Cheryl Carr, MBA, CMRM

First and foremost, I attribute my success to the spiritual - God's guidance over my life. Even when I don't know what He's telling me, I am very much aware that my life is guided by the Lord. The second would be that I have a good network of people - I have a good mom and dad and brother that encourage me, and friends who support me, because being a business owner is challenging and there are days you're like, "why did I do this?" It doesn't mean you don't love what you do, but there are difficult days. I'm very fortunate to have people who are very encouraging around me and then at the end of the day, I got two children that are looking at me, and I just want them to be proud of their mom. If it's something I can pass on to them, the business, that would be great or if it's just showing them that they can do whatever it is that they want to do, that would be purpose-fulfilling. So it's a trifecta - God, family, friends.

The best career advice I've received is to listen intently, listen a little bit more than talk. Also, listen because many times, whether you're business consulting or fundraising, people will tell you what it is that they need. Ask questions, but don't assume you know the answer - give them time and space to think about what their response will be, and then take it in. The other piece of advice, which sounds kind of contradictory, is don't dim your light when you do need to speak up. Don't let someone take credit for what you've done - document your work and speak up. I've always been one of the few women in leadership in some places, sometimes the only one in those spaces, and so I need to make sure that I own my presence in the room. Not with arrogance, but with confidence, knowing that my voice needs to be heard to represent whether it's the patient or the doctor. Whatever your role is, you're needed, you're valued, there's a reason you're in the room, and so own that.

First of all, be committed - have your why and know the reason you're doing this. Then do your research and study, study, study. I'm a lifelong learner. This weekend, I actually registered for some courses that are specifically about how AI is impacting the health industry. Be a student of your craft is probably the best way I can describe it. Make sure you're continuously taking classes and networking with other professionals in your industry or just other like-minded professionals. Build your network and make sure you have all of your pieces in order - your accountant, your attorney, other business owners. You need to have a network because there's going to be a day you're going to have questions or you don't know something. Yes, you can find a lot online and use ChatGPT and everything else, but you want to have people that you've cultivated, a real network. Being a business owner, you can feel like you're out on an island sometimes because you're so consumed with what you're doing. You need to be able to be with like-minded individuals and basically help each other. You may have to call on them for questions, but they may have to call on you, so there needs to be some relationship-building.

The biggest challenge right now is the AI component coming to medical billing. The key is making sure you're running your business now while also looking to the future. That means taking courses, becoming an expert, or lining up resources to help when those changes are required. On a day-to-day basis, another challenge is that some potential clients haven't had the best experience with their previous billers or revenue cycle professionals, so you have to explain why your services are important, highlight your expertise, and do continuous follow-up. You might plant a lot of seeds now and do a lot of networking, but that doesn't mean you make one presentation and they're ready to switch to you - it's about cultivating clientele over time. The opportunities are vast because my services are not limited to state lines or bounds - I can work nationally. I'm able to work with medical doctors like cardiologists, oncologists and gynecologists, but I also can work with therapists like speech pathologists and social workers. My field is wide open as far as opportunity, whether it's different specialties or having access to providers in all states. That's a large reason why I chose this particular specialty in this field.

Faith, integrity, honesty, and compassion are the core values that guide both my work and personal life. I am deeply committed to living these principles every day, ensuring that my actions reflect the character I believe in. Equally important are my children, as I strive to be the best possible example and role model for them. My dedication to community is evident through my roles within community and national organizations, where I actively contribute my time and leadership, demonstrating my passion for making a meaningful impact.