Dayna Cook
Roanoke,VA
Summary
Dynamic professional with a proven track record in each of my careers, excelling in customer service and teamwork. Recognized for exceptional communication skills and attention to detail, I adeptly manage multiple priorities while fostering positive relationships. Committed to enhancing client well-being through compassionate care and effective problem-solving strategies.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
POA
Carilion Clinic
Roanoke, VA
09.2020 - 01.2021
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
Private Investigator
Wackenhut Security
Roanoke, VA
01.1996 - 03.1998
- Collected documentation such as witness statements, video recordings and photographs to support case findings.
- Stayed in open communication with supervisors to maintain operational safety and submit timely reports.
- Staked out locations to locate individuals and gather evidence of unlawful activities.
- Exceeded client expectations by delivering comprehensive reports detailing case findings and recommendations in a timely manner.
- Produced professional reports outlining findings of cases, expenses incurred and any important incidents.
- Investigated individuals claiming disability to identify and document fraud.
- Tracked claimants through routine and notable activities and documented findings with videos, photographs and audio recordings.
- Conducted mobile and stationary surveillance on subjects of Type investigations.
- Enhanced case success rate with meticulous attention to detail during investigations, ensuring all relevant information was gathered and analyzed.
- Collected clear requirements from clients and updated each regularly on case progression and to obtain additional objectives.
- Strengthened relationships with local law enforcement agencies through collaboration on high-profile cases, resulting in mutually beneficial outcomes.
- Uncovered critical evidence by conducting thorough background checks, surveillance, and research for client cases.
- Established trust with clients through consistent communication, keeping them informed of progress updates throughout the course of each investigation.
- Conducted surveillance for up to Number hours at time.
- Enhanced client satisfaction by providing personalized service, understanding their unique needs and objectives, and delivering results that exceeded expectations.
- Built a solid reputation as a reliable and trustworthy investigator through adherence to ethical practices and maintaining confidentiality in all assignments.
- Conducted covert operations to gather intelligence on subjects while maintaining strict confidentiality and professionalism throughout the investigation process.
- Operated in full compliance with State laws covering interactions with individuals, records searches and allowable surveillance techniques.
- Delivered expert testimony in court proceedings, contributing to successful outcomes for clients involved in legal disputes or litigation matters.
- Solved complex cases by utilizing advanced interviewing techniques and collaborating effectively with law enforcement agencies.
- Optimized results from asset searches by leveraging diverse investigative tools and resources such as public records databases and online search platforms.
- Compiled exceptional notes on movements of individuals and collected documentation.
- Surveilled individuals covertly to investigate issues such as fraud and infidelity.
- Obtained crucial information for clients through skillful interrogations, leading to timely resolution of sensitive matters.
- Accelerated case resolutions by working closely with attorneys to develop effective legal strategies based on findings from thorough investigations.
- Worked hours to pursue case leads and collect evidence, tenaciously completing case objectives with Number% success rate.
- Improved security measures at client sites by conducting comprehensive risk assessments and recommending appropriate countermeasures based on individual needs.
- Supported civil cases by collecting exhaustive notes and offering sworn testimony in depositions and open court.
- Uploaded evidence into case management system each day.
- Searched computer databases, credit reports, public records or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.
- Performed undercover operations such as evaluating performance or honesty of employees by posing as customers or employees.
- Obtained and analyzed information on suspects to solve cases, identify criminal activity or organize supporting documentation for court cases.
- Questioned persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody or missing persons or to gather information about character or financial status of individuals of interest.
Caregiver
Family
Roanoke, VA
01.2015 - 04.2018
- Assisted clients with activities of daily living, promoting independence and quality of life.
- Cleaned house, ran errands, managed laundry, and completed weekly grocery shopping.
- Assisted with dressing guidance, grooming, meal preparation, and medication reminders.
- Performed light housekeeping duties to maintain cleanliness standards while respecting the patient''s personal space.
- Assisted clients with daily living needs to maintain self-esteem and general wellness.
- Built strong relationships with clients to deliver emotional support and companionship.
- Engaged patients in meaningful conversation, socialization, and activity while providing personal care assistance.
- Maintained a safe and clean environment for patients, reducing risks and ensuring optimal health outcomes.
- Enhanced patient comfort by providing compassionate and attentive care, addressing individual needs and preferences.
- Assisted with feeding and monitored intake to help patients achieve nutritional objectives.
- Assisted patients with self-administered medications.
- Contributed to a positive atmosphere for patients by using effective communication and active listening skills.
- Provided safe mobility support to help patients move around personal and public spaces.
- Administered medications as prescribed, ensuring accurate dosage and timely administration for maximum efficacy.
- Provided emotional support to patients and their families during challenging times, fostering trust and strong relationships.
- Maintained clean personal areas and prepared healthy meals to support client nutritional needs.
- Prioritized patient dignity, privacy, and autonomy during all aspects of care provision.
- Supported clients with mental support and physical activities to accomplish quality of life and sustain needs.
- Prepared nutritious meals according to dietary restrictions, supporting clients'' overall health through balanced nutrition.
- Coordinated closely with family members regarding updates on patient conditions or concerns that arose during the course of caregiving duties.
- Transported individuals to events and activities, medical appointments, and shopping trips.
- Documented detailed daily reports on each client''s progress, informing adjustments in care plans when necessary.
- Recognized and reported abnormalities or changes in patients' health status to case manager.
- Turned and positioned bedbound patients to prevent bedsores and maintain comfort levels.
- Managed patient appointments and transportation needs, ensuring punctual arrival at medical visits and other engagements.
- Monitored client vital signs, administered medications, and tracked behaviors to keep healthcare supervisor well-informed.
- Implemented fall prevention strategies within the home environment by identifying hazards or obstacles that posed risk to patient safety.
- Monitored vital signs regularly, detecting any abnormalities or changes in condition to promptly inform medical professionals.
- Changed dressings, bandages, and binders to maintain proper healing and sanitary measures.
- Assisted in rehabilitation exercises as prescribed by medical professionals, guiding patients towards improved mobility and function.
- Collaborated with healthcare team members to develop personalized care plans for each client, resulting in tailored support and improved wellbeing.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in caregiving techniques, enhancing the quality of care provided.
- Developed engaging recreational activities tailored to individual interests and abilities, boosting mental stimulation for patients throughout their day-to-day lives.
- Efficiently organized schedules for multiple clients simultaneously while maintaining high-quality care standards.
- Facilitated smooth transitions between home care settings by coordinating services and communicating effectively with all parties involved.
- Supported daily hygiene needs of patients by assisting with bathing, dressing, dental care and personal grooming.
- Laundered items, changed sheets and made bed to keep patients' bedroom clean.
- Monitored clients' overall health and well-being and noted significant changes.
- Assisted with daily living activities, running errands, and household chores.
- Cooked meals and assisted patients with eating tasks to support healthy nutrition.
- Assisted patients with bathing, grooming, dressing, and oral hygiene care both in private residences and facilities.
- Provided compassionate and patient-focused care to cultivate well-being.
- Transported clients to and from medical appointments with safety and efficiency.
- Guided patients to restroom to support bladder and bowel relief requirements.
- Built and maintained rapport with clients and family members to facilitate trusting caregiver relationship.
- Entrusted to handle confidential and sensitive situations in professional matter.
- Recorded status and duties completed in logbooks for management.
- Recorded patients' pulse, blood pressure and respirations (TPRs) to assess and document important health information.
- Replaced bandages, dressings, and binders to care for wounds and encourage healing.
- Maintained strong connections within caregiver community to gain continuous knowledge.
- Handled incoming mail, bills and invoices and completed appropriate actions.
- Implemented physical therapy to support patient improvement in muscle tone, range of motion and injury recovery.
- Maintained entire family's schedule and organized events.
- Provided staff coaching, mentoring, and consultation to enhance performance and professional development.
- Liaised with key accounts to deliver targeted administrative household support.
Nanny
R. Fuller Family
Roanoke, VA
04.2005 - 01.2015
- Assisted with light housekeeping duties as well as running errands.
- Prepared meals and snacks for children based on dietary guidelines.
- Developed strong communication with parents to provide updates on children''s progress, needs, and achievements.
- Supported children in play activities, meals, and snacks, hygiene and socialization.
- Collaborated closely with parents in establishing boundaries/rules within the household which helped maintain consistency across all environments.
- Maintained a clean and organized home environment conducive to optimal child development through regular tidying duties.
- Provided nutritious meals and snacks according to dietary restrictions or preferences, ensuring balanced nutrition for growing bodies.
- Organized and cleaned home after activities by picking up toys and straightening up play room.
- Enhanced children''s emotional well-being by providing attentive care and nurturing relationships.
- Handled challenging behavioral issues using appropriate discipline strategies and proactive communication with parents.
- Ensured children''s safety and comfort by consistently monitoring their environment and addressing potential hazards.
- Played games, worked on puzzles, and read books to young children.
- Built positive and nurturing environments to support child social and emotional growth.
- Encouraged physical activity with outdoor play, sports, and fitness games for improved health and motor skills development.
- Established lasting, professional connections with families and children by encouraging open communication and delivering positive feedback.
- Managed children''s schedules effectively to ensure timely completion of homework, extracurricular activities, and daily routines.
- Engaged with children on age-appropriate level.
- Promoted intellectual development through reading, storytelling, and engaging educational activities.
- Bathed, dressed, and helped with teeth brushing as part of bedtime preparation.
- Supported character-building qualities such as responsibility, respect, empathy, and self-discipline through consistent modeling of behavior expectations.
- Administered basic first-aid and medication in emergency situations.
- Fostered creativity through art projects, music appreciation, and imaginative play designed to stimulate young minds.
- Implemented creative learning strategies tailored to each child''s interests and abilities for enhanced cognitive growth.
- Developed and implemented behavior management strategies to minimize indiscipline and guide children in attaining positive behavior.
- Assisted in the development of social skills by arranging playdates with peers in a supervised setting.
- Coordinated transportation arrangements for school pick-ups/drop-offs or appointments while prioritizing safety precautions during transit.
- Implemented effective sleep training techniques that established healthy bedtime routines resulting in improved sleep quality.
- Transported children to and from school, medical appointments, and extra-curricular activities.
- Transported children to and from activities using personal or family vehicle.
- Taught children basic life skills, manners and personal hygiene.
- Monitored children's play activities to verify safety.
- Developed games and activities using arts and crafts to support learning and verbal skills.
- Provided developmentally appropriate activities for children.
- Helped children complete homework assignments and school projects.
- Encouraged children to be understanding and patient with others.
- Supervised children engaged in physical activity, learning and social skills with peers.
- Organized activities that enhanced children's physical, emotional, and social well-being.
- Supervised children on playground to help develop physical and social skills.
- Coordinated playdates and outings to meet children's physical and social needs.
- Regularly traveled with family to help with vacation activities and childcare.
- Identified warning signs of emotional and developmental problems in children.
Paralegal
Green and Associates
Roanoke, VA
08.1999 - 01.2004
- Reduced attorney workload by drafting routine legal documents such as pleadings, motions, and affidavits.
- Managed scheduling of court calendars and deadlines to maintain smooth flow of firm operations.
- Enhanced case efficiency by organizing and maintaining legal documents, files, and correspondence.
- Assisted counsel in preparing answers, providing documentation, and information for discovery request.
- Edited and proofread legal documents to verify accuracy.
- Liaised with other paralegals and legal staff to complete common tasks on schedule.
- Contributed to firm-client relationship building through professional interactions with clients during meetings or phone calls, conveying empathy while maintaining confidentiality.
- Communicated with clients, opposing counsel and court personnel to keep all parties informed on case updates.
- Maintained and updated organized client contact information to keep in touch with clients and provide updates on cases.
- Prepared legal briefs, motions, and pleadings.
- Boosted office productivity by maintaining an accurate calendar of appointments, deadlines, and court appearances.
- Helped attorneys prepare for trial by organizing exhibits and calling on witnesses to testify at hearings.
- Improved document organization by implementing a comprehensive file management system for easy access to essential case materials.
- Ensured compliance with court rules and procedures by accurately preparing and submitting legal filings within established timeframes.
- Conferred with clients and other involved parties to gather and track case information.
- Conducted detailed client intakes and entered information into company database.
- Assisted attorneys with trial preparation through thorough research and analysis of relevant laws and regulations.
- Summarized depositions, legal documents and other material to provide attorney with relevant material for cases.
- Managed complex cases efficiently using specialized software programs designed for paralegal work to track information related to multiple parties over long periods of time.
- Promoted a positive work environment by providing training and guidance to junior paralegals or interns as needed.
- Contributed to successful case outcomes through diligent fact investigation and witness interviews.
- Optimized legal proceedings with precise preparation of trial notebooks and evidence.
- Streamlined workflow by implementing new document management system, reducing time spent on file retrieval.
- Conducted in-depth legal research for supporting case strategy development, significantly contributing to positive outcomes.
- Enhanced case preparation efficiency by organizing and maintaining comprehensive digital filing system.
- Assisted in drafting legal documents, ensuring compliance with court requirements and deadlines.
- Enhanced accuracy of case analysis with diligent fact-checking and legal research.
- Bolstered firm's reputation by consistently maintaining high standards of confidentiality and professionalism.
- Reduced case resolution times by effectively supporting negotiation and settlement processes.
- Improved client trust and satisfaction, providing comprehensive support and updates throughout case progression.
- Increased client satisfaction with thorough research and prompt response to inquiries.
- Streamlined office communication and improved case management with meticulous record-keeping and scheduling.
- Strengthened case presentations with detailed investigative work and evidence gathering.
- Communicated pertinent information to clients via phone, email, and mail.
- Contacted clients to schedule appointments and discuss progress of cases.
- Revised and finalized letters, briefs, and memos.
- Interviewed clients to obtain information relevant to cases.
- Produced legal documents such as briefs, pleadings and appeals.
- Reviewed, edited and proofread litigation for proper grammar, spelling and punctuation.
- Assisted attorneys with reviewing and organizing witness reports.
- Developed polished motions and briefs to support litigation processes and court proceedings.
Secretary/Switchboard Operator
CMC Supply, Inc
Roanoke, VA
08.1986 - 10.1995
- Handled sensitive information discreetly, maintaining confidentiality when managing personnel files or financial data.
- Answered multi-line phone system and enthusiastically greeted callers.
- Maintained daily report documents, memos and invoices.
- Scheduled appointments and conducted follow-up calls to clients.
- Prepared professional correspondence, including memos, letters, and emails, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
- Entered data into system and updated customer contacts with information to keep records current.
- Responded to emails and other correspondence to facilitate communication and enhance business processes.
- Provided clerical support to company employees by copying, faxing, and filing documents.
- Managed executive calendars, scheduling appointments and meetings to optimize time management.
- Contributed to a positive work environment by providing support to colleagues when needed in various tasks or projects.
- Promoted a positive image of the organization through clear communication both internally with colleagues and externally with clients.
- Assisted in event planning and execution for company functions such as conferences, workshops, or social gatherings.
- Managed sensitive and confidential information with discretion, upholding integrity of executive communications.
- Managed incoming and outgoing correspondence, maintaining confidentiality and timeliness.
- Managed phone and email correspondence and handled incoming and outgoing mail and faxes.
- Assisted coworkers and staff members with special tasks on daily basis.
- Continually sought methods for improving daily operations, communications with clients, recordkeeping, and data entry for increased efficiency.
- Interacted with vendors, contractors and professional services personnel to receive orders, direct activities, and communicate instructions.
- Connected callers with appropriate professional, department, or business.
- Streamlined administrative tasks such as message-taking and appointment scheduling for increased productivity across multiple departments.
- Managed high volume of calls during peak hours, maintaining composure under pressure while efficiently handling each caller''s needs.
- Delivered excellent customer service through active listening skills and empathetic problem-solving approaches with callers'' concerns or complaints.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by promptly addressing inquiries and directing them to the appropriate department.
- Assisted in reducing hold times with swift call handling and efficient use of switchboard system features.
- Strengthened company reputation by upholding confidentiality when dealing with sensitive information during call transfers.
- Updated company directory regularly, ensuring accurate contact information for all employees and departments.
- Directed incoming calls to internal personnel and departments, routing to best-qualified department.
- Announced important information and emergency notifications over PA system.
- Demonstrated flexibility in adjusting work schedule to cover shifts during periods of high call volume or staff shortages, maintaining seamless phone coverage at all times.
- Contributed to a professional atmosphere by courteously greeting callers and providing helpful assistance.
- Answered calls on Number ring and engaged customers with friendly, professional demeanor.
- Improved call efficiency by effectively routing and managing incoming calls for a busy office environment.
- Documented messages and forwarded to correct individual.
- Operated switchboard and routed incoming calls to appropriate departments.
- Responded to customer inquiries with patience and positivity to establish excellent first impression.
- Resolved customer issues and complaints promptly and politely, upholding satisfaction.
- Processed customer payments for timely, accurate order fulfillment.
- Collected and verified telephone numbers, addresses, and proper spelling of names.
- Received incoming calls and paged individuals and departments over PA system.
Education
Bachelors - Criminal Justice
Radford University
Radford, VA12.2001
Paralegal Studies
American Institute of Paralegal Studies
Atlanta06.1991
Skills
- Friendly, positive attitude
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Customer service
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Flexible and adaptable
- Dependable and responsible
- Multitasking
- Multitasking Abilities
- Excellent communication
- Critical thinking
- Computer skills
- Organizational skills
- Calm under pressure
- Active listening
- Organization and time management
- Decision-making
- Problem resolution
- Verbal communication
Accomplishments
I served as a 3rd grade mentor in 2013. I received an Appreciation Award from the Superintendent of Roanoke City Schools.
From April 2019-October 2022 I volunteered for Carilion Hospice.
From Septemper 2019-current I volunteer for Brethren Ministers for the Children's Disaster Ministeries.
I volunteer for several (4-5) Animal Transport/Rescue Services.
Additional Information
I am familiar with computers, facsimiles, calculators, legal documents, medical forms, and a fast learner at most any task.
Timeline
POA
Carilion Clinic
09.2020 - 01.2021
Caregiver
Family
01.2015 - 04.2018
Nanny
R. Fuller Family
04.2005 - 01.2015
Paralegal
Green and Associates
08.1999 - 01.2004
Private Investigator
Wackenhut Security
01.1996 - 03.1998
Secretary/Switchboard Operator
CMC Supply, Inc
08.1986 - 10.1995
Bachelors - Criminal Justice
Radford University
Paralegal Studies
American Institute of Paralegal Studies