Theresa Garza
Raytown
Summary
Experienced with strategic planning and driving organizational growth. Utilizes collaborative leadership style to foster team success and achieve company objectives. Track record of managing complex stakeholder relationships and enhancing operational efficiency. Brings a rare blend of government administration, corporate affairs, economic development, and mission-driven advocacy for delivering measurable results that advance organizational goals and strengthen communities.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chief Executive Officer / President
Infinite Strategic Partners
Raytown, Missouri
01.2012 - Current
- Help organizations navigate the intersection of government and policy impact across Missouri and Kansas.
- Lead local and state legislative efforts, and community engagement strategies for non-profits entities and for profit companies.
- Cultivate and maintain a robust bipartisan network of relationships with federal, state, and local elected officials, and key personnel.
- Drive coalition building and consensus development efforts to advance policy priorities and community-centered initiatives
- Guide clients through local and state government processes, regulatory environments, and strategic decision-making
- Develop strategic plans, communication frameworks, and stakeholder outreach for improved long-term organizational impact.
- Identify new revenue generation opportunities to maximize bottom-line profitability.
Chief of Staff / Chief Administrative Officer
Office of the Executive, Jackson County
Missouri
01.2025 - 01.2026
- Oversaw executive operations, policy execution, and cross-departmental coordination for a government agency serving 700,000+ residents, 22 departments, and 1300 employees. .
- Led strategic initiatives to improve operational efficiency across departments, ensuring clarity of priorities, timely decision-making, and consistent communication.
- Direct major initiatives including property tax reform, organizational restructuring, and modernization of administrative processes.
- Manage relationships with elected officials, department directors, community leaders, and regional partners to advance the County’s agenda.
- Oversee executive office staff and internal communications, to strengthen transparency, accountability, and operational performance.
- Represent the County in high-level meetings, public engagements, and intergovernmental collaborations.
- Advised executive leadership on critical decision-making and resource allocation.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams for project execution and goal alignment.
- Supervised staff and participated in hiring, training and performance evaluations to establish and enforce policies and procedures.
Regional Manager, Governmental Affairs
Spire Inc.
Kansas City, MO
04.2022 - 03.2026
- Lead government relations strategy across state and local levels, strengthening relationships with legislators and public officials.
- Provide regulatory and policy analysis to senior leadership, shaping strategic responses to legislative and administrative developments.
- Direct public outreach and initiatives, enhancing community engagement and organizational visibility.
- Analyzed policy to inform strategic decisions, enhancing competitive positioning within the region.
- Advised on political giving strategy for the employee-funded PAC, directing contributions toward candidates aligned with organizational policy goals.
- Successfully managed budgets and allocated resources to maximize productivity and profitability.
- Expanded regional presence by developing strategic partnership and fostering strong client and vendor relationships.
- Collaborated with executive leadership to establish long-term objectives, drive growth initiatives, and align regional efforts with corporate goals.
- Developed detailed plans based on broad guidance and direction.
Manager, Economic Development
Spire Inc.
Kansas City, MO
01.2018 - 01.2022
- Built and maintained partnerships with economic development organizations, municipalities, and chambers, increasing market share by 78% in two years.
- Led company responses to business and economic development inquiries, improving stakeholder satisfaction by 83%.
- Coordinated site selection support and infrastructure planning to meet customer energy needs.
- Oversaw budget management, ensuring resource allocation met project requirements effectively.
- Streamlined communication channels between departments, improving collaboration on key projects.
- Enhanced customers, contractors, and suppliers relationships by maintaining open lines of communication, and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
- Led cross-functional teams to enhance operational efficiency and workflow processes.
- Developed and implemented strategic plans aligning with corporate objectives and market trends.
- Achieved departmental goals by developing and executing strategic plans and performance metrics.
- Developed detailed plans based on broad guidance and direction.
Market Development Officer
Renovate America
Kansas City, MO
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Expanded market share by 47 percent through targeted government relations and public affairs strategies.
- Increased stakeholder engagement by 62 percent.
- Strengthened relationships with elected officials and local communities.
- Managed statewide Salesforce-driven outreach and education efforts
- Oversaw the PACE energy-efficiency program in coordination with local governments and community partners.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Demonstrated strong organizational and time management skills while managing multiple projects.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
Political Director
Laborers Local Union #264
Kansas City, MO
01.2012 - 01.2015
- Directed civic engagement programs, increasing union voter registrations by 48% and voter turnout by 54%.
- Built coalitions and partnerships to support issue advocacy and candidate campaigns, improving campaign effectiveness by 61%.
- Developed strategic political initiatives to promote labor interests within local communities.
- Coordinated lobbying efforts with elected officials to advocate for worker rights and benefits.
- Led grassroots campaigns, mobilizing union members to engage in political processes effectively.
- Analyzed legislative proposals, assessing potential impacts on union membership and operations.
- Fostered partnerships with other organizations to enhance collective bargaining power and influence policy changes.
- Negotiated with vendors to secure cost-effective services needed in running a successful campaign.
- Organized successful fundraising events, generating crucial resources for campaign operations.
County Legislator / Commissioner
Jackson County
Missouri
01.2003 - 01.2015
- Oversaw a $320M budget and operations across 22 departments and 1,600 employees.
- Authored and implemented the County’s Veteran, Women, and Minority-Owned Business Enterprise Policy, improving competitive bidding participation by 64%.
- Led countywide public outreach initiatives, increasing community engagement by 91%.
- Oversaw budget formulation, monitoring, and reporting, ensuring optimal allocation of resources.
- Analyzed community needs assessments to inform policy development and resource distribution.
- Coordinated public hearings and meetings, promoting transparency in decision-making processes.
- Spearheaded change management initiatives aimed at enhancing productivity levels among staff members.
- Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
- Streamlined and monitored quality programs to alleviate overdue compliance activities.
Regional Governmental Relations Director
American Cancer Society
01.2006 - 01.2012
- Served as a lobbyist and public policy advocate, strengthening relationships with elected officials and government bodies.
- Led political strategy for Smoke-Free initiatives across the region.
- Guided strategic direction and fundraising efforts for the organization’s 501(c)(4) to advance key advocacy and policy initiatives.
- Implemented strategic initiatives to enhance fundraising efforts and community outreach programs.
- Developed innovative marketing strategies to increase awareness of cancer prevention resources.
- Secured key sponsorships that contributed to the overall growth strategy and reach of our advocacy efforts.
- Negotiated favorable contracts with vendors for reduced costs and improved service quality.
- Oversaw collaboration with healthcare partners to improve patient support services and research funding.
- Managed grants and ensured compliance with regulatory and fiscal requirements.
Education
Master of Public Affairs -
Park University
Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice & History
University of Missouri
Associate of Applied Science - Criminal Justice & Corrections
Del Mar College
Skills
- Organizational leadership and growth
- Strategic planning and partnerships
- Stakeholder engagement and relations
- Operating budgets and fiscal management
- Relationship and team building
- Government and customer relations
- Policy development and optimization
- Economic and business development
- Budget and operational oversight
- Risk assessment and management
- Staff and project management
- Adaptable and flexible
- Corporate social responsibility
COMMUNITY & VOLUNTEER SERVICE
- Jacob and Ella Loose Foundation, Chair, Provide strategic leadership for one of the region’s most respected philanthropic institutions, supporting community investment and nonprofit capacity-building.
- Greater Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Board Member, Support regional economic development, Latino business growth, and community advocacy.
- Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Board Member, Contribute to civic leadership initiatives and regional competitiveness strategies.
- Spire Social Responsibility Committee – Missouri West, Member, Guide corporate social responsibility priorities, community partnerships, and philanthropic investments.
- Utility Economic Development Association (UEDA), Board Member, Advance national best practices in utility-driven economic development and industry collaboration.
- Park University Civic Leadership Council, Member, Support leadership development, civic engagement, and community-focused academic initiatives.
- Kansas City Latino Arts Foundation, Volunteer & Supporter, Promote cultural arts, youth development, and community storytelling.
- National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), Lifetime Member, Engage in national leadership, civic participation, and policy advocacy efforts.
Volunteerism Highlights
- Led community volunteer initiatives focused on youth mentorship, educational support, and civic engagement.
- Organized and participated in multiple local and regional volunteer campaigns, enhancing community outreach and impact.
- Collaborated with nonprofit organizations to develop volunteer programs that increased participation and resource mobilization.
- Advocated for volunteerism as a key component of community development and organizational culture in public and private sectors.
Certification
- Auburn University GEDI — Intensive Economic Development Certification
- OU Economic Development Institute — Certified Economic Developer
- Homeland Security ICS-402 Certification
- Kellogg School of Management — Public Finance Management Certification
HONORS & LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS
Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation Leadership Challenge Graduate, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Nuestra Latina Awardee, ULI REDI Graduate, KC Business Journal’s Women of Influence Honoree, Missouri Chamber of Commerce Leadership Missouri Graduate, GKC Chamber of Commerce Centurions Leadership Graduate, Ingram’s Magazine 40 Under 40, Hispanic Women’s Leadership Council Emerging Leaders Awardee
Military Service
United States Navy — Desert Storm Veteran, 1989 – 1994
Served with distinction during Operation Desert Storm, building the discipline, resilience, and mission focused leadership that shaped performance across sectors. Excelled in high-pressure environments requiring accountability and teamwork and established a foundation of service, integrity, and operational readiness that informed executive decision making.
Timeline
Chief of Staff / Chief Administrative Officer
Office of the Executive, Jackson County
01.2025 - 01.2026
Regional Manager, Governmental Affairs
Spire Inc.
04.2022 - 03.2026
Manager, Economic Development
Spire Inc.
01.2018 - 01.2022
Market Development Officer
Renovate America
01.2016 - 01.2018
Chief Executive Officer / President
Infinite Strategic Partners
01.2012 - Current
Political Director
Laborers Local Union #264
01.2012 - 01.2015
Regional Governmental Relations Director
American Cancer Society
01.2006 - 01.2012
County Legislator / Commissioner
Jackson County
01.2003 - 01.2015
Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice & History
University of Missouri
Associate of Applied Science - Criminal Justice & Corrections
Del Mar College
Master of Public Affairs -
Park University