Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bakeba C. Raines. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Bakeba C., appreciate you joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?
I have desired to help Medicaid providers improve their reimbursement support documentation for most of my career in the helping services industry. When I have worked within the private sector, I was instrumental in establishing processes, procedures and practices that positioned companies to compile compliant service documentation. I have a passion for writing, integrity and compliance and becoming a Medicaid Documentation Compliance Consultant is a perfect fit for me. This appears to be a niche occupation so set up has been a bit more daunting that I imagined because there were not a lot of other businesses to compare to. I have worked closing with the Alabama Small Business Development Center at Alabama State University to help me with set up and launching.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Many may know me as the Sister U Matter! lady. I started spreading my Sister U Matter! message in 2016. Annually, I run a billboard campaign throughout the city informing, motivating and inspiring girls and women to look internally for their worth and value. I am the author of two published books: I Am The Crown and Going Through? Walk IT Out!
I am also the founder of SUM! Unlimited, a non-profit agency that provides human and social services with a focus on diversity and inclusion, literacy and personal and professional development. SUM! Unlimited, Inc., operates a mobile household goods pantry and a social emotional learning program that introduces writing as a healthy outlet for emotions.
I am the founder of the BaeJon Group, LLC. It is the parent company BCR Strategic Partners and Charis Publishing Partners. BCR Strategic Partners is the Medicaid Documentation Compliance Consulting Firm that teaches Medicaid providers the basics related to Medicaid compliance and documentation requirements. My prior experience as a Medicaid employee as well as a provider for Medicaid gives me a unique perspective and well-rounded experience with Medicaid documentation standards and expectations. I am proud of be success with helping Medicaid providers build confidence and compliance readiness in regard to their support documentation. Charis Publishing Partners is devoted to helping first authors navigate the self-publishing book publishing process. I get so much satisfaction when authors see their book vision become a reality.
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
I have been copy editing for years as a side hustle. I have helped numerous entrepreneurs and authors take their social media posts and manuscripts to another level in readiness and readability. I have desired for some time to expand this business. With the launch of BCR Strategic Partners and Charis Publishing Partners, I get the opportunity to expand the use of my writing skills and help others look their best in their writing. Also, W.H.A.L.E. (Writing for Healing And Limitless Expression) Academy, the social emotional learning program that introduces writing a healthy outlet for expression of emotions is another avenue to expand the use of my writing skills and passion.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I am having to unlearn not being seen and operating “incognito” lol. Due to the nature of my previous work, I had to be very careful to not violate any ethics laws and create any conflicts of interest. To do this, I did not discuss my non-profit work, published books or copy-editing side hustle with my peers at work. Now, I am having to learn how to promote myself and talk openly about what I do and the services that I provide.
Contact Info:
- Website: www,baejongroup.com; www.sumunlimited.org
