Vanessa Garcia
San Antonio
Summary
Workforce professional prepared to make impact by leveraging comprehensive understanding of workforce dynamics and operational efficiencies. Known for fostering collaborative environments and driving results through strategic planning. Reliable, adaptable, and skilled in problem-solving and data analysis.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Workforce Specialist
Workforce Solutions Alamo
San Antonio, TX
07.2023 - Current
- Supports Director of Workforce Services in high-priority grants, special initiatives, and assigned projects. Assumed duties of the Program Manager/Director of Workforce Services when called upon.
- Provides guidance, director, and technical assistance to staff, subgrantees, service providers, contractors, and vendors.
- Manages oversight and implementation of grants, programs, and projects such as Summer Earn and Learn (SEAL), Teacher Externship, Partners for Reentry in Workforce Development (PROWD), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment & Training (SNAP E&T), Non-Custodial Parents (NCP), and Paid Work Experience (PWE).
- Prepares detailed analysis and presentations to Workforce Board committees and full Board of Directors.
- Manages the collection, organization, analysis, and preparation of materials when requested upon.
- Facilitates and keeps notes during contractor meetings.
- Communicates with contractors for training needs, resolve problems, and policy changes.
- Provides direction to contractors, staff, and vendors.
- Oversees program development and interrogation to enhance service delivery.
- Attends meetings with other departments to go over initiation, monitoring, budgets, closure of programs, and renewals of contracts.
- Oversees the development of program policies and procedures, manuals, memorandums of understanding, standards, and places.
- Manages the completion and monitoring of required performance reports for programs.
- Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws, rules, regulation, policy, and procedures.
- Generates and analyses information, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or as required related to project status, progress, objectives, deliverables, and goals.
- Researches and compiles various data for reports.
- Workforce Solutions Alamo serves as the leadership and governing body for the region's workforce development system in 13 counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, McMullen, and Wilson.
- Developed and implemented workforce development programs to enhance employment opportunities.
- Collaborated with local employers to identify hiring needs and skill gaps.
- Mentored junior staff on best practices in workforce solutions and client engagement strategies.
- Analyzed labor market data to inform program development and strategic planning initiatives.
- Drove community outreach efforts, increasing awareness of available workforce resources and services.
- Partnered with external agencies for specialized workforce solutions, expanding the organization''s capabilities to meet industry demands more effectively.
- Increased workforce efficiency with the implementation of performance management systems, resulting in improved performance metrics.
- Encouraged cross-functional collaboration among departments, promoting increased knowledge sharing and innovation throughout the workplace.
Texas Works Advisor III
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Laredo, TX
01.2022 - 07.2023
- Performs complex eligibility determinations for social services programs.
- Work involves reviewing eligibility files, interviewing clients, documenting client information, determining benefits, verifying case data, explaining program benefits and requirements, and resolving problems and complaints.
- Provides guidance to new hires and tenure employees while giving feedback to the supervisor.
- Works under general supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
- As a worker, I gained the ability to maintain effective working relationships, elicit and evaluate information, research and investigate, to perform arithmetic and data analysis, communicate effectively, and provide guidance to others.
- Review client financial eligibility activities for social service programs.
- Conducts reviews to determine or verify new and continued program eligibility.
- Interview clients, their families, or authorized representatives to gather information in determining benefit eligibility.
- Conducted life needs assessments and participated in developing client support plans.
- Certifies program eligibility, computes benefit levels, and determines the length of eligibility.
- Explains program benefits, requirements, rights of appeal, and fair hearings to clients, their families, or authorized representatives.
- Processes, monitors, reviews, and communicates case status and changes to clients, their families, or authorized representatives.
- Counsels clients on social services programs, related laws, tax issues, and other state and federal regulations.
- Reviews suspected fraud cases and makes referrals to investigators.
- Review case records to determine the validity and accuracy of eligibility determinations made by other staff.
- Assists advisors in resolving complaints and escalated issues.
- May consult with program staff on policies, practices, records, budgets, and community resources.
- May speak to community groups, attend board meetings, and serve on committees.
- May testify in court as a technical authority on eligibility issues.
- May provide guidance to others. Performs related work as assigned.
- HHSC, AES provides an integrated and streamlined approach to connect individuals to services and support that reduces institutionalization, allows individuals to remain in their communities, and promotes economic and personal self-sufficiency.
- Advised clients on eligibility for health and human services programs.
- Mentored junior advisors in best practices for client engagement and support.
- Mentored junior advisors, fostering a supportive team environment focused on growth and learning.
Texas Works Advisor I & II
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Laredo, TX
01.2020 - 01.2022
- Interview applicants in person or by phone to obtain confidential information to determine eligibility for public assistance services such as SNAP and Medicaid.
- Evaluate data from various electronic and other sources to enter information into a computer-based eligibility system.
- Compute and authorize benefits based on eligibility determination.
- Process work in accordance with state and federal regulations and established procedures, guidelines, policies, and timeframes.
- HHSC, AES provides an integrated and streamlined approach to connecting individuals to services and support that reduces institutionalization, allows individuals to remain in their communities, and promotes economic and personal self-sufficiency.
Education
Master of Science - Psychology
Texas A&M International University
Laredo, TX01-2019
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Texas A&M International University
Laredo, TX01-2016
Skills
- Leadership Skills
- Time Management
- Organization and Planning
- Research and Presenting Skills
- Project Management
- Performance improvement
- Workforce planning
- Resolving issues
- Data collection & research
- Workforce management
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Cross-functional coordination
Accomplishments
- Collaborated with numerous stakeholders in the development of initiatives.
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
- Achieved performance by completing oversight with accuracy and efficiency.
Certification
- San Antonio Area Foundation - Nonprofit Management Certificate (2023)
- San Antonio Area Foundation - Grant Writing Certificate (2024)
Languages
English
Spanish
Timeline
Workforce Specialist
Workforce Solutions Alamo
07.2023 - Current
Texas Works Advisor III
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
01.2022 - 07.2023
Texas Works Advisor I & II
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
01.2020 - 01.2022
Master of Science - Psychology
Texas A&M International University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Texas A&M International University
ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT
- Lamar Bruni Vergara Academic Conference, Laredo, TX - Texas A&M International University, 2018 Presenter: Heroin: the history, usage, effect, and preventive measures
- First Year Experience (FYE) Research Symposium, Laredo, TX - Texas A&M International University, 2019 Judge
- Service Learning Expo, Laredo, TX - Texas A&M International University, 2019 Presenter: Attachment Styles in Children: An Internship at Children’s Advocacy Center and Little Buddies Child Care Center
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Texas Workforce Commission Forum Conference - Austin, TX (2024 & 2026)
- Texas Workforce Commission Annual Conference - Corpus Christi, TX (2025)
- GRACE Conference - Austin, TX (2024)
- Quality Assurance Network (QAN) Meeting - Austin, TX (2024)
- Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) Mapping - Karnes City, TX (2024)
- National Association of Workforce Development Professional - San Antonio, TX (2024)
- National Association of Job Training Assistance (NAJA) Conference - Los Angeles, CA (2025)