Geoff Kees Thompson
Below you will find samples of my work including policy and fundraising, writing, graphic design, and technology implementation, including background information about the project. In all these examples, I was the lead for the project tasked with ensuring the overall strategy needs of the organization were met.
A SAFER GRIFFITH PARK FOR ALL | Rec & Parks
In recent years Los Angeles has seen a tragic increase in deaths by vehicular collisions with cyclists and pedestrians. Our park system and its roads need not be part of this trend. By rethinking dated roadway designs we can create safer park streets for the most vulnerable who travel them.
Comprehensive Homeless Strategy (CHS) | city of LA
As lead author and designer of the CHS, I determined the structure, sourced the photography, wrote more than half of the narrative, and laid out the report using graphic design and word processing programs.
Funding our Parks Future | Congress & State of CA
Many of Los Angeles’ most iconic public spaces are contained within our city and the region's iconic parks. From the Hollywood Sign, to the Griffith Observatory, Runyon Canyon, Venice Beach, Watts Towers, and the Los Angeles River, our parks define our city and its public space. We must protect these symbols and gathering places of LA.
CREATING A MOVEMENT | The 5th Square
As co-founder of a non-partisan PAC supporting forward-thinking urbanist policy, I created a brand from scratch, launched the website, built the policy plaftorm, and was the public face of the organization.
Building A New LAX | LAWA, LABOR, & CIty COuncil
LAX, consistently ranked as one of the top five busiest in the world, has been a gateway to our region since the 1920s. As we look to a more sustainable future, we must address long-standing issues in and around the airport like transportation availability and cost. Doing so means a win-win-win for LAX, nearby communities, and employees & labor.
Digital Project Management | City of LA
After writing the CHS, I spearheaded adoption of a web-based project management system to ensure efficient implementation of the report's strategies across 40+ agencies and departments in the City of Los Angeles.
“Geoff’s skill in taking diverse sources of information, making connections between these sources, and communicating them in such a way that enhances our understanding of a complex subject [...] is a rare skill and is one that will serve Geoff well no matter where he goes professionally.”
“Geoff Kees Thompson is phenomenal. He has been a rockstar for the City of Los Angeles, helping us craft smart policy to deal with one of our biggest problems.
I would recommend Geoff for any role requiring thoughtful, thorough and strategic leadership and strong communication skills.”
“Geoff is able to clearly articulate lofty ideas in plain language to make those ideas accessible and build support among a broad set of interest groups”
“Geoff is a very detailed-oriented professional with the unique ability to not only manage a program/project but to also effectively communicate with the members of the team. He is a great collaborator who understands the impacts of consensus building when managing a project or leading a group.”
“Geoff’s attention to detail, and commitment to excellence was always spot on. His work ethic is one that I admired; he never stopped when a product was rolled out, but rather he made himself available to answer any questions that may have come up post-deployment.”
gkt@geoffkeesthompson.com
+1.213.632.8206
Geoff Kees
Thompson
Profile
Civic innovator in public space, infrastructure, and sustainability policy with strong track record in fundraising & grant writing, project management, and executing solutions for enduring outcomes
Experience
Deputy Chief of Staff - Councilmember Nithya Raman | Los Angeles, CA – 2022-current
Los Angeles Council District 4 (Griffith Park, Hollywood, Los Feliz, Sherman Oaks, Studio City)
▸ Deputy Chief overseeing initiatives, strategy, and staff for transportation, aviation, capital projects, public space, parks and recreation, homelessness, and small business development
- Secured 10 million dollars in congressional funds for park space, capital projects, and homelessness in the district via Representatives Adam Schiff and Brad Sherman - Secured 4 million dollars in California state funding for closure of nearly a mile of roadway roadway in Griffith Park to car traffic for cyclists and pedestrian use with additional safety measures planned over the next two years
- Created, executed multi-year parks, public space, transportation, small business, and homelessness work plans leading multiple teams. Plans include funding, budget & resource planning, and external strategy with city staff, donors, and community
- Developed multi-year strategy for Councilmember’s priorities, organizing an executable plan across multiple leadership teams within the office - Authored variety of legislative motions and letters for the Councilmember, setting policy and funding priorities goals in parks, transportation, public space, and aviation
- Designed and funded new central district office for the Councilmember, including tenant improvements, security, finishes, lighting, and office furniture
▸ Spearheaded organizational transformation by implementing a web-based project management system
- Streamlined communication and administration capacity across council office teams - Expanded project management and capacity planning across team to improve outcomes and reduce the risk of staff burnout
Senior Advisor & LAX Liaison - Councilmember Mike Bonin | Los Angeles, CA – 2017-2022
Los Angeles Council District 11 (Brentwood/Palisades, West LA, Mar Vista, Venice, Westchester)
▸ Policy Advisor regarding airport stakeholders for transportation connectivity, environmental mitigation, and land development projects | Legislative Advisor to Councilman on T3 Committee
- Secured near-unanimous community and organized labor support for the Airfield and Terminal Modernization Project (ATMP), an approximately 5 billion dollar program - Assured approval of significant Memorandum of Understanding between labor (SEIU-USWW) and LAX leadership codifying new transportation funding, additional workplace oversight, and a health study of airport-based employees allowing ATMP to move forward without litigation, while addressing the needs of workers
- Developed strategy for Bus Only lane implementation within the Central Terminal Area of LAX, integral to the success of LAX-it by speeding bus & shuttle operations
- Advised airport leadership on transit strategies including enhancements to the FlyAway bus service and creation of LAX Transportation Management Organization
Transportation Policy Director - Councilmember Mike Bonin | Los Angeles, CA – 2016-2017
City of Los Angeles Councilman, Chair of Transportation Committee, Metro Board Member
▸ Legislative Advisor, Policy Director to Councilman, Chair of Transportation Committee ▸ Legislative Advisor to the Councilman for the Metro Board
- Shepherded electric car-sharing ordinance meeting aggressive funding timeline
- Led effort to reform food truck ordinance for scofflaws after a series of crashes
Senior Advisor & FUSE Fellow - City of Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA – 2015-2016
Non-profit placing private sector professionals in government to address major policy initiatives
▸ Led authorship, design and content strategy for the Comprehensive Homeless Strategy, the City of Los Angeles’ roadmap to strategically address homelessness under CAO Miguel Santana
- Wrote and collaborated on an innovative comprehensive report detailing 64
strategies on housing, land use, governance, technology and employment
- Approved unanimously by City Council and Mayor, currently being implemented
- Received national coverage in the New York Times, National Geographic & Washington Post
▸ Spearheaded procurement & adoption of innovative web-based project management system
- Streamlined communication, traceability, and administrative capacity across 40+
departments and agencies in the City and County of Los Angeles
- Deployed tool for standard project tracking system across multiple departments
- Trained 300+ people, including requests from department leadership on new system
- Centralized progress reporting for the Comprehensive Homeless Strategy
Manager - Klish Group, Inc. | Philadelphia, PA – 2012-2015
A technology consultancy that implements complex web content management systems
▸ Implemented large-scale content management systems for corporate websites & communications
- Managed complex projects with diverse stakeholders on time and on budget
- Deployed easy to understand yet detailed training modules for various client roles
- Led aesthetic and content overhaul of company website and social media strategy
Chair - The 5th Square | Philadelphia, PA – 2014-2015
Non-partisan urban policy PAC advocating for better public space, transit, land use, governance
▸ Co-founded organization, public face for speaking engagements, authored and configured website and aligning legislative priorities with elected officials and candidates
- Established 12 point policy platform and election endorsement process
- Platform item on Vision Zero to reduce traffic fatalities adopted by City of Philadelphia
- Raised seed capital for organization through fundraising and membership campaigns
- Endorsed several winning candidates for the offices of Mayor and City Council
Product Deployment Manager - Comcast | Philadelphia, PA – 2011-2012
The largest broadcast and cable television company in the world
▸ Managed several high profile new product deployments for Business Services voice products
- On time and on budget national launches of several new Comcast products
- Led communications with hundreds of attendees, senior leadership and cross-functional
teams across multiple divisions and markets
Project Manager - Accenture | Philadelphia, PA – 2005-2011
A global professional services company providing strategy and consulting services
▸ Managed complex IT systems development & deployment projects at fortune 500 clients
- Developed innovative testing practices to dramatically shorten project timelines
without compromising the integrity of the end product
- Led team of systems and integration testers that met aggressive product launch schedules
- Authored presentation used internationally by workforce diversity leadership
Education
University of Amsterdam | The Netherlands MS: Urban & Regional Planning - Cum Laude, 2009
Penn State University | Main Campus BS: Marketing & Int’l Business, 2004
BS: International Studies
BS: Spanish
MEDIA
EXPOSURE
Comprehensive Homeless Strategy featured in The New York Times, National Geographic, Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post. Organizations founded have been featured in Streetsblog USA, Philadelphia affiliates of NBC & CBS, Grid Magazine, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Magazine, PlanPhilly, Technical.ly Philly and Philadelphia Business Journal
Civic
Leadership
Lead LA Fellow, Coro | Los Angeles, CA – 2020-2021
Coro develops the next generation of aspiring change-makers across the public and private sectors
▸ Year-long leadership development program fostering connection and growth within a cohort of LA-based leaders in the government, non-profit, and private sector spaces
Lead Designer, Designing Cities 2018 - NACTO | Los Angeles, CA – 2017-2018
National Association of City Transportation Officials, leading public space design & policy
▸ Lead designer creating the overall concept and branding design guide for 2018 Designing Cities conference in Los Angeles hosted in October of 2018
▸ Deliverables included logo, color palette, fonts, patterns, and document templates; well-received art deco theme
Elected Committee Person, 30th Ward - Democratic Party | Philadelphia, PA – 2014-2015
Local level of the Democratic Party charged with endorsing candidates and registering voters
▸ Ran competitive campaign to represent the 12th Division of the 30th Ward, coming in first among four candidates, unseating an incumbent committee person in the process
Recording Secretary, Executive Board - SOSNA | Philadelphia, PA – 2014-2015
Community Association advising development via city government, developers, non-profits
▸ Elected to Board by community, later appointed to Executive Board to execute financial decisions
▸ Spearheaded several public lighting and landscaping projects for new pedestrian plazas and parks
Communications & Property Advisor - Saint Mark’s Church | Philadelphia, PA – 2013-2015
Episcopal parish with strong emphasis on social justice issues, homelessness, local & intl. service
▸ Increased parish web and social media traffic by 40% by leading parish rebrand and new website
▸ Procured graphic services from internationally-known UK-based designer for 1/20th typical cost
▸ Created a volunteer program to implement new landscaping and maintenance plan
▸ Secured dedicated annual budget for church garden
Skills
▸ Fluent in Spanish ▸ Fundraising & grant writing lead ▸ 20+ year project manager ▸ Advanced writing & editing skills ▸ Graphic design & photography skills ▸ Public speaker ▸ Strong personal skills ▸ Culturally sensitive ▸ Extensive international policy exposure ▸ Workforce trainer ▸ Civic innovator ▸ Dual citizen
