Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Heather Cates

Grand Junction,CO

Summary

Professional with strong background in peer support, equipped to make meaningful impact. Skilled in active listening, crisis intervention, and empathetic communication. Reliable team player who adapts to changing needs and consistently achieves results. Known for fostering collaborative environment and supporting individuals in their recovery journey.

Overview

18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Peer Support Specialist

Rocky Mountain Human Services
08.2023 - Current
  • Served as a role model for clients, sharing personal experiences of recovery and resilience.
  • Assessed client progress regularly, adjusting support strategies as needed to promote continued growth and success.
  • Assisted clients in setting realistic goals and provided support during their journey towards achieving them.
  • Built relationships with others based upon trust and honesty by using active listening and dynamic communication skills.
  • Maintained accurate documentation of client interactions, supporting case management efforts.

Occupational Therapy Program Project Coordinator/Professional Support Staff Assistant

Colorado Mesa University
01.2021 - Current
  • Develop, direct, and coordinate the daily operations and public relations of the Occupational Therapy (OT) Program.
  • Respond to student and faculty concerns, needs, and maintain course records.
  • Prepare and edit syllabi, tests, and course material to meet programmatic fieldwork requirements.
  • Research regulatory policy of the State Board of Occupational Therapy, all OT accreditation agencies, external grant agencies, and clinical agencies for placement of occupational therapy program students to maintain compliance.
  • Create, organize, and maintain initial and ongoing accreditation documentation.
  • Review OT student applications for completeness via electronic application system and communicate with program director on concerns related to data.
  • Maintain all student files according to OT policies, ensure policies are followed on any student communications; review, analyze, and manage sensitive, legal, and confidential material.
  • Coordinate and facilitate various meetings, events, guest lecturers, and activities for the OT program.
  • Manage travel for the program director and faculty, including preparation of travel budget forms.
  • Maintain, audit, and update department webpages.
  • Investigate, resolve, and address any departmental or university issues concerning policies or procedures.

Lead Case Investigator and Contact Tracer

Mesa County Public Health
01.2020 - 09.2021
  • Prioritize prompt notification to individuals with a positive COVID-19 test including detailed information regarding patient diagnosis, demographics, COVID-19 symptoms and their onset date(s), clinical course, underlying medical conditions, and other risk factors.
  • Triage and coordinate next steps for care and isolation or quarantine for individuals identified as contacts to the case.
  • Provide cases with information about isolation and quarantine guidance based on current procedures and guidelines and offer guidance to public health partners regarding current testing recommendations, disease reporting and follow-up and public health recommendations.
  • Employ dynamic communication and interpersonal skills, cultural competency/sensitivity, tactful language, and empathetic interviewing skills to build rapport and maintain trust with patients of varied backgrounds in a manner that preserves the confidentiality and privacy of all involved.
  • Conduct data entry into health department data/surveillance systems while adhering to protocols for completeness, timeliness, and frequency.
  • Ensure accurate and consistent training for new case investigators to enhance the quality of case investigation activities and program outcomes.

Public Affairs Specialist

Navarro Research and Engineering, Inc. and Stoller Newport News Nuclear
01.2007 - 01.2020
  • Plan and direct community outreach activities on behalf of the US Department of Energy (DOE) to educate and inform stakeholders on the mission and priorities of the organization.
  • Nurture strong relationships with key stakeholders to achieve buy-in of critical programming and initiatives.
  • Serve as a spokesperson and subject-matter expert, coordinating various meetings and events, delivering presentations, and developing talking points, congressional briefings, fact sheets, press releases, articles, and dynamic digital content.
  • Analyze trends and key findings gleaned from stakeholder feedback from surveys and in-person meetings, developing reports for review by senior management.
  • Led public relations initiatives across 29 national sites, including Alaska and Puerto Rico, creating, and implementing strategic communications campaigns to strengthen relationships between federal agencies and the public.
  • Developed public affairs (PA) leadership training on the resumption of the DOE Uranium Leasing Program (ULP) in SW Colorado, updating and modernizing all content and external communications including the official web page to uphold a positive public image highlighting the importance of DOE’s work.
  • Created and employed multiple tools to improve DOE management during conferences, handling all planning and logistics to facilitate the interview process and conference participation.

Safety and Health Coordinator and Ergonomic Specialist

Safety and Health Coordinator and Ergonomic Specialist
01.2016 - 01.2019
  • Masterminded and managed ergonomic initiatives on behalf of 400+ employees across eight business sites.
  • Provided detailed workstation assessments, introducing human factors principles to improve usability, safety, and job performance.
  • Developed the training curriculum and program marketing materials, including educational videos, providing training and one-on-one assistance to optimize workstation layouts, reduce health and safety risks, and align physical needs with technical applications.
  • Designed and launched an internal marketing campaign to drive the adoption of safe workplace practices.
  • Published diverse internal communications to engage employees, strengthen corporate culture, and bolster corporate acquisition strategies.
  • Improved productivity and reduced workers’ compensation claims by optimizing user workstations.


Senior Communications Specialist

Senior Communications Specialist
01.2007 - 01.2016
  • Oversaw corporate communications strategy, including drafting technical data reports, producing, and starring in engaging video content, and creating internal communications products focused on safety and employee engagement.
  • Drafted original, targeted content for corporate emails, articles, and presentations, providing technical edits on various media products and documents.
  • Fostered collaboration across departments and leadership levels to facilitate the interview of subject matter experts, capture photo content, and create graphics and data visualizations.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Journalism

University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO

Skills

  • Coaching, Mentoring, Interviewing
  • Training, and Instruction
  • Project Management
  • Client Relationship Management
  • Case Management
  • Employee Engagement
  • Team Leadership
  • Recovery guidance
  • Peer support ethics
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Effective collaboration and interaction

Certification

  • CPR, First Aid and AED
  • Personal Trainer
  • Health and Wellness Coach
  • Nutrition Coach
  • Ergonomic Assessment Specialist
  • Peer Support Specialist


Timeline

Peer Support Specialist

Rocky Mountain Human Services
08.2023 - Current

Occupational Therapy Program Project Coordinator/Professional Support Staff Assistant

Colorado Mesa University
01.2021 - Current

Lead Case Investigator and Contact Tracer

Mesa County Public Health
01.2020 - 09.2021

Safety and Health Coordinator and Ergonomic Specialist

Safety and Health Coordinator and Ergonomic Specialist
01.2016 - 01.2019

Public Affairs Specialist

Navarro Research and Engineering, Inc. and Stoller Newport News Nuclear
01.2007 - 01.2020

Senior Communications Specialist

Senior Communications Specialist
01.2007 - 01.2016

Bachelor of Arts - Journalism

University of Northern Colorado

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