Open To Work
Lawna Atkins
Toronto,ON
The problem is not to find the answer; it’s to face the answer.
Terence McKenna
Summary
I bring over 14 years of experience in social impact, developmental, and community services — beginning at the frontline and growing into senior and executive leadership roles across both non-profit and for-profit environments. My journey has shaped me into a leader who not only understands operations at the ground level but can also design and execute strategies that drive growth, efficiency, and meaningful impact.
With 7 years of senior management and executive oversight, I have led organizations through change, built strong teams, and directed cross-functional projects that improved systems and services. I thrive on creating practical solutions to complex challenges, blending strategic thinking with hands-on experience to achieve measurable results.
At the core of my leadership style is a commitment to collaboration and being person-centered — ensuring that while operations run smoothly, people remain the priority. I’m looking to bring this balance of operational excellence and human-centered leadership to an organization or business that values innovation, community impact, and sustainable growth.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director, Community & Partner Engagement
Frontline Mission
04.2020 - Current
- Executed operational excellence at Frontline Mission, a grassroots organization supporting the prevention against burnout and PTSD and supporting the appropriate intervention when needed for frontline workers such as healthcare professionals, first responders and caregivers.
- Led grant application processes and secured critical funding, with an average annual revenue of $250, 000 to $500, 000 year over year, ensuring the successful continuation of programs aimed at community support and resilience built on the strengths of the members we serve.
- Managed relationships with three municipal stakeholders, ensuring compliance with reporting requirements and enhancing community impact through strategic partnerships.
- Oversaw the development and submission of detailed reports for provincial and regional stakeholders, focusing on the impact of programs on reducing burnout and PTSD in the healthcare and frontline sectors.
- Enhanced community engagement by developing and implementing strategic outreach initiatives.
- Increased public awareness of organizational mission by organizing events, workshops, and presentations.
Management Specialist - Partnerships and Collaboration
Volunteer MBC
06.2023 - 03.2024
- Cultivated seven new strategic alliances with community service organizations, enhancing collaborative efforts and resource-sharing across nonprofit organizations in the Peel Region in relation to youth mental health and diverse learning opportunity for students, and intergenerational events which brought the Peel Region community together in a unique manner and bridged the gap in service for these two demographics.
- Analyzed membership services and organizational resources, leading to strategic realignments that increased membership renewal rates to pre-pandemic levels.
- Developed and executed comprehensive diversified funding strategies tailored to member organizations and individual volunteer engagement professional that benefited from having more opportunity for professional development, executed this impactful service delivery aligned with organizational mission and contributed to the increase of volunteer retention within the participating members organizations.
Partnerships and Operations Strategist Consultant
Indigenous Friends Association
03.2023 - 12.2023
- Conducted a thorough analysis of departments involved in a collaborative project, identifying key assets and risks, and providing solutions for senior and executive management.
- Mentored junior leadership, enhancing their analytical problem-solving skills and increasing productivity within their teams.
- Developed partnership strategies that significantly increased community engagement and recognition, resulting in substantial new leads and enhanced outreach.
Director of Operations and Co-Owner
Right at Home Canada
01.2017 - 09.2023
- Strategized and implemented sales initiatives, resulting in a 30% year-over-year revenue growth through targeted marketing and increased customer engagement.
- Managed customer relations to improve engagement and increase client retention, leading to a 15% increase in referrals within the first 13 months.
- Developed a high-performing team by implementing effective screening and training processes, contributing to the expansion of the franchise.
- Prior Employment to 2018 can be discussed if I move to the interviewing phase.
SSW Placement Department Manager & Instructor
Ace Acumen Academy
02.2021 - 01.2023
- Ensured social service worker program placement department had updated optimized workflows in order to match students to partner organizations with efficiency to ensure optimal satisfaction and positive outcome ratings for both parties
- Developed and maintained strong skillset in community partnership development, negotiation of short-term and long-term agreements with community organizations, and relationship management on both sides of the spectrum: students and the community partners.
- Skilled in identifying placement challenges and implementing proactive solutions for both organizations and students in their placement terms.
- Deep understanding of diverse populations and have a fine-tuned commitment to inclusive and accessible programming.
- Experience in developing training outlines, professional development content, and placement readiness strategies while also preparing the community organization to embrace bringing on students and allowing them to be mentored in the most productive manner
- Proven ability to lead and mentor cross-functional teams and junior staff while managing performance, and ensuring compliance with placement protocols and ensuring I was accessible to both the organization and students incase of meditation or conflict resolution needs arising.
- Monitored and reported on placement trends, student success rates and organizational feedback to drive program improvement which also led to workshops/webinars for field supervisors and community partners, and aligned learning where both students and organizations came together to learn from eachother in a structured environment.
Education
Diploma in Strategic Management -
07.2024
Grew my understanding of how to lead organizations toward long-term goals, balancing operational efficiency with innovation. Designed and implemented sustainable growth strategies, business models and transformation initiatives through core projects. Gained more advanced insight into budget, cost-benefit analysis, and aligning financial strategies with organizational goals. Through final examination showed that I fully comprehend how to use analytical and evidence-based approaches to make informed executive decisions after critical thinking and brainstorming meetings have taken place.
Bachelor of Arts - Disability Studies
06.2014
The Bachelor of Arts in Disability Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University is an interdisciplinary program that centers on critical disability theory, social justice, advocacy and total societal inclusion. This degree equipped me with the knowledge and skills to lead, support, and advocate within the fields of social services, policy and community work as well as disability rights.
Learned to analyze social structures and systems that contribute to oppression and exclusion from political, social and cultural lenses - not just medical models for this while developing and evaluating inclusive organizations
Key Skillsets Acquired:
1. Policy and Legislative Knowledge
- Comprehensive understanding of human rights frameworks in Ontario and Canada such as the AODA, UNCRPD, Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Ontario Human Rights Code
- Learned to assess the impact of laws and policies on individuals with disabilities and how to advocate for their voice to be in the room when making decisions that involve their entire life
2. Program Development & Evaluation
- Advanced capacity for design and evaluating inclusive programs and support for people with disabilities and learned to apply principles of universal design, accessibility and equity-based service delivery
3. Collaboration & Leadership
- Work within interdisciplinary teams
- Proven leadership on projects that focused on ensuring communities are aware of the fundamental ableism that exists, and how we can move to a more inclusive, decolonized society by always choosing to be on the side of social reform.
Associate of Arts - DSW
06.2010
Completed a comprehensive program focused on supporting individuals with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities across various community, educational and healthcare settings while completing placement terms in each one of those institutions across the Greater Toronto Area.
Gained in-depth knowledge of developmental psychology, human rights, inclusive education, behaviour modification, and community living models.
Trained in person-centered planning, advocacy, crisis prevention and intervention, mental health support and trauma-informed care and how to prevent and recognize abuse within the institutional structures the individual lives in the community
Built strong skills in case documentation, program facilitation, and supportive communication to enhance client independence and quality of life throughout the lifespan and various living arrangements within the community
Skills
- Grant management expertise
- Public affairs and stakeholder collaboration
- Execution of strategic initiatives
- Project execution management
- Risk mitigation strategies
- Cross-functional teamwork
- Effective negotiation strategies
- Regulatory compliance management
- Analytical proficiency
- Decision-making
- Staff development
- Hiring and retention
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
French
Limited Working
Persian
Professional Working
ASL
Full Professional
Certification
- Six Sigma Certification (Ongoing) Anticipated Completion: Black Belt Level by 2025
- PMP Certification (Ongoing) Anticipated Completion: 2024
Accomplishments
- Expanded grassroots initiative into a multi-program community organization within the last 18 months of operation, increasing reach to healthcare, frontline and mental health professionals across the Greater Toronto Area and then branching into Southwestern Ontario in 2024.
- Secured and managed new funding streams through grant writing and partner contributions, increasing annual operating resources by over 32% from 2023 - 2024. Diversified further into 2025 with a for-profit business model designed to bring all revenue back into the non-profit in order to expand on existing programs and projects and have the ability to hire and retain top talent to execute each program in 2025 to 2028.
- Developed and launched three new core programs focused on burnout prevention, post-traumatic stress reduction in emergency service responders, and holistic support through community healing, directly serving over 120 participants, with plans to be able to expand and serve double that by 2028 year over year.
- Solely was responsible for developing high-level long-term strategic partnerships with hospitals, first responder networks, and community organizations, doubling program access points and enhancing referral pipelines. Currently I am in the process of mentoring two junior coordinators how to take over this key responsibility when they move into their more senior titles since my direct role will no longer exist when I fully exit the organization and join another team in my new role.
Affiliations
- Project Management Institute
- International Coaching Federation
Work Preference
Work Type
Part TimeContract WorkFull TimeLocation Preference
RemoteHybridSalary Range
$45000/yr - $100000/yrImportant To Me
Work-life balanceFlexible work hoursWork from home optionPersonal development programsCareer advancementInterests
Social Justice
Dismantling Ableism
Self-Reflection and Personal & Professional Growh
Additional Information
I started my resume from a certain year as I feel these are the most relevant positions, and the most up to date. I have a job history leading back to 2006. Through 2009 - 2012 I was blessed to be able to work at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Centre within the Centre for the Arts starting as a 1:1 Facilitator for weekend art based groups and Sunday respite, March Break Camp, and Spiral Garden Summer Camp. From 2010 - 2012, I became the seasonal programs coordinator and started to facilitate more of the strategic planning meetings for said programs and camps rather than working 1:1 with the children we supported during their time with us. From 2012 - 2017, my experience was working for Montage Support Services as a PCP Facilitator, Independent Living Manager and 1:1 Support Worker at various times, and overlapped when I started to change gears with other positions. These professional experiences is where I received most of my frontline training, and real life lessons while working with individuals who had complex needs while fully being invested in supporting them and their circle of care to achieve their person-centered plan goals.
Portfolio
Frontline Mission's Open Community for Healing
Linkedin Learning
From Insights to Action: Turning Customer Needs into Business Solutions
Timeline
Management Specialist - Partnerships and Collaboration - Volunteer MBC
06.2023 - 03.2024
Partnerships and Operations Strategist Consultant - Indigenous Friends Association
03.2023 - 12.2023
SSW Placement Department Manager & Instructor - Ace Acumen Academy
02.2021 - 01.2023
Director, Community & Partner Engagement - Frontline Mission
04.2020 - Current
Director of Operations and Co-Owner - Right at Home Canada
01.2017 - 09.2023
Cambridge Management And Leadership School - Diploma in Strategic Management,
Ryerson University - Bachelor of Arts, Disability Studies
Humber College - Associate of Arts, DSW
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