Lead a team of 6 that partners with all 12 Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDB), develops and implements new grant and program initiatives, and administers over $100 million in state and federally funded workforce development contracts, including the WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker programs, Rapid Response, National Dislocated Worker Grants, and the Economic Security for All (EcSA) initiative. Priority projects:• Leading the expansion of the EcSA initiative – developing and implementing a collaborative state-level process to guide local planning and encourage the development of new local partnerships across the state. This included leading meetings with LWDB Directors and other state leaders to gather input and work toward consensus; building or strengthening relationships between EcSA and potential partner programs; and drafting bi-annual legislative reports and engaging OFM and legislative staff on program details.• Leading the cross-agency Human Centered Poverty Reduction Design (HCPR) team’s project manager group to ensure the group continues to move toward concrete action plans to implement Governor’s Poverty Reduction Workgroup (PRWG) recommendations. Including convening multiple groups to explore programmatic waivers and data sharing agreements to simplify partnership between programs, reduce inadvertent harm to customers, increase data-driven strategy development, and improve outcomes for customers.

Performance managed Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grants and contracts, led implementation of new initiatives, and managed multi-agency teams to support poverty reduction initiatives and economic recovery strategies. This included coordinating with internal and external partners (LWDB and state agencies) to establish and maintain timelines, develop and track performance outcomes, ensure policy compliance, and facilitate sharing best practices and lessons learned.• Led initial coordination, contracting, and implementation of $24 million in U.S. Department of Labor COVID-19 recovery grants, in collaboration with LWDBs, WA Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, WWA, and internal ESD partners to ensure grant compliance, a focus on disproportionately impacted populations, and an inclusive economic recovery.• Supported leadership of the HCPR team and supported related work with the PRWG. Worked collaboratively to monitor progress on group charter, road map, and timelines to ensure established goals were accomplished.•Facilitated stakeholder engagement and contracting processes to develop, launch implementation, performance manage, and evaluate the EcSA initiative.

Lead a department with a budget of over $2 million dollars, 4 teams, and 25-30 staff that partners with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Developmental Disabilities Administration, local WorkSource offices, and 4 local school districts to provide employment services to over 250 students and residents of King County annually. • Administer contracts with King County and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, that includes WIOA funds• Lead program accreditation and contract compliance efforts• Develop and manage performance management and improvement metrics and processes• Developed a pre-employment transition pilot program that has received over $700K in allocated WIOA funds through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Managed the CareerLink system to facilitate connections between employers and students in Tacoma Public Schools, increasing access to work-based learning opportunities. Also managed relationships with construction industry employers and apprenticeship programs to improve the quality of training provided by the Trade Occupations Opportunity Learning (TOOL) Center pre-apprenticeship program. • Increased the number of employers in the CareerLink system by over 45% in three months.• Developed a proposal to gain WA State recognition for the TOOL Center program by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council.• Conducted workforce need assessments, for employers and developed workforce development strategies, in collaboration with WorkSource staff.

As part of the Career Exploration and Workforce Preparation Workgroup, responsible for statewide development and oversight of career exploration educational programs.• Developed and delivered employability skills, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship programming that enables youth (ages 11-19) to identify their skills and interests, connects them to related careers and education programs, and helps them develop the skills and knowledge to be successful in the workplace.• Published articles related to career exploration and workforce preparation. • Developed new connections with potential partners to increase outreach to under-served youth populations throughout Michigan.

Hired to coordinate work-based trainings for disadvantaged youths (ages 16-24); worked with local employers to develop training positions, recruit/qualify/place program participants, and monitor post-placement progress. Scope of responsibility increased based on strong performance. Currently responsible for training youths and adults, creating programs, writing grant proposals, and working on special projects. • Led workshops (interviewing, goal setting, etc.), developed training contracts (for federally funded Workforce Investment Act On-the-Job Trainings), and directed teams to research/develop grant application program proposals.• Led team (5-month project) to develop/execute recruiting & placement plan that placed 100+ “at-risk” youths in federally funded work-based trainings.• Wrote successful grants that received nearly $20K in Microsoft donations (software), $2,500 from Bank of America, $5K from the Community Foundation of North Central Washington, and over $90,000 in in-kind AmeriCorps volunteer support.• Developed educational and career plans/goals for “at-risk” youths and was a key team member developing and facilitating career and educational workshops; typically worked with 15-30 youths concurrently. • Created 120+ training positions, interviewed/recruited nearly 150 youths, and personally placed 60+ on 360 hour paid work-based trainings; exceeded placement goals within 6 months.• Consistently achieve targeted objectives, exceed senior management’s expectations, and deliver strong results amidst fast-paced, deadline-oriented environments.

Successful 21-month tenure with the United State Peace Corps. Worked in cooperation with other Volunteers and local professionals to facilitate Community Development to Albanian citizens. Served in the Office of Coordination and Development for the Municipality of Maliq, Albania. • Coordinated and executed strategic plans in collaboration with team members to successfully identify and address community needs. • Developed project proposals (road/sidewalk improvements and new library construction) for grant applications; received $12K from U.S. Embassy and $7,500 from USAID.• Managed projects from inception to closing; engaged central government’s education department, worked with area libraries, identified/acquired community stakeholder and local schools’ support, recruited/led staff, and monitored and reported outcomes.• Worked in cooperation with Albanian NGO to create/implement 7-day Youth Leadership conference for Albanian high school students.• Achieved all targeted organizational goals and objectives amidst deadline-oriented environments. Received high accolades for strong work ethic and leadership performance.