Her Story
About Heather Elizabeth
Heather (Liz) Rieck is a versatile professional with a background spanning healthcare administration, education, and organizational consulting. She holds a B.B.A. from Indiana University South Bend and an M.B.A. from Webster University, and has built a career grounded in adaptability, problem-solving, and service. Early in her career, she worked in radiology and healthcare operations, including roles at Radiology Incorporated and Health First, where she supported billing, provider relations, documentation, and large-scale workflow mapping initiatives. Her ability to organize complex systems made her a key contributor during major transitions, including mapping hundreds of workflows during a systems conversion project.
Since 2020, Liz has served as a substitute teacher with Brevard Public Schools, working primarily in elementary education where she is known for her engaging, structured, and creative teaching style. Inspired by her mother’s leadership as a Girl Scout troop leader, she brings patience and encouragement into the classroom while maintaining high expectations for student growth. Alongside teaching, she has maintained a long-standing practice as a professional organizer since 2009, helping individuals, schools, and businesses develop practical systems tailored to how they think and work. Her guiding philosophy is to create environments where people can locate what they need within minutes and sustain those systems independently.
In addition to her work in education and organization, Liz is a certified medical billing and coding professional through the AAPC and recently completed additional training in medical insurance coding at the University of Central Florida. She is actively pursuing opportunities to re-enter the healthcare field in coding, data analysis, or medical records support roles. Outside of her professional life, she is deeply involved in her community through volunteer work at the Melbourne Civic Theatre, and she enjoys spending time at the beach, reading, playing games, and creating meaningful memories with her 12-year-old son.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Heather Elizabeth
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my mother, who was my greatest source of encouragement and support. She was my confidante and biggest cheerleader, always guiding me through challenges. Although she passed away nearly ten years ago, her influence remains with me every day. When I face difficulties, I often ask myself how she would handle the situation. I use that perspective to guide my decisions. Her favorite phrase was "We Can Do This!!!"
Another thing she taught me is to have a music playlist for each mood you have. When I'm facing any challenge, I listed to "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" (Cher), "You Gotta Be" (Desiree), and "Coming Out of the Dark" (Gloria Estefan). Choose music that strikes a chord with you and lose yourself for a few minutes to recenter yourself and then start tackling the challenge.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is that in any situation, you have three responses: you can cry, you can scream, or you can laugh. I’ve chosen to lean toward laughter because the other options are either unproductive or impractical. I’ve learned to ask myself whether a situation will matter tomorrow. If the answer is no, I try not to dwell on it. I focus my energy on what truly makes a difference, rather than adding unnecessary stress to an already demanding life.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to start by volunteering whenever possible, as it helps you get your foot in the door and gain valuable behind-the-scenes experience. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, since curiosity is key to learning and growth. I also live by the idea that there is no illusion like the illusion of reality, because perspective shapes what we see, and by Walt Disney’s words: “think, believe, dream, and dare.” I encourage women to think intentionally, believe in themselves, dream boldly, and then take action to make it happen.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In the medical field, one of the biggest challenges is breaking into the industry, as many employers require experience, yet it’s difficult to gain that experience without first being hired—a clear catch-22 for newcomers. In education, a major challenge is the growing number of demands placed on teachers, from instruction and student support to meetings, grading, professional development, and family responsibilities, all within limited time. This often leaves too little time in the school day to effectively manage everything. Additionally, classroom disruptions can significantly impact learning for all students, placing further strain on teachers trying to balance instruction and behavior management.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values to me, both personally and professionally, are listening, honesty, and accountability. I believe it is essential to truly listen to one another, avoid dishonesty, and extend grace when others may be having a difficult day. In the workplace, I value open communication and working through challenges collaboratively. Personally, I believe in owning mistakes and being willing to admit when I am wrong, as it only creates greater issues to shift blame. Being honest about our shortcomings and learning from them is key to growth and strong relationships.
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