Thomas Bannard

Experience

• 

  Goat Hill Farm

  May 2007 - Jul 2008

  Groundskeeper

  Provided labor and support on a 1600 acre farm.

• 

  Caritas

  Oct 2008 - Oct 2015

  Promoted to oversee operations and case managers of a 110 bed homeless shelter that operates by housing residents in 165 different congregations throughout the course of a year. Supervise 22 staff members and coordinate service of over 15,000 volunteers per year. Direct IT systems, strategy and implementation.• Designed an implemented a volunteer management system which reduced staff time by over 40 hours per week.• Promoted to Shelter Operations Manager and received 25% raise based on leadership, analytical abilities, and communication skills.• Transformed culture of Case Management staff to focus on a housing first model. Show less Promoted to lead the integration of processes and systems following the merger of Richmond’s two largest homeless shelters, including phone and IT systems for 50+ staff and 70+ computers at three sites. Member of the Leadership Strategy Team and leader of the Communications Team. Designed and implemented effective program data tracking. Provided guidance, support and training for staff and client programs.• Managed $80,000 technology overhaul which cut maintenance time by 75%, centralized back ups, and increased efficiency through unified phone and data systems across three locations.• Selected as a member of the organization’s Leadership Strategy Team due to excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, team work, and strategic focus.• Created a cost-effective family support program in collaboration with another non-profit to address family co-dependency, which was stifling the progress of some clients.• Chosen by Virginia Commonwealth University as one of the two inaugural “Emerging Non-Profit Leaders” fellows in the ASPiRE Program based on leadership, teaching ability, and passion. Show less Improve and direct a program for 70 men transitioning from a homeless shelter and substance abuse program into full time employment and stable housing. Provide counselling, teaching, and community leadership, while building programs to support client career development and financial responsibility. Provide IT support and management to a 40 employee organization.• Collaborated with another non-profit to revise and expand the existing “Life Skills” class sessions into a comprehensive 5 week employment preparation program(CARITAS Works) increasing classroom time by 500%, improving quality of services by incorporating well-trained volunteers and other non-profits.• Designed, implemented and enforced a rent collection system that increased client responsibility, tripled rental profits and increased client retention by more than 25%.• Cost-effectively expanded transitional housing by 22 beds in response to over-crowding of transitional apartments due to the success of the career and housing initiatives.• Redesigned client Alumni day into a weekend honoring clients, alumni, donors, staff, and volunteers creating a ceremony that demonstrated the enormous transformative power of the program. Show less Hired, coached and mentored a crew of previously homeless clients to perform residential and commercial renovations and repairs. Provided IT support and building maintenance to a 30,000 square foot office and warehouse building. Designed and coordinated volunteer opportunities and logistics for the CARITAS Furniture Bank.• Initiated a successful transitional employment program for formerly homeless men in early recovery, which eventually became the CARITAS Works Program.• Supervised, managed, and directed a successful house addition and a kitchen renovation performed entirely by formerly homeless employees and volunteers with donated and reduced cost materials. • Designed, developed and acquired funding for a cost effective, volunteer-driven project to manufacture bedroom dressers for clients furnishing their first homes creating over 30 dressers in first 3 months of the project.• Quickly established reputation as “go to guy” for IT related issues and directed the cost-effective move, administration and installation of 30 donated computers in a new office including setting up the network and wiring the building.• Instrumental in providing logistics, motivation, and inspiration facilitating the growth of the CARITAS Furniture Bank from serving 200 families in 2008 to over 500 families in 2010. Show less

  • Shelter Operations Manager

    Dec 2013 - Oct 2015

  • Special Projects Manager

    Jul 2012 - Dec 2013

  • Transitional Coordinator

    Jun 2010 - Jul 2012

  • Project Manager

    Oct 2008 - Jun 2010
• 

  Virginia Commonwealth University

  Oct 2015 - now

  Build and grow the community and student facing arms of the new College Behavioral and Emotional Health Institute (COBE), which strives to make research accessible, understandable, and actionable for professionals, students and their families to create a community where wellness is at the center of student success.Grow the Collegiate Recovery Community at VCU by supporting students individually, advocating on campus, and developing community supports to ensure that students struggle with or in recovery from Substance Use Disorders succeed at VCU. Show less

  • Program Coordinator Rams in Recovery

    Jun 2017 - now

  • Administrative Director, COBE, Coordinator for Rams in Recovery

    Oct 2015 - Jun 2017