ve regularly counseled executive leadership and presented from small to large audiences of executives, students, and staff and faculty.
I love helping people get to their A-Ha! Moment. Whether it’s helping executive interpret policy or helping students understand the process behind their tuition and fees, I love helping my customers achieve clarity in their work or studies on various North Carolina budget topics.
I studied at North Carolina State University and received an undergraduate degree in political science with a business management minor. I began my career at the North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA), where I worked as a committee assistant and then research assistant. This included analysis of statutes, session laws, and various policy topics (a real hodge-podge)! At the same time as working at the NCGA, I studied at night to receive my Masters of Public Administration from North Carolina State University.
I have worked at different levels in state government, which has given me an insider’s perspective of how different stakeholders view issues and processes. Stakeholders in state government view me as an expert in budgeting issues interpretation, and executives and front desk folks both view me as someone who gets stuff done (and can explain why!).
After a brief spell in local government, I was poached back to state government. I worked in the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) for a total of 9 years: 4.5 years on higher education operating budget issues and then 4.5 years on statewide capital and R&R budget issues.
I then went to the UNC System office of University of North Carolina General Administration (UNCGA), where I worked in Finance and Budget. My work on various operating and capital university budgeting and policy issues included the budget process and procedures used throughout the University System today.
My unique experience at the above offices ultimately landed me a job at Western Carolina University (WCU) as the Budget Director, and then Assistant Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance. This provided the real life application of policies and statutes from my prior employment. A campus is a small city and Western Carolina University provided me a great deal of experience in all aspects of university administration.
In summary, I’m love helping people and organizations get to their A-HA! moment in budget management! Because budgeting is fun!
