BERNADETTE PALMERI-THIELMANN
PRINCIPAL
Since embarking on her consulting career in December 2019, Mrs. Palmeri-Thielmann has secured over $27 million in grant funding for a range of non-profit organizations across the country. The majority of her proposal development experience is in the health and human services field with special emphasis on integrated primary and behavioral health care; HIV prevention, testing and treatment; substance misuse; women’s health; health equity and access; services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and, early child development. Over the past few years, Mrs. Palmeri-Thielmann has procured grants from over 50 unique agencies such as the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) (including a Special Project of National Significance, Ryan White, and Opioid-Impacted Family Support Program), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as well as a variety of state and local government grants and private foundations. Mrs. Palmeri-Thielmann earned her M.P.P. from the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at University of Virginia and her B.A. from Connecticut College in Literature and Gender & Women's Studies.
SHELLEY SAMUELS
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Shelley Samuels has secured and managed more than $100 million in grants and contracts including
foundations, local, county, state, and federal government awards.
Ms. Samuels is an expert in nonprofit leadership with more than 40 years of experience in social
services and healthcare organizations. Until 2018 she was the Chief Program Officer of Easterseals
New Jersey where she was responsible for a $60million + budget, 900 plus employees and 4,000
individuals served. Concurrently, she was the Chief Operating Officer of Easterseals Solutions an
EHR selection, implementation, training and help desk service for multiple nonprofit organizations.
Shelley has a BA in Psychology and an MPA in Public Administration with a concentration in
Healthcare Finance from Rutgers University. She completed an Executive Leadership Program at
Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business and a program at New York University Stern
School for Executive Education in Finance and Accounting. Ms. Samuels has developed,
implemented, and directed a variety of services for thousands of persons with intellectual
developmental, mental health, hearing loss, visual impairments, veterans, seniors and substance-
related disabilities.
Ms. Samuels has served as a management and development consultant for organizations such as
federally qualified health centers; medical centers; hospice and health and human service nonprofits.
Her responsibilities included securing federal healthcare licensures, private insurance quality
assessments, development, resolving complex operational issues and evaluation. She has also
provided consulting on medical legal partnerships and older adult services. Shelley has expertise in
fee for service and transition to multiple payment models.
Shelley has held board positions for the Children’s System of Care, Citizens for Quality Education as
well as the United Way of Central Jersey. She has been an active member of the American
Association of Grants Professionals, United Nations Task Force on the Year of the Disabled, and
Governor’s Task Force on Substance Abuse and the Hearing Impaired. Most recently Shelley was a
member of a NJAMHAA HMO Council; Visiting Nurse Association Children and Families Advisory
Board; The Greater Newark Health Care Coalition (ACO) Advisory Board; the NJ CAM (Advisory
Board to NJ Transit for accessible transportation); state wellness committee focused on smoking
cessation for individuals with serious mental illness; and county health partnerships.
Additionally, Ms. Samuels is the Principal of SRS Strategic Associates. SRS assists organizations in
the healthcare and human services communities to become and remain sustainable. The firms work
includes programmatic and financial sustainability; compliance, quality and licensing; and the
Electronic Health Records Life Cycle. www.srsstrategic.com
