Hello! My name is Elizabeth Elder, but I prefer to go by Beth. I am the Customer/Vendor Relations Coordinator for the Background Check Central Unit with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. I know that's a mouthful, but basically I manage customer and vendor relations between my office and our customers and troubleshoot issues as they arise. My skills and areas of expertise include exceptional organizational and time management skills that I not only use for my own work, but also share with my co-workers and have given presentations on for other offices within my department. My recent master's degree focused on business administration but emphasized project management theory and processes. Knowledge in this area has enhanced my time management skills allowing me to be an efficient and affective worker. These skills have also come in handy with training others to manage their work and be more productive. Although these are the areas that I have focused on and feel that I am experienced in, I continue to learn and grow in my job skills. Recently I learned about LEAN methods and process tools and am slowly working towards being the LEAN Coordinator and Process Improvement Specialist for my office. When I'm not at work, my hobbies and interests include spending time with my husband and our two pets, being outside hiking and backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, or just walking the dog. I also like to travel and explore places both close and far from home, and love to eat! I am drawn too and passionate about charitable organizations such as the Girl Scouts. I contribute to Heifer International every year and am looking forward to working on one of their projects in the near future. I also recently participated in the Susan G Komen Walk for a Cure, and am considering participating again because the experience truly was "The experience of a lifetime!"