Sawyer Consulting
Dependable Expertise for Positive Results

Julie Sawyer-Little
Professional Vitae



 

Download print-friendly PDF of resume

EDUCATION
1992 Masters of Science in Rehabilitation Science
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina
1989 Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina
LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION

North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy-#897
Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification-#00011182
Certified Life Care Planner-#0330
American Board of Vocational Experts-Fellow #5112
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
August 1998
to Present
Rehabilitation Consultant
Sawyer Consulting, LLC aka Sawyer & Associates
  • Provide rehabilitation consultation (vocational assessment and life care planning) services to attorneys, insurance carriers and employers.
  • Provide vocational expert testimony in social security hearings.
  • Provide vocational evaluation and case management services .
  • Provide job task analysis .
  • Provide job coaching services.
September 1997
to July 1998
Director of Professional Relations
Easter Seal Home Health Services
  • Direct the development of and maintain contacts with the appropriate representatives from Health Maintenance Organizations, other managed care organizations and insurance companies to promote Easter Seal programs for business development.
  • Develop bids and contracts for managed care organizations, insurance companies and other potential payer sources as necessary.
  • Develop an in-depth understanding of different pricing strategies occurring in the home health market.
  • Instrumental in restructuring the intake/referral department.
  • Served as interim Rehabilitation Supervisor until position was filled.
  • Active participant and reviewer in the JCAHO preparation process.
  • Develop and maintain an understanding of trends in the home health market for future positioning of the agency.
May 1993
to August 1997
Director of Industrial Services/Coordinator of Home Health Services
Pro Active Therapy, Inc.
  • Responsible for supervision of COTA/L in provision of home health services.
  • Collaborate with Director of Home Health Services to ensure smooth transition of new home health contracts.
  • Evaluation and treatment of pediatric patients in outpatient setting (prn).
  • Responsible for coordination/development of start-up of work hardening and acute clinic to include; up-fit, layout, equipment purchase, hiring, etc.
  • Perform administrative duties to include: weekly payroll, hiring/firing, performance reviews, weekly schedules, CEU requests, etc.
  • Perform chart audits to comply with Medicare and company policy.
  • Develop/implement a comprehensive upper extremity and low back programs to include: work hardening programs, on-site therapy, cumulative trauma prevention programs, back prevention programs, on-site exercise programs, and ergonomic consultation.
  • Manage/supervise 5 work hardening clinics (statewide) to ensure consistency and quality care.
  • Perform industry based job-site analysis to provide recommendations in facilitating successful return to work of injured workers.
  • Provide on-site occupational therapy services to MOEN, Inc. (New Bern, NC)
  • Provide on-site occupational therapy services to Fieldcrest Cannon (Kannapolis, NC)
  • Perform functional capacity assessments and vocational evaluations.
  • Implement work hardening programs to injured workers.
  • Communicate with rehabilitation specialists, insurance carriers, physicians, and attorneys regarding patient's disposition.
  • Assist with vocational placement options and return to work process.
  • Experience as an expert witness in disputed social security and workers' compensation litigation.
  • Coordination of all conference/meeting related to marketing industry, insurance carriers, and rehabilitation specialists.
  • Prepare and present proposal of services to industrial accounts for on-site services to include; on-site therapy, prevention programs, and pre-employment testing. (Simpson Industries, MOEN, West Point Stevens, McLane Carolina, O'berry Center, Bridgestone/Firestone, Fieldcrest Cannon).
  • Responsible for marketing to industrial accounts, insurance carriers, rehabilitation specialists, attorneys, and physicians.
  • Coordinate quarterly meetings with program managers to discuss current issues, trends, and changes in the industrial programs.
  • Development and implement post-offer/pre-employment screening to industries.
November 1995
to August 1997
Occupational Therapist (prn)
NovaPro
Pittsboro, North Carolina
  • Provide occupational therapy services on a prn basis (nursing home).
November 1995
to March 1996
Occupational Therapist (prn)
CMS Therapies
Greenville, North Carolina
  • Provide occupational therapy services on a prn basis (nursing home).
November 1991
to April 1993
Lead Occupational Therapist-Industrial Program
Pitt County Memorial Hospital
Greenville, North Carolina
  • Coordination of work hardening services.
May 1992
to April 1993
Staff Occupational Therapist (part-time/prn)
Tar Heel Home Health
Greenville, North Carolina
  • Provide occupational therapy services to patients in their home to include evaluation and treatment.
January 1990
to July 1991
Staff Occupational Therapist
Pitt County Schools
Greenville, North Carolina
  • Provide occupational therapy services to children in the school system of various diagnosis (learning disabled, cerebral palsy, physically and mentally handicapped).
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS

North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association
International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals
International Association of Life Care Planners
American Board of Vocational Experts
PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS
October 2022 "Translating Neuropsychological Results into Meaningful Vocational Recommendations"
Annual Conference-International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals — Ft. Worth, Texas
October 2022 "Forensic 101"
Annual Conference-International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals — Ft. Worth, Texas
October 2020 "The Fundamentals of Being a Social Security Expert-The Basics to Advanced"
Annual Conference-International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals — Virtual Conference
August 2018 "Mastering the Expert Deposition"
North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys — Greensboro, North Carolina
October 2018 "SSVE Training Fundamentals: Using Tools and Knowledge to Testify"
Annual Conference-International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals— Portland, Oregon
March 2016 "Forensics in Rehabilitation"
IARP of the Carolina's Educational Conference — Greensboro, North Carolina
March 2016 "A Vocational Experts Perspective on Visual, Speech, and Hearing Limitations"
North Carolina Advocates for Justice-Social Security Disability — Cary, North Carolina
March 2015 "The Vocational Expert in a Social Security Case"
North Carolina Advocates for Justice-Social Security Disability-The Fundamentals — Cary, North Carolina
November 2015 "Brachial Plexus Injuries: Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together"
Annual Conference-International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals — San Diego, California
March 2014 "Be the Strongest Link: Strengthening Forensic Testimony-Emphasis on Social Security with Implications for other Venues"
Annual Conference-American Board of Vocational Experts — Nashville, Tennessee
November 2013 "Social Security Disability Claims: What You Need to Know-Vocational Experts Perspective"
NC Bar Association — Cary, North Carolina
November 2013 "Forensic 101 Introduction to Forensic Rehabilitation Practice"
Annual Conference-International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals — Charleston, South Carolina
May 2013 "The Life Care Plan: How to Further Your Case for Mediation and Trial"
NCBA Paralegal Division Annual Meeting — Greensboro, NC
October 2012 "Forensic 101 Introduction to Forensic Rehabilitation Practice"
Annual Conference-International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals — San Juan, Puerto Rico
September 2012 "Confronting Medical Issues in Workers' Compensation Claims"
2012 Workers' Compensation Fall Program-NC Bar — Cary, NC
December 2009 "View from the Vocational Expert's Chair"
SSA Seminar-North Carolina Advocates for Justice — Winston-Salem, NC
October 2009
"Dealing with Complex Hypotheticals"
IARP-Forensic Conference — Memphis, TN
May 2004

"Dealing with Challenging Cases: Strategies for Examination of the Vocational Expert"
NOSCRR Annual Conference — San Diego, California
April 2000
"Life Care Planning and Vocational Rehabilitation"
Guest Speaker-East Carolina University — Greenville, North Carolina
March 1999 "Industrial Rehabilitation and Case Study"
Guest Speaker-University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill, North Carolina
October 1999 "Life Care Planning: What Is It and How Does It Apply to OT"
North Carolina Occupational Therapy-Annual Conference — Raleigh, North Carolina
June 1999 "Vocational Rehabilitation and Return to Work"
Co-Presenter; 16th Workers' Compensation Conference — Chapel Hill, North Carolina
April 1999 "Role of Occupational Therapy in the Industrial Setting"
Junior Class Presentation; East Carolina University — Greenville, North Carolina
November 1994 "Early Intervention, Work Hardening, and Return to Work"
The NCVEWAA and NCRCA Fall Training Conference — Atlantic Beach, North Carolina
October 1994 "Integrating Ergonomics into the Rehabilitation Process: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach for Successful Return to Work"
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting — Nashville, Tennessee
November 1993 "Perceived Professional Status of Allied Health Professionals"
ASAHP National Conference, Orlando, Florida
November 1993 "Evaluation and Rating of Physical Disability"
North Carolina Occupational Therapy Annual Conference — Asheville, North Carolina
November 1993 "Expanding Payment Workshop"
North Carolina Occupational Therapy Annual Conference — Asheville, North Carolina
June 1992

"Evaluation and Rating of Physical Disability"
Chapter in Handbook of Pain Management-Second Edition
May 1992 "Perception of Professional Prestige in Allied Health Professionals"
North Carolina Occupational Therapy Annual Conference — Wrightsville, North Carolina
April 1999 "The Role of Occupational Therapists' in an Industrial Setting"
Classroom presentation at East Carolina University — Greenville, North Carolina
WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES
2022 International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Annual Conference
Ft. Worth, Texas
2022 American Board of Vocational Experts-Annual Conference
Tampa, Florida
2021 International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Annual Conference
Virtual
2021 American Board of Vocational Experts-Annual Conference
Virtual
2020 International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Annual Conference
Virtual
2020 American Board of Vocational Experts-Annual Conference
Virtual
2019 International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Annual Conference
Portland, Oregon
2018 International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Annual Conference
Charlotte, North Carolina
2017 American Board of Vocational Experts Annual Conference
Savannah, Georgia
2017 International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Annual Conference
St. Louis, Missouri
2016 International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Annual Conference
Pittsburgh, PA
2014 International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Annual Conference
San Diego, CA
2014 International Symposium on Life Care Planning
Minneapolis, MN
2014 American Board of Vocational Experts Conference
Nashville, TN
2013 International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Annual Conference
Charleston, SC
2013 Life Care Planning Symposium
Atlanta, GA
2012 International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Annual Conference
San Juan, PR
2011 International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Annual Forensic Conference
Las Vegas, NV
2011 American Board of Vocational Experts Conference
Orlando, FL
2009 International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Annual Forensic Conference
Memphis, TN
2009 American Board of Vocational Experts Conference
New Orleans, LA
2008 International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Annual Forensic Conference
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2008 International Association of Life Care Planners-Annual Conference
Scottsdale, AZ
2007 American Board of Vocational Experts-Fall Conference
Charleston, SC
2007 American Board of Vocational Experts-Pre Conference (Fall)
Charleston, SC
2007 International Conference of Life Care Planning
St. Petersburg, FL
2006 International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Annual Forensic Conference
Scottsdale, AZ
2006 IARP-Annual Forensic Pre-Conference, Admissibility Testimony Series
Scottsdale, AZ
2006 IARP-Annual Forensic Pre-Conference, Does the Data Fit the Purpose?
Scottsdale, AZ
2006 International Conference on Life Care Planning
Atlanta, GA
2006 Forensic Rehabilitation-A Foundation
Preconference-Annual Conference
Minneapolis, MN
2006 Loss of Earning Capacity of a Child with Brachial Plexus Injury
Preconference-Annual Conference
Minneapolis, MN
2006 Annual Forensic Conference
Minneapolis, MN
2006 Life Care Planning Summit
Chicago, IL
2005 Geriatric Care Management, Modules 5 and 6
Orlando, FL
2005 IARP Annual Conference
Orlando, FL
2005
Geriatric Care Management; Modules 1 and 2
Atlanta, GA
2004 The Annual Summit-Medipro Seminar
Atlanta, GA
2004 American Board of Vocational Experts-Spring Conference
Charleston, SC
2003 Annual Forensic Conference-Making the Point: Tools for the Forensic Rehabilitation Expert
San Antonio, TX
2003 Medicare Set-Aside Program-Medipro Seminars
Dallas, TX
2003 International Conference on Life Care Planning
Dallas, TX
2001 International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Annual Conference
Miami, FL
2000 Forensic Seminar
New Orleans, LA
2000 Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Series-Ethics
Raleigh, NC
2000 Annual NARPPS Meeting
Dallas, TX
1999
Legal Mediation Course for Certification
Charlotte, NC
1999 Life Care Planning Certification Program (Modules 1-8)
Intellicus-University of Florida
1999 The Sixth Annual Rehabilitation and Case Management Symposium National Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Private Sector
Greensboro, NC
1998 The 3rd Annual Life Care Planning Conference
Atlanta, GA
1998 The Fifth Annual Rehabilitation and Case Management Symposium National Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Private Sector
Greensboro, NC
1997 Fifteenth Annual Workers' Compensation Conference
Chapel Hill, NC
1996 Fourteenth Annual Workers' Compensation Conference
Chapel Hill, NC
1996 North Carolina RIPPS Meeting-Update on Rules for Rehabilitation Services
Raleigh NC
1996 National Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Private Sector, Annual Conference
Greensboro, NC
1987 - 1996 North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association-Annual Conference
1995 North Carolina Occupational Health Nurse Conference
Greensboro, NC
1995 NCRCA Annual Meeting
New Bern, NC
1995 Thirteenth Annual Workers' Compensation Conference
Chapel Hill, NC
1994 - 1998 North Carolina RIPPS Meeting
Greensboro, NC
1994 - 1996 North Carolina Safety Conference
Greensboro, NC
1994 The Upper Extremity Seminar
New Orleans, LA
1994 Functional Capacity Determination Applied to Independent Medical Examinations
Gainesville, FL
1994 Managing Negativity in the Workplace
Rocky Mount, NC
1993 LiftStation Users Course
Hillsborough, NC
1993 IsoStation B-200 Users Course
Hillsborough, NC
1993 OSHA Training and Update
Fayetteville, NC
1993 Supervision Workshop
Rocky Mount, NC
1993 BTE Work Simulation in a Functional Rehab. Program
Greensboro, NC
1992
Roy Matheson/Work Hardening
Atlanta, GA
1992 - 1994 Tenth Annual Workers' Compensation Conference
Chapel Hill, NC
1991 National Occupational Therapy Conference
Cincinnati, OH
PROFESSIONAL/VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
2021-Present Director of Education
International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals
2020 Advisory Committee Member
Standards of Practice for Life Care Planning- 4th Edition
2018-2020 Executive Board Member (Secretary)
International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals
2018-2021 Conference Planning Committee Member
International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals
2018-2021 Deacon
Woodhaven Baptist Church
2014 Advisory Committee Member
Standards of Practice for Life Care Planning- 3rd Edition
2013/2014
Annual Conference Chair and Forensic Chair
International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals
2013
Planning Committee Member
Annual Life Care Planning Conference
2013 Chair of Missions
Woodhaven Baptist Church
2012 Forensic Chair-Elect
International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals
2009 - 2011
Planning Committee Member
International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals-Forensic Section
2011 - 2012
Planning Committee Member
American Board of Vocational Experts-Forensic
2008 - 2011
Deacon
Woodhaven Baptist Church
2005 - 2007
President-Elect
Southern Wake Montessori School
Holly Springs, NC
2004 - 2006
Advisory Board
SafeTeens
Raleigh, NC
1999 - 2000
Vice President
North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association
1994 - 1996
Treasurer
North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association
1992 - 1995
Advisory Board Member
Pitt Community College-COTA Program
1991 - 1993
Eastern District Chair
North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association
RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS
2022 President's Commendation-International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals Annual Conference
2022 Outstanding Professional Member Award-International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals Annual Conference
REFERENCES: Available upon request

 

Download print-friendly PDF of resume