Annise D Hawkins Sharpless Blvd Westampton NJ

Annise D Hawkins34 Sharpless Blvd Westampton Nj 08060 609 309 255

Annise D Hawkins34 Sharpless Blvd Westampton Nj 08060 609 309 255

ANNISE D. HAWKINS 34 Sharpless Blvd, Westampton, NJ Profile · Highly experienced Lead Legal Assistant with a wide variety of administrative, organizational, and communication skills. · Professional and positive attitude, skilled in personal interactions, comfortable working in fast-paced environment. · Extensive analytical and research skills. Education Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) Graduation: Expected 2017 Capella University, Minneapolis, MN Major: Public Administration Courses Include: Collaboration, Communication, and Case Analysis for Doctoral Learners Theories of Leadership and Public Administration Principles of Organization Theories and Practice Masters of Public Administration (MPA) Graduation: June 2014 Strayer University, Trevose, PA Major: Public Administration Courses Include: Managerial Economics & Globalization Modern Public Administration Politics, Policy and Ethics in the Public Sector Leadership and Conflict Resolution Constitutional and Admin Law Public Personnel Management Information Systems for Decision-Making Research Methods and Strategic Communication Statistics Quantitative Methods Public Policy Analysis & Planning Public Budgeting and Finance Thesis (completed) Bachelor of Arts in Communication Graduation: December 2010 Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey Major: Communication Studies (specialized in interpersonal/organizational skills) GPA: 3.5/4.0 Courses Include: Introduction to Communications Communication Theory Small Group Communication Interpersonal Communication Mass Media and their influences Communication studies research methods Introduction to advertising Public speaking Associate of Arts Degree May 2008 Burlington County College, Pemberton, New Jersey Major: American Sign Language Interpreting Program GPA: 3.6/4.0 Activities: Member of Golden Key International Honor Society-Strayer University-2012 Alumni President-Burlington County College-2011 to Present Member of Golden Key International Honor Society- Rowan University-2010 Alumni Board Member- Burlington County College – 2008 to present VP of Public Relations, Sigma Alpha Lambda-Honor Society – 2009 President, Phi Theta Kappa-International Honor Society-BCC-2008 President, American Sign Language Club, BCC-2006/2008 Senator, Student Government Association (SGA) – BCC-2006/2008 Employment Lead Case Technician Social security Administration Office of Disability Adjudication & Review March 2011 – Present Pennsauken, NJ Full-time-40 hour workweek · Lead a group of 16 employees by monitoring and balancing their daily/weekly workload. · Make necessary adjustments to accomplish timely case processing. · Ensure that the work is moving promptly and in date order (First In First Out-FIFO) · Work with group members to identify and prevent backlogs. · Prepare regular progress reports with regard to workload, workflow and specific data on case backlog for the group. · Serves as liaison with District Offices, claimant’s, representatives, Congressional offices, other government agencies and government officials regarding status of pending cases. · Monitor timeframes regarding aged cases and processing times.

Ensures that a critical/dire need case receives priority handling and are processed expeditiously. · Provide and/or arrange for appropriate training for employees within the group and for the group as an entity. · My position requires a depth of regulatory, procedural, and program related knowledge to examine legal, medical and associated supporting documents in order to accurately and timely process hearing requests, which arise out of the substantive provisions of Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act, as amended, and its implementing regulations, rules and policy. I also seek and implement ways to eliminate and/or reduce bottlenecks and barriers to production and increase the quality of work production. · Coordinator over video conferencing for claimants that have been incarcerated while their case is pending in our office.

I coordinate dates and times with the prisons to accommodate the ALJ’s schedule. I also have to coordinate connection between our office and the prison by sending a request to a third party to connect the two offices via video. If any problems occur, I am responsible for a resolution. Once the video conference is set up, I input this information into our case processing and management system and send out the notice of the hearing to the prison and the prisoner. · Serve as the liaison between our office and all southern New Jersey Congressman’s offices. I provide updates to the pending processing of their constituents who have applied for disability.

I resolve any problems that may surface. · Oversee the preparation of comprehensive weekly status reports to brief the director and supervisors on the overall condition of the work completed or in-progress and outline potential problems, new issues and planned course of action. The data captured and reported might support recommendations to change Agency policies and procedures. · Participate in conferences, meetings, workgroups, etc., to design, develop new technological methods, practices and procedures and/or resolve operating issues and/or performance deficiencies. · On a rotational basis, I work directly for the Director of the office on special projects requested by our Regional Office.

This requires my analytical and communication skills. All projects are completed timely and accurately to meet the demands of our office and region. · I have been serving as the union representative in my office and throughout SSA region for 19 years. I am skilled in effective communication in which I hold a Bachelor degree. As a union representative, I am able to use my negotiation skills/techniques, which have benefited employees, their representatives and the agency. My goal is to reach an agreement that all parties can live with so a formal EEO complaint is not filed.

Being conscientious of this fact has saved the agency thousands of dollars. Due to my ability to resolve conflict, I was asked by Social Security Administration to become an EEO counselor for the region. · As an EEO Counselor, I have perfected my negotiation skills to resolve EEO complaints at the initial filing through "Alternative Dispute Resolution" (ADR). I conduct inquiries into the facts and circumstances surrounding the allegation. As an objective negotiator, I listen to all parties; I can often find the source of the problem and attempt to bring about an early resolution. My reputation as an effective union representative and EEO counselor was bought to the attention of the Commissioner of Social Security Administration. · I was appointed by the Commissioner of Social Security Administration to serve on a workgroup initiative to create a legal contract and training materials for newly appointed verbatim hearing reporters that assist Administrative Law Judges in the courtroom.

Legal Assistant Social Security Administration Office of Disability Adjudication & Review October 2001 – March 2011 Voorhees, NJ Full-time-40 hour workweek Function as a legal assistant in the ODAR office for four Administrative Law Judges as well as support staff to four attorneys and four paralegal specialists. · Develop and process request for hearing cases from its receipt in the office to its completion, independently performing a wide range of case development actions. Assignments consist of processing more complex hearing cases in which analysis of pertinent issues and interpretation of the provisions of the laws, regulations, rulings, precedents, policies, procedures and guidelines relative to the cases is necessary. · Reviews and analyzes cases to ensure sufficiency of evidence or documentation, and to ensure that the case is ready for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. · Handle confidential/sensitive information · Identify discrepancies and/or deficiencies in a case file and resolves by obtaining information, documentation and other pertinent data required to process a case. · Based on a thorough knowledge of the disability program, selects pertinent exhibits to be included in the case record.

Marks exhibits in preparation of the case. · Summarizes pertinent and factual data extracted from a claim file describing development taken to determine whether a request for hearing should be dismissed as untimely or as not meeting sufficient legal and regulatory requirements. Drafts dismissal, if appropriate. · Compose complex and/or technical correspondence to Members of Congress, claimants, attorneys, lay representatives and various offices of SSA relating to a wide variety of matters, releasing correspondence without review. · Communicates daily, either in a face-to-face situation or by telephone, with claimants who may be ill, upset or resentful of the Administration’s processing of or denial of claim, and explain the Social Security law and process so as to alleviate the claimant’s distress. · Provides quasi-legal assistance to the ALJ and is recognized as the Agency’s representative in defining the legal process and decorum to the claimant, attorney/lay representative and other participants in the hearing. · Performs a wide range of actions in support of post-hearing case development, including composing correspondence to request medical reports from physicians, hospitals, claimants, representatives, etc., and to prepare responses to written inquiries on cases.

Maintains a follow-up system to ensure receipt of requested records. · Examines fee petitions received from attorneys/lay representative for proper documentation. Analyzes time spent by the attorney/lay representative and complexity of case and recommends appropriate authorized fees. Examines fee agreements received from representative3s for proper criteria before presentation to the ALJ for approval. Ensures that fee agreements meet all conditions for approval relating to fee setting, authenticity of attorney on the case, and legal guardian status. · As needed, monitors hearings. Sets up hearing room and recording equipment, ensuring that the equipment functions properly throughout the hearing. · Ability to prioritize and multi-task. · Performs other duties as assigned.

Hearing Office Clerk (OA) Social Security Administration Office of Hearings & Appeals March 1993-September 2001 Voorhees, NJ Full-time-40 hour workweek · Direct contact with claimants and attorneys explaining the hearing process. · Answered all questions from claimants and their attorneys in connection with their disability claim. · Responsible for typing and releasing hearing decisions. · Set up hearing recording equipment, monitored hearing and took extensive notes concerning the hearing. · Develop, review and document any additional information that is received pre/post of the hearing. · Interpret and implement procedural and/or regulatory material pertaining to all claims. · Evaluated applications for recruitment of employment with SSA · Performed other duties as assigned.

Office Automation Clerk Dept of Health & Human Services Personnel Office 3535 Market Street, Rm 11350 September 1992-March 1993 Philadelphia, PA 19101 Full-time-40 hour workweek · Received telephone calls, visitors and answered questions of a non-technical nature referring others to personnel specialists. · Responsible for typing and organizing a variety of materials in final form from handwritten notes or other documents. · Routinely corrected spelling and grammar errors to improve clarity and to ensure compliance with regional correspondence rules. · Maintained time cards/logs for 11 employees. · Responsible for keying in performance awards/special act awards into the personnel system. · Responsible for ordering supplies and resolve any problems with payment authorizations.

Return inoperable items for full refund from supply companies. Kept a systematic record of all receipts and expenditures. Responsible for keeping the supply account balanced. Account for all monies credited and debited from account. · Performed other duties as assigned. Personnel Assistant General Services Administration Personnel Office January 1989 –September 1992 Chicago, IL Full-time-40 hour workweek · Set up and maintained the employees official personnel files and medical files. · Reviewed the official personnel files received from the record center or another federal agency in accordance with Federal Personnel Manuals. · Prepared official personnel files for transfer to other agencies or to the National Personnel Records Center, assuring that the leave records, medical records and performance records were attached. · Processed a variety of personnel actions such as promotions, changes to lower grades, position changes, conversions, corrections, resignations and retirements. · Examined carefully the standard form 52 and verified all information against the employees official personnel file to determine conformance with laws, Office of Personnel Management regulations and administrative policies and procedures, taking any discrepancies to staffing or servicing office. · As a retirement counselor, I counseled and advised employees on all aspects for retirement under the Civil Service and Federal Employees Retirement System. · Provided employees with the necessary information needed relating to voluntary, involuntary and disability retirement. · Provided information regarding deposits and re-deposits of retirement refunds. · Provided eligible employees with estimates on their retirement annuity. · Reviewed retirement packages received to ensure completeness of all necessary forms to avoid any delays in the processing retirement request. · Responsible for ordering supplies and ensuring payment.

Resolved all discrepancies regarding checks written for supplies. Responsible for balancing supply account. Monitoring all monies debited and credited to account.

Paper For Above instruction

Based on the comprehensive professional background and educational qualifications outlined, this paper aims to analyze the trajectory of Annise D. Hawkins’ career, emphasizing her key competencies, leadership qualities, and the development of her expertise in the public and legal administration domains. Hawkins’ career progression, complemented by her academic achievements, underscores her commitment to public service, administrative excellence, and legal support within the Social Security Administration (SSA) system.

Introduction

Annise D. Hawkins’ professional journey reflects a dedicated pursuit of excellence in administrative, legal, and public service roles. Her extensive experience in the SSA, particularly in disability adjudication, case management, and legal assistance, demonstrates her resilience and adaptability within complex bureaucratic environments. Her educational background, comprising a DPA, MPA, and a B.A. in Communication, equips her with a multidimensional skill set, blending leadership, research, communication, and legal knowledge. This combination fosters her capacity to influence policy, facilitate efficient case processing, and lead teams effectively.

Academic Foundations and Skill Development

Hawkins’ academic pursuits have been instrumental in shaping her professional capabilities. Her doctoral coursework included theories of leadership and organizational principles, cultivating her strategic and managerial skills essential for leading diverse teams. Her master's studies focused on management, ethics, and public policy, providing her with a solid foundation in public administration frameworks. The BA in Communication enhances her interpersonal and organizational skills, critical for her employment roles characterized by direct communication with claimants, legal professionals, and governmental officials.

Professional Experience and Leadership

Hawkins’ employment history within SSA spans over two decades, showcasing her expertise in legal case management, administrative coordination, and dispute resolution. Her role as Lead Case Technician underscores her leadership capabilities—supervising 16 employees, managing workflow, and coordinating with external agencies. Her responsibilities involve monitoring case backlog, implementing procedural improvements, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. These functions demand analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.

Moreover, Hawkins’ support for video conferencing and liaison activities with congressional offices demonstrate her skill in stakeholder engagement and inter-agency coordination. Her participation in various workgroups and special projects highlights her initiative-taking and problem-solving abilities, often involving technological enhancements and policy development.

Legal and Dispute Resolution Roles

As a legal assistant, Hawkins developed a keen acumen in case development, evidence analysis, and legal documentation. Her ability to interpret laws and regulations while preparing cases for hearings exemplifies her legal analytical skills. Her responsibilities in drafting correspondence to Congress and managing sensitive information indicate her professionalism and trustworthiness in handling confidential matters.

Her tenure as a union representative and EEO counselor exhibits her negotiation skills, conflict resolution expertise, and commitment to organizational fairness. Her success in mediating disputes and preventing costly litigation underscores her leadership qualities and ethical standards.

Impact and Professional Growth

Hawkins’ career is marked by continuous growth and recognition within her agency. Her appointment to special initiatives by the SSA Commissioner, including developing training materials for hearing reporters, validates her influence and esteemed reputation. Her proactive engagement in strategic planning, training, and policy formulation illustrates her capacity to shape organizational practices for improved service delivery.

Conclusion

Analyzing Annise D. Hawkins’ career reveals a trajectory characterized by dedication, adaptability, and a multifaceted skill set rooted in robust education and comprehensive work experience. Her leadership qualities, legal expertise, and administrative acumen make her a vital contributor to the SSA’s mission of serving the public efficiently and ethically. Her ongoing commitment to professional development and public service exemplifies the qualities of a dedicated public administrator and legal professional, poised to continue making impactful contributions within her field.

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