Michael D. Wardlow

About Michael D. Wardlow

I am a senior workforce development and community outreach leader with more than 15+ years of experience creating and scaling programs that connect underserved populations with education, career readiness, and employment pathways. My work bridges schools, nonprofits, government agencies, and corporate sponsors to design initiatives that remove barriers, strengthen communities, and prepare individuals for long-term success in the workforce. I excel at building sustainable partnerships, securing funding, and designing program models that deliver measurable outcomes while ensuring alignment with organizational missions. Whether leading large-scale workforce readiness initiatives, managing multi-site operations, or guiding teams through transformational change, I bring a commitment to equity, innovation, and collaboration that empowers individuals, strengthens communities, and drives organizational impact.

Experience

1. Community Outreach & Employment Manager

   AARP Foundation

   Apr 2023 — Present · Pinellas County, FL, US

   Lead a 12-person team across 3 sites, growing SCSEP program participants from 55 to 141 (against a goal of 89) while also scalinghost agency partnerships from 30 to 66 and ensuring strict compliance with federal regulations and grant funding requirements.Oversee financial aspects of the program (including bi-weekly payroll processing, time approvals, and budget allocations), ensuringresponsible use of federal grant funds on payroll and administrative needs while adhering to expenditure guidelines.Implement workforce development strategies (including participant workshops, job development teams, and recruitment strategies)while also fostering networks with nonprofits and public agencies to expand participant training opportunities.Provide coaching and training to staff while monitoring and supervising host agencies to ensure safe, supportive environments,enforce program quality standards, and align with participant development goals in line with workforce readiness objectives.Designed a Training Team Outline Proposal for the SCSEP National Director, creating a framework to standardize staff development,strengthen program delivery, and improve participant outcomes through structured learning and cross-site consistency.

Education

• Hillsborough Community College

  Elementary Education and Teaching

• Clearwater Christian College

  Associate of Arts - AA

• National Louis University Florida

  Master of Education - MEd

• University of South Florida

  B.S. in History with a Concentration on Africana Studies

Skills

• Event Planning
• Social Media
• Budgets
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Microsoft Office
• Teaching
• Coaching
• Leadership
• Customer Service
• Strategic Planning
• Program Development
• Team Building
• Management
• Youth Development
• Program Management
• Leadership Development
• Fundraising
• Event Management
• Nonprofits
• Public Relations
• Staff Development
• Sports
• Public Speaking
• Volunteer Management
• Training