Athule Magadu, MBA
Joppa
Summary
Detail-oriented and highly analytical DBE/MBE Investigative Officer with qualitative experience in reviewing and evaluating businesses for DBE/MBE certification eligibility. Skilled in assessing application materials, including tax returns, financial statements, ownership records, contracts, licensure, and resumes, to ensure adherence to federal and state guidelines. Adept at conducting in-depth investigations and site visits to verify business operations, ownership, and control, and identifying potential violations of eligibility standards such as ownership, control, disadvantaged status, personal net worth, and SBA size requirements.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
MBE Officer II
The Secretary's Office - MDOT
04.2024 - Current
- Reviews applications from businesses seeking DBE/MBE certification, ensuring that they meet the required criteria under federal and state guidelines (e.g., ownership, control, size standards, and disadvantaged status).
- Analyzes documents such as tax returns, financial statements, business ownership records, resumes of key personnel, and other supporting materials to determine whether the business meets DBE/MBE certification standards.
- Conducts interviews with applicant firm owners and key personnel to verify the legitimacy of their operations, ownership, experience, expertise, managerial, and control in the business.
- Site Visits: For certain applications, conduct site visits to verify the physical presence of the business and its operations to ensure that the business meets all criteria for certification.
- Performs thorough investigations and gathers evidence to determine whether a business is eligible for certification or if any violations have occurred as it relates to the 5 eligibility standards (Ownership, Control, Socially & Economically Disadvantaged Owners Status (SEDO), PNW, SBA Size Standard).
- Prepares and completes detailed Investigative Reports on each applicant firm in order to present findings to the Certification Review Committee (CRC) so that they can render a just decision on the applicant's application.
- Stays informed about changes in federal, state, and local regulations (as of the CFR changes of 49/2024) and requirements related to DBE/MBE certification, ensuring MDOT’s certification processes remain compliant with the latest laws.
- Provides technical assistance to applicants seeking DBE/MBE certification, guiding them through the application process, explaining documentation requirements, and clarifying the criteria for certification.
- Responds to inquiries from applicants, attorney's, and other stakeholders about the certification process, eligibility requirements, resources, and the benefits of DBE/MBE certification.
Lead AR/Collections Specialist
MDOT State Highway Administration
12.2021 - 03.2024
- Managed, maintained, and supervised the invoicing process related to accident-related repairs when a third-party damages state property
- Evaluated the details of crash reports that are completed by law enforcement to determine the responsible party to bill and ensure that MDOT SHA is billing to recover all costs incurred
- Reviewed accident costs of repair/response forms (1126 Form/accident form), MDOT SHA labor charges, equipment costs, material costs, inventory withdrawals, contractor invoices, photos, and other related documents for accuracy
- Ensured that accident-related billing complies with the MDOT SHA accident billing policies and procedures, Maryland law, and COMAR
- Increased and improved Accidental Billing Section productivity by streamlining invoicing processes, eliminating redundancies and avoidable manual steps
- Monitored the invoice Aging Report monthly to maintain cash flow and ensure delinquent invoices are transferred to MD Central Collection Unit in a timely manner
- Served as a state witness when litigation is presented against parties who fail to pay state property damages by discussing SHA billing policies and procedures
- Supervised and trained Accidental Billing Section staff members when completing the following:
- 1 - Invoice processing procedures and cancellation of debts through the state's Financial Management Information System (FMIS)
- 2 - Transferring of aged and outstanding invoices to the Maryland Central Collections Unit (CCU) through the CCU Database (Webforms)
- 3 - The distribution of Maryland Motor Vehicle Crash Reports to seven districts across state
- 4 - The filing of claims with insurance companies/third-party entities
- 5 - The filing and storage of internal records
- 6 - Updating invoice status for district repair shops on shared Crash Report Management System (CRMS; Salesforce)
Family Investment Specialist I
MD Department of Human Services
09.2021 - 12.2021
- Served as an advocate for individuals/families by educating them on DHS program requirements and procedures
- Interviewed individuals/families to elicit information about their family composition, employment, health status, financial obligations, parental status and living arrangements to evaluate benefit level
- Determined program eligibility in accordance with Federal, State and Local laws, policies, rules and regulations
- Reached out to individuals, employers, landlords, attorneys, financial institutions, medical offices, and government and community agencies to obtain, verify or clarify information required for eligibility determinations, such as income, resources, residency and household composition
- Established and maintain case records using computerized database systems using C.A.R.E.S, SVES, SDX, SAVE, WORKS
Medical Biller/Outreach Lab Customer Service Team Leader
MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital
05.2017 - 09.2021
- Managed medical billing and invoicing for approximately 40 nursing homes, assisted living, and skilled-nursing facilities across Baltimore County and surrounding areas for mobile phlebotomy and specimen courier services
- Supervised 15 customer service staff to ensure their performance was compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) when processing patient accounts for lab testing
- Enhanced and changed outdated customer service procedures, policies, and standards to improve team's productivity and increase customer satisfaction
- Developed and implemented processes related to healthcare management leading to decreased errors in patient accounts accounting for excessive Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance company claim denials
- Recorded and monitored STAT laboratory courier and phlebotomy charges using MS Excel
- Scheduled, recorded, and invoiced all mobile phlebotomy and courier requests
- Verified Patient Coverage (electronically through EPIC Systems and over the telephone)
- Calculated individual nursing homes monthly charges and created invoices using MS Excel
- Managed receivable/payable accounts and maintained financial records
- Complied with federal, state and local regulatory requirements, including industry trends and best practices
Education
Master of Business Administration -
University of MD Global Campus
Adelphi, MDBachelor of Science - Health Information Management
Towson University
Towson, MD05-2017
Skills
- Team Leadership
- Strategic Problem Solving
- Compliance & Knowledge (eg 49 & 46 eCFR, Maryland Law, COMAR, GAAP)
- Investigation Management
- Analytical & data-driven approach
- Policy and Procedure Development
- Budgeting & Finance
- FMIS
- CRMS (Salesforce)
- B2G (Certification Management System)
- MS (Excel, Access, Project, PowerPoint)
Certification
Certified Notary Public, Baltimore, MD, 12/01/20, 12/01/24
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Xhosa
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Elementary
Timeline
MBE Officer II
The Secretary's Office - MDOT
04.2024 - Current
Lead AR/Collections Specialist
MDOT State Highway Administration
12.2021 - 03.2024
Family Investment Specialist I
MD Department of Human Services
09.2021 - 12.2021
Medical Biller/Outreach Lab Customer Service Team Leader
MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital
05.2017 - 09.2021
Master of Business Administration -
University of MD Global Campus
Bachelor of Science - Health Information Management
Towson University
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