DENIZ Z. FIRAT Monterey, California, USA Phone: (310) 210

DENIZ Z. FIRAT
Monterey, California, USA
Phone: (310) 210-6024; Email: [email protected]
SUMMARY
Relevant Coursework and Academic Research
• International migration and development
• Sports and development
• Human trafficking, refugees and unaccompanied
minors
• UNHCR Guidelines on refugees, unaccompanied
minors
• Illicit drug markets and organized crime
• Financial crime compliance studies on KYC, AML, CFT
policies, terrorism finance sanctions, fraud detection,
tax evasion, asset recovery
• UN Convention Against Corruption
• UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
• 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees &
1967 Protocol
• UN Arms Trade Treaty 2012
• US Immigration law, policy and programs
• Post 2015 UN Development agenda
• Regional focus: Latin America, Southeast Asia, Pacific
Island Countries, Turkey
Functional Skills
• Fluency in English, Spanish, Turkish
• Field experience in five developing-countries
• Four years of professional work experience with client
management and leadership
• Senior level communication/media planning, design,
implementation and evaluation
• Budget planning, reconciliation, management
• Senior level legal secretary experience, document
production for litigation
• Ecotourism and Professional Tour Guide, Historian
and Cultural Representative
• Youth development and empowerment
• Proposal development and writing
• Open Source Intelligence (OSI) research
• Event planning and management
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS), iMovie11
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
UNDP PACIFIC CENTRE, Suva, Fiji
Effective Governance Department, Intern
May 2014, September 2014
Anti-Corruption Projects
• Assist in UNCAC desk reviews: Review legislation of assigned countries against the UNCAC Articles 3 and 4,
identify areas for improvement, and draft concept notes
• Active involvement in the review and evaluation of the anti-money laundering laws of Fiji, Nauru and Tonga,
identify concerns, draft reports to be used by the management
• Research and prepare briefing and strategy papers, talking points and other background material to be used in
trainings, donor meetings and presentations
• Design, plan, coordinate youth forums, panels and conferences on anti-corruption and social accountability
• Produce desk-base report on corruption related poverty and social exclusion in Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Genie
• Support the Anti-Corruption Specialist in conducting research on the socially excluded population, including their
access to health, education, and basic services
• Conduct due diligence to establish the credibility of an entity or an individual by identifying sanction, embargo, or
watch-list violations, government connections, and allegations of fraud, corruption, bribery, arms or drug trafficking,
or money laundering
Parliamentary Development Projects
• Assist in designing, coordinating, executing inductions for the newly elected members of the Parliament of Fiji
• Engage in executing workshops, trainings for women candidates running for office in the Parliament of Fiji
• Primary lead on a research consulting project on labor rights in Fiji, Nauru, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu
• Research and analyze political, in particular electoral developments and trends in fifteen Pacific Island Countries,
identify areas for improvement, write proposals to be discussed with donors
• Prepare remarks or speeches to be delivered by the Parliamentary Specialist, Program Manager, and UNDP Pacific
Centre Manager at trainings, workshops, and public events
• Facilitate communication with civil society partners/ beneficiaries through email, websites, and social media
• Develop communications strategy and manage PACWIP’s (Pacific Women in Politics) online presence for effective
communication that engages main stakeholders including public, donors and politically exposed persons
• Develop, distribute communications materials, including tweets, Facebook posts, press releases, media advisories,
photo stories, and multi-media
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PERKINS COIE LLP, Los Angeles, CA
Senior Legal Secretary, Executive Assistant
November 2007 – August 2012
Legal and Administrative Responsibilities
• Produce legal documentation for litigation (intellectual property), corporate finance and compliance, foster care, and
adoption cases
• Conduct legal and factual research on assigned issues; review and analyze laws, rules, regulations, and programs
promulgated by state and federal courts and agencies
• Manage e-discovery procedures and collections, collect, analyze, and organize documents
• Assist the Sr. Partners, Counsel and Associates in preparing responses to subpoenas, interrogatories, hearing and
deposition transcripts and other legal documents
• File paper and electronic documents with appropriate courts and agencies and ensure proper procedures are
followed and deadlines are met
• Set up and maintain administrative and client files; file electronic and/or paper documents and information
promptly and accurately
• Prepare new client/matter intake forms and engagement letter and assist with billing process
• Coordinate with docketing specialist, including review of docketing reports for accuracy of dates, to ensure court or
agency documents/actions for legal proceedings meet firm docketing requirements
• Efficiently use Perkins Coie standards, templates, branding and correspondence guidance, to format and edit letters
and other documents from draft to client-ready stage
• Coach others, plan and manage complex meeting and travel arrangements and obtain in-depth knowledge of the
firm's meeting, travel and expense policies and tools
• Handle all administrative functions for two Regional Managing Partners, including: drafting letters for signature,
editing correspondence, word processing, scheduling meetings, heavy calendar management, establish and maintain
confidential files and records, coordinating numerous domestic, international travel arrangements and subsequent
expense reports
Communications/Media Responsibilities
• Active involvement in developing and managing production of communications products such as brochures, fact
sheets, presentations, and stories about program impacts
• Prepare and implement communication materials, including press releases, emails, website/blog content,
newsletters
• Assist the Client Relations Director in creating video or power point presentations for new business
pitches/proposals, client meetings, and conferences
• Identify relevant journalists, research media outlets, draft external materials to be released to the press
• Monitor media and its related metrics and prepare reports for various media interaction
• Event planning and management – Work closely with the other US and China offices in coordinating the logistics
and planning of program events, including meetings, trainings, and workshops
DUNCAN & ASSOCIATES ADVERTISING AGENCY, Los Angeles, CA
Client/Account: Albertsons Inc. Grocery & Sav-on/Osco Drug Stores
Senior Communications Strategist/Planner
Communications Strategist /Planner
Assistant Communications Planner
December 2001 – March 2007
June 2005 – March 2007
June 2004 – June 2005
December 2001- May 2004
Summary of Responsibilities
• Six-years of communications/media planning and research experience, including mentoring and managing a team of
three in a fast paced environment, reporting to multiple client contacts and managing complex budgets
• Develop integrated media plan recommendations that contain Local Spot Broadcast, TV/Radio, Outdoor, Internet,
Print Media and National Media (in excess of $192MM in media billings in 2006)
• Evaluate client’s media campaign budget, every quarter, to ensure that it aligns with the changes in the media
industry, if necessary formulate logical solutions, and develop alternative budget options
• Monitor the execution and manage progress of the communications/media campaign plans to ensure that the
guidelines are met
Financial Roles and Responsibilities
• Maintain, revise, track monthly communications/media budget projections and billing figures
• Analyze the historical spot broadcast rates to establish the lowest and the most efficient planning costs
• Negotiate broadcast, value-added and/or promotions to extend budget efficiency and media support
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Gather, analyze and compare sales activity to media spending figures to re-evaluate and develop communications
strategies
Supervisory Role and Responsibilities
• Mentor and supervise a team of media planners and assistant planners, including supervising media plans and
programs from conception through completion, including the negotiation and implementation process with all
media partners
• Manage and serve as resource for media planners and coordinators, which includes but is not limited to supervising
employee performance and time management
• Oversee the media team during the post-media buy period, and as a team, prepare budget recaps, billing reports and
media post-buy evaluation reports
• Work closely with account teams to ensure media plans are strategically aligned with other media elements as they
relate to client needs
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Client Service Responsibilities
• Serve as day-to-day contact with VP and Director level clients
• Maintain client contact to provide guidance in media plan executions and identify issues
• Present communication plans, financial reports and evaluations to the marketing team and to the client
Research Related Responsibilities
• Write quarterly white papers about the changes in the media landscape, analyze findings and present to client
• Gather research to identify target audience lifestyle, media habits, consumer behavior, identify trends, make media
plan recommendations accordingly
• Gather research data, evaluate cost, demo rating trends to create the most efficient Spot Television and Cable
advertising placement
RESEARCH & FIELD EXPERIENCE
GLOBAL EXCHANGE: Cuba – Changing Course for Changing Times
Havana, Cuba & Monterey, CA
March 2014
• Perform intensive field research in Cuba on organized person-to-person exchange
• Interview government officials, historians, economists and cultural representatives
• Research US/Cuban relations, the embargo/blockade, the treatment of sexual minorities, the case of the Cuban 5 and
many other pressing issues facing a country in transition
CENTRE FOR CONFLICT STUDIES: Journey through Gandhi’s Land
Gujarat, India & Monterey, CA
November 2012 – February 2013
• Conduct ground-level research with primary sources in Gujarat on the effects of communal violence
• Investigate Gandhi’s legacy in modern Indian society through primary and academic research
• Interview more than 25 organizations, advocacy groups, and communities recovering from violent conflict
VOLUNTEER and COMMUNITY SERVICE
ASLAN MEDIA INITIATIVES, Research and Media Assistant Los Angeles, CA April
2010 – April 2014
• Lead role in developing extensive research for a new website which maintains in-depth resources about the history,
culture, customs, traditions, religion, laws and economy of the MENA region
• Assist the founder of Aslan Media Initiatives with research, analysis of the socio-economic and political issues in
Turkey and the MENA region
• Research, write, publish articles, on Aslan Media Initiatives’ website, about Turkey's politics, foreign policy and
affairs within the Greater Middle East (articles are available upon request)
• Actively research news reports, articles to be posted on Aslan Media website, Facebook, Twitter news-wires
LOS ANGELES IDEALIST ORGANIZATION, Management Committee Member
February 2007 – April 2011
Project Focus: Legal Assistant to Immigrants/Refugees; Street Children and Homeless Women; Reintegration of former gang
members to the society
• Design, organize, coordinate, execute community building workshops, events (focus: art, literature and sports)
• Work with local authorities, and education institutions in hosting town hall meetings
• Assist women living in Los Angeles Downtown Homeless Shelter in updating resumes and finding a job
• Develop lesson plans and tutor 7th, 8th and 9th grade Spanish for native and non-native speakers
• Counsel caseload of 415 at-risk youth improving their high school completion and college admission rates
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EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
Monterey, CA
(formerly known as Monterey Institute of International Studies)
Master of Arts, International Policy Studies: Human Security and Development
December 2014
Development Project Management Institute (DPMI) Certificate, 2014
Monterey Institute of International Studies
Monterey, CA
California State University, Fullerton, CA - College of Communications
Bachelor of Arts, College of Communications: Advertising
Fall 1999 – Fall 2001
Istanbul State University, Turkey - College of Communications
Bachelor of Arts, College of Communications: Mass Communications & Journalism
Fall 1996 - Fall 1998
Professional Tour Guide, Historian and Cultural Representative, License
Turkey Ministry Of Tourism
Instituto Latino de Morelia, A.C.
Rotary International Exchange Student, High School Scholarship
1996
Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
July 1993- August 1995
ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP
MIIS Rotaract, Co- President
Sponsored by the Monterey Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club
Fall 2013 – Fall 2014
ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
South Coast Air Quality Management District - Diamond Bar, CA
December 2000 – May 2001
Public Affairs/Media Department Intern
Turkey Culture & Tourism Office – Licensed Professional Tour Guide, Historian and Cultural Representative
Clientele: Historians, archeologists, diplomats, and government officials from English & Spanish speaking countries
Foreign News Department Staff Member - Sabah National Newspaper, Turkey
May 1995 – May 1996
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
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Fluency in speaking, reading and writing: English, Spanish and Turkish
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SCHOLARSHIPS & NOMINATIONS
Rotary International Exchange Student, Academic Scholarship - California State University, Fullerton
Rotary International Exchange Student, High School Scholarship - Instituto Latino de Morelia, A.C.,
2005 Los Angeles Business Journal “Women Making a Difference”, Rising Star Category Nominee
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COMPUTER SKILLS
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), R-commander, SharePoint, Mindjet, GIS
Video production (iMovie 11), WordPress and InDesign
Advertising and Media Related: Media Tools, Clients & Profits, Lexis-Nexis, IMS, SQAD
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