Hillary Hess
Waterford,NY
Summary
Dynamic education professional with extensive experience in program management, curriculum development, and educational leadership. A collaborative approach enhances team performance and drives the achievement of educational objectives. Proven success in implementing innovative programs that significantly improve student outcomes, along with a strong commitment to staff training and student assessment. Recognized for adaptability, dependability, and a results-oriented mindset, complemented by skills in conflict resolution, leadership, and effective communication.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Sales
Raymour and Flanigan Furniture Company
01.2022 - Current
- Furniture and Mattress Sales
- Increased sales by implementing effective sales strategies and building strong customer relationships.
- Achieved consistent sales growth, setting and monitoring ambitious sales targets.
- Boosted sales performance by consistently meeting and exceeding established sales goals.
Volunteer Coordinator- Seasonal Temporary
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County
04.2021 - 11.2021
- Organized over 100 volunteers.
- Soil Testing, Plant disease and pest diagnostics.
- Curriculum development and implementation: Food systems with Cornell University: 4-7th grades.
- Coordinated large-scale events involving multiple teams of volunteers, resulting in successful fundraisers and community outreach initiatives.
Community Gardens Coordinator
Island Harvest Food Bank
01.2014 - 01.2019
- Program development: Created Community Gardens and education programs.
- Educated over 5,000 children and over 1,000 adults about sustainable gardening and nutrition.
- Created and taught STEAM curriculum for Pre K- College revolving around organic gardening, environmental education, nutrition while reinforcing Common Core Curriculum for each grade level.
- Created over 40 organic school and community gardens and a 2 acre organic farm with hand tools and volunteers.
- Managed, trained, and supervised thousands of volunteers of all ages and abilities.
- Grant writing, events management, fundraising, and donation procurement from the community and corporate supporters.
- Community, and press engagement.
Owner/Manager
Hillary’s Harbor Flowers
01.2011 - 01.2013
- Created and ran all aspects of a flower store in Cold Spring Harbor, New York.
Organic Community Gardens Educator
Capital Roots
01.2004 - 01.2007
- STEM education curriculum development revolving around nutrition.
- Community Engagement, Volunteer supervision and training.
- Taught thousands of people of all abilities to grow fresh organic produce in 47 community gardens in urban food deserts.
- Fundraising, grant writing and event management.
Education
Associate of Science - Applied Science –Biology / ecology
Nassau Community College
Garden City, NYBachelor of Science - Oriental Medicine
New York College of Health Professions
Syosset, NY05-2013
Associate of Science - Applied Science –Biology / ecology
Nassau Community College
Garden City, NY05-1999
Skills
- Volunteer and staff development and oversight
- Program management supervision
- Building strategic connections
- Coordinating fundraising events
- Customer relationship development
- Public relations management
- Facilitating donation coordination
- Results-oriented
- Policy design and implementation
- Crisis management expertise
- Risk mitigation strategies
- Regulatory oversight
- Clear and concise communication
- Program management and operations oversight
- Analytical decision-making
- Strong organizational skills
- Skilled in Microsoft Office tools
- Strong verbal and non-verbal communication
- Engaging presentation creation
- Effective project management
Timeline
Sales
Raymour and Flanigan Furniture Company
01.2022 - Current
Volunteer Coordinator- Seasonal Temporary
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County
04.2021 - 11.2021
Community Gardens Coordinator
Island Harvest Food Bank
01.2014 - 01.2019
Owner/Manager
Hillary’s Harbor Flowers
01.2011 - 01.2013
Organic Community Gardens Educator
Capital Roots
01.2004 - 01.2007
Associate of Science - Applied Science –Biology / ecology
Nassau Community College
Bachelor of Science - Oriental Medicine
New York College of Health Professions
Associate of Science - Applied Science –Biology / ecology
Nassau Community College
Other experience and volunteer work
- Advocate for children with disabilities.
- Special Education advocate with expertise in Special Education Law.
- Trainer National Coalition Building Institute-Diversity and Inclusion.
- Cub and Girl Scout leader.
- Classically Trained Soprano.
- Acting, Singing, Guitar, Stand-up, Musical and Improvisational Theater performance.
- Writing, Directing and Performing in community theater on Long Island and in New York City.
- Board of Directors: ICON Science Fiction Conventions
- Founding member of the Long Island Women’s Diversity Network
- Founder Liberally Long Island. Responsible for creating an organization engaging thousands of volunteers, managing regular events and working with volunteers, the general public, community and political leaders.
- Foreign Exchange facilitator licensed by the US Dept. of State
- Animal Rescue - Licensed cat TNR Trapper- ASPCA NYC