Paul Richardson

Paul Richardson is the the CAO of the OHRA. At OHRA the CAO provides strategic and operational oversight of OHRA's advocacy, communications, and fund development activities. He responsible for the strategic plan’s advocacy goals. In consultation with the OHRA Executive Committee and ED, the CAO develops, manages, and executes OHRA’s advocacy agenda. Mr. Richardson also manages and supervises OHRA’s communications and public relations activities, publications, fund development efforts, and any other related activities that enhances or increases the value of OHRA membership. The Chief Advocacy Officer is a member of the Senior Executive Team (SET). Mr. Richardson assume the following responsibilities:

Advocacy: He works closely with the Executive Director and the Executive Committee in crafting and
implementing the organization's advocacy agenda, including taking legislative and regulatory action on major state and federal public policy initiatives. He builds and maintains working relationships with key federal and state legislators and legislative staff, employees, OHRA members, affinity organizations, and key stakeholders in academia and healthcare; works with external counsel on an as-needed basis. He monitors all state and federal legislation together with administrative/regulatory activities relating to integrated behavioral and health care to identify all bills that impact integrated behavioral and health and OHRA members and/or significantly impacts critical sectors of healthcare. Works with elected officials and staff to understand the rationale, goals and impact of legislation on OHRA members; collaborates closely with the appropriate OHRA section or coalition members and stakeholders to understand the impact; and prepares responses to various pieces of legislation. Prepares an analysis of proposed bills, resolutions, or oversight topics and writes testimony, position statements, fact sheets, comment letters, Q&A, etc.; directs staff on research topics related to legislative items. Prepares briefing documents for legislative hearings and public events for members, staff, and stakeholders. Plans and directs efforts to advance grassroots policy initiatives and communicate policy positions related to college health to members; provides assistance to members in their grassroots advocacy efforts. Develops creative and innovative approaches to strategically engage and involve OHRA members in the legislative, political, and policy development process. Attends legislative receptions and fundraisers as appropriate.

Communications: Oversees all aspects of OHRA’s member and public communications. Works in collaboration with the Communications Manager to actively communicate OHRA’s message of value to members and increase public exposure of the association, the work of its members and college health as a specialized field. Directs the use of OHRA’s various media channels to advocate for, and advance the organization’s positions with relevant audiences in a timely and coordinated manner. Consistently and accurately uses data and research from OHRA’s Research Department and other sources to support OHRA’s positions and provide evidence. Serves as an integral part of the team of spokespeople that represents OHRA before the media, affinity organizations, corporate America, elected and appointed officials, including the Executive Office, state legislators, and relevant regulatory agencies. Oversees the timely development and dissemination of talking points, press releases, position statements, and any other relevant communication pieces related to the work of the association. Identifies opportunities and directs the development of op-ed pieces on topics related to homeless health for influential publications. Works in collaboration with the Production and Web Coordinator to ensure the OHRA (ORPE) website (public and member sections) is utilized as a strategic asset to deliver key information to members and the public; directs staff to refresh and update content
periodically. Oversees OHRA publications process, including web development and content, for on
time, on quality outcomes. Works closely and collaboratively with staff across all departments on communications programs, particularly research, education, and membership.

Fund Development: Together with department staff and the Executive Committee of the HORA, develops and executes a comprehensive fundraising plan in consideration of OHRA’s strategic priorities. Works with board members and others to solicit contributions to OHRA. Coordinates and monitors board member-donor cultivation/solicitation activities and follow up procedures. Fosters and nurtures corporate and major donor relations. Directs the development, planning, and execution of OHRA networking and fundraising events and campaigns, ensuring their goals are duly accomplished. Develops plans to identify and seek funding from sources within and outside the membership: programs and solicitation with OHRA members; programs and solicitation with non-industry vendors; and works on programs and solicitation with industry-related vendors. Assists in updating and revising OHRA documents, policies, guidelines, and procedures. Directs updates for OHRA web pages. Works with Communications Manager to increase visibility of the Foundation through OHRA channels and events that bring attention to the mission of the Foundation. Oversees donor recognition and gift acknowledgement program through recording/tracking contributions and handling the acknowledgement of donations. In consultation with the Executive Director and the Chair of the OHRA Executive Committee, develops and disseminates meeting and conference call agendas and information. Communicates with OHRA’s Chief Financial Officer regarding transfers from the checking account to the liquidity account and other payments from the checking account.

In addition, Mr. Richardson oversees and manages the work of the Communications Manager, the Advocacy Coordinator, and the Production and Web Coordinator. Manages the relationship with external counsel and fund development consultants. Serves as staff liaison to the Sexual Assault Task Force, Coalition, Uninsured/Health Insurance/Benefits Plan Coalition, and Administration Section. Assists in the preparation of and work leading up to and at the Annual Meeting. Prepares overall annual budget for advocacy department, and other duties as assigned.