Experienced Business Association Executive, 4 Years of Experience in International Development
Washington D.C. Metro Area
Experienced Business Association Executive, 4 Years of Experience in International Development
Washington D.C. Metro Area
Experienced international economic development specialist with 4 years of field experience, working in rural economic and business association development. Jerad has experience in organizational strategic planning and implementation, interfacing with and advising government officials, and developing public-private cooperation and partnerships in Eastern Europe, specifically The Republic of Moldova.
Jerad is a strategic thinker and problem solver with experience in senior management and developing start-up organizations into successful and sustainable entities. He has the ability to handle both managerial and administrative work using a creative and innovative approach to organize staff and prioritize tasks. His personality is friendly but professional and he is able to work equally well both independently and in teams.
International economic and association development, specialized in Eastern Europe and The Republic of Moldova.
(Non-Profit; International Trade and Development industry)
November 2008 — Present (1 year 1 month)
Jerad manages the Southern Africa contract for CNFA's Farmer-to-Farmer Program, which includes supervising the recruiting of 332 American farmers and agribusiness professionals as volunteers between FY09 – FY13.
In his first year of Program management, Jerad and his team recruited 32 volunteers to work with 19 host organizations, resulting in 926 persons trained and 1,482 direct beneficiaries, and leveraging $67,584 in resources by Farmer-to-Farmer volunteers.
(Individual & Family Services industry)
March 2009 — May 2009 (3 months)
Mentored a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer from Cameroon focusing on reintegration issues and career next steps. This mentorship resulted in the development of defined career goals and a job in international development for the mentee.
(International Trade and Development industry)
2008 — 2008 (less than a year)
(International Affairs industry)
October 2008 — November 2008 (2 months)
After completing a formal application process, accepted a volunteer assignment with the Development Reality Institute, an NGO based in Harare, Zimbabwe, to provide technical assistance and institutional development services.
(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)
May 2007 — June 2008 (1 year 2 months)
Jerad was responsible for the growth and development of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Moldova, from a start-up business association to a sustainable and successful entity.
As the Executive Director of AmCham Moldova, Jerad was responsible for business advocacy and policy development through interfacing with Moldovan government officials and initiating policy discussions and relations to foster public-private cooperation that would lead to more favorable business and investment climates in Moldova.
Jerad played an integral role in the development of the business association by creating established procedures where none had previously existed. Working directly with the President and Board of Directors, he helped shape the association's strategic plan, goals, and objectives. Jerad has an intimate knowledge of association management and he directly oversaw all of the day to day operations of the association, both administrative and managerial.
(Management Consulting industry)
February 2007 — August 2007 (7 months)
Jerad was brought on to this project to work with a team of consultants on the implementation and development of the “Domestic Waste Management in Leova (Republic of Moldova)” funded by the European Commission, with a total budget of €185,000.
Jerad was responsible for obtaining the final 5% of project financing and coordinated efforts with international donors to raise €7,000 for the project, he also co-authored a winning grant application from Soros Foundation Moldova that provided the project with $3,000 USD and a new computer system for a Moldovan waste management company.
Jerad used his managerial ability to lead a team of three experienced consultants in the creation of a public opinion survey on the state of waste management in Leova. The survey was distributed to more than 300 people and Jerad analyzed the results of the survey and presented them to local and regional government officials.
(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)
December 2006 — January 2007 (2 months)
While working on two short-term consulting projects for the International Organization for Migration Mission Moldova, Jerad was responsible for independently examining one of the organization's projects to determine whether or not the project was meeting its main objectives before compiling his findings and recommendations in a final report to the Chief of Party.
Jerad also edited and revised two reports for the organization: the first dealt with preventing and combating trafficking in women and children, and the second touched on Moldovan male labor migration and infringements of migrants’ rights while working abroad.
(Government Agency; 5001-10,000 employees; International Affairs industry)
September 2004 — December 2006 (2 years 4 months)
Jerad's two-year service in The Republic of Moldova was largely focused on economic and community development work. As a Peace Corps volunteer, Jerad provided managerial support to an NGO, Agroinform, and its Executive Director through the examination of the NGO's managerial and administrative practices of and made recommendations to senior management.
To stimulate the local and regional economy where Jerad volunteered, he and the NGO's senior management co-organized the first ever annual and second annual wine festivals for the local community of 10,000 people which generated an estimated $20,000 for small businesses and farmers in the community.
Jerad also volunteered his time to the local high school in his town and managed a personal initiative with the Public Library in Troy, MI to send a total of 35 donated English language dictionaries from the U.S. to the local high school to benefit more than 300 students.
Bachelor of Science , Food Industry Management , 1999 — 2003
Entrepreneurship, travel, foreign language, music, sport, international economic and agricultural development.
Overseas Advisory Council, organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Moldova in cooperation and support from the U.S. Embassy in Moldova.
Treasurer - Overseas Advisory Council, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova;
Secretary - Overseas Advisory Council, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova;
Website Manager - Overseas Advisory Council, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.