Shamanda R. Joseph, is an attorney and Certified Economic Development Finance Professional (CEDFP) with a strong background in strategic planning, workforce development planning, organizational design, community and economic development and public finance. Known as Mandi, Ms. Joseph served for two years as Chief of Staff to the Commissioner for Roads & Transportation and Community & Economic Development of Jefferson County, Alabama. Under her direction, the county assessed the need for, benchmarked against and ultimately created its first ever Economic Development Department for neighborhood-based business districts. Mandi worked with the Personnel Board of Jefferson County to determine the proper job classifications and compensation appropriate for each position in the department.

One of the issues Mandi is most passionate about is workforce development. She orchestrated another first for the county when it became the recipient of the highly competitive YouthBuild grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. She also maintained direct management oversight of the Center for Workforce Development. In so doing, she conducted a job and staffing analysis, determined compensation and classification, created the job descriptions and designed the organizational structure that remains in place several years later.

Upon completion of her 2-year commitment at Jefferson County, Ms. Joseph accepted a position with a law firm to work in its Public Finance Practice Group. She actively undertook the governmental relations function for the firm and in less than two years, closed multiple bond deals related to healthcare financings, educational financings and housing financings. Subsequent to this, Mandi was called upon for her knowledge and expertise to assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency with its disaster recovery planning efforts in New Orleans, LA. Ms. Joseph advised the team on matters related to business retention, workforce development, affordable housing and transportation.

Currently, Mandi serves as the Managing Member for Comprehensive Development Strategies, LLC, a business consulting and advisory services firm, and has worked with Vantage Solutions LLC since 2006 when she was tapped to manage a business process analysis and implementation project for City of Birmingham’s Human Resource and Payroll functions. Specifically, Mandi lead the efforts by the City of Birmingham to conduct an FLSA Classification analysis for many of the City’s 6,000 staffers.

Ms. Joseph can be reached at 312.440.0602 or via email at sjoseph@vantage-solutions.com.