My resume reflects a varied background supporting the fact that I can work effectively and efficiently with people.
CITY OF EDMONDS - Edmonds WA Since I was appointed to city council in January 2010, I have attempted to fulfill my campaign message which was 1) improve financial clarity, 2) create financial clarity through implementing financial policies which would provide financial clarity and 3) hold the Mayor and administration accountable. As a Council Member, I am charged to make difficult decisions during these challenging and depressing economic times to make informed decisions based on financial reports that must be accurate, easily traceable and citizen friendly. This responsibility affects the livelihood of our staff and community. It is an awesome responsibility that I do not take lightly. It should be expected that when money is involved that tough questions are to be expected especially in what is considered the worst economic times ever experienced in history. Many citizens, staff, and my fellow city council members know that I spend hours and hours doing research prior to offering any opinions. I will continue to ask tough questions and ensure that the City change its financial statements so as any citizen can understand exactly where the city financial position is at any point in time.
Council Position #4: January 2010 - present
FABRIC OF LIFE - Edmonds WA
Fabric of Life is a 501(c)3 foundation that was formed in 2002 to promote international development. Its primary purpose is to support cooperative development projects that directly impact the quality of life for families in developing countries. The Foundation philosophy is to support partnerships that focus on the cooperative principles of self-help, building financial stability, education, non-discrimination, social responsibility and cooperation among cooperatives.
Retail Volunteer: Feb 2009 – January 2011
OFF-LEASH AREA – EDMONDS - Edmonds WA
The Off-Leash Area Edmonds is a non-profit corporation that I formed with a group of volunteers for maintaining and operating the Edmonds off-leash dog area. I completed all corporate filings in order to obtain the IRS 501(c)3 designation. I am responsible for corporate filings, financial reporting, membership, website, quarterly newsletters and implementing fundraiser projects and the website is www.olae.org.
Volunteer Director, Corporate Treasurer, August 2006 present: Webmaster: Aug 2005 - 2010
EDMONDS SENIOR CENTER (formerly South County Senior Center) - Edmonds WA The Edmonds Senior Center is a non-profit corporation that fulfills a myriad of wonderful programs to the local residents of Edmonds and surrounding area. I was asked to help upgrade the website in 2009 and have been working with this group as a volunteer. Visit http://southcountyseniorcenter.org/default.aspx to find out more about this wonderful venue.
Webmaster: March 2009 - January 2011: Board Member - January 2010
EDMONDS ART FESTIVAL - Edmonds WA
The Edmonds Art Festival’s Directors’ primary goals are to plan and implement the large and successfully profitable Edmonds Art Festival (Festival). My area of responsibility is organizing and running the Wine Bar and Bistro. The Festival donates a portion of its profits to the Edmonds Art Foundation, a 501(c)3 corporation, and the Foundation does a number of things for the community such as providing scholarships to young adults and purchasing art for the community.
Volunteer Director: June 2005 – December 2009
COASTAL ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS, INC.- Seattle WA
Coastal Environment Systems, Inc. was awarded a $60 million contract with the United States Air Force to deploy 175 stand-alone weather stations. I wore many hats as program manager such as: creating and structuring deployment timelines, managing the project with various consultants and delegates working on this project, quality assurance, logistics, and manual writing. After the project was up and running, I became the technical writer since the Air Force required specific parameters and guidelines for its tech manual. During my stint with Coastal, I crafted four other manuals on different weather systems.
Program Manager/Technical Writer - Air Force Contract: Mar 2001- Aug 2005
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND TECHNICAL CONSULTANTS, INC. (IBTCI) - Vienna VA
IBTCI was under contract with U.S. Agency of International Development (USAID) to provide consulting services to Central Banks of post-Soviet countries. Under a developed work plan, I assisted in strengthening their capabilities for regulating banks via introducing new policies and procedures, crafting manuals, consulting with other monetary specialists, and providing on-the job training for examining banks. I was required to complete quarterly performance evaluation of my work and the regulatory environment of the country. During this time, I worked on a part-time basis at both locations.
Project Manager-National Bank of Kazakhstan & National Bank of Lithuania: Oct 1996 - Mar 2001
BARENTS GROUP, LLC. a subsidiary of KPMG - Washington DC
KPMG was under contract with USAID to provide consulting services to the Banking Supervision Department of the National Bank of Lithuania (the Country’s regulatory arm). For two years, I was the resident advisor and performed a myriad of duties such as: developing a staff code of ethics for examinations, creating and managing timelines for bank examinations, crafting an inspection manual, providing on-the-job training to a staff of sixteen, assisting the Director with policy issues and rules and regulations that governed the banks, providing bank management with bank summaries and recommendations, and holding seminars for individuals not within the jurisdiction of the Banking Supervision Department. I also closely worked with other delegates of the European Union, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank.
Resident Project Manager - National Bank of Lithuania: Aug 1994 - Oct 1996
OFFICE OF THRIFT SUPERVISION - Western Region, San Francisco, CA
As an Examiner IV, I was responsible for running major examinations or was in charge of major areas within the examination such as asset classification or profitability. Traveled extensively and worked on many high profiled examinations in various parts of the country. Technically proficient in all areas of examinations and wrote extensively on most examination reports to force corrective actions by Boards of Directors.
Examiner IV - Certified Federal Thrift Regulator: Aug 1989 - Jul 1994
SECURITY PACIFIC BANK OF OREGON – Portland, OR
Credit Limit was $13.0 million for approving loans in our real estate group. I assisted in setting up the Relationship Banking Department that targeted the highly profitable and profiled individual who had loans with the real estate group. This entailed crafting various policies and procedures for the newly created group and cold-calling these clients.
First Vice President-Credit Administrator: Real Estate Industries Group: Mar 1989 - Aug 1989
FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK OF SEATTLE - Portland, OR
One week after employment, I began traveling extensively as the industry was in “the savings and loan crisis. I assisted in training individuals on asset classification and how to concisely write loan classifications. I spent most of the first year in Texas examining loans and closing banks under the “Southwest Plan".
Examiner and Senior Examiner: Mar 1986- Mar 1989
AMERICAN SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION: Salt Lake City, UT
Hired as a Senior Auditor but was drafted to work in the corporate offices in Utah so as to establish a credit examination department. I traveled extensively and reviewed all portfolios within all three divisions: Oregon, Utah and Hawaii and crafted reports to assist senior management and the lending staff on understanding the importance of correct documentation and proper underwriting. Once examinations of all commercial portfolios were completed, I was promoted to Compliance Officer and worked on drafting policies and procedures.
Senior Auditor, Credit Examiner, Policy and Compliance Officer: Dec 1984 - Feb 1986
UNITED STATES NATIONAL BANK OF OREGON - Portland, OR
I was selected as a student under the Work/College Scholarship Program and spent every other year working through each department within the bank. This program was to groom young adults into becoming banking leaders. After graduation, I spent three years traveling as an operational auditor and then a credit examiner. I traveled to each branch throughout Oregon and audited their books or reviewed their loan portfolios. I left and became an Assistant Manager of a large branch in downtown Portland and was responsible for commercial and residential loans.
Auditor, Credit Examiner, Loan Officer, all positions in branch banking: Feb 1974 - Jul 1984
E D U C A T I O N
Portland State University, 1979.
Honors graduate, 3.68 of 4.0 GPA.
Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. Completed Bachelors’ Degrees with a full academic scholarship through the U.S. Bancorp's management program. Numerous classes in all types of banking, regulating, appraising, budgeting, technical writing, creative writing, and some graduate level psychology classes. Numerous interpretive and inter-active web writing classes from Ariele Huff.
Community Involvement: OLAE (Off-Leash Area - Edmonds), Edmonds Art Festival, Edmonds Backyard Wildlife Habitat, Sierra Club - Cascade Charter, Sustainable Edmonds, ACE, Edmonds Senior Center, Edmonds Floretum Garden Club, Edmonds Mural Society, Edmonds South-Snohomish County Historical Society, Rotary International, Best Friends Network, ASPCA, PAWS, Humane Society, League of Women Voters - Snohomish, National Women's Political Caucus, Seattle American-Lithuanian Community.
DIANE BUCKSHNIS is your best advocate because "Community Interest Come First"!