Evelyn Ortiz, Deputy Director, New York Association of Training & Employment Professionals
Evelyn Ortiz is a workforce development leader with over 15 years of experience in government affairs, advocacy, community engagement & outreach, and program development. Currently she is the Deputy Director of the New York Association of Training & Employment Professionals (NYATEP), a statewide workforce membership association focused on ensuring that every New Yorker has the necessary skills to access sustainable employment and that businesses have a skilled talent pipeline to support a robust statewide economy. As the Deputy Director at NYATEP, Evelyn leads the development, execution, and evaluation of NYATEP’s statewide policy and advocacy priorities. Prior to joining NYATEP, Evelyn held the position of Chief External Affairs Officer at Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT), a leading youth and adult workforce development agency serving over 4,000 individuals in need of employment and educational training. Through her advocacy, she was able to triple the amount of government funding OBT secured, ensuring the sustainability of OBT’s critical programming for years to come. Evelyn realized the power of advocacy while working for NYS Senator Kevin Parker as the Director of Constituent Affairs. In this role, she came face to face with constituents who were experiencing alarming unemployment rates and risked eviction due to the mortgage crisis and recession. In order to help strengthen the community she established workforce development initiatives that alleviated her constituent’s financial burdens and enhanced their access to economic success. Born in the Dominican Republic, Evelyn grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and as an Advisory Member for the Brooklyn Educational Opportunity Center. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and a Master’s degree in Social Work from SUNY Stony Brook University.
Email: eortiz@nyatep.org