• Provide leadership, vision, and strategic direction for UMEZ’s grantmaking strategy in workforce development identifying emerging opportunities, an impact framework, and strategic leverage points.• Oversee a Workforce Opportunity Investment Fund and design program models and strategies for maximizing employment and inclusive economic growth benefits for the hyperlocal community.• Align UMEZ’s multi-million-dollar capital investments with workforce development initiatives, coordinating public/private ventures bridging economic and workforce development.• Build a community involvement culture and guide partnerships toward shared outcomes and tangible results for community residents in connection with place-based talent-driven economic development.

• Shaped programmatic and grantmaking practices that advanced workforce investments beyond traditional job training strategies, while building the capacity of nonprofit organizations to set, inform, and implement community economic development agendas that better align workforce and talent development efforts with UMEZ’s capital investments.• Leveraged the participation of external funding partners in collaborative ventures to maximize the impact of UMEZ’s workforce investments.• Spearheaded the development of signature economic place-based strategies through the cultivation of networks with nonprofit community-based organizations, labor unions, industry, real estate developers, academia, policymakers, and other funders to design and execute workforce development initiatives that address priorities of regional and community economic development.• Successfully conducted assessments of community needs and integrated learnings into a partnership and capacity building agenda for grantmaking. Formulated and designed Community Partner Panels to serve as neighborhood resources designed to support local talent pipeline development, community solutions with potential to scale, and lessons learned as a community of practice.• Designed UMEZ’s first-of-its-kind funding platform for a Creative Economy Initiative, successfully launched as a capacity building program designed to enhance the knowledge of social enterprises in workforce development, and to elevate the creative economy as a meaningful part of economic recovery, addressing skill shortages and training a new generation of creative professionals.

• Spearheaded long-term strategic planning around sector employment strategies, place-based initiatives, and talent-driven community economic development.• Led UMEZ’s workforce development grantmaking program and oversaw a program related investment portfolio.• Identified and worked with prospective grantees to develop proposals for grant recommendations; examined evidence around program effectiveness; and created an impact measurement framework for UMEZ funded initiatives using data to improve practice and results to drive impact.• Led the design of a signature partnership model in collaboration with the 1199SEIU League and various community-based organizations to create entry-points for non-union local residents to gain access to union jobs in the healthcare sector. Implemented relevant “systems change” approaches that influenced the way healthcare institutions in underserved communities hire and promote local residents, resulting in the entry of over 75 underserved residents in healthcare union jobs and advancement opportunities.

• Served as a founding member of the leadership team and co-led the design and implementation of strategic goals, objectives, and plans for the launch of the Job Generation Unit, as part of NYCHA’s economic opportunity platform.• Oversaw the creation, execution, and institutionalization of agency-wide procedures that maximized job opportunities for residents through NYCHA’s operations and contracts administered for capital projects and real-estate development transactions.• Leveraged NYCHA’s spend to generate an average of 350 jobs annually.• Led a cross functional team of procurement specialists, contract monitors, and data analysts through the implementation and adaption of newly established procedures governing portfolio management, data analysis to measure impact, and due diligence review.• Designed a centralized enforcement model for NYCHA’s internal departments that leveraged the federal employment-related provisions of Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Act of 1968 to generate economic opportunities for public housing residents. Established shared accountability systems, procedures and protocols, communications collateral, and staffing models across NYCHA departments for job generation activities.• Collaborated with external stakeholders, including resident leaders, elected officials, economic opportunity service providers, and advocates to drive resources and investments in public housing neighborhoods.• Authored and negotiated training and employment terms for NYCHA real estate development contracts to generate economic opportunities for public housing residents and neighborhoods.• Served as NYCHA’s internal consultant advising new city agency recipients of “Hurricane Sandy Resiliency” funds on methods of leveraging policy to generate jobs.

• Served as a key member of the leadership team responsible for conceptualizing, planning, and executing strategic plans for the launch of New York City’s first manufacturing sector-based career center and suite of business services led by the New York City Department of Small Business Services. • Spearheaded sector center initiatives that further enhanced the progression of work administered by the Mayor’s Office of Industrial and Manufacturing Businesses designed to help manufacturing firms access the talent needed to flourish and grow, while helping jobseekers access skill attainment, quality jobs and career pathways.• Successfully poised the sector center for rapid growth through the recruitment and strategic leadership of a multi-disciplinary team of employment, business development and instructional professionals.• Elevated the expertise of staff by implementing procedures and best practices to enable continuous improvement and utilized change management skills that resulted in the skills attainment and career advancement of workers, and improved employability within the sector.• Spearheaded and optimized functions for process improvement that focused on tracking data on the delivery of employment services, the achievement of outcomes, and emerging trends within the sector.• Designed MOUs for businesses and recruitment proposals. Introduced the Center’s brand and leveraged the resources of various community partner organizations, local economic development corporations, and businesses for system-wide success. • Leveraged ITAC’s network of manufacturing firms and co-led the development of a Business Advisory Committee of knowledgeable stakeholders to provide insight into the areas of job growth and the skills most critical for businesses within the sector.

• Managed a grantmaking and program-related workforce investment portfolio of $2.5 million.• Synthesized industry trends and innovation across workforce development and co-designed partnership models and funding approaches around various sectors leading to more effective and efficient demand-driven workforce investments.• Represented UMEZ on two interagency and community stakeholder policy working groups led by the Mayor’s Commission for Economic Opportunity, including the Job Growth and Sector-based Strategies Working Groups. Collaborated on the development of proposed strategies and recommendations for a citywide plan to reduce poverty in New York City, leading to the creation of the Center for Economic Opportunity later known as the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity.• Spurred innovation and leveraged thought leadership to elevate the status of UMEZ to design sector employment strategies. I was selected through a competitive process to participate in a 12-month Sector Strategies Practicum designed by Public/Private Ventures and the Aspen Institute to build the capacity of workforce leaders to improve partnerships and the preparedness of their organizations to deliver sector employment programs. • Organized and led convenings with community partners and industry stakeholders to understand community concerns and inform UMEZ’s strategic approach to workforce development grantmaking. Facilitated technical assistance and designed capacity building workshops for community-based organizations and learning agendas for workforce grants. • Oversaw competitive grant award selection processes and developed RFPs to develop a grantmaking portfolio. Implemented grant management functions for due diligence, including the review of financial statements and project budgets, development of investment memorandums/criteria for board review, grant compliance, and grantee reporting.

• Successfully managed a portfolio of business/workforce partnerships in high growth and priority sectors identified by the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and Rebuilding.• Coordinated the formulation of operational plans, recruitment models, and training services for economic development projects and business customers by leveraging public, private and community-based resources.• Co-led a comprehensive community and talent-driven economic development strategy for a large-scale economic development project, the “Atlantic Terminal.” Collaborated with the National Retail Federation (NRF), over 20 retail and restaurant employers and community-based organizations to design and implement a retail sector skills recruitment and local talent initiative, resulting in the employment of over 200 community residents, and a reduction in the recruitment to hire ratio of less than 4:1 for local employers. • Served as SBS’ chef agency lead for the City’s Interagency “125th Street River to River” Taskforce. Co-led the development of a small business and workforce development strategic plan to prepare community residents for new development and potential rezoning of the 125th Street corridor. Presented a proposed framework and strategies in a public presentation to elected officials, community boards, stakeholders, and community residents.• Maintained external visibility for SBS and managed relationships with external stakeholders including business associations, elected officials, and other NYC agents working on issues of economic and community development.• Created alignment among internal stakeholders including citywide Workforce1 Career Centers and NYC Business Solution Centers to promote customized business-driven recruitment models for business customers.

• Managed a portfolio of business incentive programs designed to support business expansion, retention, and job growth approaches.• Collaborated in the development of industrial policies and initiatives for industrial firms throughout New York City. Assisted in the evaluation of existing programs that impact industrial policy and the potential impact of proposed programs.• Supported the development of SBS’ business-driven approach to workforce development and newly adaption of workforce development programs as part of the Mayor’s economic recovery effort. Led collaborative efforts between the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and SBS to link workforce development with business needs through the initial design and implementation of a pilot NYC Training Grant Program. Managed $2 million in federal workforce funds and facilitated successful customized training collaboratives with large corporations and employers including JetBlue Airways and Ricoh Business Systems, and others.

• Managed a multi-million-dollar Mayoral Initiative administered by EDC to provide financial and relocation assistance to printing and graphic arts companies that wanted to relocate within New York City to support business retention, job growth and New York City’s manufacturing base.• Collaborated with the NYC Printing Industry Task Force consisting of city officials and industry stakeholders assisting over 20 firms with financial assistance.• Served as a consultant to business clients interpreting the laws, rules, and regulations governing economic business incentives. Coordinated with internal departments and partner agencies to help clients take advantage of additional real estate and benefit packages.

• Spearheaded a Mayoral citywide initiative for NYCHA to enroll uninsured New Yorkers in existing public health insurance plans.• Designed NYCHA’s outreach plan and led the implementation and institutionalization of the Initiative in over 200 NYCHA developments, citywide. • Conceptualized and designed a district-wide Financial Incentive Program for tenant associations and public housing developments that enrolled the greatest number of children.• Fostered partnerships with the Mayor’s Office of Health Insurance Access, various city agencies, community-based organizations, health plans, and non-profit volunteer organizations.• Attended weekly Mayoral meetings and analyzed data for weekly interagency presentations.

• Designed, implemented, and optimized functions for Federal Sponsored Drug Elimination Programs that included educational, social, and recreational programming in public housing developments. Administered contract compliance procedures, performance-based evaluations, and field management assessments.• Developed executive briefs, board resolutions and implemented appropriate contract procurement procedures that were subject to legal department review. Developed RFPs and non-competitive procurements, such as sole source contracts and grant agreements.• Administered fiscal oversight of contract budgets in excess of $2 million and made recommendations for program continuances, contract renewal projections, and grounds for program terminations.

• Coordinated a year-round immunization and health awareness program within 20 Councilmanic Districts, citywide.• Presented and introduced various program initiatives to resident bodies and organized various program outreach and recruitment campaigns.• Administered grant management processes and grantee due diligence.

• Served as an Examination Before Trial Clerk for a small litigation firm.• Organized various legal position documents in preparation for trial and depositions.• Maintained the calendars of the head attorney and five associates.