Keillynée Méndez
Summary
Experienced professional with a proven track record of supporting a large and diverse workforce of over 5,000 employees across various locations and demographics. Skilled in leadership, particularly in employee relations, thriving in fast-paced environments while fostering relationships with other departments. Proficient in developing and delivering training programs, recruitment processes, payroll management, special projects, grants management, and compensation and benefits administration.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Finance Grants/HR Specialist
Deer Valley Unified School District
05.2023 - Current
- In charge of recruiting, hiring, and on-boarding DVUSD Certified and Classified Substitutes and Temporary employees for 42 Schools and departments (facilities, Information Technology, System, Transportation, Student Support Services, and District Office)
- Training: Identify specific training to improve educational performance, making sure the Substitutes are following lesson plans, and job boards to teach students accordingly.
- Systems, Data Analysis: Handled various systems including absence management system (Frontline), platform JazzHR, Universal Background Screening (E-Verify), WinOcular software recruitment and hiring process, VEEA software utilized for Accounts Payable, Payroll and Finance following high standards of integrity by managing very employee profile with a high level of confidentiality, in charge of notarizing strict documents.
- Develop and update cash flow projections for federal grants that maintain sufficient cash flow to meet financial requirements and maintain compliance with federal and state cash management restrictions.
- Perform all draws and necessary payments as well as meet all reporting requirements of ADE (Grants Management Enterprises), First Things First system, Department of Economic Security, and any other federal or state reporting systems.
- Verify budget in IVisions, organize, validate, submit reports, reimbursement requests and completion reports.
- Includes maintaining sub-recipient files that comply with federal and state audit requirements.
- Establish and implement processes that provide financial oversight of sub-recipient. Processes must ensure the agency's compliance with federal and state regulations and guidance.
HR Recruiter
Northern Arizona Council of Governments
04.2022 - 05.2023
- Managed full-cycle recruiting process for applicants to promote smooth and positive onboarding experience.
- Liaised with hiring managers to develop and implement strategies to source and recruit top talent.
- Partnered with hiring managers to clarify position requirements, ensuring accurate job descriptions and candidate expectations.
- Utilized social media platforms effectively as a tool for sourcing candidates across various industries and functions.
- Worked on special HR projects to promote and enhance services offered.
- Developed and deepened relationships with college campus representatives to meet with graduating seniors for recruitment.
- Created interactive job advertisements with AdobeExpress as a method to use a digital innovative approach.
- Conducted phone interviews to assess applicants relevant knowledge, skills, experience and aptitudes.
- Leveraged social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and online job boards (Indeed, Glassdoor, Arizona@Work, CareerBuilder, Arizona Head Start Association, CareerEco) to advertise open positions and engage with potential candidates.
PT Faculty - Hospitality Management
Coconino College / Yavapai College
04.2017 - 01.2025
- Met and taught assigned class(es) in accordance with course outlines, including specified textbooks.
- Developed a course syllabus based on the approved college routine.
- Thoroughly prepared for each learning encounter (in-person or virtually) demonstrating content knowledge.
- Promptly submitted required foster grade reports, evaluations, and academic reports.
- Created presentations following the syllabus. Extensive research of new hospitality trends, to train and educate students utilizing different methodologies.
Data Integrity Specialist
Coconino County - Flagstaff Justice Court
03.2018 - 05.2023
- Reviewed and completed the electronic disposition of criminal history reports.
- Responsible to review charges that were being purged, dismissed, expired, or expunged by the Criminal History department. Processed disposition report by reviewing charges against officer's synopsis to ensure applicable charges are being filed.
- Trained the new hires, created a Processes Manual (Civil, Criminal Disposition, Front Warrant Units and Finance Department) to ensure consistency with the cases handled by the Justice Court.
- Ensured to send disposition sheet report to County of Attorney Office for any necessary amendments.
- Training: Created a Training Manual to compile processes for the Justice Court different departments.
- Systems, Data Analysis: Handled various judiciary systems, including case management system (AZTEC) (Public Access) platform/website, AJACS and a Case Tracking Software to analyze, track and docket data.
HR Recruiter Coordinator
Cliff Castle Casino & Hotel
08.2015 - 12.2017
- Facilitated the sourcing of candidates, screening, resumes, conducting interviews, and negotiating offers, all while ensuring a positive candidate experience.
- Managed onboarding processes to ensure new hires were well-equipped for success in their roles.
- Enhanced candidate selection by implementing effective recruitment strategies and tools.
- Reduced employee turnover rates by conducting thorough candidate screenings and interviews before making hiring decisions.
- Organized and participated in job fairs, increasing brand awareness and attracting potential candidates.
- Contributed to the development and updating of company policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with current HR best practices and legal compliance requirements.
- Coordinated internal transfer requests, facilitating smooth transitions between departments while maintaining organizational stability.
- Evaluated external compensation reports and conducted internal audits, ensuring competitive salary offerings within industry standards while adhering to budget constraints.
- Developed strong relationships with universities (NAU, ASU, GCU, among other Community Colleges), career centers, and professional networks to source top talent for the company.
HR Director
International Hospitality Enterprises
08.2005 - 07.2015
- Applied the Human Resources disciplines including Staffing/Selection and Recruitment, Workforce/Succession Planning, Compensation/Benefits, Labor/Employee Relations, Performance Management, Compliance, Learning and Development.
- Extensive knowledge and ability to support leaders according to the different processes, policies, rules and procedures of our diverse brands such as; Best Western Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Casinos, Unique Brand Hotels, Boutique and Historic Hotels, Brand and Restaurant (5,000 plus employees).
- Ensured that all human resources functions were conducted in accordance with applicable federal, state, legal and regulatory requirements and standards (e.g. FLSA, EEO, FMLA, ADA, OSHA, Fair Labor etc.).
- Aggressively ensured team member engagement with IHE's cultural values were embraced and delivered.
- Provided close liaison with all hotels leaders; Directors, Managers, Supervisors, General Manager and Corporate VP's to ensure optimal utilization of our training resources, both internal and external, to accomplish training objectives.
- Key Contribution: HR Best Practices: Transformed previous organized company with the ability to execute a plan to drive cultural brand. Advised and negotiated contract of a new recruiting (CIMS) and assessment (Profile International XT) system to align company strategies of hiring top candidates to improve each organization's service culture.
- Staff Recruitment: Implemented digital recruitment process of a five-star hotel (4,000 candidates screen, interview and successfully recruited 820 employees). Knowledge of ICims, Profile International (assessment etc.)
- Assessment, Data and Metrics: Advised on the assessment validation (Profile International XT) to establish measurable metrics for the population of Puerto Rico (specifically within the hospitality field) based on the service culture initiative to conduct yearly employee satisfaction surveys every month, to ensure company's mission was aligned with employee's satisfaction perception.
- Training and Development: Created a 9 Module Training Program for future supervisors and current supervisors to assess in each brand's needs utilizing the areas of opportunities i.e. guest's satisfaction surveys, guest's complaints and any other suggestions made by the Executive Management team.
- Training and Development: Implemented Pro-Fos Learning Management System geared to train a diverse population of our different brands.
Education
Master of Science - Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Bayamón Central University
Bayamon, PRMBA - Human Resources Administration
Bayamón Central University
Bayamon, PRBachelor of Arts - Psychology
Bayamón Central University
Bayamon, PRSkills
- Assessment of policies and procedures
- Customer service optimization
- Talent acquisition and hiring
- Skill enhancement programs
- Proficient in HR management systems
- Skilled in building interpersonal relationships
- Experienced in Microsoft Office applications for Windows 11
- Collaborative strategic planning
- Workforce coordination
- Project oversight
- New employee integration
- Employer branding initiatives
- Digital recruitment strategies
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
English
Full Professional
Timeline
Finance Grants/HR Specialist
Deer Valley Unified School District
05.2023 - Current
HR Recruiter
Northern Arizona Council of Governments
04.2022 - 05.2023
Data Integrity Specialist
Coconino County - Flagstaff Justice Court
03.2018 - 05.2023
PT Faculty - Hospitality Management
Coconino College / Yavapai College
04.2017 - 01.2025
HR Recruiter Coordinator
Cliff Castle Casino & Hotel
08.2015 - 12.2017
HR Director
International Hospitality Enterprises
08.2005 - 07.2015
Master of Science - Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Bayamón Central University
MBA - Human Resources Administration
Bayamón Central University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Bayamón Central University
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