This position has given me extensive experience working with diverse populations and has improved my empathy, communication, problem solving and multitasking skillsUsing these skills, I successfully interact with clients to develop rapport, assess needs, provide services, and/or appropriate referrals, and advise on next steps. I maintain database records of services provided as well as logs tracking phone contacts. I serve as a liaison between clients, other organizations, utility companies and landlords. I manage the financial assistance programs, adhering to an annual budget, and well as special events such as fan & coat giveaways and toys for tots registration. I continually look for, identify and implement changes; for example using collaborative tools for the registration of over 1200 households for the annual Christmas toy and food assistance program, making the registration process smoother and more effective for collecting and compiling data. I also organize, train, lead and support teams of volunteers and staff on seasonal projects such as the annual coat giveaway and day of caring as well as provide ongoing support and training to front desk volunteers.2020 provided new challenges and in response to the pandemic I developed and put into effect contactless systems to ensure continuation of services such as rent, utility and fan assistance. I also transitioned to an online sign up for the 2020 Toys for Tots registration and worked on a team to successfully adapt the toy and Christmas food pick up to a pandemic appropriate event.

I held three positions at Troy, whose main campus in AL, offered 5 master’s degrees on 9 military installations in accelerated, 9 week year round format in the Hampton Roads area. I developed my communication, problem solving skills, patience and the ability to stay calm under pressure during my time here.I started as a full time receptionist at the Naval Station Norfolk in a high volume, fast paced main office for the Atlantic Region. I provided support to all staff, primarily the Site Coordinators/Academic Advisors. When a long time advisor submitted his resignation along with a recommendation for his replacement. I was offered the position. I worked as one of 2 Site Representatives/Academic Advisors and did outreach once per week at NMCP. As a satellite office we provided a full array of student services from initial inquiry through graduation. My fellow advisor and I also co coordinated the annual graduation ceremony for the region.In addition, I was assigned coordinating and administering the comprehensive exam to students who had completed all coursework. This was a paper process and I used software to streamline it, saving time and eliminating duplication of tasks. After many years I was assigned the duty of developing a long term schedule that would circulate each degree offered through each military installation over the course of an academic year. Based on this long term schedule I would then secure faculty and classroom for each of the academic terms. I served in this role from 6/97-12/02.My longevity and reputation in my job allowed me to negotiate to change my employment status from full to half time and I became the Site Coordinator at a one person office on Little Creek Amphibious base. My core duties remained the same and I added on the task of developing and carrying out a marketing plan in an effort to boost student enrollment. I remained in this position until 6/04.

I held three positions during my time at River Center for Community Mental Health. I started as a part time employee transcribing session notes dictated by therapists and psychiatrists. I was in this position from 10/92-2/93.I was brought on full time, working half time in the front office and half time in the business office, greeting clients, answering phones and performing general office duties. I held this position from 2/93-9/93.I was then transitioned full time into the business office as a Business Services Specialist where I remained from 9/93-6/96. The center ran a 150 bed Residential Care Facility, Eagle Summit, which housed MI/MR clients. In this role I did accounts receivable for the resident's room and board. I also disbursed payroll to residents employed by the sheltered workshop and met semi annually with each applicable resident to review their disability benefits, cost of care and personal spending allowances with them to keep them aware of their income and expensesMy time at River Center introduced me to diversity that I previously hadn’t experienced and helped me to develop empathy for those who are struggling or different. I also learned that it is important to be able to adjust how you communicate to suit the person you are trying to communicate with.