Resumé
Education - Achievements - Other
2001
Masters in Business Administration (MBA)
Certificates in Marketing, Management. Entrepreneurship, International Business.
University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida USA
1995
B.Sc Public Sector Management
(Upper 2nd Class Honours)
University of The West Indies
Cave Hill Campus, BARBADOS
Certified Entrepreneurship Instructor
1999 - EDGE, Kidsway Inc., GA, USA
2000 - Margie Brand, Washington DC, USA
2011 - Eco-Ventures International, DC, USA
2001
Certified Master Trainer
Entrepreneurship Instruction
2000 - Margie Brand, Washington DC, USA
2005
Non-profit Leadership Development
Conn Memorial Foundation, FL, USA
2013
Non-profit Board Development
Leadership Development
Non-profit Fund Raising
The Executive Minds, BARBADOS
2014
USAID Audit Compliance
Office of the Inspector General, Dom. Rep.
2018
Teachers In Partnership
Leading Educators As Partners
The Executive Minds, BARBADOS
SCHOLARSHIP/AWARDS/MEMBERSHIP/FEATURE
2003
First Outstanding Alumnus (USF), Kauffman Entrepreneurial Internship Alumni
1999
National Development Scholarship, Government of Barbados
2009
Featured in Building Business, USF Magazine
PUBLICATIONS CONTRIBUTED TO
1998 – 2002
YES Newsletter
2001
Computer Mentors Newsletter (Editor)
2000
University of South Florida, Corporate Mentors Newsletter (Editor)
1999
Public Sector Reform Newsletter
Employment History
2003 – present
Founder
Youth Empowered to Achieve! Inc, (YEA! Florida)
Founded YEA!, a non-profit organization dedicated to entrepreneurial and youth development; sourced and led a talented multi-disciplinary, cross-functional team that took the organization from a budget of US$5,000 to US$200,000 over 4 years; and from serving 5 youth to serving a minimum of 100 per year.
2006 – present
Founder
Youth Equipped to Achieve! Inc, (YEA! Barbados)
Led the implementation of two grants from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) serving 43 schools across Barbados participating in the Regional Entrepreneurship and Agricultural Programme (REAP) having secured US$200,000 from GEF SGP UNDP and matched it in kind from private/public sector partners.
2015 – 2018
Assistant Registrar (Business Development)
Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC)
Led in seeking business opportunities and preparing project proposals. Contributed to the development and implementation of the business plan. Liaised with ministries, institutions and agencies on collaborative initiatives and provided focal point support for optimizing CXC® engagement of partners.
2012 – 2015
Executive Director, JA Charity of Barbados
Led a team of administrative and operational staff, teachers and business mentors; attracted financial, human, physical and other resources for the implementation of JA programmes; supported the chair of the Board of trustees and served as an ex-officio board member; recruited and coordinated consultants.
2012 – 2013
Chief of Party
JA Programs - Eastern Caribbean
Led a team in the establishment of Junior Achievement in Dominica; managed the capacity building of five Junior Achievement Member Nations in Barbados and the OECS; supervised local and international consultants; prepared technical, financial and programming reports quarterly.
2007 – 2010
Senior Program Officer
University Area Community Development Corporation - Florida
Worked directly with the Director of Grants and Programs to manage federally funded state-wide contracts and programmes; directly managed the teen empowerment and elementary after-care programmes.
- Supervised a team of 9 staff and volunteers
- Managed quality control according to standards of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
- Developed, planned and implemented youth development activities
- Developed a handbook and materials to facilitate replication of these model programmes across Florida
2005 – 2006
Program Specialist
Junior Achievement – Enterprise Village
Assisted with planning and launching the first Enterprise Village in Hillsborough County.
- Wrote, edited, evaluated and revised entrepreneurship and micro-enterprise curriculum
- Ensured quality of program flow
- Prepared student-run businesses for daily operations
- Trained new groups of teachers, parents and volunteers to manage Enterprise Village daily
- Supervised new groups of at least 80 youth, teachers, parents and volunteers in operating the village daily.
2000 – 2002
Program Director, Computer Mentors Group
- Strategic grant-writing
- Developed procedures manual and guidelines
- Networked with funders and partners
- Prepared presentations, proposals, monthly reports, budgets and evaluations for Board
- Developed and managed dynamic programs to meet client and organization needs
- Served as direct advisor to Executive Director
1999 - 2001
Research Assistant, Dr. Howard Rasheed University of South Florida
- Trained over 100 youth in entrepreneurship
- Administered research instrument
- Collated, formatted and reviewed data
- Prepared final reports on projects in relation to study:
“The Effects of Teaching Entrepreneurship at the Pre-Collegiate Level”.
Projects - Presentations – Workshops
Lead Facilitator, YEA! Dominica
Roseau, Dominica.
Developed and implemented a Collaborative Action for Youth at Risk (C.A.Y.R.) workshop engaging 41 individuals from 26 organisations across 6 sectors around the topic “At-Risk” Youth: A Systems Approach – It Starts With Me. Guided a shift in thinking on the systems approach and the definition of “youth at risk”; facilitated goal-setting, consensus-building, project design and action-planning.
Co-Facilitator, FHI 360 and YEA! Barbados Bridgetown, Barbados.
Implemented a Whole-System-in-the-Room (W.S.R.) workshop engaging 48 participants from 8 sectors around the topic “Creating the Ideal Environment for Positive Youth Development in Barbados.
Project Consultant, YES Juniors Program, Div. of Youth, Government of Barbados.
Developed the programme framework; trained educators, government officials and community resource persons in effective implementation methodologies; guided the implementation of the programme at 14 schools across the country; conducted review, analysis and consulting sessions with Government on programme management and growth; developed assessment tools for measurement of programme effectiveness.
Project Consultant, “Jumpstart Project”,
Div. of Youth, Government of Barbados.
Developed programme framework; trained and guided 15 youth through developing a micro-enterprise; networked with the corporate community to secure programme support.
Presenter, 1st Caribbean Entrepreneurial Conference for Small and Medium Sized Businesses, ADECK, Curacao.
“Creating An Entrepreneurial Culture – Caribbean Focus”. Key messages: the critical need for a governmental initiative to change the national, traditional view of entrepreneurship and “small business” as a last resort; strategic developments of the Barbados Initiative.
Presenter, 1st Caribbean Encounter of Entrepreneurship Educators for The Caribbean & Latin America
Columbia College, Caguas, Puerto Rico.
“Creating an Entrepreneurial Culture in The Caribbean”. Key messages: the critical need for a governmental initiative to change the national, traditional view of entrepreneurship and “small business” as a last resort; the comparative benefits of integrating best practices to suit the specific needs of each culture and country; the effectiveness of this strategy in the Barbados model.
Presenter, Kidsway Entrepreneurship Conf. Orlando, FL.
“Effective Methodologies for Teaching Youth Entrepreneurship, The Making Cents Model”.
Master Trainer, Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY) Indianapolis, Indiana
Trained educators on effective methodologies of teaching youth entrepreneurship.
Master Trainer, Project Reachout
University of South Florida, Tampa.
Trained Camp Directors on effective methodologies of teaching youth entrepreneurship using “fun learning” and various strategic games and activities.
Presenter, Women’s Forum for Positive Change, Ridgecrest Conference, North Carolina.
Planned, organized and presented “From Youth Displacement to Youth Empowerment”. Inspirational speech on the challenges and strategies of bridging cultural, international and spiritual boundaries to empower youth to reach their full potential through entrepreneurship and life skills development.