Public Relations/Marketing Position Needed-posted by Alison Bryant, Board Member

ALISON V. BRYANT
1006-5 Stuyvesant Avenue ▪ Irvington, NJ 07111
(973) 399-2704
avbkat@msn.com

SUMMARY

Areas of specialization include business expansion, account management, financial reporting, marketing, public relations, fundraising, event planning, benefits and claims administration, staff recruitment and supervision, training and development. Skill set includes strong interpersonal, organizational, analytical, oral and written presentation/communication.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE


SUMMIT OAKS HOSPITAL September 2003 – present
Business Development Liaison
Negotiating managed care contracts and rates in addition to developing and reinforcing sound working relationships within the community and local organizations.
Securing the hospital’s participation in over 40 managed care health plans in less than a year.
Generating over 60% of patient referrals to the facility.
Increasing inpatient and intensive outpatient rates by 15% or more on several accounts.
Assisting with escalating the monthly census by 50%.
Establishing and enhancing collaborative partnerships with hospitals, PCPs, social service agencies, and schools.
Maintaining and fostering positive public relations by attending local meetings, program conferences and community functions.
Conducting marketing campaigns, including writing and distribution of press releases, radio announcements.
Preparing referral admission records and statistics.
Serving as writer and editor of hospital newsletter.
Developing and creating collateral materials to promote programs and services.
Implementing employee training and development.
Working with program managers and clinical supervisors to develop policy and procedure enhancements and quality and performance improvement initiatives.
Spearheading, planning and coordinating special events.
Recruiting and advising members of Teen Advisory Board.
Updating of website and telephonic information.
Establishing a team atmosphere conducive to sharing best practices.

COMMUNITY ACCESS UNLIMITED November 2002 – July 2003
Marketing and Fundraising Director
Promoted the services and programs of private non-profit organization serving developmentally disabled persons and at-risk youth.
Serving as public relations representative and newsletter editor.
Designing and creating new promotional materials to improve marketing strategies.
Conducting presentations.
Marketing and planning special events.
Soliciting sponsorship and donations.
Managing tributes, memorials, and in-kind contributions.
Developing fundraising opportunities.
Writing grants to secure additional program funding.
Coordinating and spearheading cultural arts projects.
Monitoring the updating of website information.

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL SCHOOL September 2001 – June 2002
Elementary School Teacher
Taught 4th grade Math, English, Reading, Science, Social Studies, and Religion.
Provided educational instruction to students through the use of computer technology, textbooks, and audio-visual aides.
Cultivated a learning environment, which included the application of real-life mechanisms, teamwork, self-exploration of academic strengths and challenges, problem resolution, and peer tutoring.
Created parent-teacher, student-parent, and student-teacher partnerships.
Tutored 4th and 5th graders after school on an as-needed basis.
ALISON V. BRYANT PAGE 2



PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS UNIFI October 2000 – May 2001
Designer/Technical Writer
Served as technical writer and internal consultant within the training and development department.
Incorporated sound instructional design strategies and adult learning principles and techniques to systematically develop training materials.
Created client-specific training manuals, course assessments and evaluations for Defined Contribution (DC), Defined Benefit (DB), and Health & Welfare (H&W) employee benefit plans.
Developed educational tools for Human Resources (HR) and sound employment practices.
Performed needs analysis for clients and the department.
Facilitated training classes on an as needed basis.

MAGELLAN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH November 1999 – September 2000
Project Manager/Account Service Manager
Assisted the account management team with special projects and client/broker inquiries on Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield accounts.
§ Reviewed and revised mental health and substance abuse case management letters for State and client-specific contractual language compliance.
§ Collaborated with Quality Improvement staff to ensure that complex appeal processes were clearly communicated to providers and members.
§ Coordinated and researched responses to HMO Requests for Information (RFIs).
§ Investigated account complaints and grievances.
§ Updated and created account mental health and substance abuse benefit plan designs.


BUCK CONSULTANTS September 1999 – November 1999
Benefits Consultant
Responded to Saint Barnabas Health Care System (SBHCS) participant inquiries regarding Health & Welfare and Defined Contribution benefits during the 1999 – 2000 open enrollment season within a call center environment.
Enrolled and assisted employees of the SBHCS with their medical, dental, and life insurance coverage elections. Integrated participant/client telephone calls and updated the AS400 record-keeping system.
Verified employee 401K enrollments, contributions and account activity via OMNI human resource system.

ALICARE, INC./AMALGAMATED LIFE May 1998 - July 1999
Account Executive
Served as liaison for Teamsters account with membership of over 1,000, in addition to providing coverage as backup for other accounts.
§ Fostered working relationship between client and various departments within company.
§ Handled account inquiries regarding claims and benefit plan design issues.
§ Prepared summary plan description (SPD) and overview as new programs and accounts were implemented.
§ Tracked written complaints and grievances from union members and presented them at the Board of Trustee meetings.
§ Facilitated account/member education presentations and orientations sessions.
§ Negotiated with health care vendors.
§ Responded to requests for proposals (RFPs) and information (RFIs).
§ Assisted the legal department with plan licensure updates and applications.


MAGELLAN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH May 1996 - May 1998
Account Service Representative
Interfaced with account team to upgrade and retain Blue Cross and Blue Shield affiliated clients, as well as direct clients.
§ Created marketing/sales presentation materials, which also included preparation of proposals for employee assistance programs (EAPs), care management, and integrated products.
§ Maintained and updated account benefit plans.
§ Developed benefit and proposal database system enhancements.
§ Conducted internal and external training sessions as new accounts were implemented.
§ Managed the design and production of promotional and educational materials utilized by the staff.
§ Wrote articles for the corporate monthly newsletter.
§ Planned and coordinated internal and external company-sponsored events.
ALISON V. BRYANT PAGE 3


COMMUNITY OPTIONS July 1995 – May 1996
Employment Support Coordinator
Facilitated daily living skills training and educational sessions to adults with developmental disabilities.
§ Formulated individual habilitation plans.
§ Led group counseling and information sessions.
§ Surveyed the community for potential job openings and marketed employment services of program participants.

PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY November 1985 – May 1995
Marketing/Proposal Consultant, Assistant Expense Analyst, Assistant Managed Medical Provider Organization Consultant, and Claims Advisor
Supervised proposal unit and service team within regional marketing division and claims examining unit within the indemnity and managed medical group health divisions.
Researched and wrote responses for requests for proposals (RFPs) and information (RFIs).
Conducted enrollment meetings and health fairs for clients.
Compiled managed medical survey information and maintained network provider status and benefit plan designs.
Instructed examiners on the technical review of claims for claims adjudication.
Completed full-year inter-regional billing expense projections and prepared monthly billing reports. Coordinated the financial reporting year-end jobs.
Negotiated with vendors for company promotional items.
Facilitated team building and a variety of customer-focused courses. Coordinated training sessions for Sales and Marketing staff.
§ Monitored regional expenses incurred on traditional and managed medical cases and analyzed divisional staffing data and prepared divisional budgets.
§ Surveyed providers in various geographic areas to develop fee schedules for specific medical procedures.
§ Reviewed provider appeals and responded to provider inquiries.
§ Researched market trends and their impact on product offerings.


EDUCATION

MPA, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ – 1992
Concentration: Human Resources Management

BA, Northeastern University, Boston, MA – 1984
Major: Human Services Minor: Psychology

SKILLS

MS Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Information Mapping

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Summit –New Providence Rotary Club
Summit Municipal Alliance
United Way of Greater Union County-Women’s Leadership Initiative Steering Committee Chair
United Way of Greater Union County – Community Investment Council

BOARDS

President, Board of Trustees – Irvington Public Library
Advisor, Jason Foundation, Inc. Teen Board
Board Member, Bridges Outreach, Inc.
Board Member, Suburban Chamber of Commerce

FELLOWSHIPS

Governing Institute of New Jersey April 2006
Leadership Newark, Inc. Class of 2007

Summit, NJ Parking Permit Renewals

The Chamber office is handling renewals for Summit parking permits and transfer station. The Chamber office is open from 8:30-4:30, Monday-Friday. You can mail it in or come in person. Parking is $3.75 per day if you have a permit. You need to be a resident of Summit or a verified Summit Employee. If you live in Berkeley Heights or surrounding towns, you can park in a lot for $9 per day. Contact Maureen at the Chamber office for more information and say you saw it on the blog.

Welcome Suburban Chamber Members

For those of you that attended the March Meet and Greet at Marco Polo Restaurant in Summit last Thursday, I announced that we would be creating a blog that would allow the members of the Chamber to post any information they would want people to read about their companies.

We ask you to follow some rules, however. Please no profanity, no saying unkind things about any person or company, and if you are unsure if it's allowed please call Ed or Patrick at the Chamber before you post.

We hope this blog increases the awareness of each other's business and how we can work together to make our Chamber grow over the internet.

Denise Broesler, Technology