I am serving as the Associate Director of Health Coverage & Benefits at the The National Council on Aging.Previously, I served as the Deputy Director for the Division on Aging within the Department of Disability and Aging (DDA), I oversaw the administration and oversight of various supportive services for older adults and people with disabilities, using state and federal funds. I had more than two years of experience in this role, and was responsible for managing a team of 30 employees, executing a total annual budget of over $90 million, and collaborating with other state and federal agencies on service delivery, evaluation, and program execution.Prior to becoming the Deputy Director, I was the TN State Health Insurance Assistance Program (TN SHIP) Director at TCAD for two years, where I led a program of 24 employees across nine regions, providing Medicare assistance, plan enrollments, presentations, health fairs, and financial assistance applications. Under my leadership, TN SHIP was the top performing state in the nation for 2020 and 2021, and ranked second place in 2022. I was also responsible for writing contracts and budgets for 10 grantees, applying for and maintaining four grants, and reporting to the Administration for Community Living. I am passionate about coaching and leading with honesty and sincerity, and I seek to be challenged and improve consistently. I have a strong work ethic, reliability, and a public health background from East Tennessee State University. My mission is to serve and empower the aging and disability populations in Tennessee, and to ensure they have access to quality and affordable services that enhance their well-being and independence.