LaTron B. Unwrap'd: A Personal Development Blog to Kick Some Amazing Butt in Business and Life

Senior Lifestyle Concierge was created as a way to fulfill my passion of helping seniors remain at home. This service provides concierge-style support, downsizing, move management, and connects seniors to high quality, screened, referrals!

Fundraiser/Marketing Committee Chair (CAFE 5k), July 2010-Present, Cultural Arts for Excellence (C.A.F.E.) , Roanoke, Virginia

What began as a project during the Averett MBA program, my team members and I created the CAFE 5k for Cultural Arts For Excellence (C.A.F.E.). This community organization is dedicated to enriching the lives of children in the Roanoke area through music, art, and dance. We  planned a series of events to be held each spring!  I also tutor students in various subjects.

• Create marketing budget and set annual targets
• Set up tracking mechanisms for marketing analytics
• Identify targeted sources of publicity and advertisement
• Implement eCommerce strategy
• Develop and maintain website updates
• Ensure appropriate social media strategy and email campaigns
• Oversee the production of highly branded graphics
• Since becoming marketing chair, we have already increased the number of participants by 95% for this year’s event.

Inside Sales and Business Administration, June 2010 to Present ,Century Control Systems, Daleville, Virginia

Century Control Systems, Inc. is a stocking distributor and value added reseller for major brands of process control technology. A small business in Daleville, VA generating over $2 million in revenue, I manage the inside sales and accounting process. I make sure order are purchased and shipped on time, and I make sure the bills are paid in a timely fashion.

Accounting

• Update and maintain accounting journals, ledgers and other records detailing financial business transactions (e.g., disbursements, expense vouchers, receipts, accounts payable)using Peachtree software.
• Verify and post details of business transactions and expense reports such as: funds received and disbursed; totals accounts to ledgers or computer spreadsheets and databases.
• Tracks company credit card charges and reconciles statements.
• Process payments, refunds and collect on bad debts.
• Process invoices (incoming & verifying PO’s), posting to vendor accounts and processing cleared checks.
• Monitors loans, accounts payable, and receivables to ensure that payments are up to date.
• Obtain vendor credit to ensure increased cash flow.

Inside Sales

• Process requests for price quotations, purchase orders, order changes, adjustments, and cancellations directly from domestic and international customers, manufacturers, and distributors.
• Achieves and maintains rapport with customers and works to give them the best possible service.
• Make price quotations immediately by phone on price book items.
• Contact distributors for Purchase orders sent to us by customers to locate requested items in order to meet customer’s delivery requirements.
• Maintain files of active orders and posts activity such as change notices, scheduling changes, partial shipments, and credit changes.

Corporate Operations and Market Analyst, May 2008 to December 2009, Kissito Post Acute-Corporate Office, Roanoke, Virginia

Kissito Post Acute is a management company of Skilled Nursing and Long-term Care facilities. I joined as management trainee and transitioned into Operations and Market Analyst. In this role, I created daily reports for the Executive Management Committee, managed several marketing projects, aided administrators in the creation of annual and start-up budgets. I assisted the Vice President of Operations with purchasing and budget spend-down analysis. With the Vice president of Marketing, I designed communications, and analytical reporting tools for marketing. I devised and implemented, the beginning stages of social media program. With the Chief Operating Officer, I researched business operations (including creating and implementing patient and employee satisfaction surveys).

Operations Analysis

• Tracked market and financial trends utilizing basic (Excel) and specialized (American Health Tech and Point ClickCare) software.
• Analyzed facility staffing levels and discussed issues with Administrators.
• Maintained daily and monthly financial and census reports for all nine facilities.
• Utilized market analysis and data collection methods for surveys.
• Surveyed and analyzed employee, patient, and partner satisfaction.
• Worked with Group Purchasing Organizations to obtain competitive bidding for medical equipment and supplies.
• Aided Collections department with difficult accounts.
• Created the Management Trainee Handbook and formalized the training process.
• Trained and supported administrators in Excel, American Health Tech, and Point Click Care.
• Maintained marketing reports for Vice President of Marketing and Chief Executive Officer Budgeting
• Assisted Vice President of Business Development to create corporate marketing budgets.
• Successfully, created the start-up budget for our Texas skilled nursing facility.
• Assisted Chief Administrative Officers create facility based marketing budgets.
• Monitored Budget spend-down for each facility and corporate vendors.
• Developed budgets to send two Ugandan students to study nursing in the Philippines.

Marketing

• Worked directly with Vice President of Marketing to develop marketing strategies for nine facilities.
• Ensured website updates were met.
• Copy wrote and Copyedited communications.
• Designed graphic communications for marketing materials.
• Created the Crisis Communication Plan and forum to collaborate with facilities for constant improvement.
• Maintained and monitored Quality Trigger Reports.
• Mediated Social Media needs; created Post Acute Health 2.0 community and made recommendations for Search Engine Marketing (SEM) and Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
• Assisted Corporate Director of Human Resources in Administrative and Nursing staff recruiting and hiring process.

International

• Obtained Non-Governmental Organization Registration approval to build Morris Cerullo-Kamashi Hospital.
• Researched logistics and supply methods for Ethiopian hospital and began application process with Project C.U.R.E.

General Manager of Student Staff, December 2005 to April 2008 (Student Assistant Manager December 2004-December 2005, Student Supervisor August 2004-December 2004) Virginia Tech Student Programs Housing and Dining Services- Blacksburg, Virginia

At Virginia Tech, I was responsible for approximately 45-55 students each semester. I ensured the vacancies were filled, through recruiting and interviewing. I ensured that each new hire was properly trained and lead training sessions for all student staff four times per year. I managed workflow during my shifts and oversaw 3 Assistant Managers of Student Staff who were trained to ensure efficiency during their shifts. I improved communication policies, and I handled disciplinary actions. I served as  liaison for the department to aid in staffing of Special Meals between facilities,  and I was selected to represent the department at its annual fundraising event at Virginia Tech Foundation.

Customer Service

• Ensured excellent customer service: answer guest’s questions, respond to and resolve complaints, and strive to exceed the guest’s expectations.
• Operations Management/Human Resources
• Oversaw HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) Procedures were followed
• Worked as the Special event liaison for Shultz and Squires Student Center
• Assisted Operations Manager in daily operations, including managing the floor, staffing, the setup and breakdown of meals.
• Directed the recruitment, interviewing, and final selection process for staff.
• Ensured completion of all paperwork (application, tax forms: I-9’s, W-4’s, VA-4’s, Selective Service, Foreign National Data Form (International students only) and documentation, direct deposits) by staff.
• Scheduled student staff.
• Oversaw training of new staff.

Research Assistant, June 2003-December 2008, Virginia Tech Department of Biological Sciences, Blacksburg Virginia

Completed independent studies with Dr. Lynn Adler (UMASS) by studying the effects of secondary compound productions relationship to overall plant growth and presence of Moths oviposition. In 2007, worked with Dr. Sible (Virginia Tech) by studying laboratory techniques and the Poly-ADP ribose molecule actions in its relationship to cancer cell arrest. On each project I conducted literature reviews, administered data collection procedures, analyzed results, and presented a poster for Middle Eastern Alliance for Minority Participation Conference.