LUZ E BLANDON
Pittsburgh
Summary
Professional bilingual with proven track record in project support, skilled in coordinating tasks, managing schedules, and ensuring project milestones are met. Strong focus on team collaboration, adaptable to changing needs, and consistently reliable.
Administrator with proven ability to streamline operations and enhance productivity. Adept at coordinating teams, managing resources, and driving projects.. Strong focus on collaboration, problem-solving, and adapting to changing needs.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Project Manager
Deployed Services
09.2023 - Current
- Continually review the case management department for compliance and efficiency
- Disseminate policy changes and updated training materials to increase performance and meet new and evolving standards and regulations
- Facilitate cooperation and collaboration between remote and on-site Case Management staff and all departments
- Support the Case Management Supervisors/Department as they liaise with government and non-government partners
- Meet or exceed program productivity expectations on a regular and sustained basis
- Assist Senior Program Manager with the development and refinement of policy, interpretation, guidelines, and procedures that will improve or enhance service delivery of the program
- Ensure compliance with the company's policies and procedures and ensure changes are communicated to the team as necessary
- Ensure compliance with contract requirements and ORR policies via verification of consistent implementation and development of SOPs
- Ensure a high level of internal and external customer service
- Investigate and correct customer issues and complaints relating to quality and reporting
- Develop and monitor performance metrics
- Collect and Analyze program data to identify trends and performance issues, push productivity, and seek opportunities for improvement
- Create, monitor, and ensure the effectiveness, quality, and completeness of data in the company's internal tracking system
Ex. VP of Immigrant Children Services
Holy Family Institute
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Establish consistent, objective program performance standards of accountability
- Collect, maintain, and submit monthly, quarterly, and annual reports for the agency's executive leadership and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)
- Establish Regional Case Management Supervisors (remote) and teams of Case Managers in identified U.S
- Regions assure the well-being of unaccompanied minor refugees following release from temporary and long-term care
- Work with peer Managing Directors to leverage the diverse existing education and clinical services of the organization to efficiently provide excellent care
- Cultivate existing relationships with the federal government with the goal of ensuring sufficient space and resources, and access to community services
- Develop and implement strategies that will maximize the synergies among program areas
- Develop a program proposal to expand the Post Release Service program to 2 additional regions in the United States
- Implement a Long-Term Foster Care program with capacity for 12 Unaccompanied Minors
Lead Case Manager
Holy Family Institute
01.2016 - 01.2021
- Train Case Managers, Clinicians, and other staff members on the Office of Refugee and Resettlement Policy and Pennsylvania DPW regulations as well as Holy Family internal policy
- Lead in the implementation of ORR policy updates, DPW policy and other Holy Family internal policy
- Participate in Council On Accreditation (COA) by designing services that meet best practice
- Participates fully in the quality improvement program
- Reviews and updates services in light of emerging trends, knowledge from the field and current research
- Interview and hire candidates for Case Manager and Case Aid positions for the Journey of Hope program
- Lead weekly pre-staffing meetings to ensure accurate case plans
- Plan and implement the expansion of the program capacity to 180
- Solve complicated cases with Federal Field specialist from the Office of Refugee and Resettlement
- Maintain communication with Legal service providers, Case Coordinator, federal Field Specialist, Department of Homeland and Security, Central and South America consulates, and other internal Holy Family stakeholders regarding cases and programmatic concerns
- Ensure all documentation is properly organized in master file considering the specifics of the case by Reviewing case files
- Participate in weekly administration leadership meetings for the Journey of Hope program to evaluate programmatic
- Conduct Case Manager Performance evaluations
- Lead staff disciplinary action
- Create and monitor Individual Service Plans for UC
ISAC Service Coordinator / Navigator
Casa San Jose
01.2015 - 01.2016
- Followed strict confidentiality guidelines as instructed
- Kept strict case notes and documentation for all activities on behalf of clients as directed, including any telephone communications and any incidental information
- Knowledge of Apricot software
- Communicated to staff on client and activities on regular basis or as requested
- Served as cultural liaison between service providers and clients
- Participated in staff development and training opportunities as directed, including training in the DHS Conferencing and Teaming practice model
- Develop client service plans and worked with clients to achieve goals
- Identified providers that will fit the specific needs of each client so that they had access to equitable services
- Coordinate services to clients with other agencies on the state and local levels
Shift Supervisor
Holy Family Institute
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Ensured program execution
- Managed crisis situations
- Provided for the health and safety of residents
- Kept strict documentation
- Participated in latest training requirements under Holy Family Institute, PA Department of Public Welfare, and the U.S
- Office of Refugee and Resettlement
- Carried out administrative tasks as requested by Program Director
- Handled initial staff disciplinary action
- Assisted with staff orientation and training
- Conducted staff meetings
- Evaluated staff performance
- Initiated, implemented, and oversaw the financial tracking system of program expenditures
- Interpreter and translator
Quality Schools International
01.2013 - 01.2014
- Company Overview: 50-student K-12 international school located in the petroleum region of Venezuela
- 50-student K-12 international school located in the petroleum region of Venezuela
Colegio Americano del Sur
01.2010 - 01.2013
- Company Overview: 450-student bilingual school located in the South Pacific coast of Guatemala
- 450-student bilingual school located in the South Pacific coast of Guatemala
Kuwait Bilingual School
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Company Overview: 70 staff, 750-student bilingual school in a Bedouin community 8 miles from the Iraqi border
- 70 staff, 750-student bilingual school in a Bedouin community 8 miles from the Iraqi border
Savannah Plains International School
01.2008 - 01.2009
- Company Overview: Start-up, British curriculum international school on the outskirts of the Serengeti Plain
- Start-up, British curriculum international school on the outskirts of the Serengeti Plain
Colegio Americano De Guayaquil
01.2006 - 01.2007
- Company Overview: 700 student American curriculum and International Baccalaureate School
- 700 student American curriculum and International Baccalaureate School
Intern
Department of Investigation University la Gran Colombia
01.2006 - 12.2006
- Assisted with research to evaluate a government funded program to improve the lives of survivors of domestic violence
- Data collection
- Collating and interpreting sociological information for the Colombian government
- Evaluated the education and prevention skills learned
- Evaluated benefits of sewing class
- Collected data on how many women were still in relationships with the abuser, who was separated and able to become self-sufficient
- The findings of the study were interpreted by the university and presented to the Colombian government
- The Colombian government used the data to fund and created more programs for community
Education
Masters in Business Administration -
Penn State University
06-2026
BA - Business Administration
Universidad Autonoma de Bucaramanga
12.2014
Economics - Economics with an Emphasis in International Business
University Libre
12.2006
Human Resources and Labor Law -
Servicio Nacional De Aprendizaje. (SENA)
12.2006
Economics -
University La Gran Colombia
12.2005
Skills
- Microsoft Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Data analysis
- Project management
- Policy writing
- Client relations
- Regulatory compliance
- Collaborative mindset
- Ethical leadership
- Planning and prioritization
- Critical thinking
Accomplishments
Implemented a long term foster care program and post placement program that supports the acculturation and integration of unaccompanied minors in the United States. Collaborated with different teams to develop and adapt new policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the federal government. Furthermore,
I have led the self evaluation project that identified gaps in services and program management practices to prepare for a CARF accreditation visit.
Special Skills And Interests
- Family
- Dance
- Music
- Travel
- Cuisine
- Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Spanish Interpreter (Center for Hearing and Deaf Services, 2017)
- Advanced Tax Preparer (Just Harvest, 2017, Pittsburgh, PA)
- Charity work in an Imani Orphanage (2009, Shinyanga, Tanzania)
Awards
- Athena Award, 01/01/22
- Pittsburgh 40 Under 40, 01/01/20
International Experience
- Teacher, Quality Schools International, El Tigre, Venezuela, 01/01/13, 12/31/14
- Teacher, Colegio Americano del Sur, Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa, Guatemala, 01/01/10, 12/31/13
- Teacher, Kuwait Bilingual School, Al-Jahra, Kuwait, 01/01/09, 12/31/10
- Teacher, Savannah Plains International School, Shinyanga, Tanzania, 01/01/08, 12/31/09
- Teacher, Colegio Americano De Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador, 01/01/06, 12/31/07
- Intern, Department of Investigation University la Gran Colombia, Armenia, Colombia, 01/01/06, 12/31/06
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Assistant Project Manager
Deployed Services
09.2023 - Current
Ex. VP of Immigrant Children Services
Holy Family Institute
01.2021 - 01.2023
Lead Case Manager
Holy Family Institute
01.2016 - 01.2021
ISAC Service Coordinator / Navigator
Casa San Jose
01.2015 - 01.2016
Shift Supervisor
Holy Family Institute
01.2014 - 01.2015
Quality Schools International
01.2013 - 01.2014
Colegio Americano del Sur
01.2010 - 01.2013
Kuwait Bilingual School
01.2009 - 01.2010
Savannah Plains International School
01.2008 - 01.2009
Colegio Americano De Guayaquil
01.2006 - 01.2007
Intern
Department of Investigation University la Gran Colombia
01.2006 - 12.2006
BA - Business Administration
Universidad Autonoma de Bucaramanga
Economics - Economics with an Emphasis in International Business
University Libre
Human Resources and Labor Law -
Servicio Nacional De Aprendizaje. (SENA)
Economics -
University La Gran Colombia
Masters in Business Administration -
Penn State University
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