Hi, I’m
Brenda Camarena
Novato,CA
Summary
Grassroots-oriented Director of Operations and Project Consultant with superb leadership and communications skills. Easily cultivates trusting partnerships and relationships across community-based organizations, stakeholders, leadership groups, and diverse community members from all cultural and economic backgrounds. Dedicated and proactive with strong commitment to creating high ethical quality standards that develop and promote equity, inclusion, and social justice to enrich the lives of the community.
Overview
27
years of professional experience
1
Certification
Work History
MULTICULTURAL CENTER OF MARIN
Director of Operations and Project Consultant
05.2020 - Current
Job overview
- Coordinated with cross-functional teams to resolve project issues and mitigate risks.
- Achieved project deadlines by coordinating with contractors to manage performance.
- Met project deadlines without sacrificing build quality or workplace safety.
- Provided detailed project status updates to stakeholders and executive management.
- Identified plans and resources required to meet project goals and objectives.
- Developed and initiated projects, managed costs, and monitored performance.
- Negotiated and managed third-party contracts related to project deliverables.
- Monitored project progress, identified risks and took corrective action as needed.
- Maintained open communication by presenting regular updates on project status to community partners and stakeholders as required.
Marin Multicultural Center
Human Resources Manager
05.2020 - Current
Job overview
- Maintained human resources regulatory compliance with local, state and federal laws.
- Maintained agency compliance with local, state, and federal laws, in addition to established organizational standards.
- Maintained payroll and benefits for employees in various locations and diminished financial discrepancies through expert program management.
- Maintained payroll and benefits for employees in various locations, minimizing financial discrepancies through detailed program management.
- Motivated employees through special events, incentive programs, and constructive feedback.
- Implemented performance reviews and motivational strategies to elevate HR team results.
- Facilitated onboarding sessions and on-the-job training for new hires, bolstering employee job position knowledge and skillset.
- Organized and led staff orientation programs and training to promote collaboration.
- Used technologically relevant digital systems to manage payroll and benefits programs.
- Processed employee claims involving performance issues and harassment.
- Enhanced team workflows and employee job satisfaction by coordinating communication between managers and employees.
- Coordinated employee grievances and disputes in timely and professional manner by finding constructive solutions.
- Monitored and handled employee claims involving performance-based and harassment incidents.
Community Action Marin
Family Center Director
06.2019 - 06.2020
Job overview
- Cultivated and strengthened relationships between children, families, and school staff.
- Developed and coordinated workshops, trainings, and classes for children and parents.
- Hire, train, support, and supervise staff to provide quality services and resources for children and families according to their individual needs.
- Promoted positive image and established reputation as family resource center director for educational programs.
- Worked with school personnel, community based organizations and or community programs, and resources to provide well-rounded services for children and families.
- Manage a yearly budget for staff, supplies, and other costs to provide services and resources.
- Interacted well with school staff, children and parents to build connections and nurture relationships.
Marin County Office Of Education
Grant Facilitator Consultant
06.2019 - 06.2020
Job overview
- Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
- Strengthened communication skills through regular interactions with project partners.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all grant requirements within deadlines.
- Worked well within the team setting, providing support, oversight, and guidance to fulfill grant objectives.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Directed activities of external agencies, establishments or departments developing and implementing programs required for the grants.
COMMUNITY ACTION MARIN
Family Education Coordinator & School Family Advocates Supervisor
02.2011 - 06.2019
Job overview
- Community & Partner Partnerships
- Grant Management & Implementation
- Staff Development & Supervision
- Designed workshops and classes materials to educate parents.
- Collaborated with administrators to determine trainings and workshops objectives.
- Hire, supervise, and train program staff.
- Targeted diverse learning modalities in development of new training content for parent education.
- Negotiated contracts and delivery plans with vendors and partners.
- Applied strong leadership talents and problem-solving skills to maintain team efficiency and organize workflows.
- Evaluated employee performance and coached and trained to improve weak areas.
- Achieved results by working with staff to meet established program targets and goals.
- Educated staff on organizational mission and goals to meet the program goals and deliverables.
Self-employed
Translator and Interpreter
01.1997 - Current
Job overview
- Translated documents from English to Spanish.
- Worked with other translators to facilitate real time conversations.
- Supported operations by translating key departmental documents and internal communications.
- Listened to recordings and translated all types of information including confidential information.
- Repeated and restructured complex translations to optimize understanding.
- Translated documents for research departments, supporting data collection and reporting.
- Translated websites to support community and business needs.
- Researched cultural etiquette and specific use of slang words as needed.
- Reviewed final work to spot and correct errors in punctuation, grammar, and translation.
- Played key role in community efforts, working with agencies and groups to optimize collaboration and communication.
- Applied cultural understanding to discern specific meanings beyond literal written words.
- Provided verbal summaries of English and Spanish documents for immediate use.
- Replicated flow, style, and overall meaning of original texts.
- Prepared detailed notes for clients as needed and for community and business meetings.
- Interpreted conversations between Spanish and English speaking clients and others.
- Interpreted conversations simultaneously to help both parties conduct business and manage personal concerns.
- Interpreted spoken and written English to Spanish and vice versa.
- Provided cultural input to speakers and or presenters to help parties who do not speak their language communicate with and understand one another.
- Reviewed, edited and proofread translated documents for accuracy.
- Attended training programs to improve professional knowledge and interpretation skills.
- Completed precise translations of official documents with correct words and phrasing to meet legal standards as needed.
- Proofread, edited and improved documents of different sizes.
- Monitored progress of translation projects and reported issues to appropriate personnel.
- Assisted with translation of foreign language television and radio programs.
- Hire, train, support, and supervise interpreters and translators for various meeting and or projects.
Education
STANISLAUS STATE UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OF MARIN, Turlock, Kentfield, CA.
2001
TERRA LINDA HIGH SCHOOL, San Rafael, CA.
1997
Certified Interpreter And Translator
Translator And Interpreter Certification
03.1996
Skills
- Project Management
- Multi-tasking
- Attention to detail
- Supervision and Management
- Communications and Media
- Training Material Development
- Dependable and Responsible
- Bi-lingual Bi-cultural in English and Spanish
- Problem-Solving Skills
- Excellent Communication Skills
Accomplishments
1997-present Well-known Interpreter and Translator in Marin County working with many agencies in the Community.
2000-2010 Coordinated the Annual Marin County Bi-national Community Health Fair
in collaboration with the Marin County Health and Human Services Department,
serving over 3,000 adults and children in San Rafael.
2020 (When COVID-19 started) Supervised and trained over 12 school bilingual staff
members to create a fully remote operating Family Center to support over 2,500
children and parents in Venetia Valley School.
2020 Fundraised to create & lead a pop-up Food Distribution site in partnership with
Certification
- Certified Interpreter & Translator
- Yoga Instructor
- Reiki Master and Spiritual Healer
- Diplomacy Consultant
- Human Rights Consultant
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Human Resources Manager
Marin Multicultural Center
05.2020 - Current
Director of Operations and Project Consultant
MULTICULTURAL CENTER OF MARIN
05.2020 - Current
Grant Facilitator Consultant
Marin County Office Of Education
06.2019 - 06.2020
Family Center Director
Community Action Marin
06.2019 - 06.2020
Family Education Coordinator & School Family Advocates Supervisor
COMMUNITY ACTION MARIN
02.2011 - 06.2019
Translator and Interpreter
Self-employed
01.1997 - Current
STANISLAUS STATE UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OF MARIN
TERRA LINDA HIGH SCHOOL
Certified Interpreter And Translator
Translator And Interpreter Certification
- Certified Interpreter & Translator
- Yoga Instructor
- Reiki Master and Spiritual Healer
- Diplomacy Consultant
- Human Rights Consultant
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