Top Rated Elder Law Attorney in Brandon, FL

Honors/Awards:

• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, State Chapter Member of the Year, Member of the Year, 2017
• Florida Super Lawyers Magazine Lists, Top 50 Women Lawyers, 2017
• Florida Super Lawyer Magazine Lists, Top 100 Lawyers in Florida, 2017
• Florida Super Lawyer Magazine, Top 50 Women Lawyers, 2016
• Brandon Chamber of Commerce, Small Business of the Year, 2009
• National Academy Elder Law Attorneys, State Chapter, Member of the Year, 2008
• Florida Super Lawyer in Elder Law, 2008-Present, Super Lawyer
• National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, State Chapter, Member of the Year, 2008
• Top 50 Women Lawyers in the State of Florida, 2011
• Brandon Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year, Finalist, 2006
• Florida Bar Elder Law Section, Elder Law Attorney of the Year, 2011
• Florida Trend’s Legal Elite in Elder Law, 2012-Present

Special Licenses/Certifications:

• Veterans Administration, Accreditation, 2008
• Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), 2005, National Elder Law Foundation
• Elder Law Specialist, 2004, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization

Bar/Professional Activity:

• Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, 2002-Present
• Co-Chair, Medicaid Committee, Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar, 2010-2012
• State Bar of Florida, 1995
• Chair of Board, Senior Connection Center, Area Agency on Aging, 2008-2011
• Co-Chair, Florida Joint Public Policy Task Force for the Elderly & Disabled
• Member, Senior Connection Center Area Agency on Aging Board of Directors, 2005-Present
• Past Officer/Board Member, Florida Gulf Coast Alzheimer's Association
• Member, Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys Board of Directors, 2004-2007
• Member, Florida Council on Aging Nominations Committee, 2013
• Member, Florida Council on Aging, 2012-Present
• Member, Executive Council of the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar, 2008-2012
• Member, Real Property Probate & Trust Law Section, 2005-Present
• Section Chair, Florida Bar Elder Law Section, 2007-08
• Past President, Better Living for Seniors, Hillsborough County, 2012-Present
• Member, Special Needs Alliance, 2008-Present
• Member, National Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys
• Chair, Board Certification Review Course CLE, Elder Law Section, 2007
• Officer (Treasurer, President-Elect, President) Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys, 2012 - 2015
• Vice-Chair, Public Benefits Seminar CLE, Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar, 2003
• Co-Chair, Montana Retreat, CLE, Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar, 2012
• Member, Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys, 2002-Present
• Florida Bar Association, Chair, Elder Law Section, 2007-2008
• Member-At-Large, Public Policy Task Force for the Elderly & Disabled, 2009-Present
• Chair, Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar, 2007-2008
• Member, Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys
• Member, Care Connections Inc., Board of Directors, 2008-2011
• Member, Brandon Chamber of Commerce
• Treasurer/Board Member, Alzheimer's Association, Florida Gulf Coast, 2003-2006

Pro bono/Community Service:

• Volunteer, Sponsor & Lecturer:  National Elder Law Month, May 2012 (6) Community Workshops:  Topics included Veterans benefits, Elder exploitation, The LTC Ombudsman, Taking Care of the Caregiver
• Emergency Care Help Organization, Chair, Fashion Show Fundraiser, February 2003 
• Volunteer, Elder Advocate/Participant in Florida Medicaid Waiver Application Meeting with Cynthia Mann, Deputy Director, CMS, Washington DC, April 20, 2012
• Emergency Care Help Organization, Participant, Canned Food Drive, May 2003, 2004
• Volunteer, Elder Advocate, SSI-Related Medicaid Rules Meetings Ongoing with Assistant DCF Legal Counsel: June 13, July 12, August 30, 2013
• Volunteer Attorney, Center for Guardian Advocacy, 2007-2012

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

• “Florida’s Medicaid Experiment – Overhauling Medicaid through Privatization”, December, 2011, (Meet the Experts) AFELA 12th Annual UnProgram, 2011
• There are many areas where an elder law practitioner may need to counsel clients beyond obtaining Medicaid for nursing home coverage.  These include coordinating Medicaid benefits such as Aid & Attendance with Medicaid LTSS; or preparing a new estate plan for a community spouse.  This lecture covers all the wide breadth of what an elder law practitioner should be considering., Beyond Medicaid ICP: Post-Eligibility & Coordination of Other Benefits, 2020
• “Ins and Outs of Medicaid Benefits”, January 12, 2011, Elder Law Section Certification Review Course
• “Promissory Notes and Gift & Cure Strategies in Medicaid Planning”, December 4, 2010, (Meet the Experts) AFELA 11th Annual UnProgram
• “Hot Topics: Veterans Administration Benefits Change”, October 2010, Elder Law Section Retreat
• “Medicaid Crisis Planning Strategies”, October 5, 2009, Elder Counsel LLC Seminar
• “Real Estate Investments, Medicaid Planning & Veterans Benefits”, December 2008, (Meet the Experts) AFELA 9th Annual UnProgram
• “Post DRA - Planning”, April 11, 2008, 12th Annual Public Benefits Seminar, Elder Law Section
• “Medicaid Eligibility, Qualification & the DRA”, January 24, 2008, Certification Review Course, Elder Law Section
• “Florida Implementation of the DRA”, AFELA Invitation-only Workshop, September 27, 2007
• “Medicaid Eligibility and the DRA”, April 2007, 11th Annual Public Benefits Seminar, Elder Law Section
• “Qualifying for Medicaid Long Term Care Programs”, May 2007, National Business Institute
• “Medicaid ICP:  The Basics”, February 2007, National Business Institute
• “Using Income Producing Property for Medicaid Eligibility”, January 2007, Breakout Session, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys UnProgram
• “Ethical Issues:  Dealing with Incapacitated Clients & Evaluating Mental Incapacity”, April 2006, Fundamentals of Elder Law, Elder Law Section

Other Outstanding Achievements:

• NAELA State Chapter Member of the Year, 2016

Educational Background:

• Polk College, Winter Haven, Florida, A.A. in Business Administration, Highest Honors and Dean’s List, 1990
• Florida Southern College, B.S. in Human Resources and Finance and minor in Resort Management, Summa Cum Laude, Dean’s List, 1991