About the Candidate

Tamara Jones

(218) 391-2733 | gorplady@gmail.com | https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaramjones

Non-Profit Business Leader

Fundraising & Development | Training & Coaching | Strategic Planning | Union Relations

An established leader with 20+ years of proven experience within the non-profit sector, ranging from union and labor environments to running political campaigns. Expert in leading cross-functional teams, including gaining consensus and securing buy-in to a common goal, vision, and strategy. Adds value to an organization through a strong commitment to personal and professional growth through training, mentoring, and development.

Core Areas of Expertise

▪ Business Operations Leadership ▪ Digital Marketing Management ▪ Cross-Functional Collaboration

▪ Strategic Planning & Execution ▪ Highly Effective Communicator ▪ Team Leadership & Management

▪ Budget & Resource Allocation ▪ Social Media Strategy & Execution ▪ Coaching, Training, & Mentoring

▪ Project & Program Development ▪ Fundraising & Development ▪ Union & Non-Union Environments

Selected Career Highlights

• Played a key role on multiple political campaigns, including Campaign Manager for a bid to the U.S. House of Representatives; increased voter engagement from zero to 12% of the primary vote.
• Leverages 15+ years navigating labor unions, focusing on arbitration, grievance mediation, and bridging relationships between union and non-union stakeholders.
• Increased member participation to 90% for three separate groups within 30 days of joining the AFSCME Council 5 as a Field Representative focused on engagement.

Professional Experience

Human Resources Union Field Representative | Minnesota School Employees Association 2/2019 – present

Managed day-to-day business operations for the union organization, including filing grievances, internal organization, negotiations, and bargaining.

• Led and developed trainings designed to educate, empower, and engage union members through leadership development; training included negotiations, bargaining, internal organizing.
• Acted as Lead Negotiator and Representative for 10+ contracts and represented 1,000+ members.
• Negotiated two first contracts for newly-organized groups that bettered working conditions.
• Leveraged expertise in traditional bargaining, interest-based bargaining, modified interest-based bargaining, grievance filing, resolution, and arbitration preparation.

Campaign Manager | Kirsten Kennedy for Congress 3/2018 – 8/2018

Recruited to manage strategic campaign operations for Kirsten Kennedy, running for Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives. Oversaw campaign operations, including budgeting, fundraising, field management, Human Resources, and media relations; led teams of full-time staff and volunteers across each area.

• Increased voter engagement from zero to 12% of the primary vote by focusing on 1:1 conversations, forums, debates, and televised interviews and podcasts directly by and with the candidate.
• Built a platform for the candidate based on issues facing voters in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District; facilitated community discussions and continually evolved messaging throughout the campaign.
• Drove fundraising efforts by planning and executing multiple events, both virtual and in-person; properly allocated the candidate’s time, resources, and free media to maximize ROI.
• Achieved significant gains from registered voters while managing the campaign on a minimal budget, without party endorsement, and a virtually unknown candidate.
• Leveraged relationships and media exposure to generate $20K in donations to the primary campaign fund, and utilized those resources for direct voter contact.
• Turned around a campaign that was in disarray, assessing existing skill sets, reallocating volunteers to areas best suited for each skill set, and providing training to high-value staff.
• Placed a strategic focus on low-cost messaging and engagement platforms to keep costs low, including meet and greets, forums, and social media platforms.
• Ensured 100% compliance with all local, state, and federal guidelines relating to voter regulations

Research and Policy Analyst | Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee 3/2018 – 6/2018

Performed a wide range of research and policy analysis in a project-based position, compiling and reviewing information in issues relating to the Minnesota 8th Congressional District Rate. Utilized a number of tracking mediums, analysis methods, and software programs.

Field Organizer | Rick Nolan for Congress 12/2017 – 2/2018

Engaged by the Rick Nolan for Congress campaign to mobilize the Democratic base with the goal of turning out precinct caucuses and local conventions. Placed a strategic focus on event management, phone banks, data tracking, social media, and engagement directly with voters.

Human Resources Union Field Representative | AFSCME Council 5 3/2017 – 8/2017

Managed day-to-day business operations for the union organization, including filing grievances, internal organization, negotiations, and bargaining.

• Key member of the Arbitration Review Team, acting as a go-to resource between union and non-union leadership through various grievances.
• Led trainings designed to educate, empower, and engage union members through leadership development; training included negotiations, bargaining, internal organizing, and AFSCME Strong training.
• Played a key role in developing and introducing the Labor Union Leadership Academy training in a joint partnership with AFSCME Council 65.
• Increased worker participation in labor unions by building out training that had each local “map the workplace”, looking for strengths and weaknesses to develop actionable, measurable goals.
• Boosted membership at individual locals to > 90% participation for full members vs. “fee payers”; brought three groups to 90% within the first 30 days of employment.
• Met a critical gap for AFSCME by providing institutional knowledge of labor, grievance, and arbitration law, as well as having a demonstrated and solid background in the labor movement.

Human Resources Union Representative | United Food & Commercial Workers, Local 1189 09/2007 – 02/2017 

Originally joined the United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 1189 as a Union Representative, and progressed to roles of increased responsibility and scope. Additionally, served as the Health & Welfare Trustee and Pension Trustee.

• Acted as Lead Negotiator and Representative for 10+ contracts and represented 1,500+ members.
• Leveraged expertise in traditional bargaining, interest-based bargaining, modified interest-based bargaining, grievance filing, resolution, and arbitration preparation.
• Developed the Community Services program, which helped members of the union with access and referral to resources to give them a hand up. Created a successful Kids’ Holiday Party that increases in attendance every year
• Founding member of UFCW OUTReach, a constituency caucus of the international union comprised of 1.3 million members, dedicated to furthering LGBTQ+ issues in the workplace and union.
• Started as the Region 6 coordinator and progressed to Communications Director. In conjunction with others, developed a LGBTQ+ 101 for educating union staff and stewards on LGBTQ+ issues in the workplace.
• Co-presenter of this training at Creating Change, a national LGBTQ conference put on by the LGBTQ Task Force, a national organization.
• Social Media Manager for the Local (Twitter, Facebook)
• Event planner and organizer for all major events held by the local in our northern region, including planning speakers, food, rooms, and coordinating event logistics.

Volunteer Engagements

AFSCME | Lifetime Girl Scout | MACE | OPEIU | UFCW | Working America | Carlton County Labor Day Celebration

Education & Professional Development

University of Wisconsin-Superior

Bachelor’s Coursework in Music and Women’s Studies

Labor Union Leadership Academy Training Facilitator | AFSCME (2017)

Labor Management Committee Setup Trainer & Facilitator | UFCW (2007-2017)

Interest Based Bargaining Trainer & Facilitator | UFCW (2007-20147)

Collective Bargaining Trainer & Facilitator | UFCW (2007-2014) and AFSCME (2017)

Advanced Steward Training Trainer & Facilitator | UFCW (2007-2017) and AFSCME (2017)

Master Trustee Program Graduate, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans

MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) | Google Suite | Grievance Management Software