PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Experienced Professional and Business Administrator: Bridging Financial Expertise, Literacy Advocacy, Educational Innovation, and Student Success. 

Dedicated to improving student success in learning, reading, and literacy development, I strive to make a lasting impact on students' educational and social progression. I have over 25 years of diverse experience spanning education, financial services, marketing and business administration. In addition, my enduring passion for English and writing enriches my unique skill set.

Within the financial and educational sectors I have multiple years of experience in reconciliation processes, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and student financial affairs. I've consistently delivered streamlined processes, exacting accuracy, and efficient systems, leading to improved reconciliation, reduced discrepancies, and precise reporting. These accomplishments have been instrumental in fostering positive relationships with students and peers and achieving remarkable results.

Simultaneously, my expertise in project management, software training, social media management, content creation, and digital marketing keep me at the forefront of our rapidly evolving landscape. I approach my work with a blend of innovation, collaboration, and effective communication, focusing on achieving impactful outcomes.

My unwavering attention to detail, strong problem-solving abilities, and commitment to students' success make me a comprehensive professional with a distinctive fusion of financial acumen, educational prowess, and a flair for literacy support. Above all, my goal is to contribute to the growth and success of each student, shaping a brighter educational future.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS 

Educational Project & Process Management:

Instructional Planning & Implementation: Leveraged complex project management skills to oversee software conversions, craft operational guidelines, and manage system transitions. Adapted to educational systems various software uses for data analytics, aiding in educational decision-making processes. I am able to apply these skills to implementing reading programs and managing classroom processes.


Literacy Training & Development:

Staff Development & Training: Experience in facilitating team training, including software training across numerous branches. I engage in ongoing professional development and am committed to providing instructional assistants and other staff members within a reading program with opportunities for learning, professional growth, and support.


Content Design & Development: Using my background in marketing, I integrate my expertise into content design and development. Utilizing tools like Canva and Adobe Suite, I skillfully craft compelling visual content that not only enhances engagement but also serves as a pivotal component in creating captivating learning materials and resources for literacy instruction. Beyond this, my marketing knowledge comes into play as I draw upon my experience in social media promotion, graphic design advertising creation, SEO keyword research, and other strategies, all of which contribute to a holistic approach in crafting content that resonates effectively with the target audience. 


Classroom Communication & Engagement:

Parent and Student Engagement: Highly skilled in addressing inquiries, fostering cross-departmental relationships, and utilizing conversational software platforms to enhance student communication. Skilled in the ability to communicate effectively with parents and students about academic and behavioral progress.


Student Performance Analysis: Proficiency in Excel, Word, and Google Data Analytics signifies readiness to evaluate students' academic progress, track literacy development, and utilize data for strategic decision-making. 


Communication & Marketing Skills: Creative mindset in marketing and the generation of impactful communication materials, such as guidelines and promotional materials.  This creative perspective infuses every facet of my marketing strategies, enabling me to conceptualize and generate impactful communication materials that transcend conventional boundaries. Whether it's crafting comprehensive guidelines that succinctly convey complex ideas or devising compelling promotional materials that resonate deeply with the audience, my approach is imbued with an innate ability to weave innovation and effectiveness seamlessly. 


Engaging Writing & Content Creation: Versatile writing skills, content creation, and digital marketing expertise align with developing lesson plans, instructional materials, and promoting the reading program within a school community. 

Financial Management & Reconciliation:

Broad-based experience in financial services, incorporating tasks such as account reconciliation, transaction supervision, and end-of-month reconciliation. Demonstrates proficiency in steering financial processes to ensure adherence to regulations and standards.

Conduct regular review and reporting of collections metrics to track progress against monthly forecasted goals. Leverage analytical skills to analyze data, identify trends, and generate insightful reports that support strategic decision-making and provide visibility into the performance of collections activities. 

Accounts Receivable Management:

Proactively address outstanding issues to ensure seamless cash flow management and financial stability for the organization. Meticulously analyzes the accounts receivable aging report to identify any delinquencies and overdue payments. By closely monitoring this report, I can swiftly spot potential concerns and take proactive measures to resolve them. 

A key aspect of my approach is conducting thorough research and analysis when dealing with short paid invoices and discrepancies. I leave no stone unturned, diligently investigating the root causes of payment discrepancies. This includes checking for any invoicing errors, validating payment records, and communicating with relevant stakeholders to gain comprehensive insights. 

Customer Service & Communication:

Displays exceptional proficiency in fostering robust cross-departmental relationships and delivering financial and business guidance. Highly skilled in addressing a broad range of inquiries and utilizing expansive industry knowledge to generate accurate, concise, and compelling communication materials. 

Brings a creative mindset of marketing experience, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of business operations and customer engagement strategies to create precise, succinct, and impactful communication materials, such as guidelines, procedures, and promotional materials.


Software Proficiency:

Highly proficient in a wide range of software tools, I bring extensive experience in leveraging technology to enhance productivity, streamline processes, and drive effective communication. 


With expertise in industry-standard software applications such as Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Adobe Creative Suite, Canva Pro, CRM, and messaging communication software, I am adept at utilizing these tools to create impactful documents, design visually stunning materials, and facilitate seamless collaboration across teams.

WORK EXPERIENCE 

Financial Aid Technician (March 2021 - Present) Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock, NC

In my diverse role as a Financial Aid Technician at Blue Ridge Community College, I not only excel in scholarship management, content creation, and federal/state program reconciliation but also apply my skills in assisting and tutoring students during their financial aid application process. 



Assistant Director of Student Financial Affairs, Financial Aid Counselor (May 2017 - March 2021) Brevard College, Brevard, NC 


Starting as a Cashier in the Business Office and later advancing to the role of Assistant Director of Financial Affairs at the college, I played a crucial role in overseeing student accounts and managing diverse financial processes. In this multifaceted position at a small school, I assumed a wide range of responsibilities and contributed to the efficient functioning of financial operations. This encompassed tuition billing and collections, conducting month-end reconciliations, managing petty cash, and ensuring efficient end-of-year and end-of-term cash management. 

Working closely with endowed and named scholarships and donors, I meticulously tracked, created database spreadsheets, monitored activity, and worked with financial aid to award funds to deserving students. This involved seamless coordination between the financial aid office, business office, and foundation office to ensure accurate and timely financial support for students.

I assumed responsibility for accounts receivable, diligently processing and ensuring prompt payment from vendors. In this role, I implemented robust systems and procedures effectively managing accounts and streamline payment processes, enhancing financial efficiency.

Drawing upon my comprehensive understanding of institutional policies, I effectively communicated and provided guidance to students and parents on matters related to tuition payments, financial aid disbursements, and other financial concerns. I played a key role in formulating and executing financial policies and procedures, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving operational productivity. Continual assessment and revision of policies were carried out to adapt to the evolving needs of the institution and changes in regulations, maintaining alignment with industry standards.


Healthcare Financial Services (2013-2017) 



Business Banking and Financial Services (1998-2012) 

Managed customer transactions, cross-sold products, and facilitated various banking services. My key accomplishments were in sales outreach, communication, customer service, teamwork, and agility.

Held various roles overseeing daily cash reconciliation, customer transactions, and training others. In these roles, I actively coordinated daily cash reconciliation, efficiently processed customer transactions, and provided training to the teller team for optimal performance and successful implementation of new software. Additionally, I took on a leadership role in training 11 branches during a significant software conversion. Identified sales opportunities, referring customers to branch partners in financial services.


EDUCATION 

Business Administration - Graphic Design, Blue Ridge Community College

Honor Graduate: Summa Cum Laude

August 2021 - December 2022

Gained expertise in online marketing strategies and digital content design through the Business Administration program.


Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Merchandising, Mars Hill University

August 1992 - May 1996

Acquired a blend of business acumen and marketing proficiency with a focus on analyzing market trends and driving business growth.


CERTIFICATIONS 

Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel CERTIFIED: OCT 20, 2021 - ACTIVE, Certification number: I001-8603

Mental Health First Aid — National Council for Mental Wellbeing, CERTIFIED: DEC 08, 2021 - DEC 08, 2024

Certification number: 101419641

Digital Marketing Certificate — Stukent, CERTIFIED: MAR 05, 2022 - MAR 05, 2024

Google Analytics for Beginners Certificate — Google Analytics Academy, CERTIFIED: JAN 2022 - JAN 2025

Introduction to Data Studio — Google Analytics Academy, CERTIFIED: JAN 2022 - JAN 2025 

Get in touch with me.