Mara Manzo

I started my career in healthcare over 15 years ago as a volunteer in the claims department for the Oregon Health Plan while I was still in college. I wanted to get hands-on experience to really understand how the field works. After my volunteer work, I was hired in the billing department where I processed daily mail and created batches for different types of payers including Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial health plans. Throughout my career, I've been passionate about helping the Hispanic community, providing translation and interpretation services for patients who need help with everything from financial assistance to billing questions. I've worked extensively with collection agencies, managed financial assistance programs, and handled insurance claim processing and status updates. I've also worked closely with supervisors to provide updates on payer situations and received training on various payer applications. About 10 years ago, my husband and I started Manzo Land Care Services, our own small business. As the administrator and manager, I handle all the administrative duties, customer contact, and marketing while my husband works in the field. During busy seasons, we have up to 9 employees. I've managed to balance all of this while being a mom to 3 kids and supporting my husband's field work. I earned my Bachelor's degree in 2014, which was a significant accomplishment as I was working full-time, being a full-time mom, and going to school simultaneously. It was definitely a juggle, but it reflects my commitment to both my professional growth and my family.