Michelle Rafferty Email & Phone Number

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Served as chief strategy officer for the Mayor’s Workforce Development Board. Developed and refined talent pipeline strategy on an ongoing basis. Oversaw strategy to align the Career Center system with other education and human service systems to enhance support and opportunities for job seekers.Developed and launched the People Plan in 2021, a focused, scalable strategy that aimed to improve racial equity by increasing residential employment, reducing poverty, and improving economic mobility for Black and Brown Detroiters. Led design of theory of change and associated skill-building and barrier removal interventions that constituted the People Plan. Raised over $7M to support the plan.

Greater Detroit Area

Oversaw the Detroit at Work Career Center system that consisted of over 30 workforce organizations and training providers and was supported by over $40M annually in federal, state, local and philanthropic funds. Designed and directed the implementation of new strategic initiatives. Established annual budget and strategy to braid and blend funds to achieve target outcomes. Managed 5 direct reports and team of over 25 staff members.Oversaw data analytics and performance management functions for adult and opportunity youth programs. Directed team to establish a new information management system that significantly improved functionality as well as accuracy and availability of program data. Led effort to accelerate the establishment of virtual workforce services, inclusive of an automated job matching system, in response to the pandemic. Created and directed a comprehensive strategic plan to re-design the City of Detroit’s public workforce system, in partnership with staff, board members, community leaders, researchers and consultants. Utilized demographic and labor market information, stakeholder feedback, and promising practice research to develop a vision and framework for Detroit’s Career Center system. Prioritized human centered design framework, expanded neighborhood centers, integration of federal programs, and access to financial coaching and wrap-around supports as core components of new system.

Chicago, Illinois

Oversaw development and execution of data-driven strategic programs and policies. Worked with government, businesses, nonprofit agencies, and other partners to identify new opportunities and align workforce programming in the region. Produced labor market information reports for public workforce system and other partners. Managed team of six program developers.Created and launched Opportunity Works, a sector-driven internship program for opportunity youth. Created strategy to build capacity of system to provide trauma-informed services to youth. Led project to improve trainee outcomes by revising local policy that guides investments in occupational training.Raised over $4M. Invited to present at conferences hosted by National Association of Workforce Boards and National Association of Workforce Development Professionals.

Chicago

Oversaw & managed Youth Futures, a city-wide initiative that provides juvenile-justice involved youth with the support, education, training and services they need to develop and pursue employment and career goals. Analyzed Labor Market Information and engaged employers and others to identify opportunities for new policies and programs to improve the region's pipeline of healthcare workers.Developed programs and wrote proposals and grants to secure funding for new initiatives.

Chicago, Illinois And Detroit, Michigan

Secured over $10 million in grant funding through written proposals. Established operational structure for all research and development functions of Midwest division. Created new workforce development initiatives, including a healthcare training project for low-literacy adults, a construction training and service-learning program for high-risk youth, and a transitional jobs and community development deconstruction project.

Chicago, Illinois

Planned, directed, and coordinated the daily functions of assigned SER programs that were aimed at providing low-income, lower-skilled adults with access to training, employment and supportive services. Maintained working knowledge of all program statements of work, performance payment conditions, and performance goals. Oversaw and managed staff of 20+ individuals.Created and implemented policies and procedures for various assigned programs, including training manuals and caseload reports for front-line staff. Generated and executed an internal file and data monitoring system for assigned programs. Designed and implemented internal client databases for multiple programs. Invited to present on innovative programming at conferences or seminars organized by: the National Council for Workforce Education, the Chicago Jobs Council, and Women Employed.

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Launched and managed the Greater Detroit Centers for Working Families network of five community-based sites. Expanded network to include additional sites. Negotiated and managed shared leadership responsibilities with Detroit Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).Developed and oversaw a regional multi-million dollar collaborative of eight funders to invest in projects that connect low-skilled, low-income individuals to training and supportive services that prepare them for in-demand career pathways, while meeting the labor needs of employers. Developed and nurtured relationships with a diverse stakeholder advisory group that included employers, public agencies, educational institutions, and service providers in order to ensure that the project was informed, connected and impactful. In June of 2009, the final strategic plan resulted in inclusion into the National Fund for Workforce Solutions’ highly selective network of funding collaboratives.Oversaw the performance of multiple agencies funded by United Way.

Mpa, Social Policy

Ba, Anthropology