Hillsborough County

As a Hillsborough County Economic Development - MBE & SBE Programs Special Projects Coordinator, we help our clients overcome their economic disadvantage by providing such assistance as may be necessary and appropriate to enable these businesses to secure County contracts, and to strengthen their financial and managerial skills to enable them to compete in the private sector.

Special Projects Coordinator 

Hillsborough Community College

Implementing and operating all aspects of the IVMF Community Navigator Pilot
Program grant- Inlab Spoke. This includes working with community organizations,
recruiting clients, marketing, mentor program, HR, payroll, budgeting, data collection,
grant reporting, supervision of grant staff, and overall management to ensure all grant
services are with fidelity.

Project Manager - IVMF/ComNav (InLab@HCC "SPOKE")

I assist veterans and their dependents with their educational goals by means of academic advising, accessing their benefits, and advancing on their career paths.  Also, I advocate on the behalf of veterans to educational leaders and change makers to assist with making the educational journey easier to navigate.  I also serve on the Student Activities Budgeting committee to help the college maximize funding allocation.   I also provide unofficial counseling and job support to veterans and their dependents to help with their transition into life outside the military and after college.

Veterans Academic Advisor

The Tip of the Iceberg Radio Show

Radio Podcast where we also live stream our conversations on Facebook Live.  We are dedicated to uplifting the urban communities and spreading a positive and encouraging message to our future and current entrepreneurs of America.  Tune in every Friday between 5pm and 7pm by either following me on facebook or by tuning into https://podcast.hawkradio.primostream.com/audio/by/title/the_tip_of_the_iceberg

Co-Host/Producer

VetaStart LLC

I have officially become the founder of VetaStart LLC where I perform part-time consulting services for companies and individuals.  The VetaStart mission is to help our nation's heroes become heroes for our workforce.  I believe that if we can successfully integrate our veterans into our workforce, our economy will become stronger than ever.
     VetaStart LLC focuses on 2 areas of service. One area is to help vets with creating an approachable image so they can increase their chances of adapting and succeeding in today's workforce, schools, and society.  My second area of focus is to helping organizations (businesses, schools, foundations, etc.) with creating a veteran friendly environment in which veterans can succeed for their organization. For more information about VetaStart LLC, please visit:
www.vetastartllc.com.
     I am also a part-time model for posters and commercials to attract veterans to the state of Florida and to schools in the Tampa Bay area.  I use my platform to provide a voice for my fellow veterans and to promote practices that leads to veteran success.

Founder

The University of Tampa

As a mentor, I assist the faculty advisor with class preparation, joint lectures, organizing and leading class discussions, and general class assignments for the students. Individually, I'm responsible for helping student adjust to college and guide them along their path to success.  This position consisted of mentoring up to 23 students over the course of 2 semesters on a number of levels.
Assisted Staff with:
- Recruiting new Mentors/Assistant Instructors
- Program organization

Provided the following to students:
- Counseling
- General academic advising 
- Class selection
- Studying, researching, and writing habits
- Creating, organizing, and presenting an individual and group presentation
- Time management and critical thinking
- Provided feedback to clarify course work and improve presentations

Assisted the instructor by doing the following:
-  Lecturing
- Grading
- Counseling
- Class agenda preparations.
- Providing feedback on course work and presentations

Assistant Instructor/Student Mentor

I recently obtained my bachelor's degree in Business Management. My goal is to continue growing my knowledge of business, my network, and my business, while positively impacting those around me.  Recent graduate in business management seeking employment.  As a student, I performed many tasks and completed many real-world projects.  Here are a few examples:
•	Lead a team of 5 through the business model generation process, pitching, and launch of a small business pilot program.
•	Lead a team of 5 to the final round of 7 out of over 60 teams in the University of Tampa Strategic Assessment pitch competition for Regions Bank.
•	Lead team of 4 in a human resources class project to create a recruitment plan for a major beverage company.
•	Lead team of 4 in a marketing plan project for a Tampa fitness franchise to increase brand awareness.  
•	Co-leader of a team of 5 in organizational behavior course in creating an expatriate training program for employees being transferred to a corporation in a foreign country.

Business Student

Hillsborough Community College Veterans Office

While working as the administrative assistant and customer service representative, I also served as the interview specialist for new student workers.  My primary goal was to perform tasks to assist in office efficiency and effectiveness.  The following are some of the tasks I performed:
•	Provided front desk administrative & customer service support to a college office by means of data entry, case management, in and outbound calls, scheduling meetings, giving presentations, resolving customer disputes, and managing purchase requests. 
•	Managed purchase order requests for office and department materials, tools, and equipment.
•	Assisted with appraisal of new projects and materials, marketing strategies, drafting documents, and lead generation.
•	Improved and managed an on-boarding process for the office work-study program.
•	Performed interviews to screen new applicants and provide interview training for students.
•	Attended recruiting and beginning of semester fairs to recruit, promote the college, and provide guidance to students about various college functions and services.
•	Provided information and material for the school website to provide information and promote various events.
•	Spoken on numerous panel discussions about military veterans to educate leaders from around Florida workforce and education institutions.
•	Managed the office appointments by means of scheduling, contacting, and checking in/out for multiple staff members.

Administrative Assistant/Customer Service Representative 

I am the HCC Veterans Club President where our mission is to building comradery between the veteran student body and the non-veteran student body in an effort to create a unified society.  I believe that if we can create a strong relationship between those who've served in the military and those who haven't, our workforce and society can be stronger than ever. 
     During my tenure as the Veterans Club President, we drastically increased our club funds and club awareness on our campus, among universities around Tampa, and in our society.  We've accomplished this by increasing our volunteering efforts and conducting fundraising activities on campus and in our society, such as our care package drive to send snacks to our overseas service men and women. 

As the Veterans Club President, my job consisted of the following:
•	Supervised an Executive board consisting of a Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and marketing specialist.
•	Managed & improved the membership process of our student veterans’ organization to maintain membership accuracy.
•	Improved and enforced the club mission and vision, constitution, policies, requirements, and membership process to improve organizational function.
•	Created a marketing strategy that improved club image, increased club awareness, and increased membership.
•	Designed and implemented an awards process for outstanding achievers to be recognized and increase moral.
•	Promoted events through various social media outlets to increase awareness and maximize participation.
•	Planned, organized, and led bi-weekly and monthly meetings to educate and/or spread information.
•	Provided information and material for the school website to provide information and promote various events.
•	Managed the budget for various events to ensure my section did not go over budget on planning and preparing for events.
•	Led fundraising efforts to raise money and for community impact.
•	Increased club membership from 10 members to over 30 members.

Veterans Club President

Tampa Bay WaVE

The Tampa Bay WaVE is a company dedicated to help entrepreneurs turn ideas into growing tech ventures in Tampa Bay.  My role as an intern is to provide assistance to the startup companies who are in the accelerator program along with the WaVE personnel in any and all tasks necessary.  Those tasks may consist of clerical work, research, analyzing data, event coordination and set up, tour guide, program development, customer service, and other duties.

Intern

United States Marine Corps

•	Lead teams ranging from 5 to 60 diverse military personnel by means of case management, verbal/written counseling and appraisals, financial/budgeting guidance, personal and professional development training, and physical fitness training to complete various engineering and administrative projects.
•	Saved the military over $75,000 by leading teams in building and/or refurbishing over 30 different projects to include constructing buildings, decks, stairways, awnings, laying concrete pads, trenching, ballistic walls, and more for a 13-acre compound.
•	Maintained the company’s Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) storage facility and spent brass sorting/storage facility while keeping them within EPA standards to maintain a high level of security training efficiency.
•	On various occasions, I served as supervisor and manager of the Bachelors of Enlisted Quarters (similar to apartments/hotels) by means of inbound/outbound of residents and staff, maintenance requests, administrative duties, delegation of tasks, etc.
•	Facilitated and governed the implementation of new military policies, standards, and training programs.
•	Performed planning and appraisal of new projects, materials, marketing strategies, drafting documents, and lead generation.
•	Coordinated & performed training for new workers on construction, lawn-care, electrical, HAZMAT handling and more.
•	Acted as a liaison and/or representative to effectively relayed information gathered from briefs, meetings, workshops, or classes to diverse groups of top management, mid management, and subordinates.
•	Conducted public speaking sessions in the form of teaching/training, briefing, and recruiting, to diverse populations in a variety of settings.
•	Supervised and managed a diverse group of security personnel in providing security for multiple military facilities, camps, and operations.
•	Qualified expert with the M16 and M4 assault rifle.
•	Qualified marksman with pistol.
•	Managed and maintained an accurate security log.

Range Maintenance Manager

•	Lead teams ranging from 5 to 30 diverse military personnel by means of case management, verbal/written counseling and appraisals, financial/budgeting guidance, personal and professional development training, and physical fitness training to complete various engineering and administrative projects.
•	Saved the military approximately $475,000 by leading teams in building and/or refurbishing different projects to include constructing buildings, decks, stairways, awnings, laying concrete pads, trenching, ballistic walls, and more, while in an active war-zone.
•	As the Platoon Sergeant for the Base Operation department, I served as a liaison to my superiors at company briefings while relaying all relevant information between my department leadership and company leadership, while in an active war-zone.
•	Maintained the company’s Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) storage facility while keeping them within EPA standards to maintain a high level of safety while maintaining operational efficiency.
•	Facilitated and governed the implementation of new military policies, standards, and training programs.
•	Performed planning and appraisal of new projects, materials, marketing strategies, drafting documents, and lead generation.
•	Coordinated & performed training for new workers on construction, lawn-care, electrical, HAZMAT handling and more.
•	Conducted over 15 public speaking sessions in the form of teaching/training and briefings to diverse populations including senior officers and enlisted while in an active war-zone.
•	Provided security as an armed roving guard for numerous classified military operations and facilities.
•	Supervised and managed a diverse group of security personnel in providing security for multiple military facilities, camps, and operations in both an active and inactive war-zone.
•	Managed and maintained an accurate security log.

Base Operations Section Manager (Platoon Sgt)/Construction Foreman

Case management, customer service, event coordinator, data entry, trainer, weapons handler, assistant armorer, personal fitness trainer, council and manage a diverse section of marines, carpentry, lawn care, hazardous material handling, ditching, painting, electrical work, plumbing, prisoner transport, roving security guard, professional cleaning services, inspector, assistant barracks manager, and numerous other tasks.

Facilities Maintenance Manager

carpentry, masonry, electrical work, piping, lawn care, hazardous material handling, weapons handling, roving security guard, assisted barracks manager, and numerous other misc. tasks.

Combat Engineer student

DeSheun Hines at your service! Honorably discharged Sgt of Marines (2004 - 2013), with a collection of over 15 awards and medals for outstanding leadership and mission accomplishments.

I began my civilian career by attending Hillsborough Community College (HCC) to obtain my Associates in Arts degree (High Honors), completing the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Certificate program (High Honors), and earning the HCC's “Academic Excellence in Business” award upon graduation.  I continued my career by attending the University of Tampa (UT) for my Bachelor's degree in Management, where I graduated Magna Cum Laude and earned the “Outstanding Graduate in Management” award upon completion.

After a successful run as the HCC Veteran Student Affairs Academic Advisor, I moved on to become the HCC’s “I.V.M.F./Community Navigator” Project Manager (thru the InLab@HCC), where I use my positive mindset and love for my fellow vets, plus community members alike, to help them find training and resources to succeed on their entrepreneurial journey. 

I’m a believer that the only way I’ll be successful is if I help those around me achieve success. With that said, I am proudly continuing to serve as a Special Projects Coordinator with Hillsborough County's Economic Development MBE/SME programs. 

Knowledge is only powerful when it’s put to use, so I plan to use mine to help my our disadvantaged minority and women owned businesses succeed as they work construction projects within Hillsborough County.

Lastly, I believe that we are our own brand ambassadors, which is why I pride myself in being a constant professional on and off the clock.  My mantra is to "Be the change you hope to see" as I watch the world change around me.  Now that you've read all of that, lets strive for greatness together as we help and support each other!

“Dig the ditches and let God worry about the rain.” – Bishop Jimmy J. Smiley Jr.

Taplio

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