PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY
Yatika Jakes is an accomplished executive, project management professional, and workforce development leader with more than 13 years of experience managing complex projects, leading cross-functional teams, developing organizational strategy, and supporting technology and cybersecurity initiatives across the public and private sectors.
Prior to leading Jakes Technical Solutions, Yatika served as a Project Manager supporting the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In this role, she supported complex IT and cybersecurity initiatives involving project planning, business analysis, process improvement, risk management, stakeholder engagement, policy and procedure development, technology implementation, and organizational change.
Throughout her project management career, Yatika has managed multimillion-dollar technology initiatives, led and realigned large multidisciplinary teams, and served as a liaison between executives, business stakeholders, and technical professionals. Her experience includes Agile and Waterfall project environments, IT service management, ServiceNow, Microsoft Project, SharePoint, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Smartsheet, and other enterprise collaboration and project management platforms.
Her leadership experience extends beyond technology into workforce development, education, training, and professional mentorship. As a former Program Mentor with Western Governors University, Yatika helped individuals establish educational and career goals, develop individualized plans for success, and navigate pathways toward degree completion and professional advancement.
A U.S. Army veteran, Yatika also served as a Preventive Medicine Specialist, trainer, inspector, and project leader. Her military service strengthened the disciplined leadership, operational planning, training, compliance, and mission-readiness principles that continue to shape her approach to organizational and workforce development.
Yatika holds a Master of Arts in Human Services with a concentration in Executive Leadership from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Cleveland State University. Her professional background also includes Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and Certified Scrum Master training.
As CEO of Jakes Technical Solutions, Yatika brings together technology, project management, education, and workforce strategy to help individuals and organizations build the skills required for today's evolving workplace. Her focus is on developing practical pathways from training to certification to employment, while helping employers and community partners build stronger, more prepared talent pipelines.
Under her leadership, Jakes Technical Solutions provides technology and workforce-development solutions in areas including project management, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, Microsoft technologies, CompTIA certification preparation, digital literacy, career readiness, and customized workforce training.
Yatika's leadership philosophy is centered on a simple principle: workforce development should do more than provide information—it should create measurable pathways to opportunity, advancement, and long-term economic mobility.