Dara Ford
Mesa,USA
Summary
Initiative-taking, solutions-focused leader with 20+ years of firsthand experience in fostering client relationships to maximize business growth and client retention. Dynamic professional with expertise in driving productivity improvements and uncovering unconventional profit opportunities. Established record of success in P&L oversight, spearheading cost-saving projects, and guiding cross-functional teams to meet challenging goals. Adept at cultivating relationships with diverse individuals, key clients, and executive leaders.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Account Manager
Caris Life Sciences
Phoenix, AZ
09.2023 - Current
- Manage and expand a portfolio of oncology accounts, driving revenue growth through upselling, cross-selling, and deepening client relationships.
- Partner with Molecular Oncology Specialists and client service teams to deliver seamless case management, ensuring exceptional service from order generation to lab report delivery.
- Orchestrate regular customer interactions to position Caris as reliable partner for comprehensive tumor profiling, driving increased adoption of molecular intelligence testing solutions.
- Formulate account strategies to enhance revenue and client productivity while actively identifying and capturing new business opportunities.
- Deliver tailored presentations and product demonstrations, effectively communicating the value of Caris’s molecular profiling technology to physicians and healthcare stakeholders.
- Preserve precise client data and insights in CRM, utilizing feedback to enhance commercial strategy and improve service delivery.
- Represent Caris at medical meetings and trade shows, strengthening brand presence and engagement within the oncology community.
- Consistently meet and exceed sales targets while supporting physicians with ordering, report interpretation, and quality assurance processes.
- Enhance client retention through cultivation of value-based relationships and optimization of service outcomes.
- Integrate account management strategies with business objectives, fostering territory expansion and improving physician satisfaction.
Account Liaison
Caris Life Sciences
Phoenix, AZ
05.2022 - 09.2023
- Refined account operations within Arizona and California Territories for Cancer Tumor Molecular Intelligence testing, enabling Sales Directors, Account Service Managers, and Medical Science Liaisons to tackle client issues 30% faster.
- Managed 75–100 complex patient cases daily across 22,000 genes utilizing CRM and Laboratory Information Systems, ensuring 100% data accuracy and expediting patient treatment timelines.
- Nurtured and enhanced relationships with Oncologists, Surgeons, Pathologists, and lab staff, actively eliminating bottlenecks and elevating client satisfaction.
- Sustained HIPAA-compliant records, strengthening regulatory adherence and supporting 10% growth in audit readiness.
- Revamped Account Liaison training program, leading to 30% reduction in onboarding time and substantial improvement in employee confidence and performance.
Clinical Manager
Neurodiagnostics Laboratories
Phoenix, AZ
11.2021 - 05.2022
- Directed operations of 5 clinics, guaranteeing exceptional patient satisfaction, a secure and engaging work environment, and consistent alignment with company brand and culture.
- Led cross-functional clinic teams, cultivating a quality-focused, customer-centric strategy to enhance end-to-end patient experience.
- Championed inspection readiness initiatives through strategic quality improvement and compliance programs, fulfilling Arizona DHS, HIPAA, OSHA, AANEM, and AASM standards.
- Executed inventory management system enhancement, strengthening loss traceability and boosting operational efficiency.
- Collaborated with executive management and finance teams to develop annual appointment optimization plans and budgets, projecting a 15–20% revenue increase for 2023.
Operations Manager
BioLife Plasma Services
Glendale, AZ
10.2019 - 10.2021
- Directed all aspects of operations, including financial, marketing, administrative, regulatory, quality, personnel, and facilities management for a high-volume plasma center.
- Managed and enhanced performance of team consisting of 50+ staff and 7 nurses, guaranteeing compliance with cGMP, Quality Systems, and all regulatory standards.
- Achieved performance targets through upgraded safety standards and protocols, leading to over 100 donations above monthly goals and production of 60,000+ plasma units annually throughout COVID-19 pandemic.
- Selected by Executive Leadership to participate in the global COVID-19 Antibody Plasma Collection initiative, contributing plasma-derived IV therapies for patients worldwide.
- Achieved flawless compliance, passing CLIA and PPTA inspections in 2021 with zero deviations, reflecting rigorous oversight of laboratory processes and regulatory adherence.
Project/Operations Manager
Maximus
East Lansing, MI
06.2014 - 09.2019
- Spearheaded launch of MI Health Account project, managing project execution and operations for customized Oracle Financial solution overseeing Medicaid eligibility, billing, and payment collection.
- Led over 200 cross-functional team members, optimizing resource allocation, call center operations, payment processes, reconciliation, and compliance for Medicaid programs including MIChild, Freedom to Work, and MI Health Account.
- Cultivated strategic partnerships with Michigan Department of Health & Human Services and 14 state health plans, directing contract negotiations, business requirements, and project timelines to reach coordinated goals.
- Delivered $35M+ in revenue to date as a result of robust implementation of MI Health Account initiative in 2014
- Facilitated Oracle Financial Solution migration, working alongside software developers and IT teams to improve eligibility and payment workflows.
- Optimized operations by reducing JIRA ticket backlog by 30 days through introduction of system defect resolution and change management practices.
- Cut $92K in annual bank fees by optimizing financial product packaging and services.
- Developed and executed a Medicaid collections business continuity plan, ensuring uninterrupted operations and compliance during rapid program expansion.
Operations Director
Concentra Urgent Care
Lansing, MI
11.2011 - 10.2013
- Directed daily operations of a high-volume center, overseeing 20 medical staff, nursing services, billing/coding, A/R and A/P, reconciliation, inventory, and special projects in alignment with the organizational values of healing focus, selfless heart, and tireless resolve.
- Improved patient throughput by implementing a fast-tracking system, reducing wait times for drug screenings and multi-component physicals by 67%.
- Refined medical supply management through development of daily and monthly inventory checklists that improved ordering patterns and ensured preparedness for emergencies.
- Implemented client relations strategy, improving patient rapport and achieving 614-visit surge in 2012.
- Boosted net revenue by $58K in 2012 through enhanced monitoring of coding accuracy and charge entry processes.
Education
Certification - Certified Physician Practice Manager-In Process
AAPC
OnlineCertification - Project Management Professional- In Process
Project Management Institute
OnlineSome College (No Degree) - Health Administration- Coursework
University of Phoenix
Lansing, Michigan, MICertification - CPR & AED
Red Cross
Skills
- Project management
- Customer relationship management
- Regulatory compliance
- Medical terminology
- Inventory management
- Patient care coordination
- Effective communication
- Strategic outreach
- Business negotiation
- Sales techniques
- Business strategies
- Account development
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Product development
- Internal auditing
- Business process optimization
- Territory management
- Administrative oversight
- Complaint management
- Data analytics
- Expense control
- Strategic planning
Previous Leadership Experience
Earlier Career Experience-Banking & Financial Services (2001-2011)
Progressed through multiple leadership roles including Assistant Branch Manager, Branch Manager, Statement Processing Manager, and Customer Service Manager, overseeing branch operations, loan services, and multi-bank statement processing for sixty-four institutions.
Timeline
Account Manager
Caris Life Sciences
09.2023 - Current
Account Liaison
Caris Life Sciences
05.2022 - 09.2023
Clinical Manager
Neurodiagnostics Laboratories
11.2021 - 05.2022
Operations Manager
BioLife Plasma Services
10.2019 - 10.2021
Project/Operations Manager
Maximus
06.2014 - 09.2019
Operations Director
Concentra Urgent Care
11.2011 - 10.2013
Certification - Certified Physician Practice Manager-In Process
AAPC
Certification - Project Management Professional- In Process
Project Management Institute
Some College (No Degree) - Health Administration- Coursework
University of Phoenix
Certification - CPR & AED
Red Cross