8908 Ellsworth Court
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Vice President & COO, The Townsend Dantai, LLC
Appointed by Board of Governors
July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2015
July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2019
Career Summary: Progressively responsible management leadership in the public and private sectors. Strong allegiance to community responsibility and development by dedicating professional expertise and skills to benefit community and economic development, and policy analysis and program development. Maintained a public service commitment in local and federal government with solid business delivery principles. Always made it a priority and an obligation to mentor, counsel and invest in promising junior employees as part of succession planning.
Employment History:
Vice President & COO (1997 to present) of The Townsend Dantai, LLC, self-employed with three lines of business. Management and coaching with Members of Congress; consulting on farm land acquisition and management; non-food agricultural production; public speaking; federal contracts consultant; business development and executive management mentoring; government and international relations; congressional relations; and project analyses. Urged non-merger of major semi-conductor firms and pressured sale value of client firm from $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion.
Senior Vice President for Compubahn, Inc., an information technology services, products development, and management consulting services company offering wireless web-based application integration and Internet security solutions. Project management, contract negotiations, business development and marketing. Expanded contract base to grow from 12 employees to 35. Offices located in Bethesda, MD and Los Angeles, CA.
Senior Consultant with Executive Coaching and Consulting Associates (ECCA), a group of executive coaching and consulting experts based in Washington, DC. ECCA
can meet the development needs of senior executives, organization performance, workload
management, and individual and collective growth in public and commercial businesses.
Strengthened a senior management team at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by developing
and gaining full commitment to new operating principles.
Assistant Secretary for Administration (1993 to 1997) at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) responsible for Department-wide
personnel, labor-management relations, information resource management (computerization
and telecommunications), building operations and maintenance, procurement and contracting,
human resources management, civil rights enforcement and advocacy programs, hazardous
waste management, Federal emergency functions for a 113,000-employee Federal department
with annual outlays of $90 billion. Mentored a number of senior staff. Successfully
re-organized the administrative management structure of USDA; nationally consolidated
USDA rental space with annualized savings of $26 million; reformed procurement processes
resulting in annual savings of $17 million; oversight and policy development for right-sizing
USDA; and revamped the personnel performance process with greater factoring of equal
employment opportunity elements. Received a Presidential appointment as a Member,
Board of Directors of the Rural Telephone Bank.
Presidential Transition, Senior Policy Advisor (November 1992 to May 1993) with the Bill Clinton Presidential Transition Team focusing on labor, civil rights, and community development issues. Provide assessments and advice on policy proposals and options submitted by interest groups and liaison to congressional interests. Served as Administrator of the Second Congressional District of Mississippi for 4 months, reporting to the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Coordinated the staff operations of Washington and district offices, provide continuing constituent services and non-opinion information on legislation. Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Administration for one month at USDA. Provided advice and assistance to the Assistant Secretary.
Chief of Staff (January 1987 to April 1993) to Congressman Mike Espy for 4 years (’89-’93) while also serving as Budget Committee Associate Staff; and provide supervision and mentoring to senior staff in Washington and Mississippi. Serve as chief legislative strategist, political advisor and counselor to congressman regarding House Democratic Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, Democratic National Committee, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and Democratic Leadership Council activities. Successfully negotiated language with Senate staff establishing the Lower Mississippi Delta Development Commission Act of 1990. Served as Legislative Director to Congressman Espy for two years (’87-’89), responsible for legislative strategy and prioritization, drafting, oversight of mail, floor statements; focused on housing, economic development, and international affairs issues. Provided supervision and guidance to six legislative staff.
Projects Director (August 1985 to January 1987) to Congressman Doug Applegate of Ohio. Assisted local and state government agencies in pursuing federal funds through grants and contracts. Provided guidance and advice on proposal preparation for local governments and NGOs. Successfully negotiated federal rules changes allowing local matching funds for $3.6 million transportation project (UMTA, mass transit, community development).
Projects Director (February 1983 to January 1985) for Congressman James McClure Clarke of North Carolina. Assisted local and state government agencies and businesses in pursuing federal funds through grants, loans, and contracts. Provided guidance and advice on proposal preparation to local governments and NGOs. Congressional liaison for visas and passport processing. Negotiate with federal regulatory agencies on behalf of local units of government, community based organizations and private businesses. Advocated successful regulatory changes: HUD agreed to allow $4.5 million direct grant to Cherokee Indians for self-help housing.
Business Development Manager (October 1982 to February 1983) for the Cherokee Business Development Center, Asheville (NC) Office. Served as business consultant to small, disadvantaged, and women-owned businesses. Assisted in developing business plans; prepare loan packages, prepare basic market analyses with clients. Assisted clients in developing accounting and bookkeeping skills; held group meetings on cost avoidance and business streamlining. Successful in securing $148,000 in loans and loan guarantees with clients.
Director, Community Development Department (November 1980 to September 1982) in Henderson County, NC. Managed $950,000 comprehensive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for redevelopment of rural, blighted community of 46 homes that required water and sewer construction, sidewalks, street repair/resurfacing, housing rehabilitation and demolition, housing replacement; develop and implement housing relocation plan; and create a $60,000 home improvement loan program. Published a comprehensive housing assessment plan for Henderson County. Helped develop and worked closely with Neighborhood Advisory Council in carrying out the redevelopment plans.
Planning and Development Manager (June 1979 to August 1980) - for the Human Resource Development Foundation in Morgantown, WV. Serve as chief development officer, preparing, submitting, and securing competitive federal funds: HUD Section 202 housing; USDA Rural Housing (FmHA) 515 Multi-family complexes; Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) training funds. Worked with local zoning and regulatory authorities on construction proposals. Successful competitive proposals were awarded $4.5 million HUD 202 rehabilitation project; $1.2 million for FmHA 515 multi-family housing; $1.6 million for employment and training programs.
Health Ed. /Community Outreach Coordinator (August 1976 to September 1977)
Charlotte, NC
Group Counselor/Games Room Director (June 1975 to June 1976
Asheville, NC
Travelers’ Aid Crisis Counselor (March 1975 to May 1975
Asheville, NC
Education and Certifications:
Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC
Double BS, Social Welfare and Psychology, 1975
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Master of Social Work (Administration, Management, Planning), 1979
Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW), May 1982
Certified for private practice; administrative and management competencies.
Post-Graduate Studies: Southern California University for Professional Studies, Santa Ana, CA. Program in social psychology (Organizational-Business); University of Maryland, Graduate School, Sociology Department, College Park, MD, Comparative theory. 1986-1997.
PERSONAL
Mr. Townsend is married to Diane Martin formerly of Asheville, NC. They have four adult children. They are members of Ascension Church, Sligo Parish in Silver Spring, MD.