Rise

Carlos Arroyo Former NBA point guard, general manager of the Puerto Rican national basketball team, Olympic flagbearer, and international Reggaeton star

Carlos Arroyo holds a cherished place in Puerto Rico's sports history. Arroyo had a long and decorated basketball career for the national team, most notably helping to lead them to a victory in the 2004 Olympics over the United States. He also defied the odds as a professional, going from an undrafted player to spending nine seasons in the NBA. 

Arroyo first played professionally as a 17-year-old in Puerto Rico and jumped to the U.S. to play collegiately at Florida International University. He is the school's all-time leader in assists and has his jersey retired. 

Arroyo also spent time as a pro in Europe and Israel. In 2009, he led Maccabi Tel Aviv to an Israeli League championship, pacing the league in assists and winning Finals MVP. Three years later, he won a Finals MVP award in the Turkish Super League with Besiktas. 

Off the court, Arroyo has continued to impact his country, serving as general manager of the national team since 2021. He has also dabbled in music, releasing the hit reggaeton single, "Baila Reggaeton." 

Missy Bazzo Director, Medicare

Peak Health

Missy is a passionate, trusted, and innovative leader in Medicare Advantage growth and product with 25-years’ experience setting and exceeding sales goals, strengthening product performance with strategic market-driven approaches, successful recruitment & retention efforts, and building and preserving integral relationships with community and distribution leaders.   Missy prides herself on her eagerness to help others while delivering exceptional outcomes and focusing on the communities she serves.

Missy proudly joined Peak Health as Director of Medicare in April 2024, leading its Medicare Advantage Plan based in Morgantown, West Virgina. Her current responsibilities include growth, which has already increased by ~250%, and retention around Peak’s Medicare Advantage Portfolio of Products to help West Virginians live healthier and fuller lives. Missy has achieved results by building an effective sales & operational team to tackle each day with decisive nature, operations expertise, and a member and community focus.

Previously, Missy worked at UnitedHealthcare for 20 years where she led Medicare Advantage growth in different roles during her tenure there earning recognition for her efforts as MVP and Eagle’s Club recipient.  Missy also managed Medicare Advantage Sales & Outreach at Gateway Health Plan, now Highmark Wholecare, along with a stint as the Executive Director of Sales at Aetna.

Missy’s work has also been recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance with the Reaching Out Award along with the Women of Integrity Award by Pittsburgh Women’s Business Association.

Missy is a graduate of the Bradford School of Business with honors and holds a certificate in Social Work from Pitt University. Missy is also active in her community and currently sits on the boards at Veteran Angels & Foster Grandparents of SWPA, where she was acknowledged with the “Good Neighbor” award.

Missy is happily married to her husband, Blaize, and has 4 rescue doggie kiddos which are truly the love & heart of the Bazzo family household.

Joseph Boschert Sr. Director of Products

Milliman

Joseph’s professional area of practice is in new product development and healthcare information technology. He works with a variety of stakeholders in the healthcare system including payers, providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, Medicaid agencies, employers, and consumers to drive new creative product solutions to market.

Prior to joining Milliman, Joseph spent more than 10 years working across a variety of industries. His healthcare experiences involved improving operational efficiencies in home health, home infusion, and disease / case management organizations. Additionally, he has served a variety of technical roles involving data warehousing, web application development, mobile app development, and systems automation. His product responsibilities have included market analysis, market research, design thinking and user testing, pricing strategies, and product launch strategies.

Joseph is passionate about challenging the status quo and seeing new disruptive technologies add value to the healthcare system.

Michelle Boudreau SVP, Group Client Service

MERGE

Luis A. Cerda Consultant

Rex Wallace Consulting, LLC

Luis is Star Ratings Consultant for Rex Wallace Consulting, where he focuses on developing strategies to improve Part D performance, increase provider engagement, and dive into analytics. He has 10+ years of experience leading Star Ratings strategies. He previously worked for MCS, one of the main health plans in Puerto Rico, and later moved to Florida where he worked with Cigna leading strategies for all east coast markets. Luis has a master’s degree in economics from the University of Puerto Rico and enjoys cycling in his free time.

Jotham Cortez Sales Director

Devoted Health Plan

Jotham’s journey in Health Insurance began over 25 years ago where he worked for a Brokerage in Mid-Missouri. He later moved to the carrier side working for companies such as Anthem BCBS and United Healthcare before spending ten years at Essence Healthcare/Lumeris. Jotham began his current role with Devoted Health in April 2024 where he led the launch of the Medicare Advantage products into Missouri, Arkansas and Kentucky. During his career, he has led Sales Distribution, both internally and externally, as well as Sales Operations which include overseeing application processing, commission processing, the producer support call center, all sales systems and the producer portal. Additionally, Jotham has launched new Medicare Advantage plans in markets across the nation from California to Virginia, Michigan to Florida, and more states in between. When he is not working his day job, he can be found at the baseball field watching his son throw a filthy curveball, at a convention center watching his daughter flip across the stage as a competitive cheerleader or on a mountain hiking a back-country trail. Jotham has had the opportunity to speak coast to coast on various topics, which include Medicare Advantage, and brings humor and excitement to the platform to keep the audience engaged and included in the conversation.

Shannon Decker Founder & CEO

VBC One

Dr. Shannon Decker is Founder & CEO at VBC One, a consulting firm assisting physician groups, health plans and vendors maximize the performance of their value based contracts and offerings. Dr. Decker has more than 25 years experience in health care and most recently led teams in risk, quality, data and analytics, telehealth, COVID response and delegation compliance. Of her more than 25 years of experience in healthcare--17 include working with risk adjustment, quality and Medicare. Dr. Decker has a PhD. in Interdisciplinary Studies, dual MBA degrees--in Finance and in Marketing, as well as an M.Ed. in Secondary Education and a M.Ed. in Administration and Leadership. Dr. Decker is on the faculty at Arizona State University and is also an associate professor in the social and behavioral sciences for Walden and Capella Universities where she chairs and oversees the dissertations of doctoral students. An author of two books and several peer-reviewed articles, and a prolific national public speaker, her interests include the study of human behavior and how social and behavioral theories may be brought to bear in value based care and population health management as a whole.

Archie Dey Director Consumer Experience and Insights

SCAN Health Plan

George Dippel President

Deft Research

George Dippel spent the first 12 years of his career with Procter & Gamble at P & G’s Healthcare Consumer Institute.  While there, George studied the healthcare consumer across all aspects of care delivery and used those insights to provide high-level consultation to both P & G’s internal brand teams as well as many partner health insurance carriers. 

George brought his healthcare consumer market research expertise to Deft in 2010, and since then has worked with more than 130 carriers to help them better understand the modern healthcare consumer.  George’s range of healthcare consumer research expertise spans Medicare Advantage, MedSupp, Small Group, ACA, Uninsured, PBM and Part D. 

Romelyn Dones Director of Medicare Sales

MetroPlus Health

Romelyn Dones has over two decades of experience in the healthcare and insurance sectors, showcasing exceptional leadership and strategic skills. As the Director of Medicare Sales at MetroPlusHealth, she achieved a 20% increase in sales, improving access to essential healthcare services. She was part of MetroPlusHealth’s Medicare Town Hall panel providing valuable information to the community, helping seniors navigate Medicare and understand their benefits better.

Romelyn is known for her expertise in strategic sales planning, new market growth, and customer relationship building. She has a proven track record of meeting financial objectives and fostering high-performing teams.

Prior to MetroPlusHealth, she implemented effective marketing and community engagement strategies at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, helping to educate the community about healthcare options. Additionally, her leadership at HealthFirst significantly grew Medicaid enrollment, ensuring more low-income individuals and families received coverage.

Romelyn holds a Bachelor of Science from St. John’s University, a Master of Public Administration from Rutgers University, and is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Science degree at Seton Hall.

Romelyn lives in New Jersey and is a mother of three children.

Eliza Dougall VP, Client Solutions

Anderson

Shannon Drotning Consumer Market President

Providence Health Plan

Shannon Drotning serves as Providence Health Plan’s Market President overseeing Consumer and Specialty lines of business. She leads consumer lines of business and is responsible for state and regional consumer and specialty sales and growth strategies. Prior to her role as Market President, Shannon served as Associate Vice President of Medicare and Individual Sales, leading sales teams in Oregon, Washington and California.

Shannon works with insurance producers and community members to navigate the complexities of Medicare, Medicaid, and Individual health insurance, with the goal of seamless and easy access to care. A veteran of Medicare sales, she is known as a trusted subject matter expert in the field as well as a successful, authentic leader.

Shannon began her 20+ year career at PHP as a Medicare Customer Service Representative in 1994 and worked her way up through the ranks of customer service, marketing and sales in the insurance industry, focusing on Medicare.

Shannon is currently based in Oregon.

Tina Dueringer CEO, Principal Advisor

Dueringer Advisors, Inc.

Tina Dueringer, BSN, RN, CCM, PCC, is the CEO and Principal Advisor at Dueringer Advisors Inc., a distinguished consulting firm dedicated to supporting health plans, vendors, and leaders in the health insurance and provider sectors. With a robust background spanning Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, Duals, ACA, and commercial markets, Tina brings extensive expertise in care management, utilization management, clinical quality, Model of Care development, Stars ratings, HEDIS measures, and accreditation standards such as NCQA and URAC.

Tina's career is marked by strategic insights into health plan operations, including strategic planning, joint ventures, partnerships, delegated relationships, and the advancement of value-based care models. She is deeply committed to advancing Health Equity, Population Health, and integrated care initiatives across the industry.

Previously, Tina served as Vice President of Clinical Quality and Stars at Rebellis Group, specializing in Medicare Advantage and government consulting. Her leadership journey includes pivotal roles at Cityblock, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Medicaid Policy Division.

Tina earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and holds a post-graduate certification in Population Care Coordination from Duke University. She is also a Board-Certified Case Manager (CCM), underscoring her dedication to enhancing healthcare delivery and outcomes through comprehensive care coordination strategies.

Mary Easley Team Lead, Senior Strategic Enterprise Account Executive

Freshpaint

Tony Feijoo Principal

New Health Partners

Driven by a vision to transform healthcare, Tony founded his current company, intending to modernize the industry through integrating technology, process improvement, and a steadfast commitment to quality care. His company dedicates itself to reducing the financial burden of healthcare on American families and improving the overall delivery of care. By leveraging technology and streamlining processes, Tony aims to create a more efficient and effective healthcare system that prioritizes patients' well-being while also addressing families' financial concerns.

Kevin Greenberg Director of Finance and Administration, Hospital Transplant Services

UI Health

Ana Handshuh Principal

CAT5 Strategies

Ana Handshuh, Principal at CAT5 Strategies, is a government programs executive with expertise in creating and implementing corporate programs for the healthcare industry. Her background includes Quality, Core Measures, Care Management, Benefit Design and Bid Submission, Accreditation, Regulatory Compliance, Revenue Management, Communications, Community-based Care Management Programs and Technology Integration. Ms. Handshuh currently serves on the Board of the Resource Initiative and Society for Education (RISE), the preeminent national professional association dedicated to managed and accountable care financing and delivery. She is a sought after speaker on the national healthcare circuit in the areas of Quality, Star Ratings, Care Management, Member and Provider Engagement, and Revenue Management. Her recent consultancy roles have included assisting organizations create programs to address the unmet care management needs in the highest risk strata of membership, document their processes and procedures, achieve accreditation status, design and submit government program bids, institute corporate-wide programs and create communications strategies and materials. She possesses sophisticated business acumen with the ability to build consensus with cross-functional groups to accomplish corporate goals. Ms. Handshuh served as the Vice President of Managed Care Services at Central Florida Inpatient Medicine (CFIM). In this role, she provided leadership and strategy on CFIM projects and collaborations with physicians, risk entities, hospital health care systems, and health plans. CFIM is the largest Hospitalist group in Central Florida, with 70 providers discharging over 50,000 patients annually from multiple hospitals across two health care delivery systems and 24 skilled nursing facilities. At CFIM Ms. Handshuh previously served as the Vice President of Operations. Prior to those assignments, she worked with Precision Healthcare Systems as their Vice President of Quality Improvement. In that capacity, she led the IPA’s Quality efforts and collaborated with payers on implementing programs to move the needle on Quality and Star Rating initiatives. Ms. Handshuh also served as the Director of Corporate Program Development at Physicians United Plan. In this role, she led the Quality Management and Corporate Communications departments and spearheaded the development of innovative integrated technology solutions to drive business excellence and Star Rating achievement initiatives. For the past fifteen years Ms. Handshuh has taken an active role in redefining and implementing changes that have led to improvements and greater efficiency within Government programs and healthcare delivery. Prior to joining Physicians United Plan Ms. Handshuh was the founder of I-Six Creative. Under Ms. Handshuh’s vision and leadership, I-Six Creative provided expertise in the areas of managed Medicare benefit design, MSO/IPA operations, provider network strategy, new market launches, technology integration, corporate communications and quality improvement. 

Dr. Ines Hernandez Roses Chief Medical Officer, Clinical Affairs

Medical Card System, Inc.

Ron Hiraski VP, Product Management & Marketing Sales

Christus Health Plan

Kaleb Holt Director, Medicare Products

SelectHealth

Kaleb began his career in health insurance in 1999 when he first joined the Select Health customer service team. He has worked in claims, provider relations, coverage policy management, product management, product development, and pretty much anything else they would let him get his hands on. In 2011 when the decision was made for Select Health to launch an MA plan, Kaleb enthusiastically joined the team and has never looked back. Medicare Advantage has been an incredibly challenging and rewarding field and he isn’t sure he could ever leave it. Kaleb has been described by work colleagues as a true Medicare Advantage nerd, which essentially just means he is really fun at parties.

Kaleb spends most of his personal time with his wife and best friend, Sarah Jean. They have four children in total. None yet show any inclination toward Medicare Advantage, but there is still time. They like to watch movies, go on picnics, and take the occasional road trip when they can get everyone together.

Nikki Hungate Principal/Owner

Brightstar Health Solutions

Nikki is an accomplished professional with over 17 years of experience in the healthcare industry, specializing in Medicare and Medicaid product strategy. With extensive knowledge and expertise in the field, Nikki is a trusted leader who has consistently contributed to the growth and success of various organizations.

Nikki holds a Master's degree in Health Administration. Additionally, she has pursued a Doctorate in Executive Leadership. 

As a passionate advocate for accessible and affordable healthcare, Nikki remains dedicated to driving innovation in the Medicare and Medicaid sectors.

Christopher Javor National Sales Director of Retail Sales

AmeriHealth Caritas

Angie Keenan Director of Operations

Network Health

Kelly Kimberland Sr Director, Health Plan Marketing

Geisinger Health Systems

Kelly Kimberland is senior director of health plan marketing for Geisinger. In this role, she oversees a team of marketing strategists responsible for acquisition, member engagement and retention marketing campaigns for Geisinger Health Plan. Prior to joining Geisinger, Kimberland served as senior director, marketing strategy and digital engagement for UPMC Health Plan commercial, government and individual product lines. In this role, she also was responsible for developing and implementing the health plan’s digital marketing (including its first mobile app), change management and marketing automation efforts.

Kimberland has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, analytics, business operations, digital innovation and communications. In 2024, Kimberland successfully completed AHIP’s Executive Leadership Program earning the distinction of Certified Healthcare Insurance Executive.  

Elisa Koniski Sr. UX Researcher

RRD

Dave Krupa VP, Marketing and Retail Sales – Group and Individual Division

BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina

Dave Krupa is Vice President of Marketing and Retail Sales for the Group and Individual line of business at BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. In this role, he leads the organization’s direct-to-consumer marketing efforts and directs multiple teams in the areas of retail strategy and sales, telesales, sales training and quality, as well as sales technology, marketing, research, communications, and reporting. His areas of product expertise include ACA and Medicare products, and he has responsibility for the Medicare Supplement products offered to the market.  

He brings over 30 years of experience across multiple geographic markets, including the last 14 years with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.

Nicole Kurz VP, Precision Marketing

Digital Health Strategies

Nicole is the VP of Precision Marketing at Digital Health Strategies (DHS), a leading digital health agency specifically designed to support healthcare providers. Nicole has 20 years of experience in precision marketing, including over a decade of patient marketing in healthcare and pharma, with a specialization in insurance and Medicare.

Theresa Lauer Vice President, Sales & Marketing—Medicare

Independence Blue Cross

Theresa Lauer is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in designing, implementing, and leading successful sales and marketing programs for government business. In her current role as VP, Sales and Marketing- Medicare, she oversees the strategic direction and execution of the Medicare products and services in the five-county southeastern PA area. She is responsible for driving growth, retention, and customer satisfaction for the Medicare segment at Independence Blue Cross, as well as developing and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders and partners.

Shioban Lawler Head of Sales

Freshpaint

Alan London Medical Director

Digital Health Strategies

Former Chairman, the Cleveland Clinic Health System Physician Organization

Christie McMullen CEO

AIM...Analyze, Improve, Move

Dr. Christie McMullen is a seasoned educator turned entrepreneur, dedicated to infusing work with genuine fun. With 25 years of experience and expertise in educational leadership, she's impacted organizations like FAMP, ReMax, Aetna, Solaris, and RISE, enhancing human interactions.

With a master's and doctorate in Educational Leadership, Dr. McMullen connects with individuals across industries, from CEOs to educators to salespeople. As a coach, networking specialist, and keynote speaker, she offers transformative experiences, using her AIM approach: Analyze, Improve, Move towards extraordinary relationships.

Dr. McMullen's coaching is personalized, tailored to diverse needs, whether in the corporate world or personal relationships. She helps humans overcome mediocrity and unlock the potential for extraordinary connections.

Renee Mezzanotte EVP, Client Engagement

DMW

What can you do to stop Renée Mezzanotte from thinking about Medicare? Nothing. It just won’t’ happen. With over 30 years of direct marketing experience across many categories, Renée has spearheaded countless successful consumer and business acquisition and retention programs for a variety of services and clients. But ask her about Medicare, and you had better be ready to settle in and get comfortable. For the past 15 years, Renée has trained a laser-like focus on Medicare plans, including Medicare Advantage, Med Supp, and DSNP, guiding regional clients to success through numerous AEP, OEP, SEP and New to Medicare campaigns across twenty states. One of her specialties is helping to launch new plans – particularly those that are provider sponsored. She knows Medicare inside out, top to bottom.

Renée’s a firm believer that “Life’s too short,”  and she brings a positive energy to everything she does, whether its engaging with her clients, soaking in the sun at the Jersey Shore, hiking on a far-away trail, or traveling to another bucket-list destination.

Nicholas Michel RCX Strategy Director

Precision Dialogue

Lucas Miller Professor

UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business

Lucas Miller is a human performance researcher, author, and the youngest faculty at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

Lucas teaches one of the most popular MBA classes at Berkeley called "Becoming Superhuman: The Science of Productivity and Performance" and has been featured in Wired and The Wall Street Journal. Along with his wife Dr. Sahar Yousef, he also runs the Becoming Superhuman Lab, a training and consulting firm which teaches busy professionals who think for a living how to get their most important done, in less time, with less stress.

He has given over 600 keynotes to knowledge workers in 50+ countries, has advised executive teams at JP Morgan, Google, and Visa, and has even been invited to speak to the U.S. Congress.

Maggie Mood Vice President, Sales and Marketing

Mass Advantage Medicare Advantage Plan

Margaret Mood is the Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Mass Advantage, a local provider-sponsored MA plan in the central Massachusetts market.

As the former Director of Sales in the Senior Programs Department at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, she was is involved in the development of long and short term marketing strategies and is responsible for development and implementation of sales strategies for Harvard Pilgrim’s Medicare Products (nongroup). She oversees all sales channels responsible for growth of Medicare nongroup options (internal sales, call center, brokers and exchanges). As a member of the Senior Programs Leadership Team, she also lends her expertise to product development and retention strategies. 

Margaret has been involved with direct selling to the senior population since 1994 working for Fallon Health Plan, before joining Harvard Pilgrim Health Care in 1997.

Ms. Mood is a graduate of Assumption College (Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management) located in Worcester, MA and received her MBA from Anna Maria College, Paxton MA.

Andy Mueller Principal and Consulting Actuary

Milliman

Andy’s area of expertise is health insurance and managed healthcare programs. He has advised managed care organizations, hospital systems, state government agencies, insurance companies, employers, and other organizations. His primary focus is Medicare Advantage.

Andy assists health plan clients with several facets of their business including rating, self-funded rate development, liability estimates, product design, health care reform issues, risk sharing arrangement development, and other actuarial projections.

Further, Andy helped develop Milliman’s Medicare Suggest product, which helps beneficiaries find the optimal Medicare plan for them.

Brooke Murphy Strategic Communications Manager

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

Andrew Napierala Vice President, Medicare & Individual Market Sales

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield

Andrew Napierala joined the Lifetime Healthcare Companies (the parent company of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Univera Healthcare, and LifeTime Benefit Solutions) in May 2022 in the role of Vice President, Medicare & Individual Market Sales.  His areas of focus include Medicare (General Enrollment), Group Medicare, and Individual Under-65 product lines, with oversight of the various distribution channels for these lines of business encompassing field sales, retail sites, telesales, external brokers and other strategic partnerships.

Previously, Andrew served as Sales Manager for Highmark BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York’s Consumer Markets team, providing coverage options for Medicare and Individual Under-65 members, as well as specialized programs for Group Medicare, State and Federal employees. During his tenure with Highmark, Medicare membership increased by more than 160% while the company’s “New-to-Medicare” conversion improved by 250% over the same period, yielding revenue growth in excess of $350 million.

Andrew has considerable experience in consumer sales, having spent much of his career in the financial services industry, including sales and management roles with HSBC, MassMutual, and The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America.  A 2001 graduate of Clarkson University, he is currently earning an M.B.A. from St. Bonaventure University with a focus in Strategic Marketing.

Andrew is a board member with several non-profit organizations across Upstate New York including the Amherst Generations Foundation, The Clarkson University Honors Program Advisory Council, and CDS Life Transition’s Wolf Foundation. He currently resides in Williamsville, NY with his wife, Brittany, and daughters Nora and Nina.

Alexandra Nguyen Sr Leader, Statewide FMO Distribution

Florida Blue

With over 15 years of proven success as a sales leader in the health insurance industry, Alexandra Nguyen (Alex) is a visionary professional known for driving revenue growth and building high-performance sales teams. Alex has a track record of exceeding targets and establishing strong relationships with clients and partners in the healthcare sector. Alex is a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of market trends and consumer behavior, allowing her to develop innovative sales strategies that deliver results. She is passionate about leading and inspiring her team to achieve their full potential and is dedicated to providing top-notch service to clients. Alex is a trusted leader in the industry, committed to excellence and driving success in the ever-evolving world of health insurance sales.

M. Keith Peiffer Vice President, Senior Market Segment Leader

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska

Jennifer Pike, JD Counsel, Health Care Group

Alston & Bird

Todd Rau Director Sales and Client Relationships

Indiana University Health Plans, Inc.

Todd Rau is the Director of Medicare for Indiana University Health Plans and leads the Medicare Advantage line of business for the past 5 years. IU Health Plans is an extension of Indiana University Health, Indiana’s only hospital system to be nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report for 20 consecutive years.

Rau has 29 years of experience in insurance and began his career as a broker, focusing on commercial group, individual and Medicare health sales. In 2007 he became the Regional Sales Manager for Anthem BCBS individual broker sales, and quickly transitioned to the role of Broker Sales Director for Medicare Products.

While at IU Health Plans, Rau introduced the first $0 premium plans and multiple supplemental benefit additions. A Greenwood, Indiana native, he received his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University.

Angelo Rexach Medicare Policy and Analytics Consultant

Rex Wallace Consulting, LLC

Angelo Rexach is a highly skilled Medicare Star Ratings Consultant with a Master’s degree in Demography and six years of specialized experience in the Medicare Star Ratings Program. Since joining Rex Wallace Consulting, LLC in January 2024, he has utilized his expertise to assist clients in enhancing their Star Ratings through strategic data analysis and performance improvement initiatives. Previously, Angelo served as a Senior Data Scientist at MCS Puerto Rico, where he was instrumental in helping the organization become the first plan in Puerto Rico to achieve a 5-star rating. Over his seven-year tenure at MCS, he held various roles, including Data Scientist and Business Analyst, focusing on data-driven strategies to elevate Star Ratings performance.

Ixel A. Rivera Chief Operations Officer

Triple-S Salud

Ricardo A. Rivera-Cardona President

MMM Healthcare

John Selby President

Rebellis Group

Melissa Smith Founder, Senior Advisor

Newton Smith Group

For more than a decade, Melissa Smith has been at the forefront of leading Medicare Advantage and Star Ratings teams. As the founder of Newton Smith Group and a Senior Advisor to Oliver Wyman, Melissa is a widely recognized thought leader and healthcare strategist. Her proven track record of success lies in developing comprehensive enterprise-wide solutions that enhance Star Ratings, quality performance, health outcomes, and the overall member experience.

Melissa excels in crafting strategic and tactical solutions to meet client needs, forging productive partnerships across internal teams and external vendors, and improving performance on various quality measures.  Her unique background in business, finance, regulatory compliance, and healthcare quality provides clients unparalleled access to healthcare strategy, quality performance, and revenue optimization.

As the former Chief Consulting Officer at Healthmine and Senior Vice President at Gorman Health Group, Melissa's leadership spans across prestigious organizations like Cigna-HealthSpring and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Graduating from Purdue University, Melissa began her career at KPMG, LLP and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Justin Stauffer Executive Vice President of Marketing Technology & Media

DMW

Justin has a proven track record in leading marketing, media, web development, and technology initiatives at DMW. For the past twenty-five years, he has developed results-driven, multi-channel marketing campaigns across various industries, including insurance, healthcare, and pharma. His core expertise includes digital marketing, user experience, and web analytics.

When he's not working, Justin enjoys watching his kids compete in swimming for their college and high school teams. He loves outdoor activities with his family and is a die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan. An avid homebrewer for over a decade, he speaks as passionately about beer and football as he does about marketing.

Britt Travis President

Alternative Growth Strategics, LLC

Britt is a seasoned executive with an extensive leadership background in sales, marketing, and operations, spanning over four decades in prominent healthcare and technology companies. Notably, he has contributed to the growth and improved performance of organizations such as Centene Corporation, Molina, Highmark, Inc., and, most recently, Clever Care Health Plan.

Throughout his career, Britt has cultivated a deep understanding of payer and member needs across various lines of business, coupled with a profound knowledge of health plan operations. In the early 2000s, he briefly transitioned to the technology sector, serving as VP of Business Development and Sales Operations for New Era of Networks (NEON), a pioneering company specializing in systems integration technology, eventually acquired by Sybase. There, he assumed a marketing leadership role in its e-business division.

In August of 2023, Britt embarked on a new career in consulting by establishing Alternative Growth Strategies LLC. His company specializes in providing Sales and Business Development strategy, process execution, and interim leadership support for health plans and technology companies selling into health plans. 

Britt's attention is currently focused on two key technology relationships. He serves as the SVP of Business Development at Insightin Health Inc., a healthcare technology company that delivers hyper-personalized experiences through its highly secure SaaS-based platform, inGAGE™. This platform offers precision insights and tailored data-driven recommendations, enabling health plans to simplify the healthcare journey for consumers and improve member care planning, outcomes, and engagement. Additionally, Britt's company acts as a preferred distribution partner and provides sales leadership for EvolveNXT, a leading Broker Commissions and channel management system that streamlines agent onboarding and commission payment processes, among other core functionalities.

Britt's depth of knowledge and experience in the healthcare industry, coupled with his early foundation in technology, are invaluable assets that will undoubtedly benefit his clients in the coming years.

Andrea Urena Director of Retail Marketing

AmeriHealth Caritas

Jason Vallejos Executive VP & CSO

Syndicated Insurance Agency, LLC

Jason Vallejos is the EVP & CSO for Syndicated Insurance Agency, a Limited Liability Company founded in 2003. Syndicated is a multi-line general agency offering all lines of coverage including Life, Health, Property & Casualty insurance with a strong focus on Medicare Plan sales as a National Field Marketing Organization. As Executive Vice President, Jason is head of sales, marketing and training for all sub-agencies working with Syndicated and fosters win-win relationships with professional partners including medical groups & Independent Physician Associations.

Syndicated’s approach to marketing is to work in collaboration with professional advisors such as healthcare providers, CPA’s, business, and estate planning attorneys to help develop long-term protection plans and growth for his clients. As the industry and the needs of our community change, Jason continues rigorous educational standards in Senior Health Care, Life, Long-Term Care and Business Insurance.

At a young age, Jason volunteered with various charities and organizations including the American Red Cross. In 1994 Jason assisted the victims of the Northridge Earthquake with claims filing, shelter, food, and clothing, as an American Red Cross volunteer. This is where Jason first understood the necessity of insurance and the value it brings to communities during disasters. Later, as a healthcare business analyst, Jason developed a passion for helping seniors with their healthcare needs while learning the operational and analytical support that runs a major carrier. Through this diverse career background, Jason acquired business knowledge, actuarial analysis, insurance, networking and managed care experience. Jason Vallejos was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and resides in the Ventura County area.

Jason has a passion for people and is driven by a set of core values including integrity, excellence and innovation, focusing on client satisfaction and retention, teamwork, continuous improvement, mentoring, growth and success. Jason is an accomplished and results driven top performing leader known for his industry knowledge, organizational and leadership abilities and his focus on win-win solutions for his clients and partners. 

Jessica Vander Zanden VP Operations

Network Health

Jessica has a proven track record of taking skills that she mastered in one area and applying that mastery to new areas. She holds certifications in Health Care Compliance from the Health Care Compliance Association, Strategic Decision and Risk Management from Stanford University and Gerontology from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. She holds a current Wisconsin license as an Advance Practice Social Worker and is also a Six Sigma Green Belt. She has close to two decades of experience in healthcare and business and organizational leadership.

Jessica is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh and holds a Masters of Social Work from University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and a Masters in Organizational Business and Business Leadership from Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, WI.

Dustin VanDuine Director of Strategic Relations

Rick Young Insurance

Benjamin Wallfisch Senior Counsel

HHS Office of Counsel to the Inspector General

Ben Wallfisch is Senior Counsel in the Industry Guidance Branch of the Office of Counsel to the Inspector General, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  In this role, Ben drafts advisory opinions, regulations, and guidance documents, advises the Department of Justice on False Claims Act cases, and resolves provider self-disclosures.  Prior to joining OIG, Ben worked in private practice, representing life sciences companies and healthcare providers in connection with enforcement and regulatory matters. 

Darren Wethers CEO

Wethers Consulting, LLC

Darren Wethers is a board-certified internal medicine physician and certified physician executive.

He graduated from Morehouse College, Northwestern University Medical School and completed internal medicine training at Emory University School of Medicine before establishing himself in internal medicine practice in the St. Louis, Missouri area, becoming a “Top Doctor” honoree several years running. Dr. Wethers was the medical staff president at SSM St. Mary’s Health Center in 2006-07 and chaired the facility’s Credentials committee 2007-11.

In 2011, Dr. Wethers began a career in administrative medicine, servings as a medical director with Coventry Health Care and Aetna, vice president of clinical operations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and at Atrio Health Plans, where he served as chief medical officer. He launched Wethers Consulting, LLC in 2023, which has clients including Rebellis Group, Toney Health and MetaDigital. Dr. Wethers is a strategic advisor to the Managed Care Resource Alliance (MCRA).

Dr. Wethers is a member of the American Association for Physician Leadership, Fellow of the American College of Physicians, member of Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi fraternities; he is the immediate past chairman of the board for Gamma Mu Educational Services (GMES) and is a board member of Northwestern University Medical School Alumni Association, for which he serves as president-elect and co-chair of the Inclusion and Allyship committee.

Dr. Sahar Yousef Cognitive Neuroscientist and MBA Faculty

UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business

Dr. Sahar Yousef is a cognitive neuroscientist and faculty at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. She is considered one of the world’s leading experts on cognitive training and the science of productivity.

Dr. Sahar runs the Becoming Superhuman Lab and her work has been featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CNBC, and The New York Times. She also teaches one of Berkeley’s most popular MBA classes which trains busy professionals who think for a living how to get their most important work done, in less time, and with less stress. 

Sahar has given over 750 keynotes to knowledge workers and execs in over 50 countries, including speaking to the U.S. Congress, and was recently selected by Thinkers50 as one of the top 30 management thinkers to watch in 2024.