Jennifer Ricks

Jennifer Ricks is a dedicated workforce development leader and advocate for at-risk youth, currently serving as the Director of Youth Services for Employ Prince George’s, Inc. She has dedicated her career to helping young people connect with career pathways and secure meaningful employment opportunities. She is responsible for leading teams and departments, creating partnerships with key stakeholders, maintaining fiscal performance, recruiting, training staff, and monitoring performance.
Before her work in workforce development, Jennifer was an educator in the Prince George’s County Public School System (PGCPS). She has worked on both sides of the youth system, and much of her work has contributed to preventing young people from getting involved in the criminal justice system. For over a decade, Jennifer has designed and managed nationally recognized Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) funded programs and has been committed to helping young people find their way in the workforce.Jennifer holds a Master’s Degree in Project Management from the University of Maryland University College and is a National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) member. She also holds a Certified Workforce Development Professional (GCDF) and Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) credential, which demonstrates her commitment to helping young people find success in the workforce.