Andrea Blackford

Current

Right-of-Way Acquisition Agent for Real Property Division at Sarasota County Government

Past

Office Coordinator - Sarasota, FL at Prudential Cascade Realty
SIMS (Strategic Inventory Management System) Coordinator, subsequent to the 4 positions listed below at Walgreens
Bookkeeper / Administrative Assistant - Sarasota, FL at Sun Medical

Loss Report Unit Representative - Tampa, FL at USAA
Personal Lines Insurance Sales Representative - Tampa, FL at Florida No-Fault Insurance Agency
Chiropractic Assistant at Papia Chiropractic Clinic

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Education

Manatee Community College
IRWA, FDOT (Florida Dept. of Transportation) & TRAC
Sarasota County Technical Institute (SCTI)

Fashion Focus Hair Academy
Robinson High School - Tampa, FL

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2 more...

Recommended

13 people have recommended Andrea

Connections

253 connections

Industry

Real Estate

Websites

Andrea Blackford’s Summary

Prior to my current position as Right-of-Way Acquisition Agent for Sarasota County Real Property I worked in an administrative capacity in the Real Estate industry for approximately 3 years.

I also have a strong background in administration, customer service and management spanning over 16 years.

Andrea Blackford’s Experience

Right-of-Way Acquisition Agent for Real Property Division

Sarasota County Government

(Government Agency; Government Administration industry)

February 2006 — Present (3 years 10 months)

Current and past responsibilities as a Right-of-Way Acquisition Agent include involvement in 24 projects including negotiation and acquisition of various easement and property interests to support Sarasota County’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP), as well as acquisitions for Environmental Services and Development Services.

Have successfully negotiated and acquired 245 parcels to date, many by donation and all thus far without condemnation.

Responsibilities also consist of title research, reviewing and commenting on project plans and sketches, attendance and input during project meetings and real estate closings, creation and review of maps, databases, acquisition document packages (such as drafting of contracts, deeds, easements, etc...) and related board agenda memos and documents for request of board agenda item approval.
Office Coordinator - Sarasota, FL

Prudential Cascade Realty

(Real Estate industry)

2002 — February 2006 (4 years )

As the Real Estate Secretary/Office Coordinator I provided administrative assistance to approximately 23 real estate agents and was responsible for:

Entering and editing all agent's new property listing and sales data, photos, etc... into Sarasota and Manatee MLS systems.

Writing and submitting newspaper ad copy and ad copy for individual agent's Real Estate advertising postcards.

Creating and maintaining client databases.

Reviewing contracts, closing statements and addendums for accuracy and requirements.

Designing and printing thousands of bulk post card advertisements.

Coordinating meetings, tours and agent’s floor duty schedules.

Assisting the real estate agents with use of office equipment and resources.

Ordering office supplies.

Extensive use of Microsoft Office 2000.
SIMS (Strategic Inventory Management System) Coordinator, subsequent to the 4 positions listed below

Walgreens

(Public Company; WAG; Retail industry)

July 1989 — December 2002 (13 years 6 months)

Responsible for Controlling Inventory; Claims; Receiving; Ordering; Proficient use of AS400 computer system and Telxon machine.

OTHER POSITIONS HELD DURING MY 13+ YEARS WITH WALGREENS:

Bookkeeper - In charge of entering/balancing ledgers; Processing daily/weekly/end of month reports; Organizing; Filing; Accurate store fund management; Training new employees; Handling correspondence; Assisting in all departments.

Assistant Manager - Provided superior customer service; Applied excellent merchandising abilities to increase sales; Effectively led store team while promoting positive work environment; Balancing store funds; Controlled inventory; Managed store facility; Prevented/handled accidents and losses. Performed all opening/closing procedures.

Liquor Store Manager - In charge of: Ordering; Sales; Merchandising; Motivation/training/management of dept. employees.

Head Cosmetician - Same as above, but for cosmetics dept. Attended numerous cosmetic vendor training seminars.
Bookkeeper / Administrative Assistant - Sarasota, FL

Sun Medical

(Medical Devices industry)

January 1989 — March 1989 (3 months)

Bookkeeper / Administrative Assistant duties included accounts receivable/payable, phones, filing and various other clerical duties.

Had to leave this position after only 3 months to care for my mother during her surgical recovery and to provide her transportation to and from chemotherapy appointments.
Loss Report Unit Representative - Tampa, FL

USAA

(Privately Held; Financial Services industry)

July 1987 — January 1989 (1 year 7 months)

Responsible for computer entry of claim data for auto and property losses per insured and claimants information for eight southeastern states and the islands; Paid minor glass and towing claims; Answered inquiries regarding claims for the insured.
Personal Lines Insurance Sales Representative - Tampa, FL

Florida No-Fault Insurance Agency

(Insurance industry)

April 1986 — July 1987 (1 year 4 months)

Calculated and quoted insurance premiums for renewals and potential insured; Explained the coverage and completed all necessary forms to initiate policies.
Chiropractic Assistant

Papia Chiropractic Clinic

(Real Estate industry)

1985 — 1985 (less than a year)

This is my father's business. I worked for him right out of high school for about three months prior to obtaining a position with Florida No-Fault Insurance Agency.

Here's a shameless plug for my father's business in Downtown Tampa - if you need a good Chiropractor and are in the Greater Tampa Bay area, look him up. His office has been located in downtown Tampa since 1969 and he has many loyal, satisfied patients. He is also a MonaVie distributor.

Andrea Blackford’s Education

Manatee Community College

Paralegal / Legal Assisting 2007 — 2010 (expected)

Part-time student working toward obtaining an A.S. degree. Have completed 10 courses, maintained a 4.0 grade point average and have been on the Dean's List since the Fall 2008 semester.

MCC is now State College of Florida (SCF).
IRWA, FDOT (Florida Dept. of Transportation) & TRAC

Right-of-Way (R/W) Negotiation/Acquisition 2006 — 2008

IRWA (International Right-of-Way Assoc.) Courses:
•901 Engineering Plan Development & Application - 8 hrs. - Oct. '07
•902 Property Descriptions - 8 hrs. - Oct. '07
•209 Negotiating Effectively with a Diverse Clientele – 16 hrs. – May '07
•213 Conflict Management – 8 hrs. – May '07
•103 Ethics & the Right of Way Profession – 8 hrs. – March '07
•803 Eminent Domain Course – 16 hrs. – Nov. '06

•FDOT R/W Survey, Mapping & Plans Reading Course - 12 hrs. - Aug. '07

•Sarasota County TRAC (Training Registration & Activity Center) - 358 hrs. - Feb. '06 to March '09 - Consisting of courses in all 4 County Core Competencies: Continuous Innovative Learner, Customer & Community Champion, Financial Manager & Process Improver/Capacity Builder. Primary focus on Microsoft Office Applications, Customer Service & Personal Fitness/Wellness Courses.

Professional Affiliations/Certifications:
•State of Florida Notary Public since March '06
•Member of IRWA June '06 - Jan. '08
Sarasota County Technical Institute (SCTI)

Commercial Art Course and 40 hr. Life & Health License Course 1995 — 1996

Life & Health Insurance Course was offered through Sarasota Bay General Agents and Managers Assoc., Inc. Classroom Location: SCTI, Sarasota, FL.
Fashion Focus Hair Academy

N/A , 1989 — 1989

I completed half of this program (9 months, part time) while working full time at Walgreens, but had to drop out due to escalating health issues I had at the time. Therefore, I was unable to finish or obtain a cosmetician's license. However, I especially enjoyed the esthetician training and still utilize such in my own personal beauty regimen.
Robinson High School - Tampa, FL

High School Diploma , Business courses, plus electives in Journalism and Speech / Drama. , 1983 — 1985

Activities and Societies:

Kiwanettes and Thespians

Additional Information

Andrea Blackford’s Websites:

Andrea Blackford’s Interests:

Proficient in Microsoft Office Software Applications - including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc., dabble in website maintenance; enjoy writing, creating flyers and proofreading. Computers, gadgets and technology. On a more personal note... my faith, pets, health, nutrition, cosmetics/makeup artistry, camping and Sci Fi/Star Trek (as strange of a combination as those items may be). Also, anything that benefits this beautiful Sarasota community that I am proud to be a citizen of.

Andrea Blackford’s Groups:

Member of Bee Ridge Women's Club, Member Sarasota County's Women's Resource Network (WRN) - Facilitated committee meetings and presentations including planning and coordinating with outside presenters and reserving meeting locations. Keep WRN Web site updated. Create flyers and e-mail communications for WRN. I have also participated in various charitable endeavors including those for breast cancer and cystic fibrosis.