Jessica Centeno, serves as Deputy Executive Director at the Center for Employment Opportunities. Based in New York City, Jessica oversees CEO’s workforce reentry programs in Upstate, New York, Ohio, and Michigan. Jessica has been working in workforce development for 20 years and in the employment reentry field for 15 years, where she fulfills her passion for creating connections to training and employment that lead to social and economic mobility for justice-involved individuals. Jessica’s key responsibilities include overseeing statewide partnerships, policy initiatives, and strategic partnerships and ensuring that all offices within her regions operate sustainably.

Before joining CEO, Jessica was the Regional Training and Development Manager for a national private arbitration and mediation firm. She was responsible for recruiting and training staff throughout the East Central Region. Jessica obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University at Albany, SUNY, interned at the NYS Assembly as a Legislative Aide, and received a Master’s Degree in School Counseling from Hunter College in Manhattan. Jessica currently serves on the Board of Directors for the New York State Workforce Association (NYATEP).