Jessica Summers

January 2013-Present

Owner, Fenix Creative Services, LLC/Fenix Collective Inc., Charlotte, NC

• Academic and business research and writing, including white papers, presentations, proposals, program curricula/manuals, and for-profit and nonprofit grant research and writing
• Translation and transcription (English/Spanish)
• Author assistance (ghostwriting and coaching) for emerging authors, especially those who are justice-impacted. Includes story development, coaching, editing, and publication assistance.
• Develop and run all programs for Fenix Collective, Inc. (nonprofit peer support organization dedicated to providing support and advocacy for LGBTQIA+ women and gender non-conforming folks, especially BIPOC, returning from incarceration and on recovery journeys).

June 2024-Present

Peer Support Program Coordinator, Carolinas CARE Partnership, Charlotte, NC

• Develop federally-funded peer support program from inception, including policies and procedures, mission and vision statements, reporting and compliance documentation
• Recruit participants and cultivate community partnerships
• Attend Mecklenburg County Opioid Task Force meetings
• Peer support specialist supporting justice-impacted, LGBTQ+, and LatinX community members and their families in mental health and substance abuse recovery, with wraparound service deliveries and online/in-person individual peer support and groups.
• Coordinate community events, liaison with other organizations to build coalitions, develop campaigns to raise awareness. 

January 2023-Present

Director of Development/Board Member, Silent Cry, Inc. (remote)

• Research, application for, and management of grants
• Executive board member
• Program research and composition
• Communications and reports for state- and grant-funded projects that support formerly incarcerated individuals and their families

January 2023-June 2024

Change Coach, Changed Choices, Charlotte, NC (hybrid)

• Change coach for non-profit organization working with women and families impacted by incarceration, both pre-release and reentry clients. 
• Client care, such as case management, coordination of wraparound service referrals and direct service deliveries, peer coaching/mentoring, transportation, care plans, mentoring, documentation in case management software and records maintenance (Salesforce), HIPAA compliance, etc. 
• Planning and coordination of community events and networking opportunities

January 2022-February 2023

Furniture Shipping and Logistics Specialist, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (Remote)

• Inbound/outbound customer service calls (high-volume)
• Appointment scheduling, research, shipment coordination and tracking
• De-escalation and customer retention

June 2010-August 2013

General Manager, Hotel Puerto Viejo, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

• All aspects of daily operations of a 100-room hostel, including front desk/booking, staffing/scheduling, accounts receivable/payable, housekeeping and maintenance coordinating, dining, purchasing, event scheduling, concierge services for guests, promotions and publicity, and guest relations

May 2002-June 2010

Customer Service Supervisor, AccessRX, San Jose, Costa Rica 

• Supervised and trained a staff of 10-15 customer service representatives
• Inbound calling (orders, escalations, tech support, etc.) as well as outbound calling (doctor referrals, pharmacy calls, shipping logistics)
• Staff training and quality assurance
• Assisted owner in developing and implementing new sales campaigns and customer service protocols as well as staff training programs.

August 1998-May 2002

Business Office Manager, IHS of Benbrook, Inc., Benbrook, TX

• All aspects of office management, including human resources, payroll, OSHA compliance oversight for a 114-bed skilled nursing home/rehabilitative center/assisted living facility
• Accounts receivable/payable, maintenance of resident trust fund accounts and petty cash, Medicare/Medicaid/Private Pay billing.

NC Certified Peer Support Specialist

NC Certified Community Health Worker

BA in Sociology with an emphasis in Community Health, Minor in Communications