Tonia Prewitt
Owingsville
Summary
Dynamic workforce development leader with extensive experience in driving business and industry service initiatives while fostering impactful community collaborations. Proven track record of enhancing organizational performance through strategic partnerships and innovative program design. Committed to empowering individuals and organizations to achieve goals by leveraging deep industry insights and a passion for community engagement. Adept at navigating complex challenges and delivering measurable results in fast-paced environments.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Regional Program Manager
Education and Labor Cabinet
09.2010 - Current
- Provide supervision and oversight as well as manage the operations of multiple One Stop Career Centers in a 33 county area.
- Responsible for the administration, procedural activity and budget control for employment service programs in a two workforce investment areas
- Assign, coordinates and evaluates the work of personnel responsible for implementing policies and procedures of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, employment services and unemployment insurance programs among others.
- Interpret program policy to staff. Provide training as needed.
- Monitor expenditures and assures staff utilization is consistent with staff allocation plan and budget. Participate in the formulation of the office’s biennial budget request and Infrastructure funding agreements.
- Monitor effectiveness of service to the community. Promote Services of career centers to the community. Resolve complaints from clients, communities and staff.
- Visit partners and employers to highlight and market services offered by the Department for Workforce Investment. Represent agency in public forums.
- Provide technical assistance to subordinate supervisors and employees.
- Evaluate the performance of employees. Interviews and makes recommendations on potential employees. Counsels with problem employees and initiates disciplinary action when appropriate.
- Serve on boards and committees to ensure workforce services are carried out in an effective manner.
- Engaged with customers, partners and constituent groups to create positive, trusting and professional relationships.
- Collaborated with developers and project managers to assess program capabilities, features and testing demands.
- Delivered clear presentations during meetings with clients and colleagues, using effective public speaking skills.
- Devised tools and benchmarks to improve team performance and monitor production.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
Certified Mediator
Personnel Cabinet
12.2008 - Current
- Mediate and resolve issues between state employees for the personnel cabinet and the Commonwealth.
- Conduct Workforce Resolutions for managers and directors to ensure optimum workplace environments.
- Continuing education regarding issues affecting the Commonwealth’s employees.
Workforce Development Specialist II/ Employment Counselor
Office of Employment & Training
01.2002 - 09.2010
- Daily assist customers file unemployment insurance claims as well as assisting with all aspects of issues, problems and questions regarding same, including interstate, Disaster UA and other claims of various degrees of complexity.
- Assist clients with resume preparation, job search & development, training information, unemployment insurance, interview preparation and confidence building helping them to overcome any barriers to employment.
- Lead the Kentucky Employment Network job skills training workshops on a weekly basis for more than 6 years. (Intensive preparation for reentering the job market through preparation and development, individual counseling and more)
- Work with Community Partners and agency to facilitate services to the community.
- Experience in customer service, human benefits services and program implementation.
Education
B.A. - Paralegal Studies, Psychology
Morehead State University
05.2001
A.A.S. - undefined
University of Kentucky
Master’s - Public Administration, Community Development Concentration
Eastern Kentucky University
05.2018
Skills
- Engaging presentation abilities
- Collaborative team development
- Team leadership
- Educational facilitation
- Project execution management
- Data analysis
- Grant proposal redesign
- Program analysis
- Federal policy updates
- IT technical support
- Skilled in Microsoft applications
- Responsive web design and implementation
- Strategic marketing
- Active community engagement
- Collaboration with local stakeholders
Accomplishments
- Employability Skills and Work Ethics Program at multiple high schools
- Nominee for Governor’s Ambassador Award for Customer Service 4 times
- Four years volunteer work at Our Lady of The Way Hospital and work with local clinic
- Twice served on mission and rescue team assisting tornado and hurricane victims rebuild their homes
- Volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity
- Served on local private school board three years and served as volunteer art instructor
Affiliations
- Board of Directors for Mount Sterling-Dubois Community Center
- EKCEP Workforce Investment Board
- Board of Trustees, United Way of the Bluegrass
- Board of Directors for United Way of the Bluegrass
- TENCO Workforce Development Board
- Board of Directors - Chamber of Commerce
- Board of Directors – TERF
- Board of Directors – Montgomery County Homeless Coalition
- REBECCA Coalition
Timeline
Regional Program Manager
Education and Labor Cabinet
09.2010 - Current
Certified Mediator
Personnel Cabinet
12.2008 - Current
Workforce Development Specialist II/ Employment Counselor
Office of Employment & Training
01.2002 - 09.2010
A.A.S. - undefined
University of Kentucky
Master’s - Public Administration, Community Development Concentration
Eastern Kentucky University
B.A. - Paralegal Studies, Psychology
Morehead State University
Continuing Education
- Certified Public Managers Program through GSC & Kentucky State University
- Certified Workforce Development Professional through NAWDP
- Generations at Work – Seminar on different generations in the workforce and how they approach work and other life events
- Kentucky Virtual University
- University of Kentucky A.A.S.
- Training on Helping Customers with Disabilities, Job Skills Training, Workplace Violence, Workplace Safety, KDVA - Effects of Domestic Violence on Kids, Domestic Violence Seminar at MSU in conjunction with KDVA, KSP, NEKLS and more
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