Tara Colton

Experience

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  NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2003

  Assistant Research Scientist

  • Project Manager and part of team that conceived of and executed Listening to the City, a series of historic town meetings regarding the future of Lower Manhattan and the World Trade Center site. • Coordinated content, outreach, media, logistics, technology and volunteers for more than 5,000 participants (including victims’ family members, residents and concerned citizens), working with civic, community and foundation partners.

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  Center for an Urban Future

  Jan 2003 - Jan 2009

  Deputy Director

  • Conducted research and policy analysis on issues including adult education, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), immigration, entrepreneurship, economic development, workforce development, industry sectors, small businesses and the creative economy. • Spoke on and moderated panels related to the Center’s research; testified at government hearings; presented research findings; provided input, analysis and research guidance for policymakers; authored opinion pieces.

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  NYC Department of Education

  Jan 2009 - Jan 2011

  Director of Strategy and Partnerships, Office of Adult and Continuing Education

  • Identified and strengthened areas for collaboration with a diverse range of partners on behalf of OACE, which serves 40,000 adult learners at 175 sites throughout the five boroughs. Partners included City, State and Federal agencies, community-based organizations, the public libraries, CUNY, business groups, unions, elected officials, employers, foundations, the general public and other stakeholders.• Analyzed data on OACE students, goals and outcomes, including demographic information on student population at a City-wide, borough and neighborhood level. Show less

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  City of New York

  Jan 2011 - Jan 2013

  • Oversaw strategy, policy, performance and planning for the newly-created NYC Office of Human Capital Development (OHCD), in the Office of the Mayor, charged with overseeing and strengthening the City's workforce development, adult education, and skills training activities.• Led and supervised a team charged with driving targeted projects to increase accountability and efficiency, support coordination across agencies, improve connections with employers, maximize return on investment, and develop innovative approaches for service delivery.• Partnered with more than 15 City agencies in executing strategic projects, including development and implementation of the City’s human capital development agenda, and design and coordination of the City’s action agenda around changes to the GED test. Show less • Served as advisor to City’s “Workforce Cabinet,” led by Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, and Schools Chancellor. Provided strategic input on the vision, value and impact of establishing an office to oversee the City’s workforce development and adult education systems, resulting in the merger of the Mayor's Office of Adult Education and the NYC Workforce Investment Board to create the NYC Office of Human Capital Development. • Led the development and rollout of Know Before You Enroll, a major consumer awareness campaign to help New Yorkers make informed choices about education and training programs. Coordinated creation of ads, outreach materials, and distribution plans; developed new capacity for City to receive and manage complaints about education and training providers; and spearheaded successful advocacy efforts to strengthen oversight and regulation of proprietary schools.• Managed implementation of special projects and initiatives, including real-time adult education seat locator system with ‘no wrong door’ for adult students seeking classes and YouCanToo!, an online network for adult learners, created in partnership with New York City Council. Show less

  • Managing Director, NYC Office of Human Capital Development, Office of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg

    Jan 2012 - Jan 2013

  • Executive Director, Mayor's Office of Adult Education, Office of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg

    Jan 2011 - Jan 2012
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  FEGS

  Jan 2013 - Jan 2015

  Associate Vice President, Program Development & Planning

  • Provided strategic leadership to identify, analyze and drive program development opportunities that advanced strategic goals for FEGS' network of programs in health/disabilities, housing, homecare, employment/workforce, education/youth and families. • Developed and implemented best practices agenda relevant to FEGS’ service delivery network; led research, policy analysis and data analysis around evidence-based practices and relevant policy issues. • Led Program Development & Planning Department, and oversaw the development, research, writing and submission of more than 150 grant proposals each year, to both public and private funders. Over an 18-month period, secured more than $13 million in funding.• Worked in partnership with Executive Office on agency strategic planning and program development; strategic data analyses for internal and external purposes; liaising with public and private funding sources; public policy advocacy at the local, state and federal levels; and a range of internal and external special initiatives and projects.• Coordinated respectful transition of FEGS programs to other providers after the organization went through a significant financial crisis and ultimately wound-down its operations after 80 years of service. Show less

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  Seedco

  Jan 2015 - Jan 2020

  • Executive Director of Seedco, a national nonprofit organization founded in 1987 that advances economic opportunity for people, businesses, and communities in need. Seedco currently operates programs in 6 states: New York, Tennessee, Maryland, Arkansas, Georgia and Connecticut. Learn more at www.seedco.org. Accomplishments while at the helm of Seedco include: • Broadened Seedco’s geographic and programmatic footprint, expanding from 4 states to 6 states, with successful execution of new programs in Arkansas and Connecticut.• Developed and launched new revenue and partnership model for EarnBenefits Online (EBO), Seedco’s proprietary benefit screening and application assistance tool. Seedco uses EBO in its own programs and also licenses the tool to external stakeholders, which spreads EBO’s unique benefit screening capability to more low-income communities across the country and generates earned income for Seedco. •Building on outstanding job retention outcomes of NYC youth employment program, secured Seedco’s selection for ‘CareerLift,’ a project to evaluate the feasibility of a “Pay for Success” model, in which employers assume the cost of job retention services only if proven successful — a first-of-its-kind funding model for employment retention services. • Secured significant expansion in public and private funding, including $10 million from U.S. Dept. of Labor to launch employment programs serving individuals with criminal justice involvement across four states.• Led overhaul of Seedco website to create a dynamic, interactive site that highlights Seedco’s program portfolio and is designed for program participants, employers, community partners and funders. Show less • As Senior Vice President of Programs, led collaborative efforts to craft and implement Seedco’s programmatic vision and strategic priorities. Managed all program staff and a network of partners and subcontractors across the country. Directed the process to design and launch new programs, including partnership structure, staffing, workflow, budget, and performance targets. Established, grew and stewarded partner relationships, oversaw systems for partner management, negotiated partnership terms, and developed appropriate responses to program performance issues. Show less

  • Executive Director

    Jan 2017 - Jan 2020

  • Senior Vice President, Programs

    Jan 2015 - Jan 2017
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  New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)

  Feb 2020 - now

  Lead initiatives that align with Governor Murphy’s commitment to a stronger, fairer New Jersey, where all residents can build economic security and well-being. Oversee more than $300 million in EDA’s growing portfolio of programs to alleviate food insecurity and eliminate food deserts, including the Food Desert Relief Act, Food Security Planning Grants, the Food Retail Innovation in Delivery Grant (FRIDG) and Sustain & Serve NJ. Spearhead efforts to strengthen New Jersey’s vital child care sector with more than $100 million in grants for facility improvements, and to establish a Trenton-based maternal and infant health innovation center with an emphasis on addressing racial disparities in care. Continue to play a central role in the design and expansion of the New Jersey Pay it Forward Program, which provides zero-interest loans to low‐income New Jersey career seekers. Show less

  • Chief Economic Security Officer

    Dec 2023 - now

  • Executive Vice President, Economic Security

    Oct 2021 - Dec 2023

  • Executive Vice President, Special Projects

    Feb 2020 - Oct 2021