Dawanta Parks
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Mr. Dawanta Parks brings over a decade of experience in the field of homeless Veteran support. During his tenure as a Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) Specialist for the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment under the Jobs for Veterans State Grant, Parks provided comprehensive services and facilitated job placements to address the employment needs of Veterans. He prioritized assistance to special disabled Veterans, other disabled Veterans, and Veterans falling into various categories established by the Secretary of Labor, such as homeless Veterans, justice-involved Veterans, recently separated service members, those without a high school diploma, and those with low income.
Throughout his career, Parks completed several Veteran-focused training programs, including the Veterans at Work certificate from the SHRM Foundation, Advanced Case Management, Labor and Employment Specialist training, Basic Veterans Benefits Online, Intensive Services, Case Management, and Managing Case Management. He also received training from PsychArmor on topics such as creating a military-friendly culture and onboarding program, posttraumatic stress disorder, strategies for effective Veteran hiring, and creating a military spouse hiring program.
During his time in this role, Parks developed a collaboration with the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program. He was later hired to establish a new department at the Denver nonprofit organization Bayaud Enterprises amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. His department delved into the housing sector and provided employment opportunities for individuals affected by the pandemic. He and his team implemented efficient standardization methods to navigate the complexities of operating during a global health crisis.
Recognized for his leadership abilities and expertise, Parks was chosen to chair the Colorado Veterans Leading Government for the Colorado City & County Management Association, the state affiliate of the International City/County Management Association. In this role, he oversaw talent strategies aimed at helping Veterans pursue employment opportunities in local government.
Parks served his entire military career as an infantryman in the Oklahoma Army National Guard under the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He participated in the historic deployment to Bosnia and Herzegovina to support the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Additionally, he was deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. He concluded his military service as a noncommissioned officer.
Education has played a significant role in his professional development. He holds an associate degree in applied science and a degree in business management and operations from Oklahoma State University. He furthered his education with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in administrative leadership, a Master of Human Relations degree in organizational development, and a Master of Business Administration degree in strategic business management from the University of Oklahoma and the University of Denver, respectively. Parks also earned a Master of Science degree with a dual focus on human resources management and change innovation and a Master of Public Administration degree with a specialization in local government, both from the University of Colorado Denver.
