Elaina M. Avalos
Fredericksburg,VA
Summary
Strategic program leader with over 17 years of experience in government and military family readiness programs. Expertise in program management, policy development, and stakeholder engagement. Recognized for strengthening partnerships and building high-performing teams while implementing strategic communications that improve service delivery and organizational outcomes. Proven ability in crisis management and leading through change, delivering measurable impact for diverse populations.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Program Manager / Family Readiness Officer / Deployment Readiness Coordinator
Marine Corps Family Readiness & Support Programs
10.2010 - Current
- Spearheaded family readiness and community support initiatives for Marine Corps units, impacting over 5,000 Marines, Sailors, and families.
- Authored a groundbreaking update to the Marine Corps Family Team Building policy, setting new enterprise-wide standards after 13 years.
- Led teams of volunteers and active-duty program staff, optimizing service delivery across multiple commands.
- Advised senior leaders on strategic communications, formulating crisis communication plans for high-risk scenarios, including natural disasters and deployments.
- Orchestrated large-scale events for 20–800+ attendees, enhancing unit cohesion and support networks.
- Managed program budgets, ensuring compliance and strategic resource allocation.
- Designed an extensive onboarding and training program, standardizing staff preparedness and service consistency.
- Enhanced social media outreach, significantly boosting information dissemination to thousands of families.
- Developed strategic plans, setting clear objectives and achievable milestones for field staff across the enterprise.
- Facilitated workshops and conducted one-on-one training to educate team members.
- Conducted comprehensive program evaluations, identifying areas for improvement and recommending actionable solutions.
- Developed strategic plans, setting clear objectives and achievable milestones.
- Managed multiple strategic projects with numerous sub-projects or workstreams.
- Identified program obstacles and communicated possible impacts to team.
- Utilized data-driven decision-making approaches to inform strategy development and optimize outcomes.
- Met with project stakeholders on regular basis to assess progress and make adjustments.
- Led change management efforts, supporting staff through transitions and promoting buy-in for new initiatives.
- Leveraged data and analytics to make informed decisions and drive business improvements.
- Wrote and edited training curricula utilized at all Marine Corps installations.
General/Event Manager
The Rustic Barn at Half Moon
01.2019 - 01.2020
- Successfully launched a new event and wedding venue, driving business development and client engagement.
- Achieved $85,000 in sales within 4 months through strategic marketing and community initiatives.
- Recruited, trained, and managed staff, fostering strong relationships with subcontractors and vendors.
- Crafted and implemented marketing, branding, and social media strategies, establishing a prominent venue presence.
- Oversaw daily operations and negotiated contracts, strengthening community alliances.
Administrative Assistant
International Justice Mission
01.2005 - 2006
- Provided executive support, managing high-volume communications, donor engagement, and event coordination.
Administrative Support Assistant
USMC Family Programs
2001 - 01.2003
- Directed operations for training program with over 1,000 participants annually.
- Coordinated high-level briefings and events, ensuring seamless communication and logistics.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - English Major
Biola University
La Mirada, CASkills
- Technical Skills: Microsoft Office Suite SharePoint Canva MailChimp Social Media Management Basic HTML & Website Editing Data Analysis
- Core Competencies: Program Management Policy Development Strategic Communication Community Engagement Crisis & Risk Management Volunteer & Staff Leadership Training & Development Budget Oversight Stakeholder Relations Event Planning
Timeline
General/Event Manager
The Rustic Barn at Half Moon
01.2019 - 01.2020
Program Manager / Family Readiness Officer / Deployment Readiness Coordinator
Marine Corps Family Readiness & Support Programs
10.2010 - Current
Administrative Assistant
International Justice Mission
01.2005 - 2006
Administrative Support Assistant
USMC Family Programs
2001 - 01.2003
Some College (No Degree) - English Major
Biola University
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