Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Deborah Mills

South Orange,NJ

Summary

Results-driven leader with 10+ years of experience in learning and development, onboarding strategy, and program execution across nonprofit, education, and corporate sectors. Skilled in building high-performing teams, managing multimillion-dollar grants, and leading cross-functional initiatives that align people, process, and impact. Known for driving innovation, building scalable systems, and shaping values-based cultures rooted in purpose and performance. Proven ability to lead with vision, deliver results, and scale operations for long-term growth.

Overview

12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Assistant Director of Partner Engagement & Capacity

Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ)
01.2023 - Current
  • Strategic Growth | Team Development | Systems Innovation | Enterprise-Level Impact
  • Team Leadership & Service Expansion: Rebuilt and led a high-performing team of five to restore regional services across seven underserved counties, expanding CFBNJ’s reach and deepening community trust.
  • Grant Innovation & Capacity Building: Oversaw the administration of a $5M multi-site New Jersey Department of Agriculture -sponsored grant spanning CFBNJ, Norwescap, and Mercer Street Friends—driving scalable innovation and long-term sustainability across the network.
  • Partner Engagement & Relationship Management: Managed a team that cultivated strategic relationships with 800+ community partners through customized luncheons, sustainability planning, and real-time crisis response—positioning CFBNJ as a trusted, solutions-oriented partner.
  • Operational Strategy & Process Standardization: Developed and launched the division’s first onboarding manual, establishing consistent role clarity, expectations, and team alignment—models now used across departments.
  • Performance Enablement & Onboarding: Designed and delivered a two-week, role-specific onboarding and training program—accelerating ramp-up time and boosting team performance through clear alignment with tools, systems, and goals.
  • Workflow Optimization & Tech Integration: Increased accountability and visibility across cross-functional teams by launching a custom Asana dashboard, streamlining project tracking and communication.
  • Strategic Partnerships & Program Integration: Spearheaded collaborations with Enable Agency, Community Connections, and Nutrition Education—amplifying program impact through holistic service delivery.
  • Policy Leadership & Culture Building: Co-developed CFBNJ’s enterprise-wide communication policy—defining platforms, cadence, and tone while embedding organizational core values and behavioral expectations into internal communication norms.
  • Cultural Transformation: Fostered a purpose-driven, high-trust team culture grounded in ownership, innovation, and shared mission—laying the foundation for scalable, enterprise-wide engagement and impact.
  • Designed and launched the SJEI (Social Justice Engagement Initiative), empowering early-career employees to apply innovative solutions to address food insecurity—boosting engagement, creativity, and new employee retention.

Project Manager – Swift Coding Summer Camp

Rutgers University–Newark
03.2022 - 08.2022
  • STEM Equity | Program Launch | Stakeholder Management
  • Apple-Sponsored Grant Leadership: Managed a high-impact, Apple-funded initiative to deliver a Swift coding summer camp for 20 minority students from 10 Essex County high schools—positioning Rutgers–Newark as a leader in equitable STEM education.
  • Program Launch & Execution: Designed the camp’s structure, staffing, and budget, delivering the full program on time and within scope.
  • Curriculum Innovation: Led cross-functional teams in the development of a custom Swift coding curriculum paired with experiential learning activities.
  • Strategic Partnerships: Built vendor and community relationships to increase program visibility, secure critical resources, and ensure strong community alignment.
  • Operational Excellence: Navigated complex logistics while ensuring participant engagement, compensation, and stakeholder satisfaction.

Program Director

Big Brothers Big Sisters – Essex, Hudson & Union Counties, NJ
01.2020 - 07.2021
  • Organizational Growth | Strategic Leadership | Cross-Functional Team Oversight
  • Executive Oversight: Directed a cross-county team of 22, overseeing $1MM+ in grant-driven youth development programming and ensuring compliance, safety, and measurable outcomes for over 800 youth, 800 families, and 800 mentors.
  • Operational Transformation: Designed and implemented youth protection and documentation protocols, improving audit outcomes and increasing system accuracy by 60%.
  • Digital Strategy Execution: Spearheaded the agency’s virtual transformation during COVID-19, implementing technology and training that preserved 100% service continuity across three counties.
  • Leadership Development: Built internal leadership capacity by designing scalable onboarding and management training programs, positioning the organization for long-term growth.
  • Scalable Program Expansion: Increased mentorship program participation by 30% through data-informed strategy and new service offerings aligned with community needs.
  • Market Visibility & Growth: Amplified enrollment by 25% through a restructured outreach strategy and targeted digital engagement—enhancing public trust and donor confidence.
  • Culture & Retention Leadership: Boosted employee engagement and retention through mental wellness strategies, flexible scheduling, and a high-performance virtual team culture.

Senior Account Specialist – Enterprise Commercial Truck

Enterprise Holdings
03.2016 - 07.2018
  • Market Expansion | Revenue Growth | Strategic Partnerships | Team Leadership
  • Drove $2M in new business revenue by modernizing underwriting operations and leading market expansion efforts across the Northeast—recognized in the national top 25 for commercial account acquisitions.
  • Launched and scaled Enterprise’s commercial truck rental division, securing 27 corporate partnerships that anchored regional growth and expanded the company’s B2B service offerings.
  • Accelerated revenue by 35% through high-performing marketing initiatives, client targeting strategies, and territory optimization based on data analytics.
  • Negotiated multimillion-dollar agreements with major logistics and industrial partners, designing custom pricing and service models that strengthened long-term retention and brand loyalty.
  • Managed end-to-end fleet operations for over 300 vehicles, optimizing utilization above 90% and maintaining top-tier customer satisfaction.

Corporate Account Manager / Assistant Branch Manager – Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Enterprise Holdings
01.2014 - 03.2016
  • Operational Leadership | Talent Development | Strategic Growth
  • Directed full-branch operations across sales, fleet logistics, and customer relations, maintaining profitability and performance excellence in one of the region’s highest-volume locations.
  • Designed and launched leadership development and training programs that resulted in the promotion of 10+ team members into management roles—strengthening the talent pipeline and increasing retention.
  • Consistently ranked top 5 in the region for customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and sales performance—setting standards for branch excellence.
  • Drove new revenue streams by cultivating partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, federal agencies, and local institutions—positioning the branch as a preferred B2B mobility provider.
  • Improved operational profitability through competitive goal-setting, KPI monitoring, and strategic upselling—resulting in sustained financial growth year over year.
  • Fostered a high-performance, values-driven culture centered on client service, innovation, and accountability.

Education

Master of Public Administration - Nonprofit Management

Rutgers University
Newark, NJ
06.2019

Bachelor of Arts - Crisis Management Communications

Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA
01.2009

Skills

  • Staff management
  • Creative direction
  • Strategic planning
  • Data analysis
  • Training and development
  • Work Planning and Prioritization
  • Process improvement

Certification

  • Health Supportive Culinary certification, Institute of Culinary Education - July, 2022
  • Project Manager certification, Cornell University - May, 2023

Timeline

Assistant Director of Partner Engagement & Capacity

Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ)
01.2023 - Current

Project Manager – Swift Coding Summer Camp

Rutgers University–Newark
03.2022 - 08.2022

Program Director

Big Brothers Big Sisters – Essex, Hudson & Union Counties, NJ
01.2020 - 07.2021

Senior Account Specialist – Enterprise Commercial Truck

Enterprise Holdings
03.2016 - 07.2018

Corporate Account Manager / Assistant Branch Manager – Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Enterprise Holdings
01.2014 - 03.2016

Master of Public Administration - Nonprofit Management

Rutgers University

Bachelor of Arts - Crisis Management Communications

Boston College

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