Lisa Portelli - Background on BrightFuse

About Me

I'm presently exploring career opportunities that support the green initiative and eco-friendly environments.

Work is very important to me. I can't not work. Working gives me a sense of drive and purpose, a reason to get out of bed in the morning. There is also the fact that it pays the bills! But truly, I enjoy helping people and being around them. I grew up in a very sensitive, caring and compassionate environment, and it has certainly rubbed off on me. I believe in the value of human potential. Creating authentic and meaningful connections with people brings us together. Working makes me a part of the difference.

When I'm not busy working, I love to read profusely, write and do genealogy. Over the last couple of years, I've been working on my family tree and a memoir. I've been able to flesh out a decent outline and look forward to putting the rest of the pieces together. It's a lot of fun...and the things you learn.....wowwwww. Some of the stories I've uncovered....amazing!!

I love science and love to find out how things work, so it's not uncommon for me to watch Discovery or Science shows. With my background in Forensic Science, I'm always watching any forensic shows I can. I love the History Channel, too.

I'm a mom and quite proud of my son. He's a sweetie and full of life. It's neat to see the world through his eyes. All that energy! Along with my son, I have seven more. You're probably thinking, phew!!! How does she do that?!! GOTCHA! I'm talking about my cats. Okay, there's Bailey, a.k.a. Bubba or BoBo, Maude a.k.a. Doodle or Doodlebug, Stinky because she's well, uhhhh, Stinky, George, the highly acrobatic and dysfunctional tuxedo cat, Doughball a.k.a. Doughnut or Doughie, Figaro, a.k.a. Piggy Or Pig Meister and Luna a.k.a. Lunatic or Fuzzbutt. Yep, that makes seven, and we love them one and all. Let's just say there is a lot of catnip around here! I love my foofies,I really do....

So.....that's me in a nutshell....a little glimpse at who I am and what makes me tick. There's more, of course, but that's another story.....you take care...

Work Experience

Apr 2009 - Nov 2009

sarasota, FL (US)

Receptionist
HCR ManorCare
Answered multi-line phone system with heavy call volume, processed new admissions, prepared daily bank deposits, performed Medicare screenings, generated new medical charts.
May 2008 - Oct 2008

st. petersburg, FL (US)

Vocational Evaluator
Boley Centers, Inc.
Administration, scoring an interpretation of selected vocational tests. Prepared final vocational evaluation report. Persons served were referred by the State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation whom we had a contract with. This job included conducting intensive customized labor market surveys by direct contact with local employers and performing research on industry related websites. It also entailed synthesizing the test scores, interpreting the results in formulating a summary and recommendation based on the person's abilities. Reports were voluminous and encompassed pulling information from a variety of sources and keying the information into the body of the report. There was a heavy emphasis on direct contact with customers served and consumer advocacy to aid customers in determining their vocational goals. I was also responsible for setting up and maintaining HIPAA compliant confidential files and doing intake for each customer served.
Jan 2008 - Mar 2008

sarasota, FL (US)

Receptionist
Tarpon Point Nursing and Rehabilitation
Answered a multi-line phone system with heavy volume; sometimes calls were in excess of 140 per day. Assisted the business office manager with file audits and posting payments, submitted Medicaid applications online, helped Social Services, and also updated procedure manuals for the facility in preparation for the state audit. Sorted and distributed mail to residents and staff, greeted and signed in all customers and vendors. Also have the opportunity to work in marketing and assisted with incoming calls regarding potential residents.
Sep 2005 - Feb 2008

bradenton, FL (US)

Waiver Support Coordinator
Advanced Support Coordination Services
Provided case management to 28 children and adults with disabilities through agreement with the APD. This included all aspects of file management, support planning, consumer advocacy, HIPAA compliance and budget maintenance for each customer served. Customers served were on the HCBS and FSL Medicaid waivers. This job involved extensive face-to-face, and by phone contact with those served, their family members, guardians and service providers. The support planning and eligibility determination process and budget maintenance involved extensive alpha- numeric data entry. Each budget had to be manually entered by using the correct codes and modifiers. Several of the budgets were in excess of $80,000. All services were person first and consumer choice driven. There was a major emphasis on consumer advocacy to assure protection of human rights and recruiting and negotiating with providers of all supports.
Dec 2000 - Jul 2005

bradenton, FL (US)

Employment Supervisor
Manasota ARC
Coordination of employment services for 55 people with disabilities, helping them find and maintain gainful employment. Supervised three employment consultants. Was a consumer advocate to those served. Was responsible for program oversight, monthly and quarterly reporting to include utilization review, all aspects of file management and HIPAA compliance. Participated in several CARF and Delmarva surveys which resulted in positive audit outcomes. Had great relationships with the Vocational Rehabilitation Contract Managers. Also spearheaded the agency wide 5-year Employment Initiative endorsed by the Governor of Florida. Began a Job Club serving Adult Day Training and Employment Services consumers.
Jun 1993 - Dec 2000

sarasota, FL (US)

Community Assessment Coordinator
Easter Seals / MARC SW FL
Responsible for developing and setting up Community-Based Assessment sites for adults with disabilities. Administration, scoring an interpretation of selected objective tests used in the formulation of a Vocational Evaluation. Prepared written Vocational Evaluation and Community-Based Assessment reports aiding in vocational training and job placement. Assessed employment opportunities for disabled high school age and adult individuals within the community. Assisted disabled individuals and preparing for, securing and maintaining employment. Performed all phases of case management to include documentation and recording and attending meetings.
Served as Summer Youth Program Coordinator for two summers in a row. Started up a program serving 20 high school age students with severe to profound disabilities from Manatee and Sarasota County chools. Handle student registration orientation, transportation arrangements, scheduling, setting up student internships and speakers.
Jan 1992 - Mar 1992

bradenton, FL (US)

Medical Billing & Insurance Clerk
International Medical Laboratories
Entered data for Medicare and insurance transmittals from EOB's, proofread EOB's used to document and investigate billing errors.
May 1991 - Dec 1991

bradenton, FL (US)

Medical Billing & Insurance Clerk
Radiation Oncology Services
Electronically transmitted Medicare and insurance information to appropriate parties, performed invoicing and medical billing, data entry to create receivable reports, ran monthly statements and financial reports. Compiled, printed and sent claims to carriers, ran daily computer system backup. Also did medical transcription for the doctors on site.
Aug 1989 - Dec 1990

bradenton, FL (US)

Private Investigator Trainee
Chambers Investigation Agency
Process service, skip tracing, report writing, preparing for court presentations and surveillance.
1986 - 1988

bradenton, FL (US)

Medical Recruiter
Management Recruiters, Inc.
Served as a Medical and Nurse Recruiter for the southeast area. Interviewed, screened and performed reference checks for all candidates applying for jobs and assisted with relocation information. All work was conducted by phone and entailed numerous cold and hot calls over the course of each day. Artful negotiation and diplomacy were critical to success.
1982 - 1985

dunedin, FL (US)

Reception / Registration
Mease Hospital
This is where I started out in medical. I worked patient registration and reception, and there was heavy emphasis on creating and setting up patient files, stamping people in and creating ID badges. It was also a great opportunity to be on the front line meeting and greeting patients as they came into the clinic. When the Mease-Countryside location opened, I also worked in the Pediatrics and Emergency Room registration areas. My last assignment was with James Dwyer M. D., and it was a great pleasure working with the entire team. In his office, I had the same responsibilities, but also scheduled appointments, pulled medical records, maintained the appointment book perform filing and processed patient payments.

Education

1980 - 1982
Bachelor's - Criminal Justice / Forensic Anthropology
University of Florida
While I was attending University of Florida, I worked as a Laboratory Assistant at the Florida State Museum with William R. Maples Ph.D. It was a great honor and privilege working with him. Dr. Maples was a world renowned Forensic Anthropologist and worked numerous human remains cases. While working under Dr. Maples, I performed a variety of duties involving human remains cases.

I also did a 6 week internship with the Office of the Medical Examiner, District 8, under the supervision of Chief Medical Examiner William Hamilton, M.D. Under Dr. Hamilton's guidance, I participated in public death investigations by assisting him in autopsies by holding instruments, lifting and weighing organs for analysis, observing while he examined and made large sections of organs for later use. I also closed cadavers and prepared them for funeral home delivery.
1978 - 1980
Associate's - Zoology
St. Petersburg College
While going to St. Petersburg College, I attended the Tarpon Campus. I worked as a Laboratory Assistant in the science lab and thoroughly enjoyed it. I did everything from mixing chemicals to sterilizing glassware and preparing augers for microbiology specimens.I also used the autoclave. We had a lot of fun working together!
1977 - 1978
High School
tarpon springs high school
1975 - 1977
High School - Foreign Language
Eikeli Gymnas
I lived in Norway for about 9 years while I was growing up and attended Norwegian schools while I was there. My parents taught us the language before we left the US so we would be better prepared when we arrived. Learning foreign languages can be quite fun. It's like solving a big puzzle. I had a knack for it, too, so I decided to take the language track at Eikeli. The focus was on Norwegian, New Norwegian, German and French. Back then, I had to do oral final exams. I'll never forget my final exam in French. I didn't sleep a wink the night before, but I sure aced it!