DEBRA GORRA BARASH

9135 North Sycamore Court * Bayside, WI 53217 * 414.881.1044 *

Executive Profile
Strategic & Financial Planning
Non-Profit & For-Profit Expertise
Business Formation & Development
Human Resource Administration
Budgetary Creation & Oversight
Market & Competitive Analysis
Legal & Government Relations

* Highly accomplished and focused business director with proven competencies in

developing business plans, analyzing and directing finances, and designing strat
egies to address wide range of challenges.
* Excels in building and reinvigorating organizations. Exhibits entrepreneurial
spirit and aptitude for leadership, operations, and implementing programs to im
prove performance and profitability.
* Recognized by peers, clients, and senior leadership as the "go-to" person for
problem resolution and efficiently-run organizations, projects, and teams.
* Keen aptitude with Human Resource expertise, experienced in strategic managem
ent, workforce planning and employment, HR development (training, performance ap
praisals, talent management), total rewards (compensation & benefits), employee
and labor relations, and risk management.

Key Accomplishments
* Built $1 million startup business to profitability and prestige in market as
CEO by creating a business model, launching and profitably directing the first-o
f-its-kind interpreting business quickly establishing reputation for quality of
services and staff professionalism.
* Revitalized non-profit organization's finances, improving accounts receivable
rate from 75% to 98.5% and maintained private for-profit company's past due acc
ounts receivable rate at 0.13% by implementing communication strategies for impr
oved member services, rigorous revenue collection and financial controls.
* Orchestrated highly successful organizational and operational restructuring,
instituting "three-legged stool" approach to involve president, rabbi, and execu
tive director in decision-making process and nurturing team dynamics among clerg
y, lay leaders, support staff, and congregants.
* Advanced profession to attain new legal status and higher level of respect.
Advocated through court and legislative system persuading the establishment of r
egulations and standards for interpreters of all languages.
* Authored Wisconsin Supreme Court Ruling Wisconsin Chapter SCR 63 - Code of Et
hics for Court Interpreters.
* Established rigorous budget process and timeline to improve financial control
and managed contract negotiations and bids.
* Earned Distinguished Service Award for contribution to industry.
* Played Integral role in $5 million capital campaign and renovation initiative
.

Professional Experience
Freelance Services, Wisconsin 2007-Pr
esent
Consultant, mediator, trainer and interpreter provides services for wide range o
f industries, including legal, mental health, social services, medical, educatio
nal, vocational, and governmental agencies. Presents at national conferences, tr
ains in university settings, workshops/training programs; presents as faculty an
d consultant to Wisconsin Court Interpreter Program. Consults on strategic plann
ing, employee training, employee relations and unique industry needs. Provides c
oaching and employee development.

Congregation Sinai, Executive Director, Milwaukee, WI 2002-20

07
Directed planning, implementation, operation, and evaluation of programs and ser
vices; spearheaded 50 events and projects per year. Developed fiscal policies an
d procedures in consultation with Board; created and monitored budgets and repor
ting functions; coordinated and organized community programs. Directed all HR fu
nctions including strategic management, development, training, talent and perfor
mance management, compensation, benefits and risk management. Managed all phases
of renovation project, implemented strategies to accommodate continuously chang
ing leadership and vision, working with new lay leadership to develop cohesive m
anagement approaches. Worked with volunteers and committees and worked collabora
tively with community organizations.

Professional Interpreting Enterprise LLC, Founder, Greenfield, WI 1996-20

02
Founded state's first private, for-profit interpreting company, performing all C
EO and President duties for day-to-day leadership and operations of company's 50
employees and $1 million operational budget. Headed all start-up efforts includ
ing strategic and financial planning, budgeting, and organizational infrastructu
re as well as consumer board and advisory board. Developed and implemented all c
ompany wide HR functions. Solidified company's reputation in industry by focusin
g on providing high-quality interpreting services.
ACADEMIC / CERTIFICATION CREDENTIALS
? Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Cardinal Stritch Univers
ity, Milwaukee
? Certificate of Completion: Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Learning System (SPHR)
? Family Mediation Certificate, UW-Milwaukee
? Senior Certificate in Synagogue Management-Hebrew Union College, Los Ang
eles, CA
? Certificate of Completion: Masters in Process Mediation-Northeastern Uni
versity, Boston, MA
? Certificate of Completion: Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
? Florence Melton Adult Mini School Institute, JCC, Milwaukee, WI
? Interpreting Credentials: Certificate of Interpretation and Transliterat
ion, National (Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf), Specialty Certificate Leg
al, National (RID), Supreme Court of Wisconsin-Certified Court Interpreter, Inte
rpreter Training Program-UW Milwaukee

AFFILIATIONS / COMMITTEE INVOLVEMENT / PRESENTATIONS

? Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
? Wisconsin Association of Mediators
? National Association of Temple Administrators (NATA)
? Improving Interpretation in WI Courts Committee (Chief Justice Abrahamso
n)
? RID Ethics Appeals Committee and WI Court Interpreter Ethics Review Pane
l Member
? National and Wisconsin State Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID
)
? Adult Learning Committee Chair, and Chesed Committee Chair, Congregatio
n Sinai
? Participant in various Social Action programs, activities, and events
? Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center
? Trustee, Jim English Music Scholarship Fund (Financial manager and f
und raiser)
? Panelist: Business Ethics - Ethical Issues of our Time, Congregation Sin
ai
? Presenter at Wisconsin Judicial Conferences
Presenter - "Through the Eyes of the Child" state-wide Guardian ad Litem
conference, UW - Extension