LIZETTE SUAREZ
Summary
Mission-driven leader with 20+ years of experience building faith-based programs, engaging parishes and diocesan communities, and fostering vibrant spiritual communities. Skilled in relationship-building, program design, volunteer leadership, and bilingual communication. Holds a Master of Theological Studies and extensive experience in consulting and on Catholic initiatives, helping communities deepen their prayer life and sense of belonging.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Program Director
Front Porch
Walnut Creek, CA
08.2020 - Current
- Establish strong community relationships to promote program.
- Host yearly nationwide events with community partners.
- Identify and qualify new potential funders. Assist with grant proposal drafting and timely submission.
- Collaborate with various parties involved in program to evaluate successes and failures as well as develop new partnerships and make proactive changes.
- Supervise project managers, admin, volunteers and interns to provide feedback and run program efficiently.
- Foster community connections and networks, driving collaborations with local organizations.
- Helped program win the SCAN 2021 Human Centered design award.
- Spearheaded new program strategy for team, leading to higher efficiency for impact.
Independent Consultant
Evangelium Consulting Group
Walnut Creek, CA
01.2017 - 02.2021
- Prepared staff training initiatives to mitigate ongoing problems.
- Kept client information confidential and handled details accurately.
- Reviewed diverse organizational problems to assess concerns with areas such as workflows, communication, and handling conflict.
- Assessed diocesan teams through an on-site observation and trainings session of 35 parishes. Was able to support teams through process simultaneously in English and Spanish.
- Worked with an Archdiocesan leadership team to help with organizational health.
Program Manager
Front Porch
Walnut Creek, CA
01.2019 - 08.2020
- Launched the first of its kind virtual program for Spanish speaking older adults in the USA in 2019.
- Onboarded new facilitators/volunteers by providing orientation, training, support and direction.
- Developed volunteer training and professional guidelines and procedures.
- Collaborated with service providers to educate people about aging services.
- Planned and executed outreach implementation in order to grow program impact in English and Spanish.
- Translated and created program materials to Spanish for participants and volunteers.
Program Assistant
Diocese of Oakland
Oakland, CA
07.2018 - 06.2020
- Participate in recruiting new potential students, and evaluate applications and references of incoming students.
- Collaborate with the Academic Dean, to help recruit and secure instructors for the school.
- Cultivate student leadership within the school. Draft correspondence and other documents and papers as needed.
- Organized personal and professional calendars to streamline office communications, scheduling and school events.
Event Coordinator
Life Teen International
Meza, AZ
01.2019 - 05.2020
- Planned, organized and conducted monthly meetings with teams leads.
- Prepared pre-conference items; including drafting agendas, supplying pre-event informational materials, preparing venues, app copy upload, following-up with email inquires and requests to clarify or provide additional pertinent information.
- Helped organize venue logistics for event.
- Qualified individuals and groups for volunteer service and determined volunteer service placement.
- Directed volunteer leads in collaboration with adult chaperones at conference.
- Maintained close communication with Life Teen staff to organize all event details.
- Assessed event success and uncovered room for improvement through attendee feedback.
Director of Youth & Young Adults
Holy Rosary Church
Antioch, CA
08.2015 - 06.2018
- Collaborated with community members to educate the public regarding issues such as drug abuse prevention and mental health safety.
- Promoted the team in maintaining a work environment focused on quality, communication, collaboration, integration, and teamwork.
- Developed and supervised volunteer staff by providing orientation, training, support and ongoing direction to over 100 volunteers.
- Planned and publicized events, including negotiating contracts and designing promotional materials.
- Managed all social media programs, including blogs, social networking applications and message boards for the department.
Underwriter
Aetna
Walnut Creek, CA
01.2015 - 07.2015
- Utilized diverse data tools and processes to analyze, interpret and manage data.
- Collaborated with teams to develop new reports and models, driving pricing accuracy.
- Presented and clearly explained insurance policy options to clients based on their needs and goals.
- Negotiated coverage, policy pricing and service delivery during meetings with customers, agents or brokers.
Education
Master of Theological Studies - Multicultural Ministry
Franciscan School of Theology
Oceanside, CA12.2013
Bachelor of Arts - Intercultural Communication
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA05.2009
Skills
- Innovative problem solver
- Parish & Diocesan Engagement
- Program Design & Implementation
- Volunteer Leadership & Training
- CRM & Workflow Management
- Community Outreach & Partnership Building
- Organization & leadership skills
- Excellent teamwork and collaboration
- Exceptional at technology
- Great at strategic planning & training
- Bilingual & bi-cultural
- Excellent Public Speaking & Workshop Facilitation
- Event coordination & project planning
- Excellent at volunteer engagement & networking
Additional Information
- Co-lead for Contra Costa County senior work group from 2020-2021.
- Recorded Spanish voice-overs for local commercials helping battle loneliness & isolation.
- Aided in the development of an "Accessible Technology" conference system for seniors similar to Zoom in Spanish.
- Chaired at community forum's held with city officials for local community improvements from 2006-2008 with CCISCO.
- Served as Youth Minister at Saint Anthony's in Oakley from 2008-2015.
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
Portuguese
Elementary
Additional Information
- Self-taught myself Portuguese in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for World Youth Day in 2013.
Timeline
Program Director
Front Porch
08.2020 - Current
Program Manager
Front Porch
01.2019 - 08.2020
Event Coordinator
Life Teen International
01.2019 - 05.2020
Program Assistant
Diocese of Oakland
07.2018 - 06.2020
Independent Consultant
Evangelium Consulting Group
01.2017 - 02.2021
Director of Youth & Young Adults
Holy Rosary Church
08.2015 - 06.2018
Underwriter
Aetna
01.2015 - 07.2015
Master of Theological Studies - Multicultural Ministry
Franciscan School of Theology
Bachelor of Arts - Intercultural Communication
San Francisco State University
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