Dennis Sills

About Dennis Sills

I have eighteen years of experience developing strategies to enhance opportunities for…

Experience

1. Director of External Affairs

   Plymouth Housing

   Mar 2021 — Present

   Executive leader: Member of 12-person executive leadership team responsible for development of strategic plan, annual budget, organizational structure, Board relations, and strategic initiatives. Elevated to manage team including external affairs professionals, contract lobbyist, and grant writer. • Cultivate and grow funding streams: Secured $22+ million in public support through competitive grants, credits, and other incentives. Increased public funding by more than $10m in 2023 (more than 15%) and secured $1.7 million through two federal grants. Helped develop JumpStart grant with City of Seattle to enable pay equity increases for more than 150 frontline staff. Completed successful rapid acquisition application for $2.8m in recurring funding to pilot a new permanent supportive housing property with a new staffing model. • Strengthen alliances and collaboration: Serve as agency’s primary public liaison, including roles as member of the Seattle Housing Levy Technical Advisory Committee, Housing Development Consortium’s Policy Advisory Group, Washington State Department of Commerce’s housing cost study member, Third Door Coalition Board, and additional state and regional coalitions. • Shape and lead advocacy: Develop and advance advocacy and policy priorities at federal, state, county, regional, and local levels for large housing non-profit with 1,400+ residents and 400+ staff. • Develop agency’s strategic direction: Primary staff member for Board’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusionand Advocacy Committee and served on Board’s Strategic Planning Committee. Developed 3-year agency strategic plan with the Committee and the Executive Leadership Team.• Forge resilient and inclusive communities: Lead expansion into new communities through working with new jurisdictions on housing policies, funding streams, and regulatory reform.• Build new agency capabilities: Develop annual plan, public relations strategies, and external engagement plan.

Education

• Duke University

  BA, Public Policy, Journalism, History

  2002 — 2006

• University of Maryland

  Master's degree, Business Administration and Management, General

  2016 — 2018

Skills

• Social Media
• Politics
• Political Campaigns
• Microsoft Office
• Policy Analysis
• Public Policy