Resume
Michael Hill
Accomplished
Public Policy Professional
Email:
Location:
Bloomington/Normal, Illinois
Professional Summary
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Accomplished public policy professional with a Master of Public Policy who takes an innovative approach to gathering and interpreting research and data to analyze and solve public problems; developing policy analyses, evaluations, strategies, and policies while considering relevant economic factors and effects; and synthesizing information for internal stakeholders, policymakers, and the public
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Over 10 years of experience that includes public policy, project management, communication, and journalism; a variety of non-profit and governmental organizations; and over 5 years of remote work experience
Key Skills
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Conducting in-depth research to understand policy problems and how other organizations have addressed them
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Performing complex computations and analyzing and summarizing qualitative and quantitative data
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Applying economic concepts to understand and predict the outcomes of proposed public policy solutions
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Managing projects across multiple divisions, departments, and subjects to achieve departmental goals
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Creating innovative presentations and communication materials to convey complex information
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Writing, editing, and proofreading to improve communication across multiple divisions, departments, and subject
Career Highlights
City of Bloomington, Illinois Bloomington, Illinois
Management Analyst, Administration Feb 2025 - Present
Management Analyst, Engineering, Public Works, and Water Mar 2019 - Feb 2025
Miscellaneous Technical Assistant Oct 2016 - Mar 2019
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​Perform research, analysis, communication, project management, website management, grant writing, and other tasks for multiple departments and divisions across the city in coordination with department directors, deputy city managers, and the city manager
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Notable Accomplishments
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Managed a team of four people to apply for a state grant for a multi-use trail to allow pedestrians and cyclists to safely cross an existing pedestrian barrier, which was awarded $800,000 or 90 percent of the grant-eligible costs
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Performed in-depth policy research, analyzed usage data, and collaborated with the facilities manager to produce two policy analyses that used evaluative criteria to make policy recommendations for potential siting locations and potential user fees for publicly owned electric vehicle charging stations that would be available for public use
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Transformed the approach to communication efforts following a record, 500-year flood event, including establishing a microsite focused on water, sanitary sewer, and storm water infrastructure and working with executive staff to create a series of five educational presentations about the flood event
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Adjusted the water meter replacement program to focus on efficiency and return on investment by working closely with the director, management, and staff to evaluate and implement a 15-year replacement program
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Ensured stable funding for services and infrastructure by analyzing data and making financial projections to assist with the implementation of immediate and annual fee increases for solid waste, sanitary sewer, and storm water infrastructure
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Led the effort to produce a master plan to preserve the remaining 3.5 miles of brick streets in the city by collaborating with executive staff, policymakers, the Community Development Department, and the Historic Preservation Commission, which resulted in the adoption of brick preservation policies and an award for Technical Innovation and Management Innovation from the American Public Works Association Illinois Chapter Conference in May 2018
Illinois General Assembly Springfield, Illinois
Legislative Staff Intern (Illinois Legislative Staff Internship Program) Dec 2016 - April 2017
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Expedited the legislative process by analyzing, summarizing, and tracking bills and budgets and staying in contact with agencies, lobbyists, and interest groups for legislators in two legislative committees and two appropriations committees
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Notable Accomplishments
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Coordinated with Illinois counties to facilitate compliance with state legislation that required data reporting
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Improved public relations for a legislator by writing a resolution that was adopted by the assembly
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WGLT FM Normal, Illinois
Reporter Sept 2014 - Oct 2016
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​Expanded news coverage by attending meetings and press conferences and interviewing officials and the public to report on issues such as local government, elections, education, transportation, and sustainability
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Streamlined news coverage by rewriting existing wire and news release copy and repurposing on-air interviews for use on digital platforms
Notable Accomplishments
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Enhanced news coverage by contributing to two award-winning news series: Police and Race in the Twin Cities and How's the Water?
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Bolstered social media outreach by implementing live social media updates during large events​
Education
University of Illinois Springfield Springfield, Illinois
Master of Public Policy May 2025
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​Coursework included analytical tools, statistics, budget and finance, public policy analysis, economics, informatics, program evaluation, project management, and state and local community development
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​Selected Projects
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Data Visualization Using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)
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Created a report using SPSS to analyze survey data, produce charts and graphs to visualize the data, provide descriptions of the data so that readers can easily understand it, and produce a visually appealing report with all of these elements
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) Programming Using R and Python
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Coded with R and Python to program AI using predictive modeling, machine learning, and deep learning to make accurate predictions of handwritten numbers
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Comparing Project Management Software (Group Project)
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Worked with a group of seven classmates to compare and contrast project management software for public procurement and make recommendations based on predefined criteria
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Made final edits to improve flow, fix grammar and formatting errors, and conform to the assigned citation style
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Illinois State University Normal, Illinois
Bachelor of Science, Political Science (Minor: Mass Media) May 2016
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Coursework included public policy, research methods, policy analysis, direct democracy, and multimedia writing
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Awarded the Pi Sigma Alpha Best Paper Award for Sincerity Trumps Strategy: Explaining the Youth Vote in the 2016 Presidential Primary with co-authors Jason Kokkat and Eric Hansen at a student conference in May 2016
Professional Organization Involvement
American Public Works Association Kansas City, Missouri
2024-2025 Emerging Leaders Academy Participant Sep 2024 - Present
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​Attend intensive leadership and management training in person and online with a group of public works professionals as part of a year-long program that encourages professional growth through a strong network of peers
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Collaborate with an assigned team to produce a final report, distribute a survey to members, create materials that would be useful for members, and present the project at the association’s annual national conference
American Public Works Association, Illinois Chapter
Membership Engagement Liaison: May 2024 - Present
Director: May 2023 - Present
Conference Planning Committee Member: Oct 2021 - Present
Young Professionals Chair: Jan 2020 - May 2024
Moderator, APWA Illinois Chapter Conference: May 2022, May 2023, and May 2024
Speaker, APWA Illinois Chapter Conference: May 2018, May 2019, and May 2021
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Community Involvement
ISU Department of Politics and Government Normal, Illinois
​Discussant, 32nd Annual Illinois State University Conference for Students of Political Science: April 2024
Discussant, 31st Annual Illinois State University Conference for Students of Political Science: April 2024
Interviewed for the Alumni News section of the department’s “News and Views” newsletter: Spring 2020
Guest speaker for Public Policy classes: Feb 2017, Oct 2017, and April 2019
Discussant, 26th Annual Illinois State University Conference for Students of Political Science: April 2018
Discussant, 25th Annual Illinois State University Conference for Students of Political Science: April 2017