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"First experience, then advice.
That should be the starting point for all consultants."
Wallace Kaufman's
consulting services have provided clients in the US and abroad with advice based
on real world experience. From the first days of the newly independent Soviet
republics he has worked with businesses and non-governmental organizations on
management and development. In the US, as an expert on property
values, he worked work as a mediator, commissioner and expert witness. His
testimony on property valuation and ethics issues has been cited as part of
the basis for decisions by the North Carolina Court of Appeals. In Russia's far
northeast he helped a new company develop its tourism and export business. In
America
he helped a now highly successful Russian firm start exporting American
agricultural products. A Kazakhstani publisher employed him to train its
journalists and editors and to write grant proposals.
Taking advantage of his
broad experience, foreign aid organizations have hired him to conduct
in-depth surveys of new manufacturing businesses in Eastern Europe and Bosnia and to investigate income-producing
opportunities in Kazakhstan.
For International
City/County Management Kaufman spent two years in Kazakhstan
in a USAID funded housing and land reform project where he served as resident
advisor to the government of Kazakhstan
and chief-of-party for ICMA's local office. ICMA subsequently employed him to
write and conduct a property valuation course for its Armenian clients.
In the U.S. Kaufman has
continued his consulting work and by using his knowledge of cultural
differences to serve as lead trainer and coordinator for US government
sponsored tours for citizens of the former Soviet Union.
In that work he ran a three week programs for Georgians studying freedom of
information and open meetings laws,
for Armenians studying tourism and ecotourism, and for a second group
of Georgians studying U.S. non-profits. He also helped develop and conduct
tours for Rwandan government officials and a Croatian environmentalist.
His experience as a
journalist and in US politics has served him well as an observer of elections
in Kazakhstan, Croatia, and Guatemala.
From his experience in
environmental work and real estate development, he has served as a consultant
to a number of property owners and developers in the US and
overseas. He is also a licensed
construction contractor in Oregon
and general partner in Signal Associates LP, a remodeling and construction
business.
Kaufman speaks Spanish,
conversational Russian, and reads French. In 1980 he passed all the tests and
security clearances for the US Department of State's foreign service program.
EMPLOYMENT AND
WORK EXPERIENCE
Private Consulting: Since 1974 has worked with local and state governments on
development, environment and economic questions; consulting on business
development and property issues for banks, law firms, and businesses. Special
focus on local govt. development policy, NGO participation, and real estate
economics.
Nov-Dec. 2006. Lead trainer and coordinator for group of
NGO leaders from Georgia
for the study of American non profit organizations.
Jan-Feb. 2003. Wrote
and delivered two lectures on mass media and American policy at Ablai Khan University
(Almaty) and one workshop for journalists there; also one lecture to
journalism students and faculty at Kazakh
Government University
(KazGu). Consulting with Kazakhstan Monitor, and research for feature article
on Central Asian herders and environment for Orion magazine.
Aug. – Sep. 2002.
Evaluator for Gobi Regional Economic Growth Initiative, Mongolia.
Part of 5 member team evaluating this 5 year USAID funded project. Travel
throughout Mongolia's Gobi region, extensive interviewing and participation
in overall team work including business development, banking, and
agriculture. Also provided editorial advice to publications staff.
April 2002. Proposal
writing and consulting for University Research on anti-corruption bid.
Research and writing on basic issues and public information strategy and
tactics.
February 2002. Business
consulting and planning on Slovak privatization project. Project supervisor,
Mary Quinlan.
Nov-Dec. 2001. Created
and taught property valuation courses in Kyrgyzstan
and Kazakhstan
for Chemonics and Pragma
Spring-summer 2000.
Research work for World Bank funded contractor on approaches to financing
infrastructure and equity building for pueblos jovenes in Peru, including designing
questionnaire to evaluate obstacles and opportunities.
March 2000. Coordinator
and lead trainer for USIS funded study tour of Armenians interested in
tourism and ecotourism. Responsible for all meetings, bridging cultural
differences, mediating disagreements, facilitating action plans, and
individual counseling of group members to see that their special interests were
satisfied. Contractor: Center for International Understanding, Sudakhar
Jamkandi.
February 2000.
Coordinator and lead trainer of USAID funded study tour for Republic of
Georgia government officials and journalists examining the US Freedom of
Information Act processes as well as media ethics, the free press, and
government-media relations. Contractor: Center for International
Understanding, Sudakhar Jamkandi.
1996-1999. Consultant
and trainer, The Globe and Energy of Kazakhstan, a paper and magazine in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Helped publisher write and present grant proposals, wrote basic ethics code
for reporters, guidelines for editors and translators. One on one training of
writers and editors. Publisher and owner: Nurlan Ablyazov.
1990-2000. Judge in the
Rutstrum Wilderness Book Award program, reappointed for 2000-2004. Executor,
F. Lee Armstrong, Edina, MN.
Ukraine Enterprise Land
Sales, Kyiv and other cities, Ukraine,
1/98-2/98. Working with oblast and city officials, helped run major regional
seminars, organize regional Ukrainian staff, develop valuation techniques,
teach property valuation, develop “how to do it” manual. Project
supervisor Lou Faoro.
Property Valuation
Training, Yerevan, Armenia, 9/97-10/97. Designed and
taught a course for real estate and banking professionals in the evaluation
of real property. Sponsored by International City/County Management
Association. Project supervisor, Debra Kimble.
Election monitor, Croatia,
April 1997. Member of US State Dept. Short Term Observer Team to monitor campaign
and election process during regional and local elections in Croatia.
Monitored displaced persons polling place.
January 1997. Hosted
and conducted visits in North Carolina for
business managers of “Novii Stihl” newspaper in Saratov, Russia.
Project supervisor, Ted Vaden, Editor, Chapel Hill Newspaper.
December-January
1996-8. Consulting with Kazakstani newspaper All Over the Globe/Vremya Po
Grinvichu, on business and the uses of Internet and World Wide Web. Trained
editor and staff in Internet and WWW research. Editor-Publisher, Nurlan
Ablyazov.
May-July 1996. Training
material development for multi-media business management training course in
Russian for Russian participants in USIA sponsored
“apprenticeships” in US businesses. Working with FOX Oy of
Raleigh, NC advising on cultural differences, content, and also participated
in orientation sessions for Russian participants. Participated in training
sessions in May and October.
June-July 1996. Lending Initiatives Project mission of World Bank to Bosnia.
Designed, conducted and processed a survey of the environment for small
business. Also
participated in and made a presentation on risk management to a seminar on
micro-credit
lending. Project supervisor, Leila Webster, IFC.
June 1996. Helped design
a US tour for Croatian
ecologist/environmentalist on USAID
sponsored visit to the US.
Conducted four day segment of the visit in North Carolina
introducing the visitor to NGO activity and free market activity in
preserving and
managing wildlife habitat. Project supervisor, Mary Quinlan.
May 1996. Participant
in orientation program for business owners from Novosibirsk
and
Saratov who were beginning their
"apprentice" programs with businesses in America.
Presentation on differences between Russian and American business culture and
practices. Continuing work on developing video based small business training
program in Russian as follow-up. Project sponsor, Fox-Oy, Raleigh, NC
April 1996. Lead
instructor in real property valuation seminars in Pavlodar,
Kazakhstan and Samarkand, Uzbekistan for EDI/World Bank. In
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
led teaching team of five instructors. The fifth time teaching real property
valuation in a course I helped develop and have taught in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Uzbekistan, and Mongolia.
Project supervisor, Demir Yener, EDI/World Bank. (now with USAID)
Nov. 1995. Consultant
for World Bank project on income generating activities in Aral Sea region of Kazakhstan's
Kyzl Orda Oblast. In consultation with national and local governments,
international donors, and local residents, outlined immediate and medium term
actions to create new jobs and reinvigorate traditional occupations.
1993-1995. Chief of
party of International City/County Management Association office in Kazakhstan, operating
as a USAID contractor. Developed a modern office, trained staff, supervised
American and Kazakhstani staff. Major projects included creation of a
national program for housing allowances, creation of national program to
organization
homeowners' associations, revision of land and housing codes, establishment
of
government building inspection and appraisal departments, creation of an
association of
real estate professionals, and training in mortgage and construction lending.
. Responsibility for staff of 12 including 2 additional Americans and
numerous visiting experts as well as communications with USAID in Almaty and
with ICMA home office. Compiled and wrote annual housing indicators report
and special report on missing links in forming a real estate market in Kazakhstan.
Conducted demonstration land condemnation court proceeding for Kazakhstani
jurists and lawyers. During this time Kaufman also organized and taught in
several intensive real estate appraisal courses sponsored with EDI/World Bank
and USAID. After ICMA service Kaufman taught these courses in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan.
Project supervisor, Peter Epstein (now with Urban Institute).
1990-1993: Helped
formulate and implement and document a World Bank survey of
privatization and restructuring of manufacturing in Hungary, Poland
and the Czech and
Slovak Republics. Helped write the initial
proposal, revise it; led survey teams in each
country doing in-depth factory-floor level interviews, organized and verified
data, and
wrote portions of the final reports. Project supervisor, Leila Webster, IFC.
1989-1996: Helped several new private companies in the former USSR do
business
planning and establish trade contacts. Businesses ranged from poultry and
shoe exports
from the US to ecotourism
and GIS mapping in the Soviet "Far East".
Continues to work on business development with International Commodities,
Inc., a Russian-American firm exporting US food products to Russia.
Primary client, Alexei Mikhailov, Piedmont Trading, Raleigh, NC.
1985. Small business
development seminar in Belize.
Helped organize the seminar, prepare other instructors and teach the week
long course for small business people. Topics covered included management of
business, bookkeeping, marketing, and financing. Sponsor, Episcopal Diocese
of NC, Letty Rawls organizer (now with Peace Corps).
HEARTWOOD REALTY, INC.: founded this company as a general brokerage business
in 1967, president until 1979. Agency specialized in rural development,
energy efficient
and custom housing, and appraisal work.
SARALYN, INC.: An
investment group to develop rural acreage, small urban lots, and
renovate urban property. President and chief executive officer 1968 to 1992.
Work
included overseeing all aspects of land planning, permit processes,
development and
sales. Over 2,000 acres included in Saralyn projects. Land development ideas
and
covenants imitated widely by others.
REAL ESTATE APPRAISAL: Specialized in appraisal work since mid-1970's,
especially condemnation work and estates and conservation easements. Clients
have included many local governments, non-profit community development
groups, housing authorities, bank trust and commercial loan divisions, public
utilities, and many private investors. Appraisal subjects have ranged from
residences and farms to tobacco warehouses, molybdenum mine and retail and
sales buildings. Experienced in courtroom testimony from local commissioners'
hearings to federal court.
MISC. Headed
Chatham County (NC) task force on affordable
housing; served on
Triangle J Council of Governments Land Use Committee; founding member of
Triangle
Land Conservancy; real estate consulting for Nature Conservancy. While active
in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Realtors served on Grievance Committee.
Has consulted with many clients on land use issues and development planning.
OTHER BUSINESS
ACTIVITY
BUSINESS NEGOTIATION AND REPRESENTATION:
Has negotiated business disputes and liquidations for such diverse small
businesses as
restaurants, electrical contractors and newspapers. Has also represented
large and small
business in property acquisition and contract and sale negotiation.
RUSSIAN BUSINESS
COUNSELING. Since 1991 has worked with small Russian
businesses in the "Far East,"
European Russia, and the U.S. Helped write business plans,
organize activities, make contacts for import and export. Helped found a
Russian exporting firm selling frozen poultry to Russia and served as a consultant
to that firm as it grew to be a large and successful operation.
BUSINESS TRAINING. Has
run small business seminars in the U.S.
and Belize.
Taught valuation for World Bank/EDI in Mongolia,
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. Designed a property
valuation course for International City/County Management's Armenia office and taught the course twice in Armenia.
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES
GOVERNMENT: has
participated in high level and local government committees on
environmental policy and planning--both for urban infrastructure and for
rural
preservation. Writing speeches on environment for Lt. Governor, and position
papers for
gubernatorial campaign.
PRIVATE SECTOR.
Participated in many land development activities involving
environmental planning and assessment.
ECOTOURISM. Consulting
for ecotourism projects in the Caribbean.
Led workshop for
joint National Parks and Maho
Bay conference on
environmentally sound development in
the U.S. Virgin Islands (1992). Lead trainer and coordinator for Armenian
tourism-ecotourism 3 week tour of US in 2000.
MEDIATION AND PUBLIC
INFORMATION. Moderated three day long Skidaway II
Conference on Coastal Development(1983), bringing together U.S. Corps of
Engineers,
environmentalists, scientists and developers. Drafted the statement of
principles adopted
by the group.
Edited Carolina Conservationist, newsletter of the Conservation Council of
North
Carolina, 1971-1978.
LAND TRUSTS. Helped
organize Triangle Nature Conservancy, a trust acquiring and
administering natural areas in the booming center of North Carolina. Served on board of
directors. Also collaborated with Nature Conservancy on land conservation,
easement,
and development proposals for surplus lands..
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL
RESOURCES: Ran a small vegetable growing and
marketing operation in Chatham County, 1967-1970. As President of N.C. Land
Trustees of America, Inc. oversaw formation of timber marketing coop in
western N.C.
and initiation of vegetable marketing coop pilot project. Began working on
farms and
ranches at 15 and has experience in orchards, cattle farms, vegetable farms,
hops and
timber growing. Presently serves on the board of directors of the
Conservation
Foundation of North Carolina.
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