Debra Halvorsen
Executive Director and Direct Support Professional
La Grange,GA
Summary
Adept at surpassing revenue targets and enhancing employee retention, my tenure at Lend a Hand Supported Living showcased my ability to streamline operations and foster a positive company culture. With a knack for conflict resolution and a proven track record in improving operational quality, my skills in effective communication and strategic planning have been pivotal in achieving organizational success. My willingness to work with staff and clients to ensure that goals, safety and client success one on one proved to be invaluable for client and staff success.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Executive Director of Operations
Lend a Hand Supported Living
02.2001 - 03.2024
- Surpassed annual revenue targets through effective oversight of daily operations and strategic initiative implementation.
- Increased employee retention through improvements in leadership.
- Refined organizational structure to consolidate, streamline, and delineate necessary.
- Established policies to promote company culture and vision.
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions.
- Implemented innovative programs to increase employee loyalty and reduce turnover.
- Launched staff engagement, gender diversity and cultural programs in addition to robust reporting tool that increased operational quality.
- Reduced financial inconsistencies while assessing and verifying billing invoices and expenses.
- Identified and qualified customer needs and worked for resolutionwith high success rate.
- Reduced operational risks while organizing data to forecast performance trends.
- Tracked trends and suggested enhancements to both challenge and refine company's services.
- Worked with Tennessee State agencies to improve the quality of lives for the individuals we served.
- Worked with medical personnel to ensure that all plans were implemented and updated as needed.
- Ensured that the individuals that we served were supported in a way that allowed them dignity, success in their daily goals and enjoyment in their lives
Direct Support Professional
Lend a a Hand Supported Living
05.2005 - 05.2023
- Liaised with other staff to deliver targeted administrative household support.
- Worked to resolve behavioral issues with the least restrictive techniques.
- Encouraged communication in individual strengths to facilitate less frustration and improve effective communication to each person supported.
- Supported individuals with Activities of Daily Life and provided support to improve their independence and dignity.
- Provided meals, cleaning, transportation to medical appointments and other activities.
- Documentation was maintained on health, activities, goals, and all life activities.
Education
None - Psychology And Pre-Nursing
Nashville State Community College
Nashville, TNNone - Nursing
Columbia State Community College
Columbia, TNSkills
- Ability to effectively communicate with medical professionals, staff, families and clients
- Ability to work with a variety of persons with success in conflict resolution and helping them to plan goals for their lives and celebrate their successes
- Able to effectively document and track goals, health and persons desires in ways that are label to see trends and be able to communicate effectively with medical professionals to ensure potential issues in their health is identified early Examples includes identifying skin cancer potential which was removed before spread and tardive dyskinesia was detected and was able to be reversed before permanent damage was incurred
- Had fun and became friends with individuals
- Homes remained clean, healthy meals were provided , activities of daily living were supported and goals were worked on and documentation was maintained
- Worked with children and adults,
- Specialized in developmentally disabled, autistic, and behaviorally challenging clients
- Worked with Behavioral Specialist, occupational therapist, speech and nursing to make plans and was in change of implementing and documentation of the plans
Certification
CPR and First Aide certification
Timeline
Direct Support Professional
Lend a a Hand Supported Living
05.2005 - 05.2023
Executive Director of Operations
Lend a Hand Supported Living
02.2001 - 03.2024
None - Psychology And Pre-Nursing
Nashville State Community College
None - Nursing
Columbia State Community College