Quality Assurance Federal Programs

Location:

Reedville, VA

Posted:

December 06, 2024

Contact this candidate

Resume:

William “Bill” Walton

**** ********** *****

Mechanicsville, VA 23111

804-***-****

*****************@*******.***

Professional Summary

I am a seasoned professional with executive level experience in leading a large agency with staff located in multiple locations around the state with varied responsibilities. I am an expert in the field of unemployment insurance (UI). I have 30 years of experience in administering the UI program within the Commonwealth of Virginia all while ensuring compliance with state and federal law.

Skills

-Multiple leadership positions within a large organization.

-Excellent interpersonal skills.

-Ability to communicate with individuals from various backgrounds and experience.

-Writing, implementing, advising and monitoring policy and procedures concerning multiple federal programs.

-Comprehension of complex state and federal laws and directives.

-Establish budgets and review hiring and training needs of staff.

-Public speaking to include media interviews

Work History

08/2020 to Current

Deputy Commissioner for Unemployment Insurance

Virginia Employment Commission – Richmond, VA

Provided executive leadership to all departments responsible for administering the unemployment insurance (UI) program in Virginia. This included oversight of two call centers. Reviewed legislation being considered by the state General Assembly that would affect the UI program and provided impact analysis. Directed the day-to-day administration of the unemployment insurance (UI) program for the Commonwealth of Virginia. This included both the UI claims process and the UI tax program. The functional units within the UI Division included Monetary Determinations, Benefit Payment Control, Benefit Payment Charge, Adjudication, First and Second level appeals, Trade Readjustment Act (TRA), Extended Benefits (EB), Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) Quality Assurance (BAM, BTQ and TPS). Oversaw the Interstate benefits system. I was the executive sponsor for the UI modernization project. Provided leadership and guidance to the team that worked to replace our “legacy” mainframe-based operating system with a web-based system. We successfully implemented a new UI benefits and tax system. Oversaw the agency's fraud detection and prevention efforts related to the UI benefit and tax programs. This included working with the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) and their UI integrity center to utilize the integrity data hub (IDH). I lead efforts to pursue grant applications to implement integrity initiatives geared towards the interception and prosecution of fraudulent actors. Worked closely with the state Attorney General's office to bring criminal charges as it related to fraudulent actors and to obtain restitution. Identified staffing needs for the division. Created positions to include building out the required knowledge skills and abilities that were needed. Followed HR guidance to recruit and interview for vacancies. Engaged in all levels of performance evaluation and disciplinary action as necessary. Used directives from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to guide UI program initiatives. Followed Unemployment Insurance Program Letters (UIPL) and Training and Employment Guidance Letters (TEGL) issued by the USDOL to ensure state UI program compliance with federal directives. Provided quarterly and annual reports concerning the performance associated with grant funding initiatives obtained through the USDOL using various reporting mechanisms. Participated in the internal revenue service (IRS) treasury offset program (TOP) as well as working with the IRS office of Safeguards to validate IT compliance. Completed risk management initiatives internally with agency stakeholders. Engaged unit managers in team building and process improvement exercises. Actively participated in audits from both federal and state entities. Established budgets for the UI division and monitored it consistently. Kept up to date on all state and federal laws affecting the UI program to ensure compliance. Developed and implemented policy accordingly. Frequently, made presentations to elected officials, union representatives, and the general public serving as a UI subject matter expert. Closely worked with the Deputy Commissioner of Workforce to coordinate service delivery for programs administered under the Wagner-Peyser Act. Oversaw the Wagner-Peyser (WP) activities from October 2022 through June 2023 after my WP counterpart resigned. In this position I directly supervised employees who served at the “Director” level. Those directors oversaw various work units that employed over 1,200 employees in addition to contract staff that numbered in the range of 700 employees.

04/2011 to 08/2020

Unemployment Insurance Director

Virginia Employment Commission – Richmond, VA

Directed the day-to-day operations of the unemployment insurance (UI) program for the Commonwealth of Virginia. This included both the UI claims process and the UI tax program. The functional units within the UI Division included Monetary Determinations, Benefit Payment Control, Benefit Payment Charge, Adjudication, Trade Readjustment Act (TRA), Extended Benefits (EB), Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) Quality Assurance (BAM, BTQ and TPS). Oversaw the agency's fraud detection and prevention efforts related to the UI benefit and tax programs. Pursued grant applications to implement integrity initiatives geared towards the interception and prosecution of fraudulent actors. Oversaw the Interstate benefits system. Provided leadership and guidance to the team that was updating our UI operating system to include development and implantation of both benefits and tax operating systems. Consulted as the state developed a short time Compensation program. Actively stood up new programs established under the CARES Act of 2020 such as the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. Oversaw the entire Tax processes for the stated to include over 40 field tax representatives, audits, employer accounts and auditing. Tax rate establishment and billing, delinquent accounts and employer misclassification. Assessed staffing needs for the division. Created positions to include building out the required knowledge skills and abilities that were needed. Followed HR guidance to recruit and interview for vacancies. Engaged in all levels of performance evaluation and disciplinary action as necessary. Used directives from the U.S. Department of Labor to guide UI program initiatives. Engaged unit managers in team building and process improvement exercises. Actively participated in audits from both federal and state entities. Established budgets for the UI division and monitored it consistently. Kept up to date on all state and federal laws affecting the UI program to ensure compliance. Developed and implemented policy accordingly. Primary owner and coordinator for the annual State Quality Service Plan (SQSP) that served as a corrective action plan for performance standards to include GPRA performance goals. My duties frequently required me to make presentations to various stakeholders to include the public as well as lawmakers concerning the unemployment insurance program within the Commonwealth of Virginia. In this role I directly supervised unit managers who employed staff that totaled approximately 500 employees.

01/2010 to 04/2011

Chief of Benefits

Virginia Employment Commission – Richmond, VA

Provided leadership to the various units that support the unemployment insurance (UI) benefits program. This included the Monetary Determinations, Benefit Payment Control, Benefit Payment Charge Units and Claim Adjudication Centers. Evaluated pre- and post adjudication quality control audits to ensure accuracy and consistency. These evaluations were used to verify that the agency was in compliance with performance standard set by the US Department of Labor and to certify our Adjudicators so that they could work independently. Reviewed performance of the various units and worked with managers to implement changes when necessary. Participated in audits from both federal and state entities.

07/2003 to 01/2010

Workforce Center Manager

Virginia Employment Commission – Mechanicsville, VA

Managed a large office of staff (40+ employees) that provided employment and unemployment insurance (UI) and Wagner-Peyser (WP) services to the public. Participated in the budget process used to support the local office operations. Engaged in the hiring and performance review of employees who worked in varied capacities within the office. Served on the local Workforce Investment Board with members of the employer community as well as other service providing agencies. Made presentations to stakeholders concerning the programs offered by the Virginia Employment Commission. Supervised staff providing services to the general public under the Wagner-Peyser Act. Oversaw the Wagner-Peyser services and job search efforts to those seeking services. Partnered with other Workforce service providers to consolidate resources and offer comprehensive services in a "One-Stop" setting. Presented information on the Foreign Labor Certification program to employers. Managed staff who worked with employment based visa programs such as the H-2A temporary agriculture program.

07/2002 to 07/2003

Workforce Center Supervisor

Virginia Employment Commission – Richmond, VA

Assisted the manager of a large office of staff that provided employment and unemployment insurance (UI) to the public. Participated in the budget process used to support the local office operations. Engaged in the hiring and performance review of employees who worked in varied capacities within the office. Served on the local Workforce Investment Board with members of the employer community as well as other service providing agencies.

11/1993 to 07/2002

Hearing Officer

Virginia Employment Commission – Richmond, VA

Conducted fact finding hearings with individuals who filed a claim for unemployment insurance (UI) and their former employers. Gather facts pertaining to the circumstances surrounding the separation from employment. Issued written, legally binding determinations concerning the award or denial of the UI claim for benefits. Applied state law when evaluating claims for benefits. Analyzed prevailing wage data to issue written determinations involving complex and often contentious benefit eligibility programs. Participated in subsequent appeal hearings as necessary.

06/1993 to 11/1993

Employment Security Interviewer

Virginia Employment Commission – Alexandria, VA

Assisted individuals seeking to file a claim for unemployment insurance (UI). Gathered details necessary to process the UI applications. Obtained statements on issues that may affected eligibility for UI benefits. Provided information on employment services to members of the public.

Education

05/1992

Bachelor of Science: Criminal Justice

Radford University - Radford, VA

Notable :

National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA)/Information Technology Support Center (ITSC). Steering Committee Member – March 2017 to June 2023

References:

Name

Employer

Title

Phone

Karen Pasquale U.S. Department of Labor

Division Chief

302-***-****

********.*****@***.***

Susan Batte Virginia Employment Commission

Chief Administrative Law Judge

804-***-****