Jessica Adkisson

Intrapreneur / Speaker / Aspiring Interviewing Expert

Location: Arcata, California (Redding, California Area)
Industry: Professional Training & Coaching

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Jessica Adkisson's Overview

Current

Program Coordinator at Employment & Training Division
Principal Consultant at Career Confident

Past

Manager at The Job Market
Case Manager at Humboldt Mediation Services
Resident Director at Humboldt State University

Resident Director at New Mexico State University
WAVE Program Coordinator at New Mexico State University
Project Coordinator - VAWA Campus Project at La Pinon Sexual Assault Recovery Services of Southern NM

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Education

New Mexico State University

Recommendations

15 people have recommended Jessica

Connections

142 connections

Inspired by artists and entrepreneurs in creative and technical industries, solopreneurs working to help others, and innovators solving problems in developing countries. I seek opportunities to be ‘out of my league’, always trying to find the steepest learning curve I can handle without falling backward, always believing my contribution can help and improve the lives of others.

Avidly interested in improving myself, and thus helping others, I seek out training and experiential opportunities that help develop courage, creativity, communication and leadership skills.

Inside of organizations I often find myself as the intrapreneur within the system, seeking opportunities to initiate, improve and develop services and products that are meaningful to clients and customers. Often tasked with reviving stagnant projects, or developing new ideas and turning them into viable projects, I naturally seek to minimize unnecessary processes wherever possible and maximize team member’s individual strengths and passions in order to stoke the fire of enthusiasm and progress within the team.

Naturally translating what I learn into ways to teach and help others, I have found challenge and inspiration within the private sector, non-profits, government and higher education. I love seeing people excel while doing something meaningful for others.

Program Coordinator

Employment & Training Division

Government Agency; 1001-5000 employees; Government Administration industry

September 2012 – Present (9 months) Eureka, CA

I handle the developmental planning, recruitment, marketing and eligibility management for regular and unique trainings for the public and partners. My emphasis is identifying trainings for job seekers that specifically fill skill gaps in the local job market as well as helping employers improve their hiring skills in order to hire the best quality employee.

Principal Consultant

Career Confident

Privately Held; Myself Only; Professional Training & Coaching industry

April 2010 – Present (3 years 2 months) Arcata, CA

I help top employees people get the challenging job they really want, by helping them translate their achievements into more attractive employer language; improve their communication style for interviews; and help improve their allocation of time effectively in their job search. The goal - spend time correctly in the process, and you'll apply to less jobs before finding that perfect fit.

Manager

The Job Market

Government Agency; 1001-5000 employees; Government Administration industry

August 2010 – September 2012 (2 years 2 months) Eureka, CA

I coordinated complicated agency partnerships and managed the day to day operations of The Job Market, Humboldt County's one stop job resource. It was my fundamental purpose to make it easier for everyone to do their job well, to the benefit of the customer while still ensuring everyone can stay in line with their constantly changing legislative and budgetary environments.

Case Manager

Humboldt Mediation Services

Nonprofit; 1-10 employees; Alternative Dispute Resolution industry

June 2009 – August 2010 (1 year 3 months) Eureka, CA

I helped educate people in the midst of conflict on the benefits of mediation. I also coordinated said meditations and supported the volunteer pool of mediators.

Resident Director

Humboldt State University

Educational Institution; 201-500 employees; Higher Education industry

June 2008 – May 2009 (1 year) Arcata, CA

I managed a residential hall with over 200 students, primarily first year; along with a small student staff. I advised several councils, participated in Department and University wide training and development initiatives and did some event planning, budget management, on-call crisis and emergency duty and staff recruitment.

Resident Director

New Mexico State University

Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry

July 2006 – May 2008 (1 year 11 months) Las Cruces, NM

I managed a residential hall of 450 students, which included two specialized learning communities. I also supervised an assistant coordinator who managed a second residential hall of 200 students. I managed a staff of 10, an advisory council, assisted with Department wide recruiting and hiring, training and supported student staff in programming, event planning, and emergency and crisis response.

WAVE Program Coordinator

New Mexico State University

Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry

June 2004 – August 2006 (2 years 3 months) Las Cruces, NM

Provided meaningful work experiences for 12 people, which allowed each person to develop and discover their natural strengths and learn new skills in a professional arena.

Impacted students, staff and administrators with our structured in-class integration of education on interpersonal violence and alcohol harm reduction strategies.

Altered the formal structure of the Counseling Center by establishing a fully funded peer education program under their tutelage.

Enhanced the budget of the Counseling Center by securing additional funding, allowing the WAVE program’s annual budget to grow from $49,000 to $275,000 during my tenure; additionally quadrupled the office space for the program through a partnership with the Housing Department at the University.

Customized and delivered educational presentations to effectively reach audiences of students, faculty and administrators in groups of 5 – 200.

Increased number of requested presentations by 50% each year, after developing a group of peer speakers to replace me as the primary speaker.

Project Coordinator - VAWA Campus Project

La Pinon Sexual Assault Recovery Services of Southern NM

December 2002 – May 2004 (1 year 6 months) Las Cruces, NM

Initiated permanency of the grant funded pilot project, by securing funding through the University’s Student Fee Board, and the University President’s Office.

Improved working relationships between our agency and University Law Enforcement, Faculty and Community partners.

Delivered a minimum of 120 presentations in 18 months, to students in classes of 10 – 150.

Enhanced the annual operating budget of $40,000 with an additional $17,000 grant from the state during it’s final year.

Completed the execution of the primary grant goals which included developing and securing a permanent campus presence.

Served as the public face of the organization in TV and radio interviews following a high profile case that resulted in the death a local graduate student.

Interviewing for Employers Training
- 2013 to Present
Team Members: Jessica Adkisson

Developing a workshop for local employers that will help improve their productivity, profits and morale by teaching effective interviewing techniques. Designed for the traditional supervisor, who has not received extensive training on how to interview - this workshop will teach common errors and bias in interviewing and provide information and tools on improving the interviewing process so that it reduces turnover, employee issues and losses to productivity.
Short Term Training Programs
- 2012 to Present
Team Members: Jessica Adkisson, Julia Peterson

Work as the project manager within my Department who coordinates with the local community college to design, promote and fill several new short term training programs. I am responsible for designing internal processes that allow our department to provide scholarships for students; promoting trainings to potential scholarship recipients, ensuring project assignments and deadline are clearly communicated and researching labor market trends to keep trainings relevant to our community.
Fall Job Fair
- 2011 to Present
Team Members: Jessica Adkisson, Jasmine Manuel, Greg Werronen, AJ Maveety

Led a group of diverse talent to expand the annual job fair, with a primary emphasis on raising the professional interactions between agencies and employers, also gained funding and partnership that would allow us to charge for admission. The event was well received by employers and job seekers alike. A final report was written to multi-agency operating body, and I was complimented specifically for initiating the report, and for making it so informative.
Redwood Coast Career Fair 2013
- March 2013 to Present
Team Members: Jessica Adkisson, AJ Maveety, Rodney Johnson (RJ), George Marley

Volunteer Experience
- Pitch Practice Assistant
  
  Economic Fuel
  2011 – 2011 (less than a year)
  
  I provided feedback to competitors on their business proposal pitches. My emphasis was to make each person feel encouraged for participating, but to provide constructive, honest feedback about how their presentation / public speaking could be improved in order to more effectively convey their business ideas to the panel of judges.
- Helping Hand
  
  Humboldt Roller Derby
  2009 – present (4 years)
  
  I worked the merchandise tables, volunteer check in, and as a ticket taker for two seasons 2009-2011. In 2013 I started training to become a Non-Skating Official.
- Project Assistant
  
  Humboldt Capoeira Academy
  2010 – 2010 (less than a year)
  
  I assisted with fundraising, event planning and event assistance for a multi-day celebration and conference for regional Capoeristas. I served in multiple capacities during the eight months of planning, and during execution of this event. My primary objective during the event was to control and minimize confusion of activities and processes when the Organizer was not available. During this time I also took photographs of students and instructors, of events, and of facilities that could be used by the owner / organizer for promotional use.
- On Air Talent
  
  KHSU Public Radio
  2008 – 2010 (2 years)
  
  I co-hosted a weekly 5-7 minute segment on public radio, during the KHSU Homepage. This involved finding guests, developing topics, conducting interviews, and sharing opinions.
- Board Member & Crisis Advocate
  
  La Pinon Sexual Assault Recovery Services
  2002 – 2008 (6 years)
  
  I began as a crisis advocate, working on call shifts twice a week. I was awarded the Advocate of the Year award in 2003. I transitioned to serving on the Board of Directors in 2006, serving as the Secretary. And serving as co-chair 2007 - 2008. I received another award acknowledging my support and contributions when I resigned, due to my impending relocation. During my tenure I also assisted with organization events and legislative advocacy.
- Conference Co-Organizer
  
  American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
  2006 – present (7 years)
  
  I initiated the planning and co-organized a local conference that included the national AFSP broadcast for International Survivors of Suicide Day, and a follow up panel and discussion. This was held for community members who were survivors of suicide, and offered a small group of us the opportunity to reach out and support others in honor of two local friends who were survivors.

Taking A Bike Down Memory Lane
- The Community Wheel / A Publication of Green Wheels
- September 2009
Authors: Jessica Adkisson

Inspirational piece about reconnecting with the childhood joys of riding a bike.
Ain't No Sunshine
- The Community Wheel / A Publication of Green Wheels
- December 2009
Authors: Jessica Adkisson

Inspirational piece, encouraging the use of alternative transportation during the winter months.

Supervisory Effectiveness Program (Series 1: Leading People)
- UC Davis Extension: Center for Human Services
- October 2011
The Psychology of Resilience
- Cross Country Education
- June 2010
Life Purpose & Career Coach
- The Life Purpose Institute
- April 2010
Mediator: Community Boards Style
- Humboldt Mediation Services
- October 2009
Training for Trainers
- Humboldt State University: Extended Education
- May 2009

New Mexico State University

BBA, Small Business & Entrepreneurial Management

2001 – 2005

Most interesting classes included Human Resources Management, Small Business Consulting, Leadership in the Public / Private Sector (taught by two former Governors), Personal Finance, Creative Writing and many Sociology classes.

Other Interesting Class Projects:
- Leading my class group in defending the position of GE on environmental issues against another class group (anti-GE), and the teacher.
- Working in a mutli-disciplinary group of students to create a competitive business plan that addressed accounting, marketing and mangement.
- Consulting on business processes for an actual developing start up.

If I could do it all again, I would look for more opportunities to apply what I learned in my Calculus, Statistics and Matrices / Linear Programming classes.

Interests:

Motivational Based Interviewing, Connecting People, Public Speaking, Psychometric Testing, Writing Resumes, Strengths Based Development, Photography, Swimming, The Hero's Journey, Tiny Houses

Groups and Associations:

Toastmasters International; International Coaching Federation (ICF) - former member; American Association of Grant Professionals (AAGP) - former member; American Association of University Women (AAUW) - former member; NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education - former member