Janis Nielsen

• Employment History
• Volunteer and Community Experience
• Education
• Credentials

Employment History

HR Dowden & Associates- Associate
January 2001 to present
·Help coordinate public affairs efforts for the Healthy Families program on behalf of the California Association of Health Plans.
·Outreach to school districts, legislators, and community-based organizations throughout the state to develop strategies and pilot programs to enroll children in low cost insurance programs.

NO on Proposition 38 -- Statewide Coalition Director
June 2000- November 2000
·Coalition Director for a statewide campaign that defeated the Draper Voucher Initiative.
·Secured endorsements to build a statewide coalition and developed member involvement materials.
·Oversaw the coalition team and worked with field staff to mobilize a statewide grassroots network.

YES on Proposition 26 -- Statewide Coalition Director
July 1999- March 2000
·Coalition Director for a statewide campaign to reduce the requirement to pass local schools
bonds from a 2/3 vote to a simple majority. Campaign liason for ethnic outreach activities.
·Recruited a diverse coalition of over 500 state and local organizations.
·Helped develop and maintain a statewide Speakers Bureau.
·Developed campaign materials including brochures, newsletters, fact sheets, Q & A's and Op-ed pieces.

Revell Communications -- Senior Account Executive
October 1996 - September 1999
·Provided public relations support on behalf of the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency.
·Coordinated with local elected officials and local, state and federal government agencies to deliver local public information programs on water issues. Wrote flyers, Q &A's and brochures.

Opportunity PAC -- Executive Director
March 1995-December 1996
·Directed a public employee political action committee including the California Teachers Association, California Federation of Teachers, California Faculty Association, Service Employees International Union and California State Employees Association. PAC disbanded in 1996.
·Coordinated PAC activities, planned conferences and tracked candidate contributions.

California Budget Project -- Program Director
March 1994 - March 1995
·Helped secure a one-year planning grant to create an organization engaged in state fiscal analysis.
·Developed and delivered training programs to facilitate public understanding of state budget issues.
·Provided advocacy training to non-profit groups engaged in grass roots lobbying efforts.

Sacramento City Unified School District—Special Education Teacher
1974-1980
·Diagnosed and taught emotionally handicapped and learning disabled students with severe
language and cognitive disorders. Developed and delivered parent-education programs.

University of California, Los Angeles—Department of Psychology Staff Research Associate
1971-1974
·Researched personality development, gender identity problems, and child-rearing in communal lifestyles. Developed, administered and analyzed personality tests.

Volunteer and Community Experience

League of Women Voters of California -- Publications Writer and Cable Television Interviewer
1996-1999
·Wrote ballot initiative analyses for pre-election PROS & CONS publications .
·Researched and wrote background information for statewide League Speakers Bureaus.
·Served as a panelist and interviewer for the statewide California Channel and local candidate forums.

League of Women Voters of Sacramento -- Action Director, Social Policy Director, Vice President
1988-1996
·Developed and implemented local League programs and advocacy efforts.
·Testified before local government bodies.
·Communicated to the membership through updates and internal newsletter articles.

Sacramento County Children's Commission — Commissioner
1991-1995
·Appointed by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors to advise on fiscal and public policy issues regarding children in Sacramento County.
·Member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Legislative Committee.

League of Women Voters of California — Statewide Campaign Chair of No on Proposition 165
June- November 1992
·Executive committee and coalition chair for an initiative addressing welfare reform and increased gubernatorial powers.
·Served as campaign spokesperson and contact for print and electronic media.
·Wrote and presented testimony to a legislative oversight committee.

League of Women Voters of California—Child-Care Legislation Director
1992-1994
·Reviewed bills and recommended positions on legislation regarding child care.

Education

Bachelor of Arts -Sociology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1971. Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude.
Master of Arts - Education. Degree with honors. California State University, Northridge. 1974.

Credentials

Early Childhood Teaching Credential
Learning Handicapped Specialist Teaching Credential