Emily Mitchem
Tallahassee,FL
Summary
Mission-driven nonprofit executive leading teams of more than 50 across multiple programs and locations. Brings deep experience in employee relations, hiring, onboarding, performance management, trauma-informed culture, HR compliance, and equity-centered policy work supporting underserved communities.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director
Refuge House, Inc.
Tallahassee, Fl
01.2021 - 09.2026
- Provide executive leadership for a nonprofit serving individuals and families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.
- Managed people, culture, and employee relations to enhance the workplace environment.
- Lead, supervise, mentor, and develop a diverse workforce of more than 50 employees across multiple programs and locations.
- Guided managers and supervisors on employee performance, workplace expectations, professional conduct, communication, accountability, and staff development, and enhancing team effectiveness.
- Oversee hiring, onboarding, performance evaluations, professional development, corrective action, and personnel-related decision-making.
- Address employee concerns, workplace conflicts, and performance issues through clear communication, consistent expectations, accountability, and respectful problem-solving.
- Foster an organizational culture grounded in respect, inclusion, collaboration, employee voice, dignity, and psychological safety.
- Support staff wellness through trauma-informed leadership, professional development, team communication, and recognition of the impact of secondary trauma.
- Promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to foster a welcoming environment.
- Lead a diverse workforce serving clients from varied racial, cultural, socioeconomic, geographic, and personal backgrounds, with an emphasis on equitable access to services and organizational opportunities.
- Initiated and implemented organizational policies and practices designed to uplift underserved populations, reduce barriers to access, and strengthen protections for individuals whose rights and safety may be compromised by systemic inequities.
- Incorporated equity, inclusion, dignity, and civil rights principles into organizational policies, service delivery, staff expectations, community partnerships, and strategic planning.
- Advocated for individuals and communities experiencing systemic barriers to safety, housing, healthcare, legal assistance, and other essential resources.
- Developed partnerships with community organizations, government agencies, healthcare providers, legal service agencies, law enforcement, child welfare systems, and other stakeholders to expand equitable access to resources and services.
- Promoted culturally responsive and trauma-informed practices throughout organizational programs and staff training.
- Developed and oversaw staff training on trauma-informed care, de-escalation, ethical communication, professional boundaries, documentation, crisis response, and community education, fostering a skilled workforce.
- Establish annual and quarterly staff learning priorities and promote continuous professional growth.
- Lead organizational changes, including restructuring, programming, staffing transitions, and evolving funding requirements.
- Oversaw HR, policy, and compliance to ensure adherence to regulations.
- Provide executive oversight of personnel policies, organizational procedures, employee documentation, compliance, and operational practices.
- Ensure organizational practices align with applicable employment requirements, state and federal regulations, contractual obligations, certification standards, and organizational policies.
- Successfully led the organization through state and federal programmatic and administrative monitoring by grant funders and certifying entities.
- Develop and implement policies and procedures that strengthen accountability, consistency, equity, and organizational effectiveness.
Assistant Director
Refuge House, Inc.
Tallahassee, Fl
07.2007 - 12.2020
- Facilitated executive leadership, personnel management, and organizational policy implementation to enhance operational effectiveness.
- Supervised and mentored employees to foster accountability, professional development, and effective communication within the team.
- Coordinated staff training and professional development focused on trauma-informed services, ethical practice, client rights, and effective service delivery.
- Ensured compliance with state and federal contracts, regulations, and certification requirements to uphold organizational standards.
- Built collaborative relationships with community organizations, government agencies, service providers, and other stakeholders to address barriers and expand access to services.
Chemical Health Counselor
Florida Department of Corrections
Tallahassee and Quincy, Fl
01.2003 - 01.2007
- Delivered counseling, legal advocacy, PTSD symptom management, and group counseling to incarcerated individuals facing chemical health issues. All inmates in the program had experienced child abuse, sexual abuse and assault, poverty, and underemployment in adulthood. Facilitated transition for incarcerated individuals from prison through follow-up counseling, case management, and job readiness support. Conducted family counseling, offered parenting support, and connected individuals to chemical health treatment resources.
- Delivered individual counseling sessions to inmates in correctional housing units. within correctional housing units.
- Administered mental health screenings for inmates in correctional facilities. for Florida Department of Corrections inmates.
- Recorded detailed treatment notes in inmate health records for accurate tracking. in inmate health records.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Interdisciplinary Social Science
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL12-2003
Skills
- Talent acquisition
- Performance management
- HR Policies & Compliance
- Learning & Professional Development
- Manager coaching
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Policy advocacy
- Social justice initiatives
- Organizational culture
- Trauma-informed leadership
- Strategic planning
- Stakeholder engagement
- Conflict resolution
Personal Information
Title: People, Equity, and Culture Leader
Timeline
Executive Director
Refuge House, Inc.
01.2021 - 09.2026
Assistant Director
Refuge House, Inc.
07.2007 - 12.2020
Chemical Health Counselor
Florida Department of Corrections
01.2003 - 01.2007
Bachelor of Science - Interdisciplinary Social Science
Florida State University