Professional Experience

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Jan 2018 – Present                          Brandi Levine Consulting                    Philadelphia, PA  Founder, Principal

Grant writing and management, promotional writing, planning, and project management for the arts and heritage community    

Jan 2017 – Present                                   La Tasca Design                             Philadelphia, PA  Founder, Designer 

Founded La Tasca Design, LLC, which makes limited edition women’s accessories in beautiful fabrics

 Oct 2014 – Dec 2016                 Cliveden of the National Trust                Philadelphia, PA  Development Consultant & Director

Responsible for evaluating and enhancing current development activities, developing first stages of a long-range development plan, and grant writing

• Re-instituted the Development Committee of the Cliveden Board of Trustees
• Increased involvement of board members in all existing and new development activities
• Instituted phone follow-up to annual appeal
• Co-wrote a successful major grant proposal to the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage for the “Living Kitchens at Cliveden” public interpretation program
• Wrote several grants to support general operating and programming, and fulfilled grant reporting requirements
• Began developing a funding plan for the annual Battle of Germantown reenactment
• Chaired the 2016 Cliveden Heritage Award celebration

May 2013 – Aug 2015                     Historic Fair Hill, Inc.                            Philadelphia, PA  Executive Director

Responsible for the management of this 300-year-old Quaker Burial Ground, a site on the National Register of Historic Places, where prominent 19^th century Abolitionists, Women’s Rights Activists and Reformers are buried including Lucretia Mott, Abolitionist; Robert Purvis, President of the Underground Railroad; Mary Ann M’Clintock, Women’s Rights Activist; Anna Jeanes, Educational Reformer & Philanthropist; Edward Morris Davis, a founder of the Union League; and Edward Townsend, Warden of Eastern State Penitentiary from 1870-81. Today the site is operated as a history and nature center, and as a catalyst for community revitalization in the underserved Fair Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Sept 2001 – April 2013       Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks  Philadelphia, PA

       Feb. 2009 – April 2013              Executive Director

Responsible for management and operation of nonprofit organization which inspires people to engage with history by protecting unique historic sites and providing related educational, cultural and historical programming. Landmarks owns and/or operates historic house museums in the Philadelphia area —Powel House, Grumblethorpe, Physick House and Historic Waynesborough. Programming includes Landmarks Road Scholar and Learning with Landmarks Education Programs.

• Generated operating support income through new grants (Philadelphia Foundation) and increasing support from existing funders (Philadelphia Cultural Fund)
• Secured funding for a Major Capacity Building Project from the Philadelphia Foundation
• Directed all development activities including annual benefit events (9 per year), grant writing, annual appeals and “phone-a-thons”. Secured and/or increased funding from major Philadelphia foundations including the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Barra Foundation
• Successfully led 80-year-old organization through Mission/Vision Review resulting in a revitalized Mission Statement, creation of Core Values, and invigorated Board of Trustees
• Supervised creation and expansion of income producing programming including Ghost Tours, Chef’s Dinners, and Lecture Series, and events in cooperation with other organizations
• Increased and/or enhanced strategic partnerships with organizations and businesses to raise Landmarks visibility and increase earned income streams. Partnerships include Ghostour.com, Philadelphia Tour Guides Association, Union Gourmet Catering and Historic Germantown
• Managed 11 direct reports including 2 full-time and 9 part-time staff; indirect reports include 20 part-time education staff, 25 interns and over one hundred volunteers
• Expanded internship and volunteer programming to support all administrative and programming areas to meet operational needs while achieving budgetary efficiencies
• Directed creation and distribution of all Landmarks media, marketing and public relations materials

       Sept. 2007 – Feb. 2009          Landmarks Director of Education

Responsible for supervision and growth of education programs for young people at Landmarks’ historic sites. Expanded and revitalized programming at all sites. Worked with program staff to develop new curriculums. Created strategic partnerships with organizations and businesses including Pennsylvania Hospital, Carpenters’ Hall, Johnny Rockets, and Niagara Medical Leeches. Supervised creation of marketing materials, website content and internet communication. Managed staff of 6 direct reports and 20 indirect reports. Prepared budgets and financial reports, wrote grants, coordinated special events.

        Sept. 2001 – Aug. 2007               Grumblethorpe Education Director

Responsible for all aspects of museum education programming at this Philadelphia historic treasure. Developed all curriculums and lesson plans. Prepared budgets and financial reports. Developed partnerships with a significant number of volunteer organizations including Philadelphia Cares, colleges, suburban and private secondary schools, and faith based organizations. Directed summer camps. Hired, trained and supervised museum educators, interns, and summer day camp staff. Coordinated volunteers. Taught classes. Wrote grants. Secured in-kind contributions. Supervised care of educational garden.

1998-99                                  Penn Knox Neighborhood Association       Philadelphia, PA  Secretary (Volunteer)

Active member of neighborhood association team dedicated to ensuring positive use of the “Colonial Inn” property which had been a problem in the community for over 20 years. A year of full-time effort led to the property being conveyed to the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. Researched and wrote extensive history of the “Colonial Inn” site. Drafted letters to local, state and federal legislators. Organized neighborhood letter writing campaign to city officials and coordinated petition signature drive. Organizational representive at hearings, press conferences, and meetings with local government officials and press.

 1994 – 1996                                North Light Community Center              Philadelphia, PA  Artist-in-Residence     Developed and conducted activities for after-school program and pre-school program

Director, Arts Extension Program     Responsible for all aspects of “extended day” arts programming for Summer Day Camp including hiring specialist staff in a wide variety of creative media and scheduling special events.

Summer Day Camp Activities Director     Developed 7-year curriculum of activities and field trips based on the history of Manayunk and Roxborough that was used for grant proposals. Implemented the first two years of the curriculum.

1989 – 1996                                   Arts Education Consultant                                           DE, PA

Clients included the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Delaware Division of the Arts, Philadelphia Institute for the Arts in Education, and Delaware Institute for the Arts in Education

Developed and conducted over 200 residencies ranging from one week to three months for primary and secondary schools and colleges in Delaware and Pennsylvania; lead teacher training institutes

 1991 – 1992                   Stockton State College, Dance Department                 Pomona, NJ  Adjunct Faculty

Taught Choreography and Ballet for Dance Majors, and Introduction to Dance for Non-Majors

1988 – 1990                      Temple University, Dance Department             Philadelphia, PA  Adjunct Faculty

Developed and taught “Dance as Art”, 3-credit Core Curriculum Course for Non-Majors, Beginning Modern Dance, and Beginning Jazz Dance

1992-1995                                      Brandi Floreen & Dancers                       Philadelphia, PA  Founder, Director

Responsible for all creative and administrative aspects of this 5-member modern dance company which performed throughout the Mid-Atlantic and New England States. Choreographed 75 dances.

1986 – 1989                          East Penn Emerging Artists Program                  Kutztown, PA  Founder & First Executive Director

Responsible for all aspects of founding and first two years of operation for this nonprofit which provides performance, exhibition and professional development opportunities for emerging artists in all media.

SELECTED AWARDS

2015                          Pennsylvania Museums Awards Honorable Mention for Historic                                       Fair Hill’s “A Legacy of Learning” Education Programming

2013                          Pennsylvania Museums Awards Honorable Mention for                                                        Grumblethorpe Youth Volunteer Program

2011                          Pew Heritage Philadelphia Program, “No Idea Is Too Ridiculous”                                      Program Award

2010                          Pew Heritage Philadelphia Program, Professional Development                                        Grant

2009                          Preservation Alliance, Grand Jury Award for Powel House                                                  Education Program

1992                          Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowship in Choreography

1990                          Artist-in-the-Schools, The Yard, Martha’s Vineyard, MA

1987 –  89                 University Fellowship, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

RELATED & VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

2015 – Present      Member of Vestry, St. David’s Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, PA

2010-2012               Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Historic Sites Peer Reviewer

2010                        Pew Heritage Philadelphia Program, Youth History Education                                            Working Group

EDUCATION

1990                       Master of Fine Arts, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

1982                       Bachelor of Arts, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY

References provided upon request.