Barb Elgin
CEO/FounderAbout Me
(352) 347-3577
barbelgin@embarqmail.com
Education, Academic Honors, Licensure and Post Graduate Training
Masters Degree Social Work, The University of Maryland at Baltimore, School of Social Work. May 1991. GPA: 3.76. Concentration: Community Organization and Social Administration. Specialization: Occupational Social Work. Selected an "Outstanding Young Woman of America, 1991".
Bachelors of Science Degree, Psychology, graduated Magna Cum Laude, Towson State University. May 1988. GPA: 3.74. Voted "Outstanding Undergraduate Psychology Student" by departmental faculty. Honor Societies: Psi Chi, Omicron Delta Kappa and Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Served as both president (1987-88) and vice president (spring 1987) of the Psi Chi/Psychology Club.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker. State of Florida #8873.
Post LCSW-C Supervision. November 1994-May 1996. John Verleger LCSW-C, Director, The Family Counseling Center of Baltimore.
Certified Singles Coach. Relationship Coaching Institute, Campbell, California.
Candidate for Certification, The Thomas G. Leonard Schools of Coaching
Continuing education in social work, behavioral health, supervision, management and coaching, etc. Over 1000 hours of post-graduate continuing education in clinical social work, mental health, employee assistance programs, critical incident stress debriefings, management, business coaching, life coaching, relationship coaching, matchmaking and leadership development.
Professional Experience
Founder and CEO, BE A Success Enterprises, LLC, Summerfield, Florida, 2001-present. Relationship Coaching. Psychotherapeutic services. Matchmaking.
Development, implementation, provision and management of all business aspects including:
Strategic planning
Budgeting
Service/product creation, delivery and follow-up
Pricing, contracting, negotiating fees, etc.
Web site and Blog creation and maintenance
Customer service
Direct service
Continuous quality improvement (including client evaluation/testimonials, focus groups/research and development teams)
Traditional and online marketing, sales and public relations
Management of sales and administrative subcontractors
Daily administrative tasks (creating e-mail auto responders for various client programs, developing and maintaining customer/subscription lists, logging in of daily sales, bookkeeping, etc.)
Care Manager, Treatment Plans Team. Mercer Ventures (contractor to Maryland Health Partners), Columbia, Maryland (November 2002-July 2004). Utilization review of entire outpatient services continuum for the severely and persistently mentally ill. Interface with other clinicians, providers, staff psychiatrists, provider relations, claims and clients to ensure quality care and cost effectiveness.
Care Manager, EAP/Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Sheppard Pratt Health Plan, Towson, Maryland (February-May 2001). Utilization review, crisis intervention and short term assessment, counseling and referral. Interface with provider relations, EAP staff, and providers as needed.
Care Manager, 800 line. Maryland Health Partners, Columbia, Maryland. March 1997-February 2000. As part of the original team implementing the State of Maryland's MH/SA care management program for Medicaid and uninsured citizens, directed clinical services by providing intakes, referrals, crisis interventions, review of treatment plans and consultation with network providers; monitored quality assurance; interfaced with staff psychiatrists; collected and analyzed utilization and quality improvement data; advocated for the most clinically appropriate level of care and coordinated patient transfer between levels of care as appropriate; provided member assistance in understanding and interacting with mental health and substance abuse services; participated in special research projects. Clients served are fragile/vulnerable/high risk, chronically mentally ill, forensically involved or dually diagnosed (MH/SA, MH/MR, MH/head injured/organic and/or coexisting medical problems).
Care Manager, The After Hours Solutions Group. Magellan Health Services, Columbia, Maryland, (part time from June 1999-February 2000). The AHSG is a "live", full-service center providing 800 line services for Magellan's behavioral health national regional service centers and accounts during evenings, weekends and holidays. Provided utilization review, consult to public and private employer accounts, emergency and crisis intervention assessments and interventions and time-sensitive referrals to hospitals and appropriate levels of care.
Senior Proposal Writer. The Marketing Services Unit, Magellan Health Services, Columbia, Maryland (February 2000-February 2001). Responded to requests for proposals/information across all market sectors (public/Medicaid, Fortune 2000/workplace and HMO's/health plans). Managed overall proposal development process including analysis, writing responses, competitive positioning and production. Interfaced with marketing, clinical, sales and underwriting staff to produce responsive, compliant, qualified final documents that were delivered by posted deadlines.
Clinical Social Worker. Emmorton Psych, Abingdon, Maryland (April 1996-December 1998) and The Family Counseling Center of Baltimore (November 1994-September 1996). Assessment, diagnosis, treatment, referral and case management services to individuals, couples, families and groups. Utilized a client-centered, strengths-based intervention style incorporating solution-oriented, cognitive-behavioral and goal-focused strategies. Coordination of care with adjunct providers (psychiatrists, medical providers, schools, etc.). Credentialed member of several managed care and employee assistance program networks. Completed written and telephonic reviews as needed for continued care authorization. Designed advertising for time limited therapy groups.
Supervisor of Clinical Services. OPTUM Assistance Services, Rockville, Maryland February 1995-March 1996. Supervision of five master's level EAP clinicians in the Baltimore, Maryland, Rockville, Maryland and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania regions. Performed ongoing and yearly performance reviews and staff training. Retrospectively reviewed staff and affiliate counselor case files. Analyzed resultant data and provided feedback and/or training. Insured inclusion of counselor feedback during revision of client program training modules. Evaluated staffing patterns to both maximize productivity and reduce costs. Analyzed current program utilization rates and trained clinicians in increasing program usage through program promotion.
Director of Counseling and Client Services, Prime Employee Assistance Services, Baltimore, Maryland, October 1993-May 1994. Supervised four master's level clinicians. Planned and led regular staff meetings and clinical trainings. Developed and implemented office processes to improve client care. Trained staff to follow professional EAP program standards. Regularly communicated with agency directors to insure operational concerns were addressed promptly and effectively. Helped clinicians create new client training programs.
Employee Assistance Program Counselor. 1) OPTUM Assistance Services, Rockville, Maryland, May 1994-March 1996. In December of 1994, I was nominated a "Key Contributor" by management staff. 2) Prime Employee Assistance Services, Baltimore, Maryland, February 1992-May 1994. Assessment, counseling, referral and follow-up services provided to employees from private and public sector employers. Telephone counseling on a toll-free 800 telephone line, providing crisis intervention, assessment, immediate problem solving, referral and follow-up. Followed all written case documentation standards. Provided skilled telephonic and on-site management consultations, workplace trainings and critical incident stress debriefings as needed. Program promotion and outreach. Participated on the "training manual revision" committee. Participated in quality assurance activities. Established and maintained effective referral relationships and resources.
Foster Care Social Worker. The Baltimore City Department of Social Services , July 1991-February 1992. Provided social work casework services to children and families. Advocated for my clients with the court system, inter and intra-agency committees, biological, foster families and children to develop case and permanency plans. Provided court testimony as required. Developed and implemented return home plans with biological parents. Scheduled, arranged and transported children and parents to ensure family visits, provision of health care, other appointments and court hearings. Made regular and "as needed" foster home visits to monitor each child's safety and care. Completed treatment and residential center visits (including out-of-state, when needed) to assess child's adjustment and advocate for modifications as necessary.
Attendance and participation in educational and treatment team meetings. Provided crisis intervention services to children and families when indicated.
Substance Abuse Counselor. Help and Recovery Today, Baltimore, Maryland, June 1988-April 1991. Provided assessment, individual and group treatment services. Taught a 26 week state-certified treatment and education module for D.W.I. offenders and a 20 week education program to problem drinkers. Provided ongoing court-ordered treatment to federal parolees with drug-related offenses and communicated orally and in writing with the legal system as required to advocate for clients and to ensure public safety.
Tutor for Special Needs Students. The University of Maryland at Baltimore (1988-1991) and Towson State University (1986-1988). Provided academic, transportation, emotional and social support for several disabled students in both undergraduate psychology/liberal arts and graduate level social work programs. Provided administrative/clerical support to The Office of Special Needs at Towson State during the summer months.
Statistics Lab Instructor. Department of Psychology, Towson State University, 1987-1988. Provided assistance to psychology professor by tutoring students in the lab and grading exams.
Research Associate. Friends Medical Science Research Center, Baltimore, Maryland, 1990-1991. National Institute of Drug Addictions-funded study. As part of an interdisciplinary research team, I tracked down adults who grew up in targeted neighborhoods in Baltimore City during the 1960's and 1970's. Administered comprehensive psychosocial survey designed to identify the key differences in the lives of those who developed substance abuse problems compared to those who did not.
Research Associate. The National Institute of Aging/Francis Scott Key Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, 1988-1989. As a member of the research team, I collected data (using methods such as the mini mental status exam) from nursing home residents for national incontinence study.
Courtesy Booth Clerk. Mars Supermarkets, mid-1980's. Cashiering, sales, handling large sums of money (cashing payroll checks, preparing, and balancing all grocery cashier's drawers), customer returns/complaints and inventory control.
Books, Articles, Audios/CD’s, Entertainment and Other Publications
Seven Simple Secrets to Successful Workshops (copyright 2004). An e-book I co-authored and self-published with Marion Franklin, M.S., P.C.C. Information is available at http://www.successfulworkshops.com.
“Nine Pearls of Wisdom: How I Created a Successful Membership/Portal Site In My Area of Expertise” by Barb Elgin, The 42 Income Streams for Coaches, Income Stream #17, Coachville. This article is available for reading at http://coachville.com/incomestreams/stream17.html, (scroll down to the second article).
Barb Elgin’s Creating a Life I Love E-zine, 2001-2005. A weekly, online newsletter I wrote for BE A Success Enterprises.
Relationship M.A.G.I.C. For Life! An educational and inspirational CD I created with Magical Partners, Inc., from Tampa, Florida.
Writer, for various print and online organizations such as Jane and Jane Magazine, Girlfriends Magazine, The Examiner, etc., 2001-present.
Internet radio show series: Holiday Stress Busters and Same Sex Marriage: Who Cares? (2004-2006). Co-created and co-led with Souldancer.
Writer, The Normal Heart. New Mexico monthly newsletter. (2004-Spring 2007)
Writer, The Maryland Sentinel. Monthly newspaper of the Maryland Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (late 1990’s).
Presentations
2008 – Various presentations to churches, community organizations, etc. Say No to
Amendment 2. Provided a variety of in person and live telephone conference presentations on dating and relationships.
Spring 2006 - Presentation to women of church. "Coaching Show and Tell: Have Fun While Clarifying Your Life Purpose", MCC Ocala Church, Ocala, Florida.
Fall 2005 - Keynote speaker, "Out for Work", the LGBT and Ally Leadership and Career Fair, October 8-9, 2005, at the Human Rights Campaign headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Fall 2005 - Guest presenter, "Get coached: Leading your team, balancing your life and influencing stakeholders more effectively with less struggle", North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce Conference, October 31, 2005 (Dallas, TX).
Summer 2004 – Invited as a guest panelist, "Successful Business Women", the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce's (NGLCC) annual conference, Washington, D.C.
Community/Volunteer Service
Board Member, Maryland Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (Spring 2008 to present)
Member, Executive Circle, Women’s Business Initiative, National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (Fall 2005 to present).
Member, Human Rights Campaign.
Founder's Circle, Echelon Magazine.
Founder and Leader, Gay Business Owner’s Referral Network (February 2004 to present).
Volunteer Coordinator, Rainbow Ranch Pet Retirement Home, Inc. (2005 to 2007).
Assistant Leader, Rainbow Coaches Virtual Community (March 2005 to March 2006).
Founder, Maryland's Coachville Study Group, (Spring 2002 to August 2004).
Planned and advertised meetings, led meetings, prepared topic/guest speakers for meetings, outreach to find new members.
Chair, the Committee of Sexual Minority Issues, NASW-Maryland, (1999-2002).
Outreach Coordinator, Free State Justice (now Equality Maryland) (1997-2000).
Post Graduate Mentor, University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Social Work EAP program, (mid-late 1990’s).
Chairperson, The Committee of Sexual Minority Issues, The National Association of Social Workers, Maryland Chapter, (June 2000 to 2002). Committee member (1998-2002).
Committee Member, The Mentoring Committee, The National Association of Social Workers, Maryland Chapter, (August 2001 to December 2002).
District Coordinator/Citizen Lobbyist, Free State Justice (now Equality Maryland), Baltimore, Maryland, (October 1999-2001).
Mentor to M.S.W. Employee Assistance Concentration graduates, the University of Maryland at Baltimore, School of Social Work, 1995-1996.
Professional Memberships
The National Association of Social Workers
Maryland and National Gay and Lesbian Chambers of Commerce
Relationship Coaching Network
References Are Available Upon Request
My Interests
Travel, reading, cooking, dogs, family events.
