Spotlight Magellan allows coworkers to get to know one another by going beyond the surface level through facilitated discussions that delve into personal interests, experiences and aspirations. Through intentional engagement, Spotlight Magellan aims to cultivate a sense of community and camaraderie across our company, ultimately contributing to a more cohesive and fulfilling remote workplace culture.
This month, we’re getting to know Jennifer Moran, veterans’ benefits specialist for the federal market. Jennifer has been with Magellan federal member services since July 2015.
Continue reading to learn more about Jennifer:
Describe a typical workday in your life.
I’m an attorney, and I was a Rating Veterans’ Service Representative at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for six years, where I adjudicated disability compensation and survivors’ benefits claims. Now, I represent veterans seeking benefits before the VA, both at the regional office level and before the Board of Veterans Appeals. My workday involves a great deal of client communication: intake calls with veterans seeking benefits, providing clients with case updates and coordinating the necessary paperwork and answering general benefits questions. The rest of the time I am reviewing veterans’ medical and personnel records page by page looking for evidence to help ensure that they are awarded appropriately, communicating internally with VA to address problems that arise with claims, preparing claims and evidence for submission and continually educating myself about constant changes in VA procedures, law and policy.
Do you have any secret talents/ something you’re very good at that would surprise others?
Few people know that I can sing. My mother was a highly trained lyric soprano with a voice like Julie Andrews. I was lucky enough to inherit some of her natural talent, which I exercise with joyous abandon in my car.
What are you currently reading or binge watching?
I am a bibliophile, with a 30-foot floor-to-ceiling library in my home. I’m always reading several books at once. My current favorite is “The Elements of Marie Curie” by Dava Sobel. As for binge-watching, it’s usually historical fiction. I’m just now watching “Outlander” and “Vikings.”
What is the farthest place you’ve traveled (or would like to travel to one day)?
The furthest I’ve ever traveled is New Zealand to visit a childhood pen pal with whom I exchanged letters in the days before email. We’re both over 50-years-old now and still keep in touch.
Do you have any pets? Tell us about what quirky personality traits your animals have!
I have three dogs, all former strays. Benson is my high-strung, slightly neurotic Staffordshire terrier who runs the house and greets all visitors with a shoe. Though the smallest, he’s been known to punch his siblings to be first in line for a piece of watermelon. RocNRoll is the massive (but very chill) 80 pound pit bull I adopted from a high-kill shelter 10 minutes before he was due to be put down. His hobbies include tearing up cardboard boxes and hanging by his jaws from tree branches. Ruger is a medium-sized pit bull/ mastiff/ German Shepard mix who looks like Scrappy-Doo with heavy eyeliner. He loves to watch television and likes to carry his favorite blanket with him everywhere.
