Rick Helser, Dpa Email & Phone Number

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

• Conduct a significant amount of legal and policy research in order to adequately process various claims for benefits, ensuring the highest quality of service to our nation's Veterans and their dependents.
• Request, retrieve, and review evidence from federal and non-federal agencies, as well as from Veterans and their representatives in the development and processing of disability claims.
• Assist in the adjudication of disability claims by determining whether claimants meet entitlement criteria.
• Process original claims, requests for reconsideration, increase, or reopening of previously denied claims for benefits.
• Independently determine a Veteran's entitlement to benefits by establishing a character of discharge determination for those who received other than honorable discharges from the military.
• Serve as a primary contact for veterans, their beneficiaries, and their representatives and is the decision-maker for compensation or pension claims.

Columbia, Maryland, United States

• Onboard, coach, mentor, and train Investigators.
• Review Reports of Investigation for accuracy and completeness.
• Conduct investigations for clients including the University of Maryland, Import-Export Bank, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Defense Logistics Agency, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency.

Cleveland/Akron, Ohio Area

• Worked with teens and young adults from low-income households ranging in age from 14 to 24 in developing professional experience. Provided educational and workforce opportunities, skill development, and access to.
• Selected over dozens of peers to serve in one of three leadership positions to pilot a job readiness training program.
• Oversaw and provided advice and guidance to a group of more than 50 teens and young adults participating in the Summer Youth Employment Program.
• Conducted student orientations, provided employment placement services.
• Investigated performance or conduct-related issues regarding youth or employer; serve as mediator in order to resolve problems that may arise.
• Provided a foundation for at-risk youth to find success in the job market, improving their opportunities for a better life.

Various Locations

• Served as HR subject matter expert in areas such as recruiting/staffing, employee/labor-management relations, benefits administration, finance/payroll, training, performance and personnel management.Personnel Management:
• Formally recognized as one of the top two managers in the department (out of 17 total).
• Directly supervised 20 personnel, including two leads (technical experts).
• Within 90 days of hire, developed tactics and strategies that led to more than 30 percent greater efficiency. Recruiting/Staffing:
• Independently researched and developed a recruiting strategy which led a recruiting agency to meet/exceed annual recruiting objectives for the first time in 16 years, propelled the office from ranking 44th in the.
• Implemented HR strategies, including talent acquisition, staffing, employment processing, compensation, benefits, training and development, records management, safety and health, employee relations and retention.

Various - SC, NC, CA, OH, And Japan

Doctor Of Public Administration (Dpa), Public Administration, 4.00/4.00

Dissertation: A Quantitative Analysis on the Effectiveness of Job Readiness Training

Master Of Public Administration (Mpa), Public Administration, 4.00/4.00

Activities and Societies: Golden Key International Honor Society

Master Of Public Administration (Mpa), Public Administration

Surveyed a few courses of the university's MPA program

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Political Science, Cum Laude

Bachelor'S Degree, Economics

Activities and Societies: Vice President, Student Economics Association - 2006 to 2007

Associate Of Arts (Aa), General Studies