Austin Lee, PharmD, RPh: e-Learning Specialist

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Austin Lee, PharmD, FASHP, is an experienced learning and development professional. He brings a focus on e-Learning technical support, and a pharmacist's eye to the SkillsPlus International, Inc. team. His expertise draws from his work in pharmacy education & training, emergency room clinical pharmacy services, home infusion pharmacy, team & organizational development/facilitation, computer programming, healthcare website development, and multi-year strategic planning.

Austin has completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology, a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from the University of California in San Francisco, and a post-graduate Hospital Pharmacy Residency from Duke University Medical Center.

Jennifer Payne, B.A.: Vice President

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Jennifer Payne is the Vice President of SkillsPlus International, Inc. For the past 4 years, she has been responsible for handling client training documentation, as well as assisting with improving company procedures and streamlining processes to ensure maximum efficiency of workload.

Mrs. Payne, for 15 years has been the Director of Bands at Hawfields Middle School in Mebane, NC. There she leads a 150 person band including beginning instrumentalists through third year students. For the past 10 years, she has served as the county lead teacher for band directors responsible for conducting staff professional development. She has also served as a member of the school leadership team and PBIS team to assist with making school wide decisions.

Mrs. Payne earned a Bachelor of Music in Education with a minor in Spanish and a Master of Education both from the University of NC at Greensboro. Her graduate research included how psychology affects student learning, effective, reliable test construction, and statistical analyses of teaching techniques.

Denean Merritts, RPh, FL CDR: Regulatory Consultant

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Denean Merritts has been a licensed Pharmacist for over 30 years. From 2006-2019, Denean worked with the State of Florida as a Drug Agent under the Florida Department of Health, Division of Drugs, Devices and Cosmetics based in West Palm Beach, FL. As a Drug Agent, Denean was part of a team of inspectors and investigators who regulated and enforced state and federal laws pertaining to the acquisition, storage, manufacturing, distribution, and sale of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics. While working as a Drug Agent, Denean worked closely with other Law Enforcement agencies such as police departments, county health departments, the FBI, DEA, FDA and HHS, along with the Florida State Attorney’s Office. Denean was called upon to provide expert testimony in several criminal court cases during her tenure as a Drug Agent. In her capacity as a State Drug Agent/Inspector, she has learned the details of State Drug Law and also obtained her license as a Florida CDR.

Prior to her work as a Drug Agent/Inspector, Denean received her Pharmacy degree in 1987 from Duquesne University. Denean worked as a Staff Pharmacist and a Pharmacy Manager at numerous Walgreens pharmacies in Palm Beach County and Broward County, FL for over 19 years. During her time with Walgreens, Denean was selected as the Walgreens Pre-Scribe Representative for the South Florida region. In this role, she was personally responsible for installing and integrating the Walgreens Pre-Scribe electronic prescribing system in hundreds of physician offices throughout South Florida. Denean’s success with the Pre-Scribe system was critical for establishing first-ever electronic prescription transmissions between medical establishments and Walgreens pharmacies in the state of Florida.

Crystal M. Harris, M.Ed. and CDR: Licensing Consultant

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Crystal Harris has served as a Licensing Specialist for Wholesale Drug Distributors, Third Party Logistics Providers, and Manufacturers since 2017. She is adept at obtaining initial licenses in all states that require licensure. She has vast experience with processing licensure changes in all areas: change of location, change of CDR, change of officers, and change of ownership. Her licensing experience includes applying for and acquiring NCDQS accreditation for a Wholesale Drug Distributor. Crystal attended Jacksonville State University on a four-year Academic Faculty Scholarship. She earned a Bachelor’s in both Psychology and Political Science. She also has a Master’s degree in Secondary Education and School Counseling.

Crystal’s first job in pharmaceuticals was as a Pharmacy Technician at Northeast Regional Medical Center. She worked in the hospital pharmacy for 2 years. During this time, she gained experience with wholesale drug ordering, controlled substances regulations and inventories, and prescription drug repackaging.

Crystal went on to work in public education for over 17 years as a teacher, Graduation Coach and School Counselor. During her time in Carroll County, she had the amazing privilege of being one of a very few educators that was selected to work with the nationally recognized 12 For Life program. A long-term career in education fostered a set of skills, such as, attention to detail, time management, prioritizing tasks and organizational skills that are vital in successful licensing.

She is joining the CDR Resource Center as a Licensing Consultant. She is excited to share her knowledge and experience with our customers.

Jodye Deal: Customer Support Consultant

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Jodye Deal is joining CDR Resource Center with many years of experience in the pharmaceutical and investment fields working day to day directly with staff and customers in various roles.

Prior to joining our team, she worked several years with an international generic pharmaceutical company in the positions of business analyst, administrative management, and marketing. Before working in the pharmaceutical industry, she did guest speaking to various groups on the stock market and personal investing.

All her roles have provided her the skills to take a leading role in our Customer Support Team.

Jodye will be a great addition to CDR Resource Center by providing team building skills, knowledge, customer development and customer support for our team at CDR Resource Center.

Rachel Ben Zur: Administrative Support Specialist

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Rachel Ben Zur is joining CDR Resource Center with many years of experience in administrative and customer support work. Prior to joining this team, she served with the local county supervisor of elections and helped prepare and run over 15 different elections. During those years of service, she worked in various positions, including management, and learned many useful skills such as customer service, data entry, problem solving, and the importance of teamwork. Before serving with the County, she also served in several positions that were primarily focused on teaching customer service and leadership skills. Rachel looks forward to being able to use her experience to serve alongside the team at CDR Resource Center.

Lexi Higgins: Administrative Support Specialist

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Lexi Higgins has worked in several customer service roles with a focus on administrative and liaison services for physicians and patients. Lexi was also employed in the medical field as an administrative assistant at a psychiatric clinic. She received on-the-job training in organizational development, client services, patient relations and working with health-care providers. Her day-to-day operations comprised patient scheduling, clerical duties, physician support, and customer service.

Prior to joining the psychiatric clinic, Lexi worked in Customer facing roles that allowed her to develop a strong attention to detail, interpersonal skills, and communication skills.

Lexi is joining CDR Resource Center as an Administrative Support Specialist in a role where she can use both her administrative and customer service skills.

Frederick Hefer, MBA, BSIE: Solutions Architect

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Since 2010, as a solutions architect and project manager, Frederick has played a leading role in the overall business and technical vision for the design and development of the online CDRCC solution. For more than 30 years Frederick has been instrumental in leveraging Internet technologies to solve complex business problems, capitalize on business opportunities, and improve business efficiencies.

During his career he has extensively being involved in business management; startup and strategic planning; business analysis and process re-engineering; resource optimization and performance management; website/application development, deployment, and marketing; and project management. He also has hands-on experience by designing and building several web sites.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Frederick obtained his MBA in Industrial Engineering and Computer Science credentials from top Universities in South Africa.

Frank Mink, M. En., PhD: Sr. Scientific Advisor

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Dr. Frank Mink is a Sr. Scientific Advisor at GTC Consulting. Dr. Mink is a former USEPA Director and International causation, cost recovery and regulatory practices toxicology expert in environmental, public and occupational health/safety involved in formulating the original human health risk assessment guidance at USEPA (CWA, RCRA and CERCLA revisions).

Dr. Mink is also a DEA toxicology expert that received a service award from the DEA in 2019 (opioids) and the DOJ in 2020. He is an active Federal Science Advisor Panel member and former Medical School Dean advising industry, USEPA, DOJ, DEA, DOE ,DOD, FDA, EU, WHO, EMA, CDC, REACH, NIH and UN on public health effects/policies for over 35 years ( PFAS, diacetyl, dicamba, nicotine salts, glyphosate, air toxics, drugs, flavorings, dioxins, pesticides, PCBs, benzene, metals, etc..). He has extensive consulting experience in Fortune 500, academia, and government.

Jorge Jimenez, Sr. DEA Advisor

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Jorge Jimenez is the Senior DEA Advisor at GTC Consulting. Mr. Jimenez is a former DEA Sr. Regulatory and Compliance Executive and Unit Chief. He served the DEA with honor and distinction for approximately 20 years. During his career with the DEA, Mr. Jimenez trained and supervised DEA Diversion Investigators, served as a Section Chief in the import/export and chemical section, served as a DEA Diversion Group Supervisor, and as Unit Chief over the Registration Unit.

Mr. Jimenez is a consummate professional that is well networked and knowledgeable on DEA regulations, policies, training practices, and registrant compliance. In addition to his broad experience with DEA, Mr. Jimenez is bilingual and has been called upon to interpret (Spanish – English / English – Spanish) in sensitive federal matters and trials.

Edwin A. Bayó, JD, BA: Partner

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Ed Bayo has been a practicing attorney since 1981. He has worked in various capacities for the Florida Office of the Attorney General, including Tax Litigation, Administrative Law, Cabinet Affairs and Inspector General. Ed's primary area of practice while in government involved providing advice and representation to regulatory boards under the umbrella of the Department of Health and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. As Senior Asst. Attorney General in the Administrative Law Section, Ed served as counsel to various professional regulatory boards, including Pharmacy, Dentistry, Osteopathic Medicine, Chiropractic Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Professional Engineers, Landscape Architecture, Clinical Social Work, and Harbor Pilots. In 2002, Ed served as the Attorney General Representative to the Pedigree Paper Task Force, created by the Legislature to review and reform Florida's regulation of the prescription drug wholesale industry.

Ed's current practice at Grossman, Furlow and Bayó includes the representation of professional licensees and regulated entities before their regulatory agencies and the Division of Administrative Hearings. He concentrates his practice in the areas of Administrative and Regulatory Law with emphasis on the laws and regulations affecting pharmacies, drug manufacturers and drug wholesalers.

Paul P. Drake, JD, BA: Associate

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Paul graduated from the Florida State University magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, History, and a minor in Spanish. Paul stayed the course and received a Juris Doctorate from the Florida State University College of Law in 2014. Paul gained experience on the administrative side of the law as a law clerk for the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing Board, where he assisted in the drafting of Declaratory Statements, as well as Variances/Waivers. He subsequently clerked for the Department of Environmental Protection in the Defense Division. Both governmental clerkships allowed Paul to gain significant knowledge and experience related to Florida Administrative Law.

As an associate at Grossman, Furlow, and Bayó, Paul represents professional licensees and regulated entities in front of several professional boards, including the boards of Pharmacy, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Chiropractic Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, and Professional Engineers. Paul also assists in the representation of drug wholesalers and manufacturers, and in the presentation of laws and rules continuing education seminars.