Jennifer L. Ward ***** Woodland Drive Athens, Illinois 62613 217-***-****

abjjup@r.postjobfree.com

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL

Operations Budgeting & Financials Policy Development Fundraising and Volunteer Services

Logistics Teambuilding Hiring & Staff Development/Retention Community Relations Customer

Service

Dynamic, visionary, results-focused executive manager with exceptional leadership skills, a commitment

to excellence, and the ability to build and direct high-performing organizations. Astute analyst, strategic

thinker, and creative problem solver with an unwavering commitment to quality, service, and value.

Articulate and persuasive; skilled negotiator and relationship builder. Gifted trainer and motivator able to

develop maintain high morale and efficiencies in challenging environments. Possess deft influencing

skills to change cultures and processes to leverage existing, limited resources and meet state and federal

mandates, year over year. Experienced managing budgets up to $36 Million and directing several hundred

managers and staff.

CAREER TRACK

Team Warrior Concepts

Chief Executive Officer (co-owner), 2007-Pres.

Overall management and administration of the organizations functions. Management, organization

and training of volunteers and instructors. Promote and organize large fundraising events and

organization sponsorships. Management of budgetary and accounting system. Responsible for all

advertising, promotional and public relations aspects of the business. Responsible for report writing,

development, review and implementation of policy and procedure and legal contracts. Maintain, review

and ensure compliance with implementation of state rules and regulations as they pertain to the business.

Management of employees/volunteers, and facility scheduling. Trainer for instructional classes and

curriculum development. Membership and Event and product sales and marketing.

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

JACKSONVILLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER LOGAN CORRECTIONAL CENTER

STATEVILLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER TAYLORVILLE CORRECTIONAL CENTER IYC KEWANEE

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER / WARDEN, 2004 -2009

Provide effective executive leadership and guidance to ensure optimal operations for a range of

facilities, including maximum and minimum security prisons, transportation hubs, work camps, and all

associated departments and functions. Key duties include multimillion dollar budgetary development

and management, direct human resources and labor relations, supervising, directing, and disciplining

several hundred employees and volunteers, policy and procedural development, improvement, and

compliance, community relations, and ensuring unique needs of inmate populations, security and

administrative staff, family members, and state officials at all levels addressed and met.

Took a leading role formulating new and reengineering existing polices, practices, and procedures

to meet unique requirements of each prison, and ensured full compliance with Department of

Corrections mandates and guidelines.

Exhibit exemplary mentoring, management, and oversight abilities directing staff in multiple

departments and functions, including: human resources, security, administrative, custodial,

rehabilitative, medical, psychiatric, and diagnostic to maintain wellness, intelligence, investigations,

tactical units, community relations and volunteer programs.

Assist and / or direct operational audits to identify issues and formulate recommendations and

solutions.

Maintain full compliance with union and contractual obligations, and serve on various committees

and task forces as required to achieve both short and long-term goals.

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

IYC ST. CHARLES

CHIEF OF SECURITY, 2002 - 2004

Spearheaded all aspects of operations and functions surrounding the control and supervision of various

institutions’ processes. Coordinated, directed, and managed Duty Administrative Officer functions.

Directed intelligence, Investigations, and Tactical Response. Expertly served as Critical Incidents /

Emergency Response Coordinator. Developed, administered, and directed operations, evaluating and

directing changes in operations of staff and the

incarcerated population. Supervised, coordinated, and directed security forces in housing and custodial

programs. Successfully assisted with special projects as requested by executive staff. Designed,

developed, and administered the facility / security budget.

Effectively oversaw statewide Reception and Transportation units and prescribed disciplinary

measures.

Professionally served as Employee Review Board hearing officer.

Successfully served as statewide Interdiction / Juvenile Reform committee member.

Monitored Mentally Ill and Drug Treatment Units as well as Reception and Classification Units and

Process.

Actively served as Crisis Team Member and Regional Auditor and urinalysis collector.

Special Olympics fundraising and event coordinator.

SHIFT COMMANDER/YOUTH SUPERVISOR IV, 2001 - 2002

Expertly functioned as Shift Commander and Unit Supervisor, reporting directly to Duty Warden.

Effectively assisted administrative staff in roster management and deployment of security personnel.

Planned, prepared, and documented Employee Evaluations. Professionally prepared referrals to the

Employee Revue Board. Ensured comprehensive unit security checks completed and recorded.

Independently responsible for approving confinements and completing necessary reports.

Coordinated schedule and directed pick-ups from various law enforcement agencies, and arranged

escorts for off-grounds trips.

Examined, assessed, and investigated matters pertaining to occurrences during the shift and met

daily with subordinate staff.

Actively served as Adjustment Committee Chairperson, Crisis Team Member, and Audit Team

Member.

Successfully assisted the training department in providing annual training to all security and non-

security staff.

CORRECTIONAL COUNSELOR II, 1998 - 2001

Professionally assigned to the Special Treatment Unit, case managing and counseling inmates. Expertly

managed all aspects of Casework Supervisor duties. Planned, prepared, and presented Initial Service

Plans, Institutional Progress Reports, DCFS / Court Reports. Coordinated, directed, and documented the

development of inmates in Behavioral Modification Program. Oversaw, directed, and monitored interns,

maintaining a complex database to track, update, and monitor caseload. Effectively facilitated a

substance abuse group.

Instructed, trained, and mentored staff on substance abuse curriculum.

Expertly functioned as institutional auditor, cycle trainer, and Adjustment Committee Chairperson.

Communicated, negotiated, and collaborated with administration, supervisors, DCFS, parents,

security staff, teachers, parole, and work sites.

CORRECTIONAL OFFICER/YOUTH SUPERVISOR II, 1997 - 1998

Single-handedly responsible for maintaining and monitoring the safety and security of inmate housing

units, monitoring movement, school /work assignments, and maintaining all documentation as required.

Successfully assisted management in training new employees and provided annual training to

security and non-security staff.

I LLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

SHERIDAN CORRECTIONAL CENTER

COUNSELOR (GATEWAY), 1996 - 1997

Actively involved in Substance Abuse Treatment pilot program for Drug / Alcohol-abusing offenders.

Instructed, trained, and mentored Correctional Officers assigned to the Treatment Community.

Monitored, oversaw, and supervised offenders within a behavior modification system.

Provided extensive treatment in groups (education / positive confrontation) and individual settings.

Developed, implemented, and administered discipline within program and department guidelines.

Coordinated, directed, and provided Aftercare transitioning to Tasc component.

COUNSELOR (TASC INC. / GATEWAY PROGRAM), 1995 - 1996

Expertly served as a site liaison between headquarters and project site, reporting directly to the Project

Director. Successfully collected site data. Monitored, evaluated, and documented the job performance

of part-time / full-time employee.

Provided comprehensive data to Illinois State University and DASA (project monitoring and

funding agencies).

Managed, scheduled, and processed all case management services, collaborating with Field

Services on placement issues. Maintained, updated, and delivered charting and completed

assessments.

Previous positions include:

Counselor – Breaking Free Administrative Assistant – Stonebridge

Pharmacy Technician

LEARNING CREDENTIALS

PH.D. – BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, 2006

Rochville University

MASTER OF ARTS – PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, 2001

Concordia University

BACHELOR OF ARTS – COUNSELING / PSYCHOLOGY, 1998

Columbia State University

CERTIFICATES & LICENSES

Licensed CADC (Alcohol / Drug Counselor), Illinois Professional Certification Association, 1995

Addiction Counseling Certification, College of DuPage, 1995

American Correctional Association Auditor

National Incident Management Certified, FEMA / Emergency Management Institute

Medical / Exercise Therapist, Certified & Registered, National Academy for Health and Fitness-Medical

Exercise, 2000

ORGANIZATIONS & ASSOCIATIONS

American Correctional Association

Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association

Fraternal Order of Police, Special Olympics

REFERENCES AND FURTHER DATA PROVIDED UPON

ESTABLISHMENT OF MUTUAL INTEREST

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