Experience

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  Amherst Innovative Living, LLC

  • Massachusetts, United States

  • Special Projects and Human Resources

    • Jun 2023 - Present
    • Massachusetts, United States

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  Be Strong International

  • Miami, Florida

  • Senior Program Executive

    • Jan 2021 - Jun 2023
    • Miami, Florida

    South Florida non-profit organization with offices in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, Florida, for over thirty years providing educational services and resources to youth, parents, and married couples in order for them to develop and maintain healthy relationships, moving them from brokenness to wholeness.Operations and Finance - Responsible for all programs delivered. Prepare and manage budgets. Hire and train staff to ensure program needs are met. Develop standard procedures and streamline workflows.Grants Compliance and Performance Improvement - Serve as internal auditor to ensure services, deliverables, and reporting align with grant contracts. Provide staff training and analyze data on client feedback.Business Development and Marketing - Secure new grants. Prepare and facilitate presentations for businesses and community leaders, international organizations, and for media. Serve as agency representative.

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  ASPIRA of Florida

  • Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, Florida

  • President and CEO

    • Jan 2018 - Oct 2020
    • Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, Florida

    Non-Profit organization with corporate headquarters in Miami that operated three Title I Charter Schools and County-wide youth leadership development programs from Miami-Dade to Palm Beach Counties. A former associate of the national ASPIRA Association, Inc. located in Washington, DC.Directed staff of 170 employees and responsible for maintenance of seven properties. Brought current financial reporting, audits and compliance items. Restructured operations and developed new budgets, realigning staff roles to organizational needs. Managed grievances, legal and insurance matters including investigations, leases and contracts.Implemented new payroll and financial systems; designed financial communication for Board of Directors and stakeholders to include bondholders, investors, elected officials, community leaders, and parents/guardians of youth. Completed Palm Beach and Miami-Dade Counties grants compliance reviews with no findings.Completed State audit of $7 million Federal grant with no findings and no corrective actions. Secured reinstatement of $1 million in State funding.Successfully negotiated the sale of seven properties with three facilities to settle $24 million municipal bond used to fund school properties. Increased the grades of three schools, one achieving an A for two consecutive years. Turned around a school with consecutive years of D grades that was threatened to be closed. Annually graduated 700 students from three schools, graduated all high school program senior students.

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  PRIVATE PRACTICE

  • Broward County, Florida

  • Executive Business Development and Financial Consultant

    • 2012 - Dec 2017
    • Broward County, Florida

    Financial Consultant – Prepared budgets; managed billing, collections, vendors, and loans; public speaker.Healthcare Services Coordinator – Facilitated process between providers, patients, and insurance companies. Marketing & Customer Service – Developed client base through networking; designed ads; edited websites and blogs; analyzed customer feedback; implemented grievance processes. Insurance Agent – Health and life benefits, retirement strategies, and 401(k)/403(b) plans.

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  Borinquen Health Care Ctr

  • Miami-Dade County, Florida

  • Administration Operations, Marketing, Customer Experience and Compliance

    • 2013 - 2015
    • Miami-Dade County, Florida

    This organization has ten sites throughout Miami-Dade County classified as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) mostly funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). HRSA is the primary Federal agency for improving access to healthcare, especially for those geographically isolated and medically or economically vulnerable. Reported to the CEO and Chief Administrative Officer.Aligned executive goal setting process with organizational Pillars of Excellence.Monitored Leadership Evaluation Manager (Studer Group) for tracking patient experience, quality and finance goals; set up and trained new leaders in process.Reviewed patient experience survey results and measurement parameters.Served on multidisciplinary teams to enhance employee awareness of patient survey results and public awareness of feedback vehicles.Prepared Changes in Scopes of Service submitted over HRSA Electronic Handbook; managed HRSA finance reports and tracked deadlines to comply with grant/award requirements; authored and reviewed narratives.Prepared manuals for audits and regulatory site visits; worked with legal counsel and quality staff to develop policies and procedures: Hired, managed and reviewed staff; trained new leaders on Studer tools and methods.Directed monthly employee recognition program and annual employee events.Visited satellite offices highlighting corporate initiatives and gathering staff feedback.Prepared executive communications to Board of Directors and staff.Produced weekly executive newsletter to communicate expansion updates, promote employee recognition and community outreach initiatives.Managed production of organization's monthly community newspaper, "The Voice of the Caribbean" and authored articles.Served Board of Directors for special requests.Represented organization throughout community, public events and health fairs.

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  Memorial Healthcare System

  • Broward County, Florida

  • Director - Customer Relations, Patient Experience, Marketing, and Community Outreach

    • 1997 - 2012
    • Broward County, Florida

    Memorial Regional (MRH) and Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital (2002 -2012)Memorial Hospital Pembroke (1997-2002) Directed patient satisfaction analysis for goal setting and hospital-wide initiatives, which resulted in national top percentile rankings.Led multidisciplinary teams as expert in Press Ganey and Studer Group tools and methods.Championed successful organizational culture change focused on patients'​ special needs, supported by staff developed standards of behavior. Increased patient advocacy, patient- and family-centered care, and service recovery.Served as executive for receiving patient grievances; created grievance process and trend reports used for quality review, performance improvement and increased compliance.Produced weekly newsletter promoting new culture, employee recognition and community involvement; authored executive leadership message.Prepared displays and signage for staff and public areas. Implemented successful marketing, public relations and media campaign for Memorial Hospital Pembroke that increased admissions, physician staff, and revenue; facility received Best Turnaround Hospital award; inpatient satisfaction reached 95 percentile.Prepared budgets and authorized payments. Hired and managed staff; served in peer interviews, 360 degree appraisals and report card design; developed education modules; trained leaders, volunteers and staff.Represented organization throughout South Florida; received numerous awards.Designed and managed Hispanic Services program recognized as a Best Practice by America's Essential Hospitals (formerly the NAPH) for serving the needs of a culturally diverse community. In 2011, received personal letter from CEO acknowledging that I had made a difference in patient satisfaction.In 2000, CEO requested that I be promoted from Memorial Hospital Pembroke to Memorial Regional Hospital, the flagship of the MHS, which also managed Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

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  New England Financial, A MetLife Company

  • South Florida TriCounty Area

  • Director - Pension Plans Development and Employee Benefits

    • 1993 - 1997
    • South Florida TriCounty Area

    Independent Agent and Registered Representative (Series 6 and 63).Trained agents on pension plan designs, funding vehicles and federal tax guidelines. Developed individual client base selling products based on strategic financial planning.Prepared employee data and financial statements for third party vendors and preparation of IRS Form 5500 filings.