Merribeth Pentasuglia Email & Phone Number

New York, NY, US

Remote

Remote

• Maintain responsibility for monitoring and investigating SNAP retailer compliance, including gathering and analyzing case data to determine the need for disciplinary action.
• Serve as the sole IAB Work Center 1 Program Specialist to oversee Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (PEBT) benefit analysis after being selected by the Section Chief.
• Boosted the efficiency of Civil Money Penalty (CMP) payment plan and payment processing by driving improvements and bridging communications between IAB Financial Management liaisons and WC1 staff.
• Act as the primary point of contact for WC1 Civil Money Penalty (CMP) payment processing in addition to monitoring received payments and investigating missing or unapplied payments to ensure accuracy.
• Earn recognition for exceptional performance and industry knowledge, resulting in being selected by senior leadership to spearhead complex administrative data-based compliance cases.
• Streamlined PEBT workflows from initial case referral to assignment to program specialists and improved deadline monitoring for the Section Chief by heading the development of a database embedded into WC1 Microsoft.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Temporary detail as a Program Specialist in the Investigative Analysis Branch of the Retailer Operations & Compliance Division at USDA Food and Nutrition Services.

Philadelphia, PA

• Reviewed and monitored SNAP retailer compliance with FNS regulations and policies by analyzing retailer characteristics and SNAP benefit redemption patterns to identify potential fraud and misuse.
• Prepared and delivered a detailed presentation on SNAP retailers specializing in Halal products, the Halal process, the similarity to Kosher foods, and types of imported/domestic Halal products during the 2017 CSB.
• Developed data-driven compliance recommendations by leveraging forensic data analysis and auditing techniques; prepared summary referrals to identify unusual and irregular transaction patterns.
• Fostered collaborative working relationships with the Retailer Operations Branch in order to determine and verify retailer eligibility.
• Conducted inspections into fraudulent and abusive SNAP retailers with the USDA Office of Inspector.
• Completed phone interviews with retailers, the public, and internal/external Federal government officials during retailer complaint investigations.

Philadelphia, PA

• Oversaw all financial aspects of corporation grant, cooperative agreement, and contract lifecycles for Federal, state, local, and territorial governments, non-profits, voluntary organizations, and external stakeholders.
• Provided dynamic leadership to a high-performing team of eight grants management specialists responsible for developing SOPs for all aspects of the grant lifecycle, including grantee compliance, auditing, and technical.
• Selected by the Unit Director to rewrite the legally binding AmeriCorps Vista Program Grant Terms & Conditions to outline compliance requirements for grantees.
• Entrusted with independently developing and overseeing a portfolio consisting of grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for Senior Corps and AmeriCorps Vista.
• Communicated routine grant status briefings to the FFMC Director, senior grant management specialists, and the Offices of General Counsel (OGC) as well as the Corporation’s OIG as required.
• Audited and managed a complex territorial government and Alaskan nonprofit on financial restriction with manual drawdown requirements involving review of each reimbursement request in close collaboration with the OGC.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Identified and cultivated new National AmeriCorps grantees; managed and monitored existing programs:
• Reviewed and analyzed a yearly average of 30 new and continuing national health, elder care and disability grant applications; defended grant analysis to senior staff for potential funding
• Negotiated grantee start-up and assisted grantees with creation of quantitative performance measures for use as on-going performance evaluation
• Developed general and focused grantee monitoring plans that included programmatic audits
• Served as grantee primary point of contact for a portfolio averaging 15 grantees, and facilitated grantee interaction with other departments within the Corporation for National and Community Service
• Actively participated in internal oversight and monitoring, health care policy, diversity and internal database workgroups and advisory councils

Greater Philadelphia Area

• Created publicity and recruitment campaigns utilizing over 200 alumni members:
• Managed $20K recruitment marketing and advertising budget for New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and the commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
• Developed recruitment campaigns for AmeriCorps State, National, and VISTA programs that effectively recruited and placed individuals in AmeriCorps member positions
• Supervised and trained AmeriCorps members and alumni recruiters. Created an eight-hour alumni and member outreach training provided to 500 members in the Northeast region of the United States
• Created targeted national and regional marketing campaigns using electronic, print, direct mail, and radio media

Albany, New York Area

• Built the financial and programmatic capacity of NYS Learn and Serve America Programming:
• Wrote and received over $400,000 dollars in grants to fund the New York State Learn & Serve America Program; Created request for proposal process documents for mini-grant notice of funds availability
• Assisted with research data mining and statistical analysis using SPSS for experiential learning research; Acted as interim webmaster for the office of K-16 Initiatives and Access Programs
• Monitored volunteer sites for programmatic and financial compliance with federal and state regulations, memoranda, performance measures, and work plans
• Recruited, screened and supervised a team of 10 volunteers located in statewide placements; acted as ombudsman between volunteer sites and the Corporation for National and Community Service

M.S. Forensic Accounting And Fraud Examination, Financial Forensics And Fraud Investigation

Accounting And Finance

Public Relations / Journalism

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Public Relations And Journalism