Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Clearance
Computer Software
Federal Experience
Citizenship
References
Training
Work Availability
Quote
Timeline
SeniorSoftwareEngineer
Deja Joi Brewster

Deja Joi Brewster

Odenton,MD

Summary

Motivational leader and organizational problem-solver with advanced supervisory, team building and customer service skills. Experience stepping into roles and quickly making positive changes to drive company success. Focused on using training, monitoring and morale-building techniques to maximize employee engagement and performance. Highly-motivated employee with desire to take on new challenges. Strong worth ethic, adaptability and exceptional interpersonal skills. Adept at working effectively unsupervised and quickly mastering new skills.

Overview

13
13
years of professional experience

Work History

Consultant

The Clearing, Inc
Washington, DC
02.2023 - Current
  • Develops communications to help employees and stakeholders understand project details, timelines, and direction
  • Answers staff questions and uses questions to inform what communications are necessary
  • Works with client POCs across many departments to inform project decisions and design content
  • Updates the project SharePoint site to reflect current information and the latest communications
  • Designed and facilitated Listening Session engagements to inform and gain feedback from hundreds of employees, resulting in co-created culture recommendations

CEO & Founder

MilSect, LLC
Odenton, MD
06.2022 - Current
  • Serves as the direct point of contact for DEI and military intersectionality related consulting
  • Principal director and provider on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility issues to include – Civil Rights actions, public policy planning, development, formulation, oversight, and issuance
  • Prime consultant for companies and higher education institutions on strategic planning, effectiveness, polices, and updates
  • Creator and advisor of DEI Advisory Board
  • Proposal creator including budgets, timelines, curriculum, surveys, trainings, and implementations
  • Chief collaborator, negotiation specialist, and conflict resolution entrepreneur with fellow CEOs, VPs, and executive level management
  • Spearheads training, curriculum, development, and delivery of materials related to workforce and educational diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, belonging, and justice
  • Keynote speaker.

Senior Associate of Programs: Pathways

Hilton
Odenton, MD
03.2023 - 08.2023
  • Supports HR and Hotel specific questions, manage dedicated Pathways email box to respond to inquiries
  • Works with dedicated talent resources to share talent pipeline opportunities, contacts, and ways to engage with community based organizations (CBOs) to drive candidates
  • Create and maintain tools and resources to support Pathway hiring
  • Builds and maintains internal SharePoint pages to housePathway tools and resources
  • Manages and measures existing and future pilot projects
  • Collects success stories
  • Works with the Diversity events team to help execute key Pathway hiring events.

Program Coordinator: DEI Lead

Student Veterans of America
Washington, DC
05.2021 - 09.2022
  • Served as the direct point of contact for 1,500 on-campus chapters, student veterans, military connected students, and SVA alumni; specifically, Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) Directed, created and lead DEI and racial equity programs from inception to implementation
  • Fostered relationships and strengthened chapter support on MSIs including HBCUs such as Fayetteville State University
  • Expanded DEI programming beyond HBCUs to corporate partners, VA, community members, and policy initiatives
  • Created and spearheaded National events ranging from 100-2500 attendees and $300,000+ spending budget
  • Created and directed the diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging program including small and large group discussion surrounding DEI and racial equity
  • Forged partnerships and manages partnerships with key members of DEI&B such as NASA, Rutgers Center for Minority Institutions, JP Morgan Chase, Johnson & Johnson, Google, Raytheon, Boeing, Meta, Prudential, and more
  • Managed and provided hands-on support on key DEI initiatives training staff and liaising with stakeholders
  • Point of contact, director, and lead developer of DEI Liaison consisting of one liaison at each institution
  • LGBTQIA+ and Pride Programming lead for trainings both within SVA, on campus, and corporate partners
  • Collaborated with VBA and VA services as well as disability lead to ensure DEI practices are upheld Spearheaded the expansion of the DEI program and military connected campus and community cultural awareness
  • Provided project management for DEI initiatives including monitoring all projects, updating project progress and maintaining project tracking and other documentation i.e
  • Dashboards, timelines, budgets
  • Proactive approach on all aspects of the employee experience and assistance with staff DEI knowledge
  • Aided in grant writing and data collection
  • Effectively interact and work collaboratively in a flexible work environment with a variety of constituents including CEO, board members, military leaders, donors/funders, elected officials, media, community partners, and staff
  • Spearheaded the mental health and suicide prevention program.

Service Coordinator

Service Coordination Inc
Columbia, MD
09.2020 - 05.2021
  • Created and initiated person-centered plans for individuals
  • Fluent on the Department of Disabilities and state programs
  • Connected those in need of services with local providers
  • Identified and developed key relationships to ensure a person’s well being
  • Acted as a community liaison between partners and individuals
  • Applied knowledge of establishing procedural policies for overseeing issues related to handling congressional and public affairs matters on high visibility programs at an agency-wide scale.

Career Manager

Blue Star Families
Baltimore, MD
02.2019 - 02.2020
  • Created and cultivated career connections to include working with Baltimore Employment Center, Fort Meade, local job fairs, and diversity recruitment
  • Introduced creative recruiting and sourcing techniques including DEI&B throughout Baltimore
  • Connected military spouses in the virtual careers program tool called Spouseforce
  • Identified and developed key relationships with resume, interview, and skills training partners
  • Created and facilitated small and large group discussion surrounding DEI and racial equity
  • Designed and attended community and professional partnership opportunities to source candidates
  • Delivered branded Blue Star Families programs
  • Implemented strategies to engage key civilian and military leaders
  • Applied knowledge of establishing procedural policies for overseeing issues related to handling congressional and public affairs matters on high visibility programs at an agency-wide scale.

Bridge of Hope Director

University Christian Church
Hyattsville, MD
09.2018 - 12.2018
  • Provided case management and support services for families who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness and foster relationships with Neighboring Volunteers, engaging both parties in developing their Bridge of Hope Neighborhood of Support throughout their 12 to 24-month participation in Bridge of Hope’s program
  • Spearheaded the family entry process, assessing all family members, linking to community resources, guiding and equipping groups of Neighboring Volunteers as they build relationships with Neighboring Families, and providing support for participating families as they seek to establish safe and sustainable housing
  • Aided in family-centered, strengths-based, trauma-informed approaches, all with a spirit of cultural humility
  • All goal setting is driven by the Neighboring Family
  • Utilized uses the Bridge of Hope Outcomes, Benchmarks and Standards as a guide for implementing this position
  • Assisted employers in understanding of DEI based goals surrounding domestic violence, homelessness, mental health, and racial discrimination.

Suicide Prevention Program Manager (SPPM)

North Carolina National Guard (DoD Dystech Contractor)
Raleigh, NC
05.2018 - 08.2018
  • Tasked with maintaining training, case management, budgeting funds for training supplies, and keeping the force mission ready by providing resources needed to prevent suicide
  • Served as a committee member of the state's Suicide Prevention Program and works in conjunction with the National Guard's Community Risk Resilience Council (CR2C) to ensure that suicide prevention activities are carried out
  • ASIST trained to train
  • Remained current on latest research findings related to suicide prevention and ensures suicide prevention task force receives updates on findings
  • Briefed installation command on unit compliance with established training objectives related to suicide prevention
  • Applied knowledge of establishing procedural policies for overseeing issues related to handling congressional and public affairs matters on high visibility programs at an agency-wide scale
  • Ensured that installation suicide prevention efforts involve post wide education/awareness for all active duty, family members, and civilian workforce
  • Assisted with prevention, intervention, and postvention in the event of a completed suicide
  • Developed means to maintain effective training and a mission ready force as well as create metrics to show successes, risks, gaps, and vulnerabilities
  • Applied knowledge of program strategic communication principles, methods, practices, and techniques in coordinating, overseeing, aligning and developing integrated messaging in support of Force Resiliency goals operations and programs that include prevention and response to suicide, diversity and inclusion, equal opportunity, and sexual assault.

Army Readiness Specialist

Private Public Partnership (DoD Sektor Solutions Inc)
Cary, NC
05.2017 - 05.2018
  • Assisted all Reservists and their dependents across the state of North Carolina with job readiness to include training, counseling, and briefings in individual and group settings
  • Spearheaded DEI&B in hiring for civilian partnerships in North Carolina
  • Trained management on best hiring practices as well as laws protecting Reservists
  • Aided with physical, mental, emotional, educational, and cohesion within units, as well as maintained effective relationships with clients and users
  • Applied knowledge of establishing procedural policies for overseeing issues related to handling congressional and public affairs matters on high visibility programs at an agency-wide scale
  • Developed, retrieved, and published a resources referral guide and classification procedures to commanders and their staff, community information teams and service members on social and community service resources available for veterans, service members and families in the current duty station area and relocating area
  • Knowledge of researching, analyzing, and drafting reports requested on a wide variety of topics paired along with deadlines, budgets, objectives, prioritizing situations, and using sound judgement with each situation
  • Interviewed clients to assess the type of assistance required per case gathering information, explaining policies and procedures, and giving guidance.

Education

PhD Organizational Leadership -

Adler University
12.2026

M.A.: Military and Combat Psychology -

Adler University
04.2018

M.A.: Forensic Psychology -

Argosy University
01.2017

B.A. Psychology -

Stockton University
05.2011

A.A. Psychology and Criminal Justice -

The Rowan College at Gloucester County
12.2009

Skills

  • Technical Review
  • Management Coaching
  • Business Planning
  • Personnel Management
  • Talent Recruitment
  • P&L Management
  • Learning Platforms
  • Employee Onboarding
  • Team Leadership
  • Team Leadership and Supervision
  • Corrective Action Planning
  • Operations Management
  • Strong client relations skills
  • Data aggregation processes
  • Fluent in Spanish

Clearance

Active Secret

Computer Software

  • Microsoft
  • Office
  • PowerPoint
  • Excel
  • Sharepoint
  • CVENT
  • Salesforce
  • Wordpress
  • Google
  • Apple products

Federal Experience

Government Contractor

Citizenship

US Citizen

References

Upon Request

Training

Moderate fluency in reading, writing, and speaking Spanish Analytical skills, attention to detail, time management skills Solid communication skills and compassionate nature Research skills and a perpetual willingness to learn and educate Customer service and community social justice skills Program creation and directing Written and verbal communication skills Strong familiarity and understanding of legal matters related to diversity, equality, and inclusion, specifically federal guidelines Briefings to policy makers, high ranking military officials, commands, and military families EEO experience at an expert level with a deep understanding of EEOC guidelines Ability to train, manage, work individually and as a group in office and remote settings Salesforce Relationship building, empathy, and people first driven leader and manager Certificate in DEI&B from ESSEC and Linkedin Learning Applied Skills Suicide Intervention trained as well as trained to train others

Work Availability

monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
swipe to browse

Quote

The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won't.It's whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere.
Barack Obama

Timeline

Senior Associate of Programs: Pathways

Hilton
03.2023 - 08.2023

Consultant

The Clearing, Inc
02.2023 - Current

CEO & Founder

MilSect, LLC
06.2022 - Current

Program Coordinator: DEI Lead

Student Veterans of America
05.2021 - 09.2022

Service Coordinator

Service Coordination Inc
09.2020 - 05.2021

Career Manager

Blue Star Families
02.2019 - 02.2020

Bridge of Hope Director

University Christian Church
09.2018 - 12.2018

Suicide Prevention Program Manager (SPPM)

North Carolina National Guard (DoD Dystech Contractor)
05.2018 - 08.2018

Army Readiness Specialist

Private Public Partnership (DoD Sektor Solutions Inc)
05.2017 - 05.2018

PhD Organizational Leadership -

Adler University

M.A.: Military and Combat Psychology -

Adler University

M.A.: Forensic Psychology -

Argosy University

B.A. Psychology -

Stockton University

A.A. Psychology and Criminal Justice -

The Rowan College at Gloucester County

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Deja Joi Brewster