Stephanie Illescas
New York,NY
Summary
Dynamic individual with experience navigating challenges looking to advance in the field of animal welfare. Brings strong problem-solving skills and proactive approach to new tasks. Thrives in a dynamic and complex environment. Adaptable, creative, and works with a result-oriented mindset. Committed to making meaningful contributions and advancing organizational goals while adhering to standard operating procedures, protocols, and regulatory requirements.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Admissions & Placement Specialist Expert
ASPCA
01.2024 - Current
- Lead new hire onboarding training and coach APS during matchmaking conversations as needed.
- Discuss with management any available animals with potential barriers to
adoption and suggest strategies to help facilitate placement
• Communicate any questions, concerns, and challenges among the Admissions and Placement team to management.
• Collaborated with management to identify and address areas where efficiency and/or process can be improved, and aided in the production/ revision of SOP's. - Successfully de-escalated a heated customer dispute by actively listening to their concerns, resulting in a satisfied resolution and retained customer."
• Supported the daily distribution of task assignments among the team, reassigning
work as necessary throughout the day
• Coached volunteers as needed in the use of the adopter survey and the adoption process
• Shadowed and deployed with Community Engagement, and the National Response Team to better understand the role of departments
•Provided relevant intake support including alternatives to surrender and rehoming, and when appropriate, connect owner with needed resources, including referrals to other placement options
• Participated in Medical/ Behavioral/ Sheltering (MBS) rounds to represent the
Matchmaking perspective
• Support the Medical, Foster and Transport teams in the movement of animals
throughout, and outside of, the shelter
Admissions & Placement Specialist
ASPCA
07.2022 - 12.2023
- Facilitated adoptions by engaging in conversation with potential adopters and counseling adopters in ways to prepare their home and family for their new pet
- Assisted and supported pet owners seeking to surrender their animals by finding solutions that may find alternatives to surrendering their pet
- Wrote compelling bios that showcase an animal's attributes and challenges
- Conducted adoptions onsite and using audio/video technology and electronic forms from start to finish, including processing paperwork and financial transactions
- Created and maintained animal record in the database, including the thorough documentation of all Matchmaking conversations
- Completed Fear Free certification to gain knowledge in stress-free handling for animal population
DOVE Advocate
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
05.2020 - 07.2022
- Provided free, compassionate and comprehensive care to victims of violent crimes for ages 12 and above including, domestic violence, physical and sexual assault and elder abuse, 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Collaborated and coordinated the provision of care with other service providers in order to develop, expand and strengthen the array and delivery of comprehensive services to the adults and families affected by violent crime
- Provided violence prevention education to those at risk for becoming victims and for those community and health care providers who are in a position to identify and assist individuals and families affected by violence
Stock Associate
BAPE
12.2020 - 11.2021
- Fulfill transfers and orders
- Communicate with other coworkers to ensure a more productive and positive workplace
- Restock merchandise
- Assist store assistant manager on any needed work such as creative new orders on low inventory, alerting to customer service issues, and working with high end clients on large scale orders.
- Ensure the stock room is up to code on fire and electrical
Sales Representative
FLYING TIGER COPENAGHEN
10.2019 - 10.2021
- Learned the definition of the concept and applying it throughout the store to ensure a seamless transition of merchandise as well as a pleasant shopping experience for customers
- Provided customer service including calling other stores to find a product or finding replacements for products unavailable in order to maintain customer retention
- Unloaded shipments
- On-boarded as part-time after being seasonal for two months and upon arrival of new management was asked to be full-time as recommended by supervisors
- In the absence of manager was responsible for delegating tasks to current employees, onboarding/ training new hires, ensured proper staffing to avoid team fatigue
Reporter Intern
BEFA
05.2019 - 12.2020
- Wrote 1-2 reports each month on the importance of children's education or on a topic related to children or adolescents
Clerical Assistant
Lenox Hill Hospital
08.2016 - 04.2019
- Interacted with patients to provide comfort and answer questions
- Assisted in tasks such as photocopying, faxing, calling patients, and taking notes on patients' health
- Submitted paperwork for medical insurances by using medical billing codes
- Booked operating rooms and ensured ease of transition between each surgery
- Reported directly to Director of Spinal Surgery and informed of all procedures in a timely and efficient manner
- Connected with insurance companies to ensure authorization for all medical procedures
Child Life Specialist Intern
Weill Cornell Hospital
04.2016 - 01.2019
- Helped ease hospital stays by offering support and guidance to patients and their families
- Assisted child life specialists in therapeutic playrooms or at the bedside in the hospital
- Worked with children and adolescents on activities such as arts and crafts, writing, reading, helping with schoolwork, and playing games
- Served as a liaison between nurses, doctors, and families to aid in communicating need for procedures
- Recorded patients' progress during therapy as well as day to day to ensure good quality of stay
- Executed company policies, procedures, and safety standards to ensure the proper cleanliness and safety of the office and equipment
Education
Biochemistry -
City University of New York, Hunter College
High school Diploma - undefined
NEST+m
05.2019
Skills
- Proficient in the use of Adopets, DocuSign, and PetPoint
- Knowledgeable in use of Animal Abuse Registry
- Spanish Speaker
- Fear Free Handling Certification
- Client Management
- New hire training
Volunteer Experience
- Volunteer, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY, 08/01/16, 04/01/19, Interacting with patients to provide comfort and answer questions, Assisting in tasks such as photocopying, faxing, calling patients, and taking notes on patients' health., Submitting paperwork for medical insurances, Booking operating rooms, Shadowing Director of Spine Surgery
- Child Life Specialist Intern, Weill Cornell Hospital, New York, NY, 04/01/16, 01/01/19, Helped ease hospital stays by offering support and guidance to patients and their families., Assisted child life specialists in therapeutic playrooms or at the bedside in the hospital., Worked with children and adolescents on activities such as arts and crafts, writing, reading, helping with schoolwork, and playing games., Served as a liaison between nurses, doctors, and families., Record patients' progress., Executed company policies, procedures, and safety standards to ensure the proper cleanliness and safety of the office and equipment
Timeline
Admissions & Placement Specialist Expert
ASPCA
01.2024 - Current
Admissions & Placement Specialist
ASPCA
07.2022 - 12.2023
Stock Associate
BAPE
12.2020 - 11.2021
DOVE Advocate
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
05.2020 - 07.2022
Sales Representative
FLYING TIGER COPENAGHEN
10.2019 - 10.2021
Reporter Intern
BEFA
05.2019 - 12.2020
Clerical Assistant
Lenox Hill Hospital
08.2016 - 04.2019
Child Life Specialist Intern
Weill Cornell Hospital
04.2016 - 01.2019
High school Diploma - undefined
NEST+m
Biochemistry -
City University of New York, Hunter College
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