Shelley Samuels is the principal and owner of SRS Strategic Associates, LLC a consulting firm based in New Jersey that assists organization that serves persons with disabilities and special needs to become and remain sustainable. Ms. Samuels is an expert in nonprofit leadership with more than 40 years of experience in human services and healthcare organizations that serve people with disabilities and special needs. Most recently Ms. Samuels was the Chief Operating Officer and Compliance Officer at the national organization Juvo Autism and Behavioral Health. Prior to that she was the Chief Program Officer of Easterseals New Jersey where she was responsible for a $60million + budget, 900 plus employees and 4,000 individuals served.  Concurrently, she was the Chief Operating Officer of Easterseals Solutions an EHR selection, implementation, training and help desk service for multiple nonprofit organizations.  Shelley has a BA in Psychology and a MPA in Public Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Finance from Rutgers University. She completed an Executive Leadership Program at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business and a program at New York University Stern School for Executive Education in Finance and Accounting. Ms. Samuels has developed, implemented and directed a variety of services for thousands of persons with intellectual developmental, mental health, hearing loss, visually impairments, veterans, seniors and substance related disabilities.

Prior to returning to Easterseals New Jersey, Ms. Samuels was a member of the executive management team as Chief Compliance Officer and Director of Business Development for Enable, Inc. Her work at Enable was preceded by her role as Grants Administrator for the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities formally the Cerebral Palsy Association.

Additionally, Ms. Samuels has secured and managed more than $80 million dollars in grants and contracts such as Projects of National Significance from the US HHS; US Administration on Aging; US Corporation for National and Community Service; SAMHSA; HUD and a federal healthcare insurance education project.  She has also secured and managed numerous foundation funding awards.

Ms. Samuels has served as a management and development consultant for organizations such as federally qualified health centers; medical centers; hospice and health and human service nonprofits. Her responsibilities included securing federal healthcare licensures, private insurance quality assessments, development, resolving complex operational issues and evaluation. She has also provided consulting on medical legal partnerships and older adult services.  Shelley has expertise in fee for service and transition to multiple payment models.

Ms. Samuels has held board positions for the Children’s System of Care; Citizens for Quality Education as well as the United Way of Central Jersey. She has been an active member of the American Association of Grants Professionals, United Nations Task Force on the Year of the Disabled, and Governor’s Task Force on Substance Abuse and the Hearing Impaired. Most recently Shelley was a member of a NJAMHAA HMO Council; Visiting Nurse Association Children and Families Advisory Board; The Greater Newark Health Care Coalition (ACO) Advisory Board; the NJ CAM (Advisory Board to NJ Transit for accessible transportation); state wellness committee focused on smoking cessation for individuals with serious mental illness; and county health partnerships.

Ms. Samuels has made presentations on EHR best practices at multiple conferences and webinars as well as public speaking engagements on disability rights, behavioral health homes and access to employment for local and national audiences.

Website: srsstrategic.com