Contact Robin

How I Got Started:  I have always enjoyed formatting documents, posters, forms, reports, policies, etc., to make them more visually appealing.  So I am generally the one being asked to “make this look better,” “fit this on one page,” “design a poster presentation.”  I began to focus my interests towards desktop publishing and taking classes on this subject every chance I could.  I learned many desktop publishing guidelines that I use every day as I design forms.  In 1992 I was hired at Rapid City Regional Hospital as an Administrative Assistant to two Vice Presidents in Administration.  In addition to my administrative responsibilities, the nursing staff always needed a new form for something so they would bring it to me to design and develop.  Through this I developed a working relationship with our in-house Print Shop personnel.  Finally, in 2000 Rapid City Regional Hospital decided to create a position responsible for forms, as they wanted to move towards more electronic documentation.  I continue to manage the many aspects to forms and establishing guidelines, policies, and procedures and am developing an improved forms management program to implement for our organization.

Current Professional Duties:  Being a department of one I am responsible for designing, developing, managing, and implementing forms.  I never have a minute to even wonder what to do next.  My desk is overflowing with forms, forms, and more forms to be reformatted, newly designed, workflow process analysis, to automate, to research where a bootleg form came from, and on and on it goes—never ending.

BFMA duties:  I am extremely honored to be appointed Director of Symposium Operations, this is part of the Program Council, which plans much of the educational opportunities offered by BFMA.  I take these responsibilities and challenges seriously and will provide leadership and input to this Association. 

BFMA’s Potential Growth: I believe BFMA is vitally important to those seeking education and assistance in the forms arena.  We “forms people” have unique and important positions in the organizations that employ us.  Associations such as BFMA provide opportunities for us to help our organizations save money through better workflow processes, data capture, forms efficiencies, and forms management.

Most Fun Part of BFMA:  I LOVE the educational courses offered at the symposiums, institutes, and online.  I never want to miss one class while participating in these events.  I learn so much I can hardly put it into words—amazing, wonderful, incredible, fantastic.  I find I keep learning new ideas and processes relating to forms and forms management.  WOW!  Additionally, the people I have met and friends I’ve made have been totally awesome.  When I attend symposiums or institutes it’s like going to a foreign country where everyone speaks your same (forms) language.  I have gained a tremendous amount of help, support, and increased my knowledge and I want to continue that learning.

Favorite Book(s):  Unfortunately I don’t do too much leisure reading; however, I am currently reading and enjoying “Managing Business Forms” and “Forms for People” both written by Robert Barnett.  These books are terrific—you should get them, they are so helpful.

Passionate About:  I am passionate about, of course, my wonderful husband, David.  We enjoy traveling, camping, boating, swimming, and I love to water-ski (especially if the water is smooth as glass).  I also have four fabulous nieces who I love very much.