Leon Joel Samms

 Leon J. Samms Apt 5 Medora Court, Knowles Road, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica Contacts:-;-;- PROFILE Experience in youth programme development and implementation Marketing and Agri-business Development Expertise in database and information management Experience in using research software Excellent minutes writing and reporting skills EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND Master’s in Public Administration (MPA)Yeungnam University, South Korea-Major: Community and Rural Development Minor: Public Policy and Leadership Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)University of Technology, Jamaica - Major: Administrative and Information Systems Management Minor: Finance and Banking UN Women Training Centre – Certificate of Completion 2018 Module 1 – Gender Concepts Module 2 – International Framework for Gender Equality Module 3 – Promoting Gender Equality throughout UN Systems Module 4 – Women’s Economic Empowerment Project Proposal Writing – Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) 2018 Agri-business: Training of Trainer – Farming as a Business JaREEACH/HEART Trust 2018 Media Relations Workshop University of Technology, Jamaica Summer 2013 Technologies in Research Methodologies Workshop University of Technology, Jamaica Summer 2013 PROFESSIONAL & TRAINING EXPERIENCE World University Services of Canada - Market Systems Facilitator Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises & Linkages (PROPEL) Project Jamaica (PROPEL is an Economic Agricultural Development Project funded by the Government of Canada) July 2017- December 2018 Duties include: Implement market systems approach to support the agriculture produce markets Facilitate the training of over 500 farmers in Farming as a Business Facilitate market-driven linkages between relevant government agencies, producers, exporters and processors Support the development of sustainable agribusiness and agri-trade strategies that identify key market opportunities Prepare, vet and manage all forms of documentation (legal, financial, HR and wok plans) relating to the project/partnerships Prepare country reports (general and security) for submission to Canada Identify and address market systems gap, deficiencies and emerging challenges in collaboration with key stakeholders Monitor market trends and other analyses of the market to support decision making Facilitate the securing of marketing contracts among producers prior to the start of production World University Services of Canada Gender Equality and Youth Programme Officer (Acting Responsibility) August-November 2017 Duties include Responsible for continued identification and analysis of Gender Equity and Youth issues to inform the development of final Gender Equity and Youth Country Strategies Lead implementation of Gender Equity and Youth Activities, including leading collaboration where required with respective sector specialists Identify partners, collaborating and approving content and advising on contracting Support to Program level reporting and work planning based on discussions, input and analysis with Country Coordinators, M&E Team and Project Director The Victoria Bed & Breakfast - Business Dev. & Marketing Consultant 2018 (June-November) Duties include Prepare strategic marketing and operational plans for The Victoria Bed and Breakfast Increase The Victoria’s publicity through online platforms and marketing Lead the negotiation processes for new contracts and customer relations Perform market research and analysis to inform business decisions Perform general accounting duties University of Technology, Jamaica -Administrator College of Business and Management/College of Health Sciences May 2012- July 2017 Duties included: Special projects planning and execution Strategic plan and website content writing Curriculum and quality assurance committee secretariat Customer relationship management Prepares multiple monthly reports Research support Human Resource Management-summary reports, contracts and requisitions of employment Maintains Executive Administrative Systems and Databases Welfare programme management and student advisement Papine High School- Part-time Teacher September 2016-May 2017 Subject Areas: Entrepreneurship Unit 1 Entrepreneurship Unit 2 Yeungnam University, South Korea- Teaching Assistant Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul April – July 2015 Duties Included: Tutored Students in Community Development Theories and English Language Tutored Graduate Students in using Microsoft Officeand SPSS Saemaul project support Courts Jamaica Limited- Verification Administrator October -December 2010 Duties included: Verified both customers’ and references’ information Database management and other administrative tasks DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS/PROGRAMMES Community Computer Restoration Programme (2017) – Project Leader An initiative geared at restoring the functionality of computers in inner city communities beginning with Fletcher’s Land. The programme allows member of the respective communities to be trained in the maintenance of said computers. Blood Drive Initiative (2017) – Project Advisor Through the Fletcher’s Land Police Youth Club, a series of blood drives have been organized for the benefit of the Children’s Bustamante Hospital. Deaf/Sign Language Awareness and Promotion (2016) – Project Leader Encourage the learning of Sign Language through the use of simple and modern technologies. Kitchen Gardens for the less Fortunate (2016) – Project Leader A project that uses idle space to grow fruits and vegetables for the benefit of the less fortunate in the Waltham Park community. Youth Outreach/Development (2015) – Project Advisor A programme geared at assisting inner-city youth in securing summer employment and scholarships. The project leader assists in the writing of resumes and cover letters, scholarship searches and applications. CONTINUING EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Training of Trainers: Farming as Business Training – HEART Trust/JaREEACH Project - Participant Youth Climate Change Conference hosted by JaREEACH, Youth Policy Advocacy Training September 2017 - Facilitator National Housing Trust Social Enterprise Workshop, “Corruption and Community Development” June 2017 - Presenter Resume Writing Workshop April 2017 – Co-Facilitator Deaf Sensitization Seminar (UTech/JAD) 2017 - Participant University of Hampton Leadership Conference June 2016- Participant Drug Abuse Seminar 2016 – Participant UNDP Social Good SummitSeptember 2016 - Participant Human Rights Workshop- Ministry of Youth and Culture 2015 - Participant Human Rights Workshop – Fletcher’s Land Police Youth Club 2015 - Facilitator Climate Change Workshop – Ministry of Youth and Culture 2015- Participant Global Saemaul Forum, South Korea – Yeungnam University/KIOCA 2014 & 2015 – Participant Cheongdo International Exchange Program – 2014 South Korea- Participant AFFILIATIONS Church of the United Missions- Youth Ministry President, Sign Language MinistryDirector, Community Based Organization -Fletcher’s Land Police Youth Club 2014 –Present Special Advisor -st Vice President-Public Relations Officer Academic Institutions: 2013-Present John Mills Past Student Association – (Secretary & Treasurer- Yeungnam University- Student Union Representative (Graduate Major- Yeungnam University- Global Saemaul Volunteer Program (Major Representative- University of Technology, Jamaica- Administrative Management Association (PRO- Portmore Community College- Universities/Colleges Christian Fellowship (Secretary) International Organization: 2017- PresentCaribbean Regional Youth Council – Membership and Partnership Committee (Member) 2015- PresentGlobal Saemaul Development Network (Member) AWARDS JPS/Korea East-West Power Company Full Academic Scholarship- Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) Academic Scholarship- Outstanding Contribution to Fletcher’s Police Youth Club 2013 OTHER INVOLVEMENT/ACCOMPLISHMENT Member of the National Youth in Agriculture Committee (Jamaica) Constructed curriculum vitae for Board of Directors (9) of the Potato and Onion Producers Association of Jamaica (POPA) LANGUAGES English (Native), Korean and Spanish (Intermediate), Mongolian (basic) RESEARCH PAPER Papers: Effect of Rural Transportation System on Agricultural Development in Rural Jamaica (Published 2015 in the Journal of Saemaulogy) INTEREST: Youth Empowerment, Community and Social Development, Project Management, Business Management, Ethics and Good Governance, and Sustainable Development REFERENCES Dr. Claudette Williams-Myers Associate Dean and Associate Professor College of Business and Management University of Technology, Jamaica-- Mr. Gavin Myers Events Coordinator National Integrity Action--