Lyna Ninkham Email & Phone Number

The Matching Grant Program, funded in public private partnership with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) offers early employment services to newcomers. Provides support and guidance to IRC field offices regarding the implementation of the grant program throughout the IRC US refugee resettlement programs network. Guides field offices to achieve compliance and programmatic objectives through communication, technical assistance, and monitoring support. Develops long-term bilateral relationships with key staff in all offices and supports IRC HQ with program management responsibilities.

Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States

Canopy NWA is a refugee resettlement agency in Northwest Arkansas that aims to create a community where refugees are welcomed and equipped with all they need to build new lives and thrive. Since October 2021, Canopy has resettled 50+ refugees and 180+ Afghan Parolees in the Northwest Arkansas area in response to the ongoing refugee crisis.Program Management- Oversee a team of (5) individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds, skills, and languages as we work collectively in assisting new arrivals with obtainment of early employment- Ensure all employment-based programmatic, contractual, and grant-funded requirements are met under Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) guidelines- Work collaboratively with Director of Economic Advancement and Early Employment Team to establish and implement annual and long-term goals and objectives to achieve economic advancement outcomes amongst refugee and immigrant populations People Management- Provide career development, training, and learning opportunities to Early Employment staff to build strong delivery of service based on leadership strengths within the department- Provide on-on-one counseling and employment-based training to assist program participants navigate employment barriers and gain meaningful employment- Engage, network, and cross-culturally train with 25+ employer partners to gain insight and understanding of best hiring practices towards refugees and immigrants in their workplaceResource Development- Develop new and sustainable initiatives to support strategic goals of organizational and programmatic growth- Provide cross-cultural training for Early Employment staff to gain better understanding of relevant refugee and immigrant populations

Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States

Canopy NWA is a refugee resettlement agency in Northwest Arkansas that aims to create a community where refugees are welcomed and equipped with all they need to build new lives and thrive. Since 2016, Canopy NWA has resettled 180+ refugees in NWA.Reception & Placement Program- Responsible for helping refugees gain employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency within 90 days after arrival to the United States- Facilitate Job Readiness Training catered to non-native English speakers- Network and develop relationships with a wide variety of employers across Northwest Arkansas- Assist refugees in financial literacy and financial budgeting after obtaining employmentMatching Grant Program - Responsible for assisting refugees and asylees gain employment and economic self-sufficiency within 180 days of enrollment- Identify certificate and licensing programs for skilled refugees and asylees- Conduct post-employment follow up with both the employed and employerIntegrated Social Services- Conduct longterm employment services for internal upward mobility and career growth- Assist refugees and asylees enroll in appropriate employment services and programs- Create individual career plans with achievable and measurable goals

Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Growing Entrepreneurs International aims to grow entrepreneurs through training, coaching and mentoring to create businesses that integrates job creation, and community development for the purpose of transformation in the developing worldEvent Organization & Management- Facilitated 11-week internship program that included leading a two-week intensive Orientation & Training consisting of cross-cultural activities, entrepreneurial exercises and skills assessment- Coordinated with distinguished lecturers from 17 universities in the United States, Canada, and Thailand, 10+ international non-profit agencies and 25+ small businesses- Implemented fund development strategy and managed funds of up to $39,000+Marketing Management- Created and annually revised 180-page field guide while consulting with professionals and specialists in related cultural and entrepreneurial fieldwork- Developed, implemented and managed social media marketing strategy to increase effective engagement and presence across Facebook and Instagram- Designed and up-kept web presence for GEI and projects- Created postcards, brochures, banners, and various forms of print material for organizational events and projectsRelationship Management- Collaborated with multilateral cross-cultural team to ensure efficient execution of organizational goals- Cultivated and maintained external relations with 20+ business leaders in 11 countries of ASEAN- Conducted 1:1 meetings to analyze needs and mediate contractual MOU agreementsCommunication Management- Managed and coordinated logistics, visa documents, and invitation letters to volunteers and interns - Mediated with Thailand government officials, immigration, and department of labor for proper compliance of national rules and regulations- Recruited, interviewed, onboarded and trained 22 interns with 25+ social entrepreneurship opportunities in Southeast Asia via tabling opportunities, career fairs, and speaking engagements

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Bliss Mae Baan Network is a network of and for hilltribe women in Thailand offering job skill training and support by growing joy and fulfillment in their lives.Marketing Management- Built official website with internal media content and tested efficiency across multiple platforms including Wix, Wordpress and Squarespace- Created and managed social media accounts across 3 platforms and developed content for daily postings- Launched and implemented marketing strategy for increased awareness and following of 950 and 5.0 service rating amongst local Chiang Mai and expatriate community- Revised and updated cross-cultural skill-training content using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign- Designed promotional print material including business portfolio, business cards, and pamphlets for advertisingRelationship Management- Led and facilitated skill-training for an average class of 7-9 Thailand hill-tribe women (Karen, Hmong, Lisu) and migrant workers from Myanmar that resulted in increased job opportunities and financial security- Cultivated relationships between trained women and their employers by instilling ethical employment through in-person interviews and continual relationship management- Translator between trained women and employer for enhanced clarity and understanding of cross-cultural working relationships and legal employment lawsEntrepreneurial Training- Acquired entrepreneurial training for SME startups in Southeast Asia including, but not limited to: Business Model Canvas, Customer Empathy Map and Lean Start-Up- Conducted 1:1 meetings with local entrepreneurs for insights on economic barriers, leading cross-cultural businesses, and internal and external needs they have

Bachelor Of Science, International Business; Marketing

Activities and Societies: Enactus and Cross Cultural Mentor Founded in 1926, the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University.

International Business, Marketing

With a study abroad experience necessary to fulfill my degree requirements, I chose CIMBA located in Paderno del Grappa, Italy as my top.