VENESSA COLÓN
Chapel Hill
Summary
Human Resources and Workforce Systems professional with 20+ years of experience supporting employee relations, performance management, compliance, and workforce effectiveness in regulated, operational, and labor-intensive environments. Proven ability to partner with plant leadership and supervisors to resolve employee issues, ensure legal compliance, improve retention, and strengthen productivity. Deep expertise in employment law, HR compliance, employee relations, workforce metrics, and performance development, with experience across manufacturing, construction, transportation, clean energy, and public-sector operations. Recognized for maintaining strong floor presence, influencing without authority, and translating HR policy into practical, people-centered solutions that support business outcomes.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder & CEO / Human Resources & Workforce Consultant
Workforce Solutions Now (WSN)
07.2022 - Current
- Founded and lead a workforce and HR consulting enterprise delivering employee development, workforce integration, compliance advisory, and funding-aligned talent strategies for employers, public agencies, and higher education partners.
- Built a workforce social enterprise specializing in OJT programs, technical training, job placement, and HR compliance for construction, clean energy, IT, advanced manufacturing, and transportation sectors.
- Designed and led statewide and regional workforce initiatives in partnership with Hudson Valley Community College, NYS Workforce Development Institute, and the Center for Economic Growth, aligned with WIOA and Title 23 CFR.
- Developed and implemented construction- and infrastructure-specific OJT programs with prime contractors, ensuring EEO, OFCCP, affirmative action, and federal contractor compliance.
- Expanded career pathways for women, minorities, veterans, and justice-involved populations, securing $1.4M+ in federal workforce funding for employer training reimbursement and placement support.
- Mapped employer clients to applicable federal and state workforce grants and training funds, enabling workforce optimization, incumbent worker upskilling, and business growth while reducing employer training costs.
- Partnered with BBL Construction and the New York State Trucking Association to design customized workforce readiness and compliance solutions, including programs supporting DOC-involved and re-entry populations.
- Designed AI-supported workforce readiness, resume optimization, and job-matching frameworks to prepare recent graduates and early-career talent for performance expectations and digital productivity.
- Partnered with higher education institutions to deliver in-classroom, non-credit workforce readiness courses, supporting successful transition into regulated, operational, and plant environments.
- Coached employees and supervisors through performance improvement planning, underperformance mitigation, corrective action, and productivity development.
- Developed and tracked workforce KPIs measuring readiness, retention, time-to-productivity, training ROI, and employer satisfaction.
Workforce Development Manager
New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL)
Albany
12.2020 - 07.2022
- Promoted from the NYS Dept. of Civil Service to lead a new statewide initiative for the NYS Dept of Labor.
- Led statewide workforce strategies supporting employer demand while ensuring HR compliance, funding integrity, and performance accountability.
- Managed large-scale workforce programs under WIOA and NYSDOL funding, aligning training investments with labor market demand and economic development priorities.
- Collaborated with employers, workforce boards, plant leadership, and state agencies to implement OJT, skills-based training, and incumbent worker upskilling initiatives.
- Ensured compliance with employment law, EEO, OFCCP, Title 23 CFR, and federal workforce regulations, maintaining audit-ready documentation.
- Partnered directly with the Director of NYS Apprenticeships to establish diversity metrics, performance benchmarks, and inclusion strategies for registered apprenticeship and DEPA programs.
- Supported executive decision-making through workforce analytics, KPI reporting, and funding utilization oversight.
- Addressed workforce readiness, attendance, and performance challenges through employer engagement and targeted program design.
Diversity & Inclusion Manager
New York State Department of Civil Service
Albany
09.2019 - 12.2020
- Provided enterprise HR leadership supporting employee relations, recruitment modernization, accessibility, and leadership development across multiple state agencies.
- Led and managed a team of 10 HR professionals delivering recruitment strategy, compliance guidance, and employee support services.
- Redesigned statewide recruitment and hiring processes, transitioning interviews and testing to remote and virtual platforms, improving efficiency and accessibility.
- Enhanced the Section 55-b program, increasing employment opportunities for individuals with certified disabilities through streamlined application review and candidate support.
- Partnered with agency HR leadership to provide technical assistance on employment law, HR compliance, and inclusive hiring practices.
- Spearheaded the transition of the NYS HR Leadership Institute to a virtual format, ensuring continued leadership development for state employees.
Talent Acquisition Manager
Public Consulting Group (PCG)
Albany
03.2017 - 08.2019
- Built and led the Talent Acquisition function for a newly created staffing portfolio.
- Built recruitment strategy, processes, and infrastructure from the ground up.
- Conducted full-cycle recruiting for hard-to-fill and high-demand roles.
- Developed and managed KPI dashboards measuring attraction, sourcing efficiency, time-to-fill, and quality of hire.
- Partnered with senior business leaders to align annual workforce plans with organizational growth objectives.
- Collaborated with finance on headcount forecasting and workforce planning accuracy.
Senior Talent Acquisition Strategist
EYP Architecture & Engineering
Albany
09.2015 - 03.2017
- Led enterprise talent sourcing, hiring, and onboarding across architecture, engineering, design, finance, and corporate functions.
- Developed skills-based, compliant hiring strategies aligned to project delivery, workforce planning, and growth needs.
- Partnered with managers to support effective onboarding, workforce integration, and early-stage performance alignment.
- Ensured compliance with OFCCP, EEO, and VEVRAA requirements across federally regulated projects.
Senior Technical Recruiter (RPO)
GlobalFoundries – Fab 8
Malta
02.2013 - 11.2014
- Hired 250+ technical staff supporting manufacturing ramp-up.
- Partnered with HR and finance on workforce planning, headcount forecasting, and succession planning.
- Supported enterprise adoption of SuccessFactors ATS.
Earlier Workforce Program Leadership
Workforce Solutions Now (NIH-Funded Project)
Cohoes
02.2010 - 01.2013
- Led employment readiness and re-entry programs for displaced workers.
- Developed individualized reemployment plans based on strengths and barriers.
- Designed early recidivism reduction workforce initiatives.
HR Staffing Representative (RPO)
IBM Corporation
RTP
02.2008 - 03.2010
HR RPO Manager
EuroSoft Inc.
Colonie
12.2005 - 11.2007
Education
B.S. - Business Administration – Labor Relations & Policy
SUNY Empire State College
A.S. - Individual Studies
Hudson Valley Community College
Skills
- HR compliance
- Workforce development
- Talent acquisition
- Training program design
- Grant sourcing
- Project management
- Strategic planning
- Program evaluation
- Stakeholder engagement
- Regulatory knowledge
- Organizational structuring
- Policies and procedures development
- Workday Recruiting, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle Taleo, PeopleSoft, iCIMS, BrassRing, Handshake
- Pairin Workforce Assessment Platform
Systems Data Technical Skills
- HRIS / ATS: Workday, SuccessFactors, Taleo, PeopleSoft, BrassRing
- Workforce Analytics, KPI Design & Compliance Reporting
- AI-Enabled Workforce Readiness & Talent Matching
- Pairin Workforce Assessment Platform
- Microsoft Office 365
Timeline
Founder & CEO / Human Resources & Workforce Consultant
Workforce Solutions Now (WSN)
07.2022 - Current
Workforce Development Manager
New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL)
12.2020 - 07.2022
Diversity & Inclusion Manager
New York State Department of Civil Service
09.2019 - 12.2020
Talent Acquisition Manager
Public Consulting Group (PCG)
03.2017 - 08.2019
Senior Talent Acquisition Strategist
EYP Architecture & Engineering
09.2015 - 03.2017
Senior Technical Recruiter (RPO)
GlobalFoundries – Fab 8
02.2013 - 11.2014
Earlier Workforce Program Leadership
Workforce Solutions Now (NIH-Funded Project)
02.2010 - 01.2013
HR Staffing Representative (RPO)
IBM Corporation
02.2008 - 03.2010
HR RPO Manager
EuroSoft Inc.
12.2005 - 11.2007
B.S. - Business Administration – Labor Relations & Policy
SUNY Empire State College
A.S. - Individual Studies
Hudson Valley Community College