People First: Personifying Bizzell’s Core Values Abroad

People First: Personifying Bizzell’s Core Values Abroad

Lanham, MD— October 1, 2019— This month, The Bizzell Group is highlighting a team member who brings our values to life inside and outside of the workplace. Bryant Senghor, a graphic designer and photographer based at Bizzell HQ (Lanham, MD), supports various corporate and client projects by creating infographics, brochures, animations, posters, web banners, and more.

Not only does Bryant go above and beyond with his creative work, he’s also dedicated to making an impact on the world around him. Recently, Bryant spent his summer vacation volunteering on a mission trip to La Hacienda, Mexico where he helped provide health services and other necessities to community members. Q & A:

Tell us about your trip to La Hacienda. Who did you go with? What were all the ways that you and your team served the community?

My trip to La Hacienda was absolutely amazing!

I went with a group of 17 people from my church in Baltimore, MD through a service partnership with the local church in Mexico. We assisted during their youth spiritual summer camp program, where we taught classes, arts and crafts, and dancing. We served the children meals, donated school supplies, painted bathrooms, and shared in fellowship every day. Outside of the classroom, we tended to the grapefruit fields and dug trenches. We also delivered supplies, toiletries, and clothes to a newly constructed convenience store that one of our team members helped build on a previous mission trip.

One of the most impactful efforts was the health fair coordinated by our team, where we provided blood pressure readings, glucose level monitoring, eyesight testing, donated supplies to the community’s doctor, and more.

Let’s just say, we put a lot of sweat equity into all of the projects there… it was so much fun!

What sparked your interest in participating in a mission trip?

I decided to take part in a 10-day opportunity, alongside my wife and fellow church members, because I wanted to expand my cultural and social understanding of communities other than my own. This trip showed me that there is much more to other cultures than what’s portrayed in the media or what I’ve experienced at home. I’ve gained an entirely new perspective for the cultural differences.

I wanted to provide my service, as well as to build long-lasting connections with people outside my usual day-to-day life. The people of La Hacienda gave us unconditional love, warm embraces, and a bond that we will cherish forever.

What were some other health-related challenges affecting the community of La Hacienda?

We found that there are not enough vegetables in their diet and large amounts of salt and sugar are consumed, which contributes to health problems. Test results from the health fair showed high rates of diabetes and hypertension among adults and children as young as infancy to 5 years old. The local doctor said they went three months without hypertension medicine due to changes in the laws. Among social issues, there’s alcohol and drug abuse among teens because of the lack of constructive, safe outlets and activities. There seemed to be mild depression in some of the adults, which became evident during some of the spiritual sessions.

In what ways did the services you provided align with Bizzell’s mission/core values?

For me, adaptability was the first step to ensuring successful collaboration between our two groups. Once on their land, we became acclimated to the culture, everyday life, and their needs, beyond what meets the eye. The goal is for our service to be participatory and engaging, while purely reflecting the wants and needs of the community; putting the people first. My group is committed to introducing and ways to promote heritage, spirituality, health, education, and more.

How would you like to see Bizzell continue to drive its vision of healthy, secure and sustainable communities in our nation and around the world?

Bizzell does a great job at making sure the staff is well-rounded and abreast of trends and global issues through the work we do. I’m very thankful to work for an organization with shared values–allowing me to spend time pursuing my passions. I even received donations from Bizzell team members that I was able to take to La Hacienda. Hopefully, next year I can bring some colleagues along to volunteer with me or at other clinics in need across the globe. That’s what we’re all about… ensuring access to resources and quality of service for all.

People First: Bringing Bizzell’s Values To Life

People First: Bringing Bizzell’s Values To Life

Lanham, MD—June 27, 2019 Dr. Nicole Crase is based out of the Lanham office but works remotely in Ohio, conducting 340B Program Audits. She is responsible for bridging resources between pharmacy practice and 340B Program integrity under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) contract. Dr. Crase’s responsibilities include leading all auditor training and education. This includes providing technical assistance to auditors and HRSA’s Office of Pharmacy Affairs. In addition, she provides pharmacy practice expertise in quality assurance review. She is a pharmacist by trade.

Q & A:

Bizzell tackles projects that impact public health issues locally/globally. How does your project/role align with this mission/strategy?

My responsibilities at Bizzell are focused on 340B Program Audits. The intent of the 340B Program is “to stretch scarce Federal resources as far as possible, reaching more patients and providing more comprehensive services.” This program is so important to the underserved population. Prior to coming to Bizzell in 2017, I focused 13 years helping to oversee the 340B Program, providing direct patient care for my underserved patients on a community health center level, opening an In-House Pharmacy and serving as a HRSA 340B Peer Mentor for 2 Leading Practice Sites. I gave 24 national presentations, 1 state presentation, and 3 collegiate presentations on topics of the 340B Program. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to continue my work with this program on the auditing side on behalf of HRSA. My role allows me the opportunity to not only see how the 340B Program is positively impacting the people in my own community but also around the country.

How do you demonstrate Bizzell’s core values inside/outside of the organizations? Within your respective community? Core Values: Excellence; Integrity; Innovation; People First/Professional Development/Diversity; Collaboration; Service?

I always try to exemplify Bizzell’s core values in everything that I do by striving for excellence and being a kind human. I think each day presents a new opportunity to strive to become a better person. My passion for healthcare has been exemplified in my medical mission work in Jamaica and Colombia as well as my medical contributions at the Ironman World Championships. At the Ironman World Championships this past October, I had the opportunity, along with another medical staffer, to take one of the top pro finishers from the medical tent out to the finish line to see his wife finish (who is also a pro athlete). Having once completed an Ironman 70.3 myself, being able to assist athletes and stand on that finish line on the world championship stage was an amazing moment for me as a pharmacist.

Another passion on mine is working with individuals with special needs. They bring so much joy to my life. I especially enjoy volunteering at an event each year called Night to Shine which is a prom night experience for these individuals. I also serve as a running guide at races for a wheelchair bound friend with muscular dystrophy. I’ve raced competitively since 2008 but racing to get another person to the finish line is so much more rewarding.

What do you enjoy most about working at Bizzell?

The work is interesting and challenging. Each day presents new opportunities for learning and I truly enjoy working with my team. I also appreciate the opportunity to work for a company that truly cares about making a difference.

Profound Quote from Dr. Crase:

“Each day is new and different, but you focus on your passion to serve your community and leave space for the unknown which allows for a great work/life blend.”

People First: How Bizzell is Cultivating the Next Generation of Health Professionals

People First: How Bizzell is Cultivating the Next Generation of Health Professionals

Lanham, MD – February 28, 2019 – On Saturday, February 9th, Senior Associate for The Bizzell Group (Bizzell), Dr. Rhonda Waller, was invited to participate in the Spelman College Health Careers Program Mock Interview Day. The Mock Interview Day prepares Health Careers students for the types of interviews they will likely encounter during the application cycle for internships, and graduate and professional schools.

“My dedication to Spelman College is rooted in my service to the institution that changed the trajectory of my life,” said Dr. Waller, graduate of Spelman College. “As an interviewer, I was able to provide immediate and direct feedback to students and share with them the work we do at Bizzell.”

Dr. Waller is a Psychologist, Professor, and Maternal and Child Health Specialist with more than 30 years of professional experience in administration, project management, organizational development, technical assistance, policy analysis, and community outreach. Dr. Waller is highly-skilled in program design and implementation, coalition building, and the development of community-based strategies to improve access to health care and education. While at Bizzell, Dr. Waller has led projects for Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Behavioral Health and HIV/AIDS Technical Assistance Center (BH-HIVTAC) and SAMHSA’s Targeted Capacity Expansion: Medication Assisted Treatment – Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction (MAT-PDOA) Policy Academy.

Bizzell’s commitment to professional development, diversity, and service translates outside of the traditional work space and into the community. “We owe it to the next generation of public health professionals to support them as they grow and to let them see how we implement innovation and excellence in the health services and research arenas,” Dr. Waller added. “Minorities are often underrepresented in health professions, so it’s important that we continue to engage with students at HBCUs like Spelman College and provide insight into career paths they may not have considered otherwise.”

Dr. Waller serves as the Corresponding Secretary for the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College and is the proud mother of a current Spelmanite, Kai Adura Waller (C’2019).

About Bizzell

Established in 2010, The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) strategic management and consulting firm that specializes in Program & Project Management, Administrative Support, Communication & Outreach, Conference Management & Logistical Support, Health Services & Research, Technical Assistance, as well as Training & Development. Bizzell is a partner of choice for federal, state and local government agencies and private organizations. Bizzell’s expert staff and consultants work on health, scientific, education, environment, research, and information technology projects that meet national priorities.

Under the leadership and vision of founder, Dr. Anton C. Bizzell, the company has grown from a staff of two in one small office to a thriving firm with three offices in Lanham, MD, Rockville, MD, and Atlanta, GA with ongoing projects across the world.

We Are Our Core Values

We Are Our Core Values

Excellence. Integrity. Service.

These are not just idle words.

Innovation. Diversity. Collaboration.

They have power.

Professional Development. People first.

They have meaning.

These words, taken individually, convey a singular message. Together, they form the building blocks of The Bizzell Group (Bizzell)- they are our core values. These traits have always been the driving force behind our success, even if we failed to articulate them appropriately.

At our holiday party at the end of last year, we placed special emphasis on our core values by providing recognition to and awards for individual employees who best represented that respective value. Although individuals were honored, all Bizzell employees strive for and possess these characteristics. They are important to me as an individual, and crucial for us as a company as we continue to grow and expand. These values sustained us through the lean years when we first operated out of the basement of my home, and they have propelled us from those humble beginnings to where we are today; and, they will drive us deep into the future. Our core values set the standard. They call for the best in all of us.

Each day when Bizzell employees walk through our doors, they strive for excellence. They walk in with integrity. They think about professional development and they aim for innovation. They celebrate diversity, collaboration, and put people first. And, they think of ways to be of service, not only to Bizzell or their colleagues, but also to the communities in which we serve.

At Bizzell, our core values guide our daily work from our efforts in global health, to workforce development, to energy, to mental health services, and more. I know that every task performed by our employees is not always glamorous or thrilling, but we find meaning and purpose in all that we called to do because our core values are our guiding principle.

We are Bizzell. We are our core values.

Anton Bizzell, M.D.
President & CEO