Dennis Smith, Esq., has worked with public and nonprofit agencies for nearly twenty years as a director, general counsel, and financial analyst.  His experience across the sectors includes business planning and financial analysis, budget projections, financial monitoring and auditing; legislative and regulatory analysis and policy development; fraud and employment discrimination investigations; legal and risk analysis; program design and implementation; and personnel and contract management.  Dennis has consulted with nonprofit organizations on topics such as federal and state nonprofit incorporation, mergers, asset/liability acquisitions, and corporate dissolutions.

Dennis served previously as Procurement Manager at the Oakland Private Industry Council where he had responsibility for administrative and financial oversight of over $8 million in annual contracts from the U.S. Department of Labor, State of California Employment Development Department, and the City of Oakland.  He was also responsible for programmatic planning, compliance monitoring, and the provision of technical assistance to over 50 community-based non-profit agencies.  Most recently, Dennis was Director of Operations at the Youth Employment Partnership, Inc. (YEP), an award winning, youth employment program in Oakland.  In twelve years, Dennis helped grow YEP from a single service program with an annual budget of $200,000 to a multi-service organization with an annual budget of over $4 million.  The program currently serves 1,000 youth each year.
 
Dennis has served as a trustee for various arts and human service organizations, and as a member of several commissions and community collaboratives.  He received his BA in Legal Studies/Jurisprudence from the University of California, Berkeley, and his JD from the University of San Francisco.  Dennis is also a professional recording and touring bassist specializing in jazz and world music.