Vanessa M. Smith has over 20 years of experience in education, project management, administration, and customer service. She has a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Tougaloo College with minors in Business Education and Management. Her current role is Project Officer Special for the Mississippi Department of Education, where she assists with developing, planning, directing, and evaluating various projects and contracts. Previously, she held roles such as Administrative Assistant and Program Manager for the Mississippi Schools for the Blind and Deaf, and Resident Education Specialist. She has extensive experience with grant writing, budgeting, reporting, and operations management.

1. VANESSA M. SMITH
CONTACTS:
EMAIL- mlsmith112001@att.net
Education
1996-2000
Certification: Business Education & Early Childhood Education
Major: Elementary Education Minor: Business Education and Management
Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS 39212
63 Hrs~ Instruction and Curriculum 33 Hrs~Business Education and Management
Studies Include: Fundamentals of Early Childhood Education, Introduction and Foundation of Education, Introduction
and Foundation of learning Disabilities Business Communication, Principles of Management, Legal Environment of
Business, Business Finance, Marketing Strategies, Quantitive Reasoning, Organizational Behavior, Public Administration
and Policy and Business Policy
Experiences:
o Computer Courses and Software
o Microsoft Access /Microsoft Word /Microsoft Excel /Microsoft Office /Microsoft Publisher
/PowerPoint /Windows Vista/Microsoft Projects/Microsoft Tech/Adobe Acrobat/Developing
Web Applications/Window Powershell/Cascading Sheets and many others
o Professional Development Courses completed
o Fred Pryor~Delivering Exceptional Customer Service
o Rockhurst University~Cutting Edge Skills for Support Staff Professionals
o SkillPath-Financing & Accounting, Human Resources, Business Writing & Advertising and Social
Media
o Project Management for the State of Mississippi Department of education
o Foodservice Program Manager-Holmes Community College
Employment Experience:
Project Officer Special
Dec. 2012-Presently
Mississippi Department of Education
359 North West Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39205-0771
Dr. Laura Jones
Deputy State Superintendent
• Assist with the supervision of activities involved in developing, planning, directing, and evaluating a
wide variety of projects and contractual hiring.
• Review and/or develop funding recommendations for state and federal grants, prepare grant
applications, and administer grant disbursement of funds to hire school implementation specialist to
service low performing schools.
• Originate, prepare, and present proposals for special projects related to schools improvement.
• Prepare, negotiate, and administer contracts, grants, and agreements associated with educational
advancement projects; establish review and evaluation procedures.

2. • Monitor special projects and project proposals and assures that findings are applied, implemented, and
documented; conducts site inspections as necessary.
• Determine office resource requirements and prepares budget for carrying out assigned mission.
• Coordinate program development and activities with agency divisions; with federal, state, and local
officials; and with individuals involved.
• Provide technical support to the agency head, bureau managers, division directors, education
specialist, and contract workers.
• Designs and implements public information and education programs and conducts public hearings
concerning special projects and grants.
• Directs and supervises the collection, maintenance, reporting, and publication of data regarding
research and project activities.
Oct. 2005-Dec. 2012
Administrative Assistant/ Program Manager
Mississippi Schools for the Blind the Deaf
1403 Eastover Drive
Jackson, Mississippi 39211-1403
Tahnya Tremonte Dale Allen Charles Dodd
(601)984-8109 (601) 984-8108 (601) 984-8025
Directs and supervises activities involved in developing, planning, directing, and evaluating a wide variety of
projects.
• Proposed managerial judgment, analyzed, and recommended growth in programs directions and
solutions.
• Lead programs, which include serving as a liaison to agency personnel, to other public and private
agencies, and to the general public.
• Assisted with day-to-day operations of multiple operational offices.
• Performed administrative tasks including preparing reports, maintaining general accounts, purchase
orders and requisitions and processing other office paperwork.
• Directed the processing and tabulation of monetary or statistical reports and records; verifies for
accuracy, completeness, and conformity to regulations
• Directed the accounting for and depositing of monies received; checks remittances, returns, and
receipts of money for which accountable.
• Prepared budget requests
• Analyzed reports; compiled specialized composite reports; and prepared or supervised preparation and
maintenance of reports, records, and other documents. Answers correspondence concerning
operation of the department, institution or agency.
• Communicated with accounts payable and receivable concerning contracts, invoices, inventory
• Received and distributed mail and interoffice letters
• Received and dispatched incoming phone calls campus-wide.
• Uses basic office equipment including a copy machine, typewriter, fax machine, and calculator in
performing office supporting functions
• Reviewed the work of staff for quality and accuracy
• Processed request and purchase requisitions frequently and efficiently
• Ordered supplies and tangibles for four separate departments
• Completed payroll for over 50 employees
• Prepared contracts, contract justifications and many other forms of purchases and accounting

3. • Prepared memos, proposals, and newsletters
• Subject Matter Expert as information pertaining to accounts payable, accounts receivable, travel
advancement, and payroll for both contract workers and state employees.
• Subject Matter Expert as information pertains to Nutritious Foodservices in state schools and other
educational institutional as it governs diets for Diabetics, Hypertension/Hypotension individuals.
• Prepared administrative reports and correspondence of own initiative, based on knowledge of the
supervisor’s view and desires, wrote reports and correspondence with updated information about
world performed outside of the organization, and independently prepared correspondence and
reports addressing clerical and administrative issues.
2001-2005
Resident Education Specialist
Mississippi Schools for the Blind and the Deaf
1253 Eastover Drive
Jackson, Mississippi 39211-1253
Supervisor, Johnnie Chapman Director, Diann Turner
(601)984-8200 (601) 955-6200
 Planned, organized, and carried out residential goals and objectives to meet each child need
 Presented in writing form preliminary goals and objectives for the residential program
 Provided a family environment it students to enhance their continued mental and physical
development
 Maintained records and prepared reports
 Apply appropriate guidelines and bylaws for the development of student organizations and
competence
 Maintained records of peers and student pertaining to heath care, nutrition standards, and education.
 Specify and created logs and events for students cognitive advancement, travel, sports, and socials.
 Formulates, develops, and/or approves budget requests and expenditures.
 Gives administrative leadership to all phases of program within the division.
 Maintained effective public relations with other state agencies and the public, including interpretation
and advocacy of agency policy.
 Gives administrative leadership to all phases of program within the division.
 Recommends appointment/termination of personnel as needed.
 Commits resources to projects with prior administrative approval.
1996-2001
Customer Service Representative
Tougaloo College
500 W. Countyline Road
Tougaloo, Mississippi 39212
Director, Kelle Menogan
(601)977-7828
 Provided routine clerical assistance such as typing, filing, and copying
 Prepared and keeps a current inventory of equipment and supplies purchased.
 Coordinated work of the office with that of other offices and divisions of the agency.
 May assist with purchase orders and requisitions; keeps a current account of all expenditures.

4.  Conferred with and assists administrative superior in solving problems affecting the office
 Contacted person for maintenance and repairs on Campus.
 Professionally greeted and assisted visitors
 Ensured security measures are followed
 Open incoming mail and recorded dates and time received
 Notified personnel by radio and intercom upon arrival of individuals and appointments
Professional Experiences
10 Years of experience in Fueling Stations Operations, Retail Management, Restaurant Manager, Hotel
Hospitality, and Child-Care Operations
10 Years of experience in planet gram (rebuilding stores), inventory control, cash control and marketing.
Companies Such as BP, Shell, Marriot, Dollar General, Hut Brands, Johnson Brands, Avon
20 Years of experience in expert customer service, customer relations, and support service representation
10 Years of experience in marketing, marketing strategies, business finance, public policy.
15 Years of experience in state and federal grant applications, home benefits, domestic assistance, federal
outlays, and small business administration.