Jessica is a Senior Policy Associate with CSW’s Improving Practices and Outcomes Team. In her role, she is responsible for improving and supporting positive outcomes for marginalized groups through data collection, evaluation, feedback, and identification of best practices and strategies.
An experienced workforce professional with 15 years of experience, Jessica specializes in supporting quality workforce programs for unemployed and underemployed individuals, particularly people of color. Before joining CSW, Jessica served as the Director of Industry-Led Training for the city of Detroit’s workforce agency. She played a key role in supporting and implementing an overhaul of Detroit’s workforce training system to shift to an evidenced-based sector training model. She was responsible for assisting with the development and buildout of customer and data management software to effectively track and document training related outcomes, grant expenditures, credential, and placement rates.
Jessica successfully managed training outcomes, ensuring programmatic objectives were met or exceeded. She successfully managed a network of 25+ training providers representing over 50 in-demand training programs and special training initiatives. Collaborating closely with employers, she developed and implemented customized training programs aligned with specific employment goals and objectives. Through routine and rigorous evaluation, she identified best practices and areas for improvement, ultimately doubling the number of training programs, increasing performance outcomes and average training-related wage. Her efforts ensured that Detroit residents had access to high-quality training programs leading to industry-recognized credentials and related in-demand employment opportunities.
Jessica holds a Master of Public Administration degree in Human Resource Management from Eastern Michigan University and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs, Local Government Management, from Wayne State University.