Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC)

Strategic leadership position responsible for guiding and overseeing initiatives that enhance postsecondary attainment for working-age adults, focusing on equitable access and success in education. Lead efforts to secure funding, establish partnerships, and implement programs to support adult learners on their educational and career pathways.

Key Responsibilities:
• Provide strategic direction for statewide initiatives to increase postsecondary attainment, emphasizing strategies for educational justice.
• State lead for the National Governors Association (NGA) skills-based hiring initiatives. 
• Identify, secure, and manage public and private funding for initiatives, ensuring compliance with regulations.
• Collaborate with state agencies, non-profits, labor, and stakeholders to develop effective strategies for career pathways.
•Establish and maintain strong relationships with external leaders to drive policy development and address access and success issues.
• Oversee design, launch, and improvement of programs, including workforce financial aid and career-focused initiatives. 
• Ensure equitable practices in scoring and selection processes for workforce programs.
• Oversee data collection, analysis, and reporting for adult learner pathways.
• Develop comprehensive reports to inform decision-making and enhance program effectiveness.
• Manage administrative and program budgets in compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Efficiently use resources to support the success of adult learner initiatives.
• Collaborate with external partners and institutions to advance program improvements.
• Develop presentations, policy briefs, and content to engage regional and state leaders in discussions and policy changes.

Director, Adult Pathways

Key Responsibilities:
•	Supervising classified and exempt employees as assigned
•	Administering the state’s workforce financial aid programs, including Washington Health Corps, Educator Workforce Program, National Guard Postsecondary Education Grant, Aerospace Loan Program, Child Assistance Migrant Program, and Childcare Grants
•	Managing administrative and program budgets in compliance with state and federal rules and regulations
•	Overseeing launches and improvements to workforce IT processes and systems
•	Overseeing the collection and analysis of data and the development of reports
•	Building and maintaining partnerships with external groups in support of program operations and legislative requirements
•	Preparing, coordinating, and writing federal grants and reports for grant-funded programs and managing federal, state, and local match funds
•	Collaborating with external partners, including the Department of Health, Washington National Guard, WATR Center, Professional Educator Standard Board, and other key institutions related to program improvements and initiatives
•	Overseeing scoring and selection for workforce programs, ensuring equitable practices are applied
•	Managing the production and maintenance of program publications

Associate Director for Workforce Programs

Led the development of statewide initiatives to increase postsecondary attainment for working-age adults with an emphasis on those furthest from educational justice. Responsible for securing public and private funding to support adult learner initiatives. Collaborated with multiple state agencies, non-profit organizations, and labor to develop strategies to support career pathways that lead to quality jobs with family-sustaining wages. 

Selected Contributions:
•	Effectively and successfully stood up a $23.5 million Federal Good Jobs Challenge multi-year grant program
•	Collaborated with external partners to develop a proposal to the National Governors Association and won a grant to establish a Learning Employment Record (LER) at a local level with numerous local and state partners
•	Partnered with several partners and deployed various strategies to disburse funding for Career Connect Washington grants to four-year higher education institutions 
•	Successfully established strong relationships with numerous external leaders in labor, industry, and business to enable policy development for addressing working-age adults' access and success in postsecondary education
•	Wrote and developed a decision package to ensure the successful transfer of funding for Complete Washington to support the agency's work to increase postsecondary attainment for working-age adults
•	Developed presentations, policy briefs, and other content to advance discussion and policy change with regional and state leaders

Associate Director of Adult Postsecondary Pathways

JI Solution Services

Providing consulting services to organizations seeking equitable, innovative, and sustainable solutions. Specializing in equity-driven approaches, combining community advocacy and practical research experience to support stakeholder-informed, data-driven decision-making.

Projects:
• Led a team in a cohort project dedicated to advocating for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) students and families, with a focus on supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
• Led the community engagement and outreach team for a state social equity project aimed at supporting entrepreneurship in communities affected by the War on Drugs
• Led a research project utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods to create practical recommendations fostering adult learner enrollment within a multi-campus community college system in California
• As a subject matter expert in community college admissions, have conducted admissions reviews for multiple institutions in multiple states
• Secured private grant funding successfully to facilitate the expansion of a client's business

Principal and Lead Consultant

Launch Industries

Manage community engagement and outreach team for a social equity entrepreneurship project targeting individuals affected by the war on drugs.

Community Engagement and Outreach Lead

Shoreline Community College

Developed and led a team focused on outreach and recruitment strategies in the K12 system, adults, and community. Responsible for providing direction for current student lifecycle messaging. Provided strategic direction to the College's student outreach and admissions work through the operational direction, planning, organization, and administration of enrollment outreach and recruitment functions. Support and advance the College Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) goals by coordinating cohesive recruitment strategies and processes across the College, collaborating with campus leadership and the strategic planning steering committees. An active member of the college's Title IV/EEO team, Strategic Planning Budget Committee (SPBC), and the Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory council. 

Selected Contributions:
• Appointed to campus Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory council to develop strategies and accountability practices
• Secured funding to develop a Student Ambassador Program to support DEI recruitment, retention, and student success goals
• Co-developed a joint pilot position between Shoreline School District and College to support career technical education (CTE) pathways for multi-language learner (MLL) students
• Key contributor to two highly competitive federal grants focusing on student equity in higher education
• Awarded and managed grant funding from the Washington Student Achievement Council's (WSAC) division of Adult Reengagement to support outreach efforts in historically underrepresented populations
• Presented at statewide sessions on best practices for adult learner reengagement   
• Developed and executed an outreach and recruitment plan that increased new student enrollment by 10-20% quarterly 
• Led a regional virtual outreach effort with a 40% attendee engagement rate during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Initiated and executed an employer partnership to support recruitment goals

Director, Outreach & Recruitment

The primary function of this position is the development of strategic outreach and recruitment plans specifically targeted at adult learners. The position collaborated with Workforce Education and the Communications & Marketing team on outreach and recruitment to target populations such as adult learners and long-term unemployed, and vulnerable workers. The position focused on community engagement and building relationships strategically with partner agencies in an effort to support adult learner recruitment, retention, and student success.

Selected Contributions:
• Created and implemented a regional outreach strategy for impacted workers who were displaced during the COVID-19 pandemic that included 12 community and technical colleges from Snohomish, King, Benton, Franklin, and Pierce counties 
• Led a taskforce with Business Division Dean to gain industry approval for a professional/technical program
• Expanded outreach and recruitment to childcare centers through marketing of Workforce Education grants
• Developed and implemented marketing strategy for late and rapid start courses to increase enrollment

Workforce Education 

Edmonds Community College

President elected member of College's innovation lab – the Idea Lab. Outreach representative on the LatinX task force to provide insight into the outreach and recruitment of LatinX students. Partnered closely with Adult Basic Education (ABE), English Second Language (ESL), and Integrated Basic Education Skills and Training (I-BEST) divisions to assist in recruiting students and the transition of current students to college pathways. Established and maintained relationships with community organizations, agencies, and businesses that offer outreach and recruitment opportunities. 

Selected Contributions:
• Co-developed the Snohomish LEARN (Local Education Adult Resource Network) to offer college fairs at businesses throughout Snohomish and King Counties
• Executed new outreach and recruitment programs in the community to assist in the 48.4% year-to-year increase in college applications
• Expanded outreach and recruitment strategies through the development of relationships with municipalities, businesses, non-profit organizations, and community resource centers

Adult Learner Outreach Recruiter

Kalani Packaging

Special assistant to the President and CEO. In addition to special projects assigned by leadership, performed HR duties and AR & AP functions. HR duties consisted of recruitment and hiring, training and development of employees and coordinating company events. Also, tasked to design and develop company website and launch social media marketing strategy. 

Selected Contributions:
• Formatted and audited standard operating procedures, by creating a process template and forming a digital database.
• Participated in the selection, hiring and onboarding process for new employees - this included resume reviews, interviewing and selection of the candidate. 
• Developed “Growth Opportunities” as a training and development program for employees to attend training and education seminars that they may be interested in to meet their goals and objectives. Averaged a 90% participation rate of all employees.
• Generated end of year customer presentations for sales staff. Presentations included year-over-year sales data as well as individual line item details and areas of potential growth.

Administrative Assistant/Special Projects

Washington Energy Services

Performed accounts receivable duties for local business with 18+ sales representatives with a sales area span from Whatcom County to Lewis County. Additionally, supported Solutions Division on managing windows, doors and siding contracts. Project management consisted of reviewing contracts, scheduling estimates and contract installs, issuing purchase orders, ordering product and acting as the primary customer contact. 

Selected Contributions:
• Maintained monthly commission sales daily report and enter commission adjustments. 
• Produced bi-weekly payroll reports for commission employees.    
• Reviewed all cash and financed sales contracts for pricing and product discrepancies.
• Managed customers in CRM system.

Solutions Project Coordinator/Accounts Receivable

Gateway Appliance - Viking Appliance Distributing 

Led and managed a ten-person customer service team and remotely managed over thirty certified service companies located throughout the region that consisted of five states and Western Canada. Partnered with appliance dealers to ensure service providers were available in isolated areas.

Selected Contributions:
• Coordinated and facilitated service training throughout the distribution's territory 
• Developed and fostered relationships with local area service providers through the development of service contracts
• Collaborated with product manufacture to manage the territory's product adjustment and warranty budgets

Regional Distribution Service Manager

20 years of experience in education, workforce development, and consulting, I am a strategic leader who guides and oversees initiatives that enhance postsecondary attainment for working-age adults, focusing on equitable access and success in education. I hold a Doctor of Education degree in Educational and Organizational Learning and Leadership from Seattle University, and I am also a small business owner, supporting organizations that are seeking innovative and sustainable solutions for complex problems. 

As the Director of Adult Pathways at Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), I provide strategic direction for statewide initiatives, secure and manage public and private funding, and collaborate with diverse partners to support adult learners on their educational and career pathways. I have a track record of delivering results, such as launching effective workforce and adult learner-specific initiatives, overseeing the administration of the state's workforce programs, and securing grant funding. I am passionate about learning new things, building connections, and solving problems with an equity-driven and data-informed approach. I leverage my skills in coaching and mentoring, customer relationship management, and collaborative problem-solving to empower and enable others to achieve their goals.

Any views I voice here are my own and are not to be attributed to any current or former employers.

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