Kenneth Wong

Serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for a $131M state program for multiple program contracts and initiatives. Manages multiple comprehensive projects and teams, with the ability to stay conscious of the program's overall goals and strategic plans. Developed and initiated projects, managed costs and monitored performance for 400+ government agencies.

• Develops and manages statewide implementation and training of new program initiatives, providing detailed technical and operational direction in project challenges, consistently meeting deliverables according to deadlines.
• Provides consultation and training to government agencies on emergency mitigation and preparedness.
• Orchestrate projects within strict timeframes and budget constraints by solving complex problems and working closely with senior leaders.
• Reviews operational plans from other locations to identify options for local systems.
• Maximize throughput, patient satisfaction and staff efficiency by development and implementing optimized care models.
• Maintains current understanding of local, state and federal guidelines for emergency response.
• Streamline communication of activities or changes that could affect likelihood of emergencies, factors that could affect response efforts and details of plan implementation.
• Maintain clear communication with precise technical writing to document and inform critical processes.
• Support care objectives by devising and implementing effective structures to track performance and assess compliance with specifications.
• Investigate practical and theoretical issues facing emergency services and identified effective resolutions.
• Improve realization of organizational objectives by effectively communicating department goals, organizational objectives and industry trends.
• Build and strengthen relationships with area governments, departments and agencies to manage effective planning and implementation of emergency response strategies.

Performed coordinator duties for Health and Social Services and Housing Recovery Support Functions. Accomplishes multiple daily competing deadlines and briefings to executive management. Develops and evaluates alternatives, determines adequacy, completeness, accuracy, and fairness of data, and provides recommendations to executive-level management.

• Performed complex analytical tasks relating to providing federal and state disaster assistance programs within Cal OES Recovery Operations Program.
• Developed objectives that consisted of reviewing, analyzing, processing, and preparing complex responses to variety of correspondence, documents, technical reports, and forms about federal and state Public Assistance and other disaster assistance-related grant programs, inclusive of applications for grant funding, financial and administrative grant documents, requests for reimbursement, damage Survey Reports (DSRs)/Project Worksheets (PWs), quarterly report, final inspection reports; appeals; fiscal reports; and variety of written and telephone inquiries into application, program, eligibility, and funding status.
• Coordinated with internal and external stakeholders related to long-term recovery objectives and provided technical assistance to state advisory committees and task forces.
• Participated in and conducted presentations, workgroups, and training with various audiences. Reviews and approves work products of other staff to ensure consistency.

Support the Emergency Support Functions (ESF) Public Works and Engineering (3), Mass Care and Shelter (6), and Logistics Management and Resource Support (7) annexes, in coordination with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), and Social Services (CDSS) Disaster Services Branch (DSB) and Immigration Integration Branch (IIB).

• Coordinate with stakeholders of local, state, and federal agencies and non-profit organizations assisting families and individuals seeking refuge within California.
• Coordinate with local and state partners to identify and contract viable hotel properties to serve as non-congregate shelter (NCS) HUB sites across multiple counties. HUBs serve as consolidated case management, quarantine and isolation, and housing for those seeking refuge while providing health, spiritual, and meal services.
• Perform drafting, preparing, and executing contracts supporting ESF 6.
• Coordinate with external agency stakeholders on department missions, facilitating meetings, providing responsive technical assistance, and support with completing competing deliverables.
• Utilized comprehensive understanding of federal, state, and local government emergency management processes, is required in addition to current CDC guidelines due to political sensitivities relative to this effort.
• Developed and implemented performance improvement strategies and plans to promote continuous improvement.
• Identified issues, analyzed information and provided solutions to problems

Served as the Disaster Services Coordinator Representative on the State-led Joint Housing Task Force in collaboration with local, state, and federal partners.

• Initiated community engagement and partnerships during disaster recovery phase to those affected by wildfires.
• Coordinated with government partner agencies to explore wide ranging options to meet temporary, short-term, intermediate and long-term housing needs.
• Established partnerships with local non-governmental organizations to promote community education of all available housing options.
• Efficiently identify and assess innovative housing solutions in cross-leadership dynamic.
• Development of additional temporary housing sites ensuring adequate capabilities and access to community wrap around services.

Serve as DGS Representative on the Mass Care and Shelter Task Force within the State Operations Center and led the Chico State base camp housing initiative.

• Coordinate multiple aspects of emergency response and recovery efforts for DGS during 2020 Statewide fires and continue collaborating to improve emergency response processes and procedures.
• Lead and coordinate mass care and shelter process of state intervention for non-congregate shelters for counties impacted by fires.
• Created and implemented standard operating procedures, business process flows, and statewide interim guidance for all counties impacted by wildfires, utilizing DGS shelter.
• Deployed to impacted county Emergency Operation Centers to provide training on new processes and procedures, guidance, and technical assistance on process flow for client registration, verification, and case management.
• Effectively communicate and coordinate with partner agencies to proactively achieve goals and utilize knowledge and understanding of federal, state, and local laws and policies.
• Leveraged existing DGS software to customize portal specific to mass care and shelter task force, oversaw Volunteer Emergency Services Team (VEST) members, and additional re-directed DGS support from other offices.
• Built partnerships with related organizations to develop support and gain greater attention for important issues.
• Supervised programming and administrative facets of non-congregate shelters for evacuees, many with access and functional needs.

Served as the Acting Program Manager over a public-facing, statewide implementation program.

• Establishes, implements, evaluates, and monitors policies, operating procedures, process improvements, and workload assignments of subordinate staff to meet program goals and objectives for efficient and cost-effective program by developing and implementing strategic goals and objectives.
• Directs staff in planning, development, and execution of training and consultative services to qualifying client agencies by conducting workshops, advisory meetings, conferences.
• Oversees development and management of data systems used to provide data for analysis to ensure effective administration and meet mandated and departmental reporting requirements.
• Oversees and manages projects by partnering and consulting with stakeholders and control agencies to develop projects, conducting process improvement assessments utilizing studies from private and public sector experts.
• Anticipate, identify and resolve program issues through solicitation of timely feedback and use of conflict resolution techniques.

Performed Emergency Coordinator duties to support agency specific Emergency Support Functions in response to California's deadliest and most destructive wildfire

• Deployed to impacted county Emergency Operation Centers to provide training on new processes and procedures, guidance, and technical assistance on process flow for client registration, verification, and case management
• Created innovative base camp solution, implementing information technology system to efficiently manage base camp inventory, accounting for wrap around services and all access and functional needs
• Effectively communicate and coordinate with partner agencies to proactively achieve goals and utilize knowledge and understanding of federal, state, and local laws and policies
• Leveraged existing DGS software to customize portal specific to mass care and shelter task force, oversaw Volunteer Emergency Services Team (VEST) members, and additional re-directed DGS support from other offices
• Established and maintained community partnerships to provide ongoing disaster relief during response to recovery transitional phase.
• Applied for federal funding for emergency-management-related needs and administered and reported on progress of such grants.
• Built and strengthened relationships with area governments, departments and agencies to manage effective planning and implementation of emergency response strategies.
• Supported care objectives by devising and implementing effective structures to track performance and assess compliance with specifications.
• Investigated practical and theoretical issues facing emergency services and identified effective resolutions.

Plans, leads, develops and executes statewide travel trainings and consultative services to state agencies and optional users by analyzing current statewide travel policy and conducting workshops and advisory meetings to present new and existing programs for an efficient and cost effective centralized travel program in order to provide excellent, courteous customer service to STP clients, and external and internal stakeholders using various tools and software programs.

• Standardized processes, evaluated programs and conducted performance reviews with eye toward continuous improvement for organization.
• Leads full-cycle contract solicitation and procurement process to write scope of work for by ensuring inclusion of all objectives, variables, deliverables, projected expectations, tasks and implementation timeliness in accordance with all contracting rules and requirements to ensure legal accuracy through evaluation, interpretation, and application of relevant government codes, regulations and policies.
• Provides policy guidance by responding to inquiries from state agencies by researching State Contracting Manual (SCM), State Administrative Manual (SAM), and writing issue papers on travel- related matters in order to ensure state agencies are following state policy using various computer software, current SCM and SAM volumes, DGS Management Memos and other applicable codes, rules and regulations.
• Monitors, evaluates and provides guidance and customer service to state agencies and optional users in reconciliation and payment of their travel payment system accounts using various tools and software programs in order to assist with in-depth management of travel payment system accounts.
• Mentored departmental personnel in achievement of program development and delivery objectives.

Coordinated with local fire, law enforcement, and small businesses to ensure efficient execution of emergency response during large events.

• Served as primary backup to officer in charge with various responsibilities related to compliance, operations management, and staff supervision.
• Developed safety training procedures and authored manuals for distribution to staff members.
• Collaborated in cohesion with city police and fire agencies to aid in minimizing crime, establishing dynamic network of like-minded business owners to streamline communication.
• Implemented training of policies and procedures and performance of staff members, conducting reviews and coaching.
• Gathered information, prepared reports and drafted correspondence related to cases.
• Supported audit procedures to check all procedures, processes and work standards.
• Responded to any emergencies as instructed and with utmost efficiency.
• Identified and eliminated potential safety code deficits and addressed adequacy of fire exits, stairways, aisle spaces and sprinkler systems through annual inspections.

Oversaw multi-million operations of various retail, dining commons, and catering units at UC Davis. Hired, trained, and managed 100+ staff. Implemented marketing strategies resulting in a 12% revenue increase, and reduced labor costs by 8% annually.

• Managed and contributed to emergency planning, conducted site visits for health and safety inspections, and performed monthly drills and exercises for each site for various emergencies.
• Worked in matrix management environment with oversight of division level managers, operations, sales, finance, human resources, safety and compliance.
• Prepared and executed policy and fiscal-related presentations with supplemental information to executive leadership.
• Implemented process improvement to shape organizational culture, optimize procedures for higher efficiency and help company evolve and grow.
• Planned and resourced personnel and logistics for operations component exercises resulting in highly trained personnel ready to act quickly in critical roles.
• Trained and performed emergency exercises with student volunteers and resident assistants.
• Prepared annual budgets with controls to prevent overages.
• Directed initiatives to improve work environment, company culture or overall business strategy.
• Spearheaded department training to enhance employee performance and boost employee productivity.
• Collaborated cross-functionally to refine procedures, devise best practices and enforce quality metrics.