Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Accomplishments
Work Availability
Quote
Timeline
AdministrativeAssistant
Lorelle Cannon

Lorelle Cannon

H.E.A.T Office Manager
Ellenwood,GA

Summary

Collaborative leader with dedication to partnering with coworkers to promote engaged, empowering work culture. Held progressive management and leadership positions throughout my professional career. Documented strengths in building and maintaining relationships with diverse range of stakeholders in dynamic, fast-paced settings.

Proud U.S. ARMY Gulf War Veteran married to a fellow retired Veteran for 34 years. Lorelle is inspired daily by her husband and their two adult children who are forging their paths in Seattle, Washington. In her free time, Lorelle likes to volunteer, teach Sunday School, and play with her Maltipoo, Kimba.

Overview

25
25
years of professional experience
12
12
years of post-secondary education

Work History

Public Information Officer

Department Of Veterans Affairs,
Atlanta, GA
07.2019 - Current
  • Managed routine and crisis communications with media and members of public.
  • Pitched stories to media organizations to promote company interests.
  • Maintained proactive media relations program by distributing news releases for placement, building strong relationships and monitoring media.
  • Monitored and evaluated industry media coverage by managing social media platforms and contributing engaging articles to range of industry publications.
  • Coordinate all VHA OEM communication, correspondence, and outreach activities related to the office.
    Provide communications, leadership, and manage digital content for clients who vary from Veterans Affairs Senior Leadership, staffing, contractors, and the public.
  • Represent OEM, as appropriate, in collaborative Internet and Intranet communication activities and may foster online information dissemination through social media and other digital platforms.
  • Implement short and long-term strategic communications plans based on organizational strategy and risk assessment.
  • Implement communications, public affairs, and media relations policies, directives, guidance, and procedures for OEM organization.
  • Led the implementation of the organizational internal communications program.
  • Lead emergency management outreach for the VHA Office of Emergency Management by submitting informational and operational articles to VHA Communications and the VA Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs (OPIA).
  • Develop and implement a communications strategy for national initiatives, WEBEOC software implementation, and the Clinical Development Teams.
  • Managed the development and leadership approval of VA-level hearing testimony, congressional inquiries, requests for information, and senior leader talking points. Manage Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for the organization.
  • Adept in working with interdisciplinary, virtual teams to collaborate and refine projects and products.
  • Managed websites and social media accounts applying communication strategies and branding to maintain consistent voice and presence.
  • Reported on press coverage recaps to determine areas for improvement.
  • Wrote press releases, talking points and and responses to requests for information.

Director of Public Affairs

Department Of Veterans Affairs
Atlanta, GA
10.2016 - 09.2019
  • Maintained proactive media relations program by distributing news releases for placement, building strong relationships and monitoring media.
  • Implemented content editorial calendar to plan marketing campaigns and manage content.
  • Assisted with marketing strategy development to increase public awareness and customer engagement.
  • Led the national outreach program for Veterans' Personalized Health Benefits Handbook for all newly enrolled Veterans.
  • Collaborated with VHA Leadership to identify and execute targeted outreach efforts, which entails detailed analysis of VA, Veteran Service Organizations, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and other federal and state government agency Veteran data, to identify uninsured, underrepresented Veteran groups and different cohorts for outreach.
  • Set goals, develop metrics, and evaluate campaign results and impact on utilization and demand for VHA resources.
  • Led the implementation and maintenance of the national outreach and education brochure, VA Health Care Benefits Overview, across all medical facilities, Veterans, and stakeholders.
  • Develop and implement communication strategies to expand community outreach initiatives and develop new business opportunities.
  • Expertise in all aspects of the operational and support functions and activities of VHA. Represents and, when necessary, serves as spokesperson/liaison for Executive Director, Member Services in coordinating conference and meeting agendas, identifying communication topics, and resolving logistical issues with various Member Services management officials, vendors, stakeholders, and Congressional offices, media outlets, etc. We are skilled in developing print, radio, television, and digital media campaigns.
  • A senior representative for VHA Member Services on the Mission Act National Implementation Project. Led the communication plan and methodology for informing and educating Veterans, family members, and stakeholders regarding the benefits and services of VA health care and the Care in the Community program.
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to Member Services Leadership and VHA Leadership concerning communications, public relations, branding, and marketing initiatives, and will seek ongoing opportunities to enhance the image and visibility of VA health care enrollment, benefits, and services.
  • Led the definition and creation of reporting tools and data analytics around the VA population compared to VHA health care enrollment to identify trends and opportunities that increase utilization and reliance on VHA health care services.
  • Develop strategic short-term and long-term goals that increase veterans' utilization of VHA health care services and their reliance on VHA as their provider of choice.
  • Establish a budget, resource needs, and control processes necessary to execute duties.
  • Managed service projects from start to finish by finding partners, making detailed plans and executive projects.

Management and Program Analyst/Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer

Department OF Veterans Affairs
Atlanta, GA
06.2012 - 10.2016
  • Provide robust and executive-level support to the Executive Director of VHA Member Services, providing organizational representation and expertise for Member Services' business units, including the Health Eligibility Center (HEC), Health Resource Center (HRC), Veterans Transportation Service (VTS), Veterans Point of Service-KIOSK (VPS), CBO Systems Management, Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), higher Veterans Administration (VA) offices, other federal government agencies, and with corporate executives nationwide.
  • Served as executive office's first point of contact, providing information and guidance regarding Member Services' business processes, operations, policies, and procedures to various organizational representatives, including government agencies, Congressional offices, and other federal agencies—excellent program management in the executive office with over 2200 employees and over 110 million dollars annual budgets.
  • Assisted in implementing ACA (Health Reform Law) across VA by developing and implementing ACA communication materials. Aided in updating and streamlining VHA 10-10EZ health care benefits form through software development, training, and assessment of technology and business processes to lessen Veteran burden, simplify tracking and incorporate essential ACA verbiage.
  • Coordinated with Veteran Benefits Administration to enhance its online Application for Health Benefits (10-10EZ). The improved online application, VA Form 1010EZ-AD, was modified to address these gaps and better reflect information related to the service member nearing separation. Streamlining this application will serve the Service member and the VA better by receiving the most current information.
  • Provide leadership, direction, and supervision to a diverse group of business professionals. Develop project management, risk management, and communications strategies that ensure coordination, integration, and management of the effort at all levels. Provide support in developing high-level and detailed plans for program implementation and management.
  • Leveraged on-site observation and personal interviews to identify team and individual strengths.
  • Compiled research data and gave professional presentations highlighting finds and recommended optimizations.
  • Exercise subject matter expertise to disseminate information regarding any new operational processes/procedures to MS business lines and other offices regarding guidance/approval for Conferences/Travel, Veteran's Center EDM, and VA Dental Insurance Issue Brief, among others.
  • Create an array of correspondence, including Congressional responses and letters to the Secretary of VA and the President, various Executive Decision Memoranda, Issue Briefs, Legislative Proposals, Service Level Agreements, Memorandum for Understanding, and White Papers, among others, in support of effective decision-making.
  • Conducted thorough reviews of operations to devise and deploy improvement strategies.
  • Performed quality assurance to meet appropriate standards and facilitate improvement of processes.
  • Gathered, documented and modeled data to assess business trends.
  • Helped solve diverse program problems with in-depth analysis.

Acting Director, Health Eligibility Center (HEC)

Department OF Veterans Affairs
Atlanta, GA
08.2016 - 10.2016
  • Responsible for analyzing and resolving various complex management issues within the HEC organization and sister organizations within Member Services.
  • Accountable Officer for the National Enrollment Project, Phase II, to create and establish a unified Veteran Enrollment Experience and ensure a standardized and centralized business process utilizing the Enrollment System (ES) for Veteran health care enrollment information is in place. This will ensure the consistent creation and maintenance of essential data 90% of the time and allow an accurate enrollment decision within five (5) business days.
  • Business Owner for the Enrollment System Modernization initiative to establish 100% of enrollment information is captured electronically; accurate determinations are calculated and available within the Enrollment System, VistA, and Income Verification Matching Enrollment Database (IVM-EDB) for consumption by VA staff and accurately report enrollment and eligibility information to Veterans.
  • Spearheaded innovative approaches to resource allocation and strategic planning.
  • Make effective and efficient decisions in concise time frames, impacting entire HEC operations.
  • Supervise the planning, design, production, issuance, and nationwide distribution of Veterans Health Identification Cards to enrolled veterans, publications, audiovisuals, and web-based products related to education, training, eligibility, and enrollment information.
  • Maintain continuous oversight and review of HEC operations and national enrollment policy implementation by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) field elements.
  • Develop and design or maintain procedures to effectively secure susceptible data processing in conformance with IRS and SSA regulations and policies.
  • Collaborated with management and fellow supervisors to organize operations and achieve demanding schedule targets.

Acting Associate Director, Enrollment Eligibility

Department Of Veterans Affairs
Atlanta, GA
02.2016 - 06.2016
  • Led the implementation of the national elimination of wet signature initiative easing the burden of Veterans during the application for VA health care enrollment process.
  • Developed and led the Combat Veteran "Pending Application" Telephone Outreach Campaign
  • Co-managed the National Enrollment Improvement (NEI) and Veterans Enrollment Rework Project (VERP)
  • Assisted senior leadership in managing all aspects of operations.
  • Kept operations responsive and agile with proactive troubleshooting and problem-solving of routine and complex concerns.
  • Managed the Abandoned Application Outreach Campaign to close pending enrollment applications for Veterans no longer seeking VA health care.
  • Directed the development of system enhancements to the National Enrollment System.
  • Analyzed impacts of regulatory changes on operations and developed mitigation plans.
  • Assured Veterans and beneficiaries applying for enrollment in the VA Health Care System are enrolled in the appropriate enrollment priority group and verified Veteran's income.
  • Established effective services to top VHA officials for all matters relating to enrollment, income verification, and health benefits programs administration.
  • Reviewed proposed regulatory changes and evaluated potential impacts on business operations.
  • Supported health agency inspections as liaison to regulatory agencies on technical issues related to assigned product and processes.
  • Managed capital project planning and contributed to feasibility studies.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Business Administration

University of Maryland - University College
Hyattsville, MD
01.1998 - 05.2005

Master of Science - Healthcare Administration

University of Maryland - University College
Hyattsville, MD
01.2006 - 06.2008

MBA - Business Administration

University of Maryland - University College
Hyattsville, MD
01.2007 - 06.2009

Skills

Campaign management

undefined

Affiliations

American College of Healthcare Executives, Affiliate Member

National MBA Association, Member

American Businesswomen's Association, Member

Phi Theta Kappa, International Honor Society, Member

Accomplishments

Leadership VA – 2017 Cohort – Completion, 2017

OPM LEAD Supervisor's Certification, 2012

GHATP Health System Management Trainee, Completion, 2012

VA Aspiring Leaders Program, Graduation, 2011

FAC Program/Project Management Course Certification, 2011

Dale Carnegie Effective Organizational Communications Course Certification, 2010

ACHE: Leadership Development Program Certification, 2009, 19 Category I CEU credits earned.

Work Availability

monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
swipe to browse

Quote

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
Nelson Mandela

Timeline

Public Information Officer

Department Of Veterans Affairs,
07.2019 - Current

Director of Public Affairs

Department Of Veterans Affairs
10.2016 - 09.2019

Acting Director, Health Eligibility Center (HEC)

Department OF Veterans Affairs
08.2016 - 10.2016

Acting Associate Director, Enrollment Eligibility

Department Of Veterans Affairs
02.2016 - 06.2016

Management and Program Analyst/Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer

Department OF Veterans Affairs
06.2012 - 10.2016

MBA - Business Administration

University of Maryland - University College
01.2007 - 06.2009

Master of Science - Healthcare Administration

University of Maryland - University College
01.2006 - 06.2008

Bachelor of Science - Business Administration

University of Maryland - University College
01.1998 - 05.2005

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Lorelle CannonH.E.A.T Office Manager