Marquita Heard
Philadelphia
Summary
Result-driven operations manager with exceptional skills in budget oversight and project management. Successfully managed over 3.5 million square feet of vacant land while enhancing community engagement through effective outreach and relationship-building. Proven ability to coordinate large-scale projects and lead teams toward achieving organizational goals.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Operations Manager
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Philadelphia
10.2022 - 09.2024
- Oversaw daily operations for NIH, Deeply Rooted, and Philadelphia LandCare (PLC)programs, and all cleaning and greening
- Managed vendor relationships and procurement processes to ensure efficient operations.
- Coordinated community events, including tree plantings with school children and block cleanups.
- Created timelines, guidelines, and bid packages for Deeply Rooted and NIH programs.
- Trained and supervised field staff in contractor management and invoice development.
- Managed staffing needs through recruitment, selection, onboarding, training, and disciplinary actions.
- Directed operations staff by providing guidance, training, and support to achieve program objectives.
- Reported directly to city council and OHA to get all approvals and permits
- Resolved customer complaints promptly while maintaining high levels of satisfaction.
Community Landcare Manager
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Philadelphia
08.2020 - 09.2022
- Manage the maintenance of 3,548,705 square feet of vacant land and 17 community groups across Philadelphia.
- Increased the number of community groups to 19 through direct outreach and detailed explanation of the (Community LandCare) Request For Application (RFA), then reviewed, and scored groups with assistance from the Division of Housing and Community Development.
- Trained new team members in Community LandCare monitoring, community engagement, and guiding in addressing issues with community groups and residents.
- Monitored cuts, tracked schedules, developed debris removal and fence repair packages for problem sites and submitted invoices monthly.
- Prepared for 2022 season by requesting insurances, reworking group boundaries, adjusting square footage, reviewing site lists with community groups, checking equipment, meeting subcontractors, placing several groups on probation, and hosting preseason review.
- Checked over 1,000 additional parcels to add to inventory increasing square footage in the program by 1,457,950 square feet.
- Present LandCare program overview to TreeTenders trainees annually.
- Oversaw budget of over $800,000 and handled debris removal bids, and requests for cleanings from city officials and other expenses to keep budget on target for the 2021 fiscal year.
Field Specialist
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
11.2015 - 08.2020
- Managed over 8 million square feet of vacant land in Philadelphia LandCare, maintenance only, and PHDC.
- Oversaw the stabilization (cleaning, seeding, and fencing) of 3-5 areas per year to increase the maintenance inventory.
- Notified community members by posting fliers, knocking on doors, and speaking at community meetings that enhancements would occur on a block-by-block basis.
- Surveyed sites to be added and drafted AutoCAD drawings, sometimes more than 100 per bid, presented at bid meetings on the maintenance portion.
- Empowered Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM) to flier and speak to residents about PLC when working in their area, helping residents get items off lots and reduce issues when contractors arrived.
- Reported any issues with fencing, dumping, and tree work that needed to be done and produced several debris removals and staining bids.
- Developed the best customer service skillset to maintain positive relationships with contractors, community members, and council members to allow our work processes to flow more smoothly.
- Trained new team members in Field Specialist protocols including, site monitoring, selection, surveying, handling contractor issues, deescalating resident issues, and invoicing.
- Taught garden design at Garden Tenders class.
Education Coordinator
East Park Revitalization, Alliance
Philadelphia
01.2013 - 01.2015
- Coordinated the maintenance including planting, weeding, and watering, and performed other farming tasks on several urban farms in the community.
- Liaison linking education programs with community members and Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
- Provided educational workshops for community members.
- Develop workforce education for PYN youth, and train youth over summer to grow food and maintain green spaces in the city.
- Built relationships with older farmers to help with work and find new farmers for abandoned urban farms.
- Managed social media and content for a website.
Education Intern
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Philadelphia
01.2012 - 01.2013
- Taught proper planting techniques at Tree Philly tree giveaways.
- Prepared and developed new educational materials for different audiences.
- Increased registration by promoting events, writing blogs, and contacting community groups.
- Coordinated the development of the EPA Urban Waters maintenance course and instructed small groups.
- Conducted surveys on R2R and Philly Treekeepers to evaluate and advance the Urban Waters training program.
- Coordinated with supervisors, trainees, counselors, and parents to get trainees to classes on time.
- Organized and updated Tree Tender information for all groups and individuals throughout the tri-state area.
Intern/Staff
Synterra LTD
Philadelphia
01.2011 - 01.2012
- CAD drafting for construction documents.
- Filed Promo sheets.
Student/Lead Meadow Designer
Temple University
Ambler
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Designed planting arrangement for large Metro Meadow and oversaw installation process, ensuring alignment with project vision.
- Selected and sourced herbaceous material for Temple's 2010 Philadelphia Flower Show Exhibit, enhancing overall aesthetic appeal.
- Developed concept of “Metro”morphosis and created exhibit for flower show, showcasing innovative design.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Landscape Architecture
Temple University
Ambler, PA01-2012
Skills
- Project management
- Budget oversight
- Process improvement
- Team Leadership
- Customer relationship management
- Effective Communication
- Problem-Solving
- AutoCAD
- Landscape Management
- Urban Horticulture
- Tree Tender Trainer
- Master Gardener
- Civic Engagement
- Curriculum Development
Timeline
Operations Manager
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
10.2022 - 09.2024
Community Landcare Manager
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
08.2020 - 09.2022
Field Specialist
Pennsylvania
11.2015 - 08.2020
Education Coordinator
East Park Revitalization, Alliance
01.2013 - 01.2015
Education Intern
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
01.2012 - 01.2013
Intern/Staff
Synterra LTD
01.2011 - 01.2012
Student/Lead Meadow Designer
Temple University
01.2009 - 01.2010
Bachelor of Science - Landscape Architecture
Temple University