KHARLA WALKER
Fairburn,GA
Summary
Social Service Professional with comprehensive background in assisting vulnerable populations and developing family partnerships. Meticulous M.B.A. professional, excellent at juggling multiple tasks and working under pressure.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Interim Family Support Manager, CAPS Change Unit
Dept. Of Early Care & Learning
Atlanta, GA
12.2021 - Current
- Manage team of 17 employees, overseeing hiring, training, and professional growth of employees.
- Evaluate report data to proactively adjust and enhance operations.
- Interview, hire, manage, train and evaluate performance of employees.
- Maximize productivity by keeping detailed records of daily progress and identifying and rectifying areas for improvement.
- Establish and updated work schedules to account for changing staff levels and expected workloads.
- Maximize performance by monitoring daily activities and mentoring team members.
- Support families in developing skills and confidence to be effective leaders and advocates for their children.
- Prepare variety of different written communications, reports and documents
- Increase customer satisfaction by resolving issues ad reducing phone calls.
Family Support Consultant
Dept. Of Early Care & Learning: Child & Parent Services
Atlanta, GA
03.2019 - Current
- Works with vulnerable customers to understand program requirements and provide exceptional customer service.
- Works with Adverse Action & Claims Department to resolve billing problems, improve operations, and provide exceptional customer service.
- Assist team members with problem cases in Gateway/MAXSTAR
- Extensive knowledge about policies and procedures related to case changes and redeterminations.
- Connects families with other state and community resources that they may be eligible for.
- Works with vulnerable populations, including families experiencing homelessness, children with disabilities, and those whose home language is not English.
Scholarship Administration Coordinator
Department of Early Care & Learning: Child & Parent Services
Atlanta, GA
8 2017 - 03.2019
- Supervised and motivated staff in region to meet daily and weekly goals for application intake.
- Supported Scholarship Administration Manager and Directors in compiling necessary content to enhance communication within division and with other divisions of agency.
- Assist clients with available resources for early child development, housing, employment, and other childcare resources.
- Assist walk-in clients with exceptional customer service.
- Trained all Family Support staff on renewal process and all new and temporary staff on intake process and customer service skills.
- Fluent knowledge and utilization of program systems such as Gateway, MAXSTAR, and COMPASS.
- Build lasting relationships with families and childcare providers.
- Act as resource for childcare providers that may have issues with billing or payments.
- Conducts Quality Care Reviews of cases to ensure accuracy and consults with caseworkers about findings.
- Developed strong list of resources to provide to families.
Employment Specialist
Georgia Department Of Labor
Atlanta, GA
07.2016 - 08.2017
- Facilitated all workshops for claimants filing Unemployment Insurance(UI) claims.
Collected and reviewed all claimant paperwork for accuracy before processing. - Reviewed and notarized all legal affidavit documents verifying that all claimants are either U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, or qualified alien or non-immigrants lawfully present in United States.
- Updated all Applicant Status Affidavits into GDOL system database for processing.
- Approved and denied applicant job referrals based upon employer requirements such as applicant qualifications, education, and work history.
- Worked with vulnerable populations and developed lasting community partnerships for client resources.
Business Development Manager
K. Belle Boutique
Fairburn, GA
08.2013 - 07.2016
- Analyzed industry trends and compiled market research data to inform planning and strategy.
- Increased volume of business by 85% by following up on leads, cold calling and networking.
- Prospected to obtain new accounts while maintaining relationships with existing accounts.
- Prepared income statements and balance sheets and projected cash flow.
- Optimized K. Belle Boutique website and main company blog to boost traffic to sites.
- Monitored income expense sheets to track and adjust expenses.
Assistant Director of Career Services
Kaplan Higher Education Corporation
Atlanta, GA
01.2011 - 08.2013
- Resolved employment-related disputes through proactive communication.
- Coordinated work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, labor relations and employee relations.
- Handled understaffing, disputes, hiring and termination of employees and administering disciplinary procedures.
- Represented organization at personnel-related hearings and investigations.
- Led comprehensive safety training for 12 staff members.
Served as company representative at job fairs to promote company objectives. - Developed and maintained lasting community partnerships to develop resources for employment, housing, transportation, childcare, etc.
Retention Specialist
Westwood College
Atlanta, GA
05.2010 - 01.2011
- Advised new and re-entered students on entrance testing, scheduling, new curriculum changes, and financial aid process.
- Managed entire re-entry process including exceeding goals of 30-35 re-entered students per term.
- Partnered with childcare and housing assistance programs in order to increase retention and reduce gross drops per term.
- Coordinated and conducted new hire pre-interviews.
- Conducted employment verifications and investigations.
Conducted background checks on candidates by obtaining information from law enforcement officials, previous employers and references.
HR Specialist
Javelin Techical College
Morrow, GA
01.2009 - 05.2010
- Explained employee compensation, benefits, schedules, working conditions and promotion opportunities.
- Conducted background checks on candidates by obtaining information from law enforcement officials, previous employers and references.
- Addressed and resolved general payroll-related inquires.
Supported human resources staff with new hire orientations and monthly departmental meetings. - Coordinated employment offers with management and extended offers to selected candidates.
- Reviewed and confirmed that all final paid hours corresponded with timesheets and state laws.
- Evaluated timecards for accuracy on regular and overtime hours.
- Researched all payroll, COBRA, disability and FMLA issues.
Completed employee employment verifications and unemployment paperwork in timely manner. - Edited job position announcements before authorizing post.
- Proficient with HRIS/PeopleSoft.
Senior Placement Specialist
Corinthian Colleges, Inc
Jonesboro, GA
02.2007 - 01.2009
- Partnered with local organizations and universities for engagement and interest in jobs offered in their community.
- Assisted diversity recruiter in complying with all corporate policies.
- Tracked candidates and pushed for feedback on disqualifications, time-to-fill statistics and other variables.
- Monitored students’ academic progress and referred students who were struggling to campus resources.
Advised students on course selection, progress toward graduation and career decisions.
Community Resource Specialist
Department of Human Resources: Child Support Enforcement
Atlanta, GA
02.2004 - 01.2007
- Maintained lasting community partnerships through exceptional customer service.
- Received referrals from DFCS of unemployed or underemployed non-custodial parents to enroll them in career workshops and GED classes to obtain gainful employment.
- Successful completion rate of 92% with pass rate of 89%.
Education
MBA - HR Management
AMERICAN INTERCONTINENTAL UNIVERSITY
Atlanta, GA05.2006
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY
Albany, GA12.2003
Skills
- Benefits administration
- Ability to develop trusting relationships
- Extensive experience working with diverse populations
- Records maintenance
- Audit preparation and reporting
- MS Office
- Proficient in IES, internal data systems, COMPASS, MAXSTAR
- Time management
- Detail-oriented
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Outstanding organizational skills
- Statistical Reporting
Timeline
Interim Family Support Manager, CAPS Change Unit
Dept. Of Early Care & Learning
12.2021 - Current
Family Support Consultant
Dept. Of Early Care & Learning: Child & Parent Services
03.2019 - Current
Employment Specialist
Georgia Department Of Labor
07.2016 - 08.2017
Business Development Manager
K. Belle Boutique
08.2013 - 07.2016
Assistant Director of Career Services
Kaplan Higher Education Corporation
01.2011 - 08.2013
Retention Specialist
Westwood College
05.2010 - 01.2011
HR Specialist
Javelin Techical College
01.2009 - 05.2010
Senior Placement Specialist
Corinthian Colleges, Inc
02.2007 - 01.2009
Community Resource Specialist
Department of Human Resources: Child Support Enforcement
02.2004 - 01.2007
Scholarship Administration Coordinator
Department of Early Care & Learning: Child & Parent Services
8 2017 - 03.2019
MBA - HR Management
AMERICAN INTERCONTINENTAL UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY
Similar Profiles
ALEXANDER JOHNSONALEXANDER JOHNSON
Scholarship Administration Specialist at Dept. Of Early Care & LearningScholarship Administration Specialist at Dept. Of Early Care & Learning
Leanne WestonLeanne Weston
Childcare Lead Educator at Catholic Care Early Learning And CareChildcare Lead Educator at Catholic Care Early Learning And Care
Shahina ParweenShahina Parween
Childcare Educator at Billybear Preschool & Early Learning Centre ChildcareSerenity Care SolutionsChildcare Educator at Billybear Preschool & Early Learning Centre ChildcareSerenity Care Solutions
Cherelle ShabazzCherelle Shabazz
Customer Service Representative at TSICustomer Service Representative at TSI
Milan RobinsonMilan Robinson
Warehouse/Operations Associate at Winters IndustriesWarehouse/Operations Associate at Winters Industries