Congratulations Barb Judah on your promotion at LEAP!

Posted May 13, 2021 in Press Releases

Barb Judah has been with LEAP since 2007 working across several of our programs. Her passion has been helping consumers better understand and navigate the complex and confusing benefits system. In addition, she works to advocate and assist consumer in obtaining benefits.

She is a well-known expert in the area of benefits access and eligibility and is certified in benefits analysis through two certifications, “Work Incentives Practitioner” and “Transition Aged Youth Benefits Planning Credential” from Cornell University. She has been a benefits team lead since 2015 and this recent promotion reflects her dedication and the wealth of knowledge she brings to the agency.

Congratulations to our new Manager of Benefit Services, Barb Judah!

What drew you to LEAP originally?

There is a former employee who I worked under at another agency. When they came on board as LEAP’s Employment Services Director, back in 2007, they contacted me about an open position for a Program Support Specialist. And, I was interested and so applied and was hired. A year later, I became a Certified Benefits Specialist. This was before we had a Benefits Services team!

And how has LEAP changed from then?

I have watched LEAP change in so many ways. In my time here I have seen some important, some difficult, and some exciting changes in LEAP.

What are you looking forward to in your new role?

I am truly looking forward to working as a team in my new role to strengthen and grow the ‘Access to Benefits and Resources’ arm of the agency. I am excited to bring together a team within the larger LEAP agency that will push the Benefit Services area forward.

How has LEAP helped you in your career development?

LEAP has afforded me the opportunity to serve in different roles and capacities. I have learned and developed many new skills from those opportunities, and I am very grateful for that.

What motivates you on your career path?

I am a helper and I love to help people. That motivates me every day to continue in my career path.

What is your proudest moment at LEAP?

I would say my proudest moment in LEAP would be the situation in which LEAP received a thank you from the state for evaluating the state Benefit Analysis System. That project involved evaluating the system before it went live. We found mistakes in it, which we reported to the state. That enabled them to correct the mistake before the roll out of the system.

What three career lessons or advice would you give to new hires or those starting out?

• It is important to be a team player, that will create success for all.
• In your job, there will not be a party all the time. But the most fulfilling reward is to know that you are a part of a team that helped someone better this thing called ‘life’ in some way, shape, or form.
• It is, what it is, and it will be, what it will be, but at the end of the day - it is what you make it.

Do you have a favorite line from a movie?

Love and Basketball.

Best vacation?

The vacation I just returned from in California! Because - it was a family vacation and I love family.

What would you like to tell yourself at age 13?

I would tell myself “Girl Hold ON. It’s Going to Be a Bumpy Ride in this Life.”