Keisha Harris-Watson

KEISHA L. HARRIS-WATSON

Swedesboro, NJ 08085 | Email keishahw1982@gmail.com | Voice (908) 698–9539  

Target Positions

DIRECTOR | ADMINISTRATOR | ADVOCATE 

• Serves individuals, groups, and communities with special needs and behavior concerns using full care and individualized support services that maximize their independence, empowerment, personal growth and quality of life 
• Maintain integrity and pursue the highest in customer service by building a team with common goals who recognize the mission and vision of the company and developing relationships with outside entities and organizations that add to these intentions.
• Collect Data, assess programming and implement improvements based on various client needs, agency budgets, state guidelines and regulations and best practices to assure quality in all areas.

COMPETENCIES:

Technology Management

Financial Management

Creativity | Innovation

Partnering

Political Savvy

Human Capital Management

Leveraging Diversity

Conflict Management

Public Service Motivation

Developing Others

Team Building

Customer Service

Accountability

Decisiveness 

Negotiating

RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE

WOODS MANOR LLC Haddonfield, NJ

Director June 2021-Present

Major Accomplishment: Totally revamped two group homes on provisional licenses to obtain full licensure within 6 months.

• Directs all operations within agency including Human Resources, Payroll, Community Supports and Residential programming.
• Implement policies, procedures, staffing, and budget to effectively run the agency.
• Directs short and long-term organizational planning and strategy as the leader of the management team. 
• Implement reporting procedures and data collection;  and create continuous  quality assurance measures to track improvements
• Directs development of program and agency budgets, oversee the process of development and expansion of Residential Services and client admissions.
• Implement marketing strategies to further business exposure
• Reviews and authorizes hiring, serious corrective actions, termination recommendations and certain types of leave requests
• Provides supervision, evaluation, training and team-building to entire team.
• Maintains ongoing communication with CEO on relevant program and agency issues
• Liaison to and advocate for agency with outside entities such as government agents, municipality, families and neighbors.

ARC MIDDLESEX COUNTY North Brunswick, NJ

Director of Residential    11/2020 – June 2021

Major Accomplishment: Implemented Overtime Committee and new overtime procedures and forms resulting in overtime decrease by 47% in three months.

• Oversees and coordinates programs and services day-to-day operation to ensure efficiency and effectiveness
• Recommends policies, procedures, staffing, and funding required to execute agency programs
• Contributes to short and long-term organizational planning and strategy as a member of the management team. 
• Create reports documenting errors and issues and create quality measures to track improvements
• Understands, directs, implements and enforces all appropriate policies and procedures, standards, regulations, and laws 
• Ensure all billing is completed weekly meeting or exceeding benchmarks. 
• Assists with the development of program and agency budgets
• Assists with the development of service plans for individuals in the Supportive Living Program.
• Reviews and authorizes hiring, serious corrective actions, termination recommendations and certain types of leave requests
• Direct supervision, evaluation, training and team-building of Assistant Director-level staff.
• Assists in the development and expansion of Residential Services. 
• Ensures NJCAT matches the needs of each participant and advocates for any needed changes with DDD.
• Maintains ongoing communication with Chief Program Officer and other Administrators on relevant program and agency issues
• Communicates with staff regularly through meetings, memos, email and casual conversation; mentors staff to deliver quality services to participants, staff, and families.

WONDERFUL CHANGE LLC Swedesboro, NJ

Owner/Consultant 6/2020-present

Major Accomplishment: Mentored and assisted up and coming  agency through the new provider processes from start to finish resulting in the development of new group home.

• Teach DDD policies, manuals and best practices to those seeking to create new development in the field
• Effectively interface with a wide variety of constituents including participants, staff family and community members.
• Advocate for children and their families in school setting for IEP creation and implementation; ensuring that accurate services provided
• Knowledge of and experience interpreting and implementing Federal Regulation 504 and the American with Disabilities Act 
• Evaluate programs and provide feedback on improvements, new development, revenue and services

DEW MINISTRIES  Elizabeth, NJ

Administrator 12/2015-present

• Plan events and conferences. Overseeing all aspects of planning including: budget, venue, facilitator arrangements and travel, marketing and advertising, volunteer recruitment training and assignment.
• Gather feedback and create new and innovative ways to involve and cater to the needs of the targeted population without compromising the organizations mission and goals

KEYSTONE COMMUNITY LIVING South Plainfield, NJ

Program Director 01/2014 – 11/2020

Major Accomplishment: Keystone Downsizing Project – Partnered with the management team to complete the Keystone downsizing project that took 65 individuals from the main building POC into 14 different group homes

• Lead all the operational aspects of an ongoing program that includes leadership, staffing, organizing and budgeting of 8+ DDD group homes 
• Review, update and implement policies and procedures and personnel manuals to align with NJ DDD standards, NJ Employment Laws and best practices
• 6+ years of providing an upbeat leadership experiences supervising residential programs, assigning the best managers to ensure excellent customer service while providing the direction of the facilities
• Follows HIPPA guidelines to safeguard the confidentiality of all clients’ data, health records and personal information and ensures all staff adheres to the same confidentiality rules
• Maintains the confidentiality of all staff’s information and records in accordance with federal and state requirements, establishes linkages with staff and meets deadlines for documentation and updates
• Develops team, sets goals and creates and implements policies to keep up with “current best practices”
• Develops innovative ways to recruit, hire and train new staff as the company needs multiplies; nearly 4 times over 2 years
• Coordinates work execution supervises the team, reports on project status, implements schedules, and makes sure the program runs smoothly, is timely and is within budget
• Evaluate programs and seeks ways to enhance the validity of each program; supervise all aspects of programs and assigns managers and ensures all programs are meeting the needs of our individuals
• Implemented new automated payroll database and oversees payroll procedures for workforce submissions
• Successful implementation of new systems and technology including ADP: Workforce Management, Time Simplicity, Payentry, and Therap: Data Collection and Analysis

ARC ESSEX COUNTY Livingston, NJ

Manager 03/2013 – 01/2014

Major Accomplishment: Leader in the development,  licensing and opening of a 4-bed group home under the NJ Olmstead Act and simultaneously maintained license and further developing of the existing 6-bed group home

• Created and maintained 25+ staff workers schedules at 2 group homes – kept low turnover rates, delegated tasks, directed trainings, fostered a team environment and promoted staff development
• Designed financial budgets and kept the financial records integrity for 10 individuals and 2 group homes
• Planned and coordinated diverse community activities and social events for individuals with special needs,  scheduled and attended doctor’s appointments for general wellness care, and handled health emergencies
• Ensured the overall health and safety of the individual by maintaining organized, accurate and precise medical records and by communicating and advocating for individuals  in their homes and in the community

COMMUNITY OPTIONS Hillsborough, NJ

Community Support Manager 03/2006 – 03/2013

Major Accomplishment: Primary lead in the 6-month transition of 4 clients oversaw the reconstruction and relicensing of the group home after it was destroyed in a natural disaster in October 2012

• Led the transition efforts of the clients and the reconstruction and relicensing of the home for occupancy
• In a natural disaster (Hurricane Sandy), the group home was destroyed, and all clients were displaced; led efforts to ensure all clients were properly placed and services were provided with little interruption
• Successfully recruited and trained over 50 staff and 5 managers and provided ongoing leadership and direction to the team in the areas of performance management, coaching, recognition, and development
• Maintained full licensure for 3+ group homes for a 7 year span of time and at the same time, oversaw the day-to-day work functions of each group home

EDUCATION

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, Piscataway, NJ

Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Exercise Science 05/2006 (graduated)

COMPUTER EXPERTISE 

MS Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Outlook

Access

ADP-WorkMg

Therap

Smartsheets

Quickbooks

Primepoint        Assess Teams           Canva

HHA

Mailchimp

Google Suite 

CERTIFICATIONS

Red Cross CPR Trainer Certified/Red Cross CPR | First Aid Certifications

Certified Assisted Living Administrator License(CALA)

TRAINING

Boggs Center | Intermediate, Support Coordinator Training

NJ State Training: Abuse and Neglect

NJ State Training: Overview of DDD

NJ State Training: Medication Administration

NJ State Training: Training, Positive Behavior Support I and II

NJ State Investigations Training