SABRINA SOLARES-HAND recently became Providence’s new director of operations. Prior to working for the city as its associate director for purchasing beginning in July 2017, Solares-Hand was an external affairs associate for Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy.
What initially attracted you to working for the city after your time at Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy? As a first-generation college student, the time I spent working in education meant a great deal to me. While with Blackstone Valley Prep, it became apparent how different students were affected by the opportunity gap, how socio-economic status, ethnicity and other factors contribute to the inequitable distribution of opportunities. For me, it’s about identifying opportunities and connecting those dots to do my part to eliminate these hurdles.
In what specific ways did you help support city departments with purchasing efforts? While I oversaw purchasing, my main focuses were identifying the unique challenges our departments faced with regards to procurement and working to explore how policies and clearer processes could resolve those issues. Government procurement can be complex, so I partnered with our innovation department to develop process maps that more clearly illustrate how all the moving parts fit together.
Mayor Jorge O. Elorza described you as a “proven leader.” In what ways do you provide leadership to the city? In my current role as director of operations, I oversee the teams that are responsible for managing the city’s day-to-day business. Everything from posting signs in our parks to paving roads and responding to inquiries submitted to the Mayor’s Center for City Services requires multiple teams to collaborate efficiently. It is my responsibility to lead that collaboration and drive us toward continuous improvement. Well-run organizations are those that take the time to recognize not only what they do well but where they can be better too. I am very fortunate to be surrounded by so many dedicated colleagues who share my commitment to a growth mindset and are also driven to raise the bar every day.
What are your plans for the city in your new role? I have a great interest in environmental sustainability and am excited to dive into how our everyday city operations can be reconsidered through the lens of the mayor’s commitment to make Providence a carbon-neutral city by 2050. As a parent, I think often of what the state of the environment will be for future generations. It is clear that we need to prioritize these efforts and I look forward to doing my part to move us closer to our goal.
