Michael de Los Santos

About Michael de Los Santos

Community development and operations leader with a background spanning entrepreneurship, nonprofit management, and public-policy strategy. I’ve built and scaled mission-driven work across economic development, advocacy, and organizational operations - leading teams, managing complex budgets, and delivering measurable results.My work bridges strategy and execution; whether developing community initiatives, building partnerships, supporting funding alignment, or driving advocacy and stakeholder engagement. I’m especially passionate about communities and the practical work of turning strong ideas into sustainable programs, services, and facilities that create opportunity over time.Focused on economic development, community based program design, and sustainable capacity building.

Experience

1. Appalachia Cares Americorps Member - Community Development Coach

   Clinch Powell Rc&d

   Nov 2025 — Present · Rutledge, TN, US

   Lead community and economic development planning initiatives focused on rural entrepreneurship, workforce training access, housing strategy, and long term organizational capacity building. Drive feasibility analysis, program design, partnership development, and funding alignment to advance high impact community projects across the region.• Lead feasibility research and business planning for priority rural development initiatives, including an entrepreneurship incubator, community training, and shared use facility strategy• Conduct market, community, and local economic analysis to inform program design, service offerings, pricing approaches, and success metrics• Build and manage strategic partnerships with education and small business support ecosystems, funders, and regional collaborators• Advance education focused advocacy and stakeholder engagement through legislative tracking, coalition participation, and relationship building with key state and federal partners• Support funding alignment and implementation planning across initiatives including grants, rural housing strategies, and community program sustainabilitySignature Strengths: program strategy • feasibility & business planning • stakeholder engagement • funding alignment • operations design • rural economic development

Education

• Purdue Global Law School

  Executive Juris Doctor (EJD), Business Law

• Emory & Henry University

  Public Policy and Community Service

• Georgetown University

  Master’s Degree, Real Estate

  2015 — 2018

• Southern New Hampshire University

  Bachelor’s Degree, Public Administration

  2012 — 2015

Skills

• Event Management
• Capacity Building
• Public Policy
• Coalitions
• Writing
• Strategic Planning
• Leadership Development
• Legislation
• Community Relations
• Political Consulting
• Grassroots Organizing
• Policy Analysis
• Social Networking
• Program Evaluation
• Policy
• Social Media
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Event Planning
• Email Marketing
• Politics
• Public Relations
• Media Relations
• Grants
• Leadership
• Grant Writing
• Program Management
• Blogging
• Strategy
• Public Speaking
• Coalition Building
• Marketing
• Press Releases
• Strategic Communications
• Fundraising
• Community Organizing
• Program Development
• Management
• Nonprofits
• Newsletters
• Community Outreach