Vanessa Laguna
Albuquerque
Summary
Program specialist with extensive experience in grant administration and compliance monitoring at the City of Albuquerque. Skilled in engaging stakeholders and enhancing community services through effective problem-solving and teamwork. Bilingual in English and Spanish, committed to continuous improvement and impactful results in social services.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Program Specialist
City of Albuquerque
Albuquerque
09.2023 - Current
- Coordinated implementation of affordable housing contracts, including preservation and renovation projects for low- to moderate-income individuals.
- Administered grants related to funding sources such as CDBG, HOME, and WHFT.
- Oversaw staff and agency work delivering community services, ensuring alignment with program goals.
- Drafted scopes and outcomes for nonprofit agencies receiving funding for contracted services.
- Delivered technical assistance to ensure compliance with service requirements across city departments and nonprofit agencies.
- Conducted annual monitoring of compliance contracts and development agreements, performing HQS inspections.
- Compiled monitoring reports detailing compliance review findings to support informed decision-making.
- Gathered demographic data from nonprofit agencies to assist in strategic planning within community development.
Office Assistant/Senior Office Assistant
City of Albuquerque
Albuquerque
02.2019 - Current
- Provided customer service by offering information and referrals for social services to older adults.
- Coordinated and scheduled timely service appointments for senior citizens to access assistance.
- Processed referrals, performed data entry, and maintained client files while generating reports for grant-funded programs.
- Assessed clients to connect them with essential resources, including food and utility assistance.
- Participated in outreach events to promote senior affairs department services and support community engagement.
- Served as liaison between Albuquerque city and partner agencies to enhance public communication.
- Collaborated with community organizations to improve program delivery and client support.
- Assisted Spanish-speaking clients through translation and interpretation services.
Community Services Program Coordinator
City of Albuquerque
Albuquerque
10.2022 - 09.2023
- Coordinated and monitored school-based coordinators and participants for Family & Community Services Department Job Mentorship program, ensuring work quality and adherence to policies and procedures while performing complex tasks.
- Supported family and community services for job mentorship and school-based job shadowing programs, facilitating smooth operations and participant engagement.
- Monitored APS school-based coordinators for job mentorship, ensuring all changes, improvements, policies and procedures remain current.
- Scheduled and attended meetings with upper management to discuss and allocate resources for program needs, ensuring compliance with budget requirements.
- Attended and scheduled monthly meetings and committees to monitor program progress.
- Inputted all timesheets for school-based job shadow program and sent to YDI to issue stipends.
- Ensured confidentiality of sensitive information in all communication.
Community Services Program Specialist II
City of Albuquerque
Albuquerque
06.2021 - 10.2022
- Provided health and social services to the general public, assisting families seeking emergency assistance with food, clothing, diapers, eviction prevention, utility assistance, and other basic needs; established partnerships with city departments, agencies, churches, schools, and child protective services to enhance client support.
- Assisted clients with Rental and Utility assistance through the CDBG Eviction Prevention Program.
- Conducted needs assessments for clients in person or over the phone, determining eligibility for social services programs.
- Made sure guidelines for the EPP program and the social services program were being met according to federal and state guidelines.
- Provided effective referrals for social services or referred to other partner agencies.
- Formed partnerships with city departments and external organizations to promote services and implement outreach and recruitment efforts.
- Performed daily administrative duties answered telephone calls from 311 or general public and email correspondence in a professional and timely manner on a daily basis from other city departments or outside agencies inquiring about Health and Social Service program requirements.
- Assisted in translation and interpreting for Spanish speaking clients.
- Utilized computer programs such as client track and Roadrunner database.
- Prepared administrative reports for Roadrunner for food boxes distributed monthly.
- Collected donations from local businesses and organizations to support community programs.
- Supervised, directed and coordinated the work of lower-level staff.
- Department of Family & Community, Health & Social Services
Access Control Assistant
City of Albuquerque
Albuquerque
05.2020 - 06.2021
- Utilizing knowledge of pertinent Federal laws, State rules, and City policies and procedures, provide customer service including information to new hires coming in to work for city department of Aviation, contractors or vendors housed in the Sunport building.
- Verified and accounted for airport security access badges and high-security keys according to Transportation Security Administration and Aviation Department regulations; maintained proper records and performed audits.
- Interacted with general public, airport vendors, tenants, and government agencies to resolve questions, complaints, or disputes; acted as liaison for access requirements and security issues while coordinating, testing, and troubleshooting hardware and software interfaces with Operations and Systems Administrator.
- Conducted operational activities of airport access services including fingerprinting, verifying identity and eligibility documents, security/ramp driving class requirements and documentation.
- Processed high volume of access applications, maintaining accurate and secure database; compiled statistical information for department divisions and outside government agencies.
- Audited the database for expired badges, unresolved fingerprint or STA issues, unpaid parking access and discrepancies.
- Maintained extensive and complex filing system and database; ensured compliance with all Federal, State and local regulations; maintained and ensured security and integrity of all documents and supporting information; dispose of sensitive confidential security information in accordance with Federal government security guidelines.
- Trained new employees and perform a variety of duties relative to assigned area of responsibility.
- Assisted in coordinating community events for local residents.
- Managed scheduling and logistics for departmental meetings and activities.
Human Resource Specialist
Central New Mexico Community College
07.2019 - 05.2020
- Applied hiring policies and procedures to effectively assist in recruiting staff and faculty for departmental vacancies.
- Screened applicants for vacant positions in Talent Management database and other administrative duties such as gathering a list in excel of those applicants who met requirements.
- Coordinated New Employee Orientation.
- Sent interview notes, justification for hire and screening matrix to main HR.
- Sent requisition numbers to main HR when positions become available.
- Submitted open positions in Cornerstone database.
- Called applicants to schedule interview dates and times.
- Made sure all information for new hires, staff, administration and faculty are all up to date in Excel spreadsheet.
- Ensured completion of mandatory training for new hires and managed logistics for interviews and meetings within the administration.
- Worked closely and met with Dean and Associates Deans of who they would like to interview.
- Coordinated and organized public and internal meetings, including advisory board sessions, ensuring accurate documentation of minutes.
- Entered scheduled meetings into Outlook calendar daily for team coordination.
- Processed termination and separation employees.
- Performed Quarterly evaluations and career education for staff.
- Made electronic files and paper files for new staff as hired.
- Facilitated communication within Humanities and Social Sciences departments.
- Updated faculty database regularly to ensure accurate records.
Education
Pre-Management Development -
City of Albuquerque
Employee Learning Center06-2023
Business Administration - Associates
Central New Mexico Community College
Albuquerque, NM04-2018
General Business - Certificate
Central New Mexico Community College
04-2018
High School Diploma -
Youth Development Institute
01-2007
Skills
- Financial Analysis
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Database/Software
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Teamwork
- Collaboration
- Adaptability
- Leadership
- Handling Pressure
- Time Management
- Strong Work Ethic
- Bilingual English/Spanish
- Grant administration
- Professionalism
- Problem-solving abilities
- Team collaboration
- Continuous improvement
- Multitasking
- Compliance monitoring
Relevant Training
Homewise Livability Fellowship
C.O.P, 04/24/28
CPR and AED, 5/2028
Timeline
Program Specialist
City of Albuquerque
09.2023 - Current
Community Services Program Coordinator
City of Albuquerque
10.2022 - 09.2023
Community Services Program Specialist II
City of Albuquerque
06.2021 - 10.2022
Access Control Assistant
City of Albuquerque
05.2020 - 06.2021
Human Resource Specialist
Central New Mexico Community College
07.2019 - 05.2020
Office Assistant/Senior Office Assistant
City of Albuquerque
02.2019 - Current
Pre-Management Development -
City of Albuquerque
Business Administration - Associates
Central New Mexico Community College
General Business - Certificate
Central New Mexico Community College
High School Diploma -
Youth Development Institute