Rise

Alexis Abramson Emmy and Gracie award-winning journalist, author, world-renowned generational expert/trend spotter

Alexis Abramson, PhD is the global authority on Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Gen G and the Boomer consumer. She is an inspiring speaker, blogger, corporate consultant, successful author, and award-winning entrepreneur. Her commitment to multi-generations has been featured in many national publications, including TIME, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur and People. Dr. Abramson is an Emmy and Gracie award-winning journalist who has appeared frequently as an on-air expert gerontologist for NBC’s Today show, CNN, CBS, FOX, MSNBC and numerous other media outlets. In addition to her own popular blog, Dr. Alexis is a featured contributor for many top tier websites. She is also highly-sought after as a keynote speaker at industry conferences. Abramson speaks to Fortune 100/500 corporations, consumers, government agencies, and non-profits bringing awareness of the intergenerational dynamic between four distinct generations. As a proven industry consultant, Dr. Abramson has worked closely with many major organizations, including L’Oreal Paris, COMCAST, Harvard, Kroger, Northwestern Mutual, Proctor & Gamble, Humana, AIG, Kimberly-Clark, Walmart, AARP and many more. She is the author of several highly-acclaimed books. Her next two books, Gen “G”: The Generation of Growth™ and Managing Your Multi-Generational Workforce will both be published in the Fall of 2019. Her dedication to multi-generations has won Dr. Abramson a number of professional accolades, including Working Woman Magazine’s General Entrepreneurial Excellence Award, Atlanta Small Business’ Person of the Year Award, 40 Under 40 Award, American Society of Aging’s Outstanding Business Award, and many others. Dr. Abramson received her Doctorate in Gerontology from the prestigious University of Southern California’s Davis School of Gerontology. 

Erin Ackenheil Owner

BlackPoint Insurance

Erin Ackenheil is a dynamic speaker, motivator and entrepreneur.  Erin spent over 20 years in corporate America leading Medicare Sales, most notably as an executive for a fortune 50 company, for the last 8 years of her carrier career.   In 2016, Erin launched BlackPoint Insurance, a General Agency, where the focus is on supporting agents who want to launch, grow and retain their Medicare businesses, with an emphasis on Medicare Part D, Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage products.  Erin is an accomplished trainer, author and educator.  Erin hosts three regular shows that broadcast on social media, two of which have been converted to a podcast format.  Insure Your Health Instant is a bi-weekly video series on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube, breaking down complicated topics in small increments.  In addition, Erin hosts This is 65, a program featuring accomplished entrepreneurs, community leaders and other dynamic 65+ individuals whom she meets through her work.  Finally, Erin produces Insure Your Health, a podcast and video show featuring medical healthcare providers, industry experts and carrier spotlights.  Erin lives in Northern California with her family; when she’s not working she enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 children & her dog Stanley!

Laura Aiello Senior Director

LifeStation

Laura Aiello is the Senior Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at LifeStation, a leading provider of medical alert and senior care services. Laura has been in the life safety industry for more than 15 years with experience in Marketing, Product Management, Business Development and Account Management.  Laura is the foremost expert in the industry on providing medical alert systems through Medicaid, Medicare, and other government-funded programs.

She has partnered with the most innovative insurance companies, hospitals, and healthcare providers to improve outcomes for seniors and their loved ones. With a focus on safety from falls, reducing readmissions and connecting loved ones through modern technology, Laura spends her time customizing solutions for every need on the healthcare spectrum.

Laura is widely recognized as a leading voice in the medical alert industry and has presented at numerous tradeshows and conferences.

In addition to her work with LifeStation, Laura has been a Senior Advisor to the Medical Alert Monitoring Association (MAMA) since its founding in 2007, responsible for organizing the annual meeting and tradeshow.

Jessica Assefa Chief Quality Officer

ATRIO Health Plans

Jessica Assefa leads efforts to maximize outcomes for government regulated, Quality focused programs including Star Ratings, rewards & incentives, provider experience, value-based contracting, HEDIS, CAHPS, and HOS for ATRIO Health Plans’ multiple Medicare Advantage contracts in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders. 

Prior to joining ATRIO Health Plans, Jessica served as the Senior Director over the Star Ratings consulting divisions for Gorman Health Group and Healthscope Advisors. She brings over 20 years of diverse experience and achievement in managed care, quality improvement and clinical operations. She has strong Medicare, Medicaid, Marketplace, and dual eligible programs knowledge.  Jessica is also an experienced national conference presenter on the topics of heath care quality improvement and Medicare Star Ratings.  She brings over 10 years of direct managed care experience including delegated case management oversight and quality ratings program leadership, in addition to her years of nursing experience in the states of MN, IN and NY, primarily focused on geriatric, disabled and dual-eligible populations.

Larry Baca Director, Medicare Sales, California

Providence Health Plans

With over 25 years in sales leadership, Larry is an expert on sales, marketing & retention in the Medicare field. He has worked for both large state-wide plans as well as smaller regional plans. He takes pride in helping others reach their goals and enjoys working in an industry that assists people access health care. 

Larry is married with three daughters who have all received their bachelor’s degrees. Larry is a UCLA graduate who loves college athletics and eating. He is a self-certified grill master. 

Cary Badger Principal

HealthScape Advisors

Cary Badger has over 25 years of healthcare industry experience with deep Medicare Advantage expertise, health plan operations, product development, marketing and sales, planning and business development. Cary has assisted clients with market expansion and acquisition strategies, strategic partnerships, build/buy/outsourcing, new market and product entry and overall MA and commercial plan performance improvement.

Prior to joining HealthScape, Cary led the business and market development of four regional health plans to create new markets for growth, lower cost of acquisition, and implement strategies that prepared the organization for major shifts in government program policy. Cary also served as founding Director of Marketing and Database Services at AARP Services, Inc. and held leadership roles for marketing, sales, and health plan operations for Kaiser Permanente. Cary has an undergraduate degree in microbiology from the University of Kansas and a master's degree in public health from the University of Tennessee.

Brian Bissell Director of Strategic Operations

Mass Advantage

Brian Bissell is Director of Strategic Operations at Mass Advantage, a local provider-sponsored MA plan in the Central Massachusetts market.

Brian was one of the original members of Mass Advantage, joining during Mass Advantage’s first AEP. Brian is responsible for product design, business development, and assists with strategic finance initiatives and Board relations. Prior to joining Mass Advantage, Brian worked as a private equity associate at Great Hill Partners and as an investment banking analyst at Goldman Sachs. While at Goldman, Brian worked in the healthcare coverage group and advised companies within the healthcare services and technology space, including national insurers.

Brian is a graduate of Williams College.

Scott Black COO

Bloom

Scott Black is a J.D Power award-winning executive who has achieved 4 Star Customer Service thresholds while improving customer relationships and transforming customer life cycles. With nearly 30 years of industry experience, Scott has a strong track record of achievement, leading successful operations teams, revenue growth, improving cost structure, and driving operational efficiencies. Before joining Bloom as Chief Operating Officer, Scott held leadership roles at Benefytt Technologies Inc., Cognizant Technology Solutions, and WellCare Health Plans.

Laurin Bobo Director, Digital Media

Amsive

As the Director of Digital Media at Amsive, Laurin Engle Bobo is not just a vendor but an integral team member to clients, partnering with them to innovate and strategically achieve their marketing goals. Originally hailing from Texas, she is currently based in Nashville, Tennessee. She has over 10 years of comprehensive experience spanning various industries, with a wealth of experience in the Medicare Advantage field. Recognized as a long-time leader in the Medicare marketing space, Laurin is an expert in both acquisition and retention strategies for plans across the country. In her time at Amsive, she has led a large team of Medicare experts and brings unparalleled insights into the dynamic landscape of healthcare marketing.

Chris Bond Health Plan Sales Expert

Chris is a dynamic Sales Leader with 20 years of proven results in various roles for both National and Regional health plans in the Medicare Advantage space. He is the former Vice President of Sales for SCAN Health Plan. He was responsible for plan membership growth, enrollment forecasting, sales distribution strategy, and implementation with oversight of the employed Field and Telesales channels, Employer Group business, and EMO relationships.

In his role he worked closely with Marketing, Product Development, Digital strategy, community based Medical Groups, and partnering with Broker channel leadership to ensure that growth targets are achieved. He spent 11 years with SCAN Health Plan and was a key contributor in the company’s organic growth of 287k members. He’s unique background include specialties;

Omni-Channel Sales distribution strategy

Call Center optimization Inbound/Outbound - Sales, lead generation & retention

Sales data analytics 

Performance management 

Sales organization architecture 

Leadership development 

Sales compensation modeling 

High impact consultative sales training for both Call Center and Field sales

Partnering with Telecom for call center operations. Including CRM systems, online Chat, and other SaaS related platforms. 

Chris was born and raised in Southern California where he attended Cypress Community College. He has 2 children and enjoys sports, music and art.

Joseph Boschert Senior 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 Leader

MERGE

Tim Brousseau SVP

Deft Research

Tim joined Deft Research in 2016 as Vice President of Client Services. Tim's health care career began at CVS Health where his work included five years supporting SilverScript Insurance Company's Medicare Part D plans. In 2011, Tim joined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and was responsible for the management of Government Programs, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Medicare Part D. Tim also has experience launching non-Medicare plans and products, service area expansion and market assessment, and overall business development. Tim graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a bachelor's degree in International Relations and Political Science.

Ed Buckley, III CEO

FitOn Health

Ed Buckley, III, Ph.D., is the CEO of FitOn Health, a platform that makes it easy for insurance carriers, brokers, and employers to offer a variety of fitness experiences to their clients, employees, and Medicare members through their product Peerfit Move by FitOn Health. Having raised over $60 million, Ed leads expansion strategies by fundraising, driving national partnerships, and continued business development. With nearly 15 years in the fitness industry and a background in digital health behavior research, Ed continues to push the envelope on innovation in the fitness-technology space. He is passionate about designing new ways to drive engagement and help deliver flexibility and personalization to the health and wellness marketplace. As CEO, FitOn Health has won national awards for best company culture, best leadership, regional Emmy awards, best workplaces from Entrepreneur, USA Today, and Great Places to Work, and #140 on the Inc 5000 list with nearly 3k% growth. Ed holds a Ph.D. in Digital Health Behavior, and a Master's of Public Health, from the University of Florida. He is also the co-founder and Vice-President of the Board of Governors for Balance180, a non-profit that encourages children with disabilities to be physically active, and is on the board of FitOn.

Geidy Castellano Director of Sales, CA

Centene

Sean Clark Chief Creative Officer

DMW

Sean brings a broad array of creative expertise to DMW client engagements. With over 20 years of experience in brand marketing and direct response, his passion is building unique visual identities and actionable creative that cuts through the clutter.

From initial strategy to crafting original concepts and designs, Sean leads DMW’s creative team to develop results-driven, award-winning marketing that engages consumers and spells success for clients.

As a designer and creative director, he has produced brand identity, corporate communications, and omnichannel marketing campaigns for industry leaders, such as General Motors, Ford, Astra Zeneca, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Amerisource Bergen, and Aramark, as well as many regional health care systems and health insurance plans coast to coast.

Dwaine Compton Manager Member Experience Performance and Quality

Network Health

Jotham Cortez Vice President of Growth

CommuniCare Advantage

Jotham’s journey in Health Insurance began over 20 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, United Healthcare, and Essence Healthcare before joining the CommuniCare Family of Companies in 2023. In his latest role, he leads the Growth effort in existing and expansion markets, manages the employed sales representatives, and oversees the sales operation. His current responsibilities include setting the strategy to grow plan membership, evaluating entry into new markets and overseeing the development and integration of new systems into the sales process. When he is not working his day job, Jotham 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 topics such as leadership, operations and Medicare, and brings humor and excitement to the platform to keep the audience engaged in the conversation.

Kristy Croom Tucker Director of Member Experience & Acquisition

BayCare Health Plans

Kristy Croom Tucker is the Vice President of Marketing for BayCare, the largest health system in West Central Florida. Kristy started her career at BayCare in 2011 as a Regional Marketing Manager, overseeing the marketing of four hospitals and service lines. In 2015, Kristy moved into the System Marketing Manager role where she oversaw the development and launch of the system’s first brand campaign, ambulatory marketing, and the development and launch of several BayCare mobile apps. In 2018, Kristy accepted the role of Director of Marketing for BayCare Heath Plans, BayCare’s new subsidiary, and oversaw the marketing of its first health plan, BayCarePlus Medicare Advantage. During her five-year tenure at the health plan, Kristy was responsible for the marketing, sales and member experience functions of BayCare Health Plans, which quickly became one of the fastest growing provider-sponsored Medicare Advantage plans in the country. Prior to her role at BayCare, Kristy was Director of Communication for Rasmussen College. She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Kansas (KU) and a Bachelor’s degree in Strategic Community from KU. Kristy has two children: Gabriella (9) and Sebastian (5).

Kortney Cruz Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Medicare

Independence Blue Cross

As Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Medicare at Independence Blue Cross, Kortney is a long-time leader accountable for marketing Medicare products and services to the communities we serve and helping those communities enroll in the Medicare coverage they need. She is directly responsible for acquisition and member retention marketing, product development, sales operations, and sales management at Independence in the Medicare area. Her goal is to deliver innovative and value-driven communications, and she is passionate about enriching the connection between Independence Blue Cross and our membership.

Aaron Davis Head of Hosted Solutions

ConnectureDRX

Aaron Davis is a technology leader with extensive experience in patient centric healthcare technology. He is the Head of Hosted Solutions for ConnectureDRX's Plan Compare ONE, a Medicare shopping, quoting, enrollment, and retention platform. Aaron comes from a background in consumer research and product experimentation, running rapid research projects for Fortune 500s such as AARP, Cigna, Experian, and Intuit. Previously, he has served in an innovation role to build a patient engagement platform for individuals with rare diseases. He has a BA in finance and was a University Innovation Fellow at Stanford University's d.school.

Patrick Davis Healthcare Sales Director

Telephone Town Hall Meeting

In his role as Healthcare Sales Director at Telephone Town Hall Meeting (TTHM), Patrick connects Medicare Advantage member experience personnel with intuitive virtual forum technology, which TTHM uniquely offers to the healthcare industry.

The TTHM method of communicating with Medicare Advantage members has been refined over decades of helping elected officials, associations, municipalities, labor unions, government agencies and non-profit corporations communicate with their members. Patrick has become our MA market specialist, working with providers and medical groups to onboard, educate and retain members throughout the year. Learn more about the work TTHM does in the healthcare space at tthm.com/health.

Patrick Davis is a nationally recognized senior strategic communication advisor.  For over thirty years, Patrick has been advising corporations, campaigns, candidates, and coalitions in the areas of public affairs, politics, communications, marketing, and member/public relations.

Andrea Davis VP, Medicare Growth Office

Florida Blue

As Florida Blue Medicare’s Growth Officer, Andrea Davis leads the growth strategies for the organization and is accountable for both sales and member retention performance.  With over a decade in the Medicare space, Andrea's passion and result-oriented approach has resulted in a proven track record transforming member experience and developing unique distribution strategies to maximize profitable growth. Andrea is dedicated to helping individuals understand health care and health insurance, and all of the innovative, impactful health solutions available from Florida Blue Medicare that support their health and wellness, to help them have a healthier tomorrow.

Dr. Shannon Decker, M.Ed., MBA, PhD. Principal

VBC One

Dr. Shannon Decker is principal 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 20 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 20 years of experience in healthcare--15 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 of Higher Education & Adult Learning (HEAL) and chief methodologist 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 theories on motivation and learning may be brought to bear on population health management.

Archie Dey Director Consumer Experience and Insights

SCAN Health Plan

Meridith Elliott Powell Business Growth, Sales, and Leadership Expert & Best-Selling Author

Voted one of the Top 15 Business Growth Experts, Top 100 Sales Influencers by LinkedIn, and Top 41 Motivational Speakers. Meridith Elliott Powell is an award-winning author, keynote speaker and business strategist. With a background in corporate leadership and sales, her career expands over several industries including financial services, healthcare and finance.

Meridith worked her way up from entry-level to earn her position in the C-Suite. Writing and executing strategy to help leaders master uncertainty, achieve growth and build talent at every level of their organizations.
She has been inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed on less than one-percent of professional speakers, incoming Chair of the National Speakers Association, A Master Certified Business Growth Strategist, A Certified Executive Coach and Certified Speaking Professional. In addition, Meridith is an invitation-only author for LinkedIn with more than 750,000 learners taking her business growth courses around the world.
With a passion for helping her clients learn the strategies they need to turn uncertainty to competitive advantage. Meridith has a cutting-edge message, rooted in real-life examples and real-world knowledge. She is the author of nine books, including “THRIVE: Turning Uncertainty to Competitive Advantage” and Who Comes Next? Leadership Succession Planning Made Easy, written with Dr. Mary Kelly. Both books have won the top honors for the Benjamin Franklin Independent Books Sellers Award. One of the highest honors for business books.

Meridith is regularly featured in publications such as Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., Investment News, and American Banker among others. High energy and highly interactive, she helps leaders and business owners learn the new rules of success today, and the strategies they need to Thrive in Uncertainty. You can find her inspiring message and strategies on both of her podcasts: Sales Logic – the “logical” approach to selling successfully in challenging times, and THRIVE – where Meridith interviews leaders, sales professionals and business owners who have transformed their organizations to turn uncertainty to opportunity.

Pete English Senior Vice President & General Manager - Medicare

PEAR Health Labs

Pete English is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Medicare at PEAR Health Labs, overseeing their Aaptiv Advantage line of business. Pete brings over two decades of experience in the Medicare industry, including ten years with several national and regional Medicare health plans. Additionally, he founded an independent, Medicare-focused brokerage agency and has spent the last five years in the Healthtech SaaS space. In his role at PEAR, Pete leads PEAR's Medicare Go-To-Market strategy and business development efforts.

Dave Etling Senior Vice President & General Manager

InComm Healthcare

Dave Etling brings over 20 years of experience to his role as SVP and GM of InComm Healthcare, having first joined InComm Payments in 2002. He is responsible for managing business development, strategy, product development, sales, account management, production, operations, contract negotiations and client onboarding. In his time at InComm Payments, Mr. Etling has helped guide cross-functional collaboration, led acquisitions and growth in the digital distribution business, trailblazed the company’s award-winning Alder API, and led the launch of the healthcare products that brought value to payment providers.

“InComm Payments provides me with a deep level of exposure to a range of industries and insights into how they grow and operate, and I appreciate being given the flexibility to solve challenges in ways I wouldn’t be able to otherwise."

Darlene Ferris Sr. National Account Manager

Philips North America Markets Payer

Darlene Ferris is the Senior National Account Manager for Philips North America Region Payer and New Business Development team. Philips has developed solutions for Payers focused on Medicare Advantage plans, Maternal Health and Dental solutions as well as chronic care conditions.

Darlene has over a decade of experience in the Payer and healthcare vertical. Having worked at two commercial insurers and from the agency side supporting many Payers. Darlene earned an MBA from UCONN with a specialty certificate in IT.  Her medical and dental insurance work spans operations, compliance, digital programs and accessibility. Darlene has led the launch of many digital app programs for members.

Jeff Fox Strategic Advisor

EvolveNXT

Jeff Fox is a seasoned executive leader currently serving as an operating partner with Chicago Pacific Founders (CPF), a private equity firm focused on thesis- and technology-driven innovation within health services and senior living. Fox also works as a growth-focused senior advisor for EvolveNXT, a broker commission and training platform and Ellipsis Health, a mental health telephony technology company. For over 30 years, Fox has become adept in developing, administrating, and improving progressive healthcare plans – as well as building market-growth initiatives delivering returns in local and national markets alike. Fox sits on the Boards of Atrio Health Plan, a Medicare Advantage (MA) health plan in Oregon and Nevada.  Fox also sits on the Allymar Health Board, that offers MA back-office administration support while driving a 5-Star outcome for their customers.  Jeff also sits on Duo Health’s board, a chronic kidney disease (CKD), a care management platform, taking risk on CKD patients. His other skills include but are not limited to market strategy development, sales, product innovation, provider strategy, marketing, and health plan growth. 

Fox brings a proven ability to conceptualize and execute large-scale health plan strategies, and he leverages these capabilities in aiding CPF’s ongoing commitment to transformative healthcare models. As an operating partner, his roles include consultancy and building connections between start-ups, healthcare organizations, and CPF-affiliated companies.

Prior to his time with CPF, Jeff Fox served as the CEO of Atrio Health Plans, where he bolstered Atrio’s efforts to deliver high-quality, community-focused health insurance. He also spent 17 years as the CEO and President of Gorman Health Group, a leading advisory and software solutions firm specializing in government health programs. During this time, Fox oversaw the development of a comprehensive Medicare Advantage Advisory Expert model.

Fox’s other past roles include Senior Vice President of Government Programs at Health Net, a California-based health plan provider, and Vice President for Medicare at Intergroup of Arizona, a start-up Medicare program that provided quality health plans in the Arizona and Oregon markets and played a key role in launching the first PPO product and broker program in the health plan industry. With Health Net, Fox managed over 350 employees responsible for all aspects of the health plan, including all operations, compliance, marketing, sales, products, and government relations.

Jodi Funderburk Director of Business Development

Medline

With over 20 years of experience in Healthcare Technology Product Development, Jodi is a Healthcare Technology Solution Specialist that takes pride in designing user-friendly solutions that allow Healthcare Providers and individuals to improve health outcomes. Jodi is currently the Director of Business Development within the Diagnostic Division at Medline Industries and manages the Capital Equipment & Connectivity products lines.  Her goal is to provide innovative solutions that promote member engagement and ultimately improve health trends. 

Ken Gammon SVP

RRD Healthcare Solutions

Ken Gammon has over 30 years of sales and marketing experience, with the last 15 years dedicated to Health Plan communications focused on driving efficiency and effectiveness.  Ken is responsible for leading RRD's Healthcare Practice serving our Provider, Payer, Medical Device and Pharmaceutical clients.   He has extensive experience working with Medicare plans of all sizes across the country to build and execute their communication strategies for acquisition and retention.

As a thought leader in the healthcare space, Ken has become a valued advisor and go-to source of valuable ideas to help RRD's Health Plan clients deliver more efficient and effective communications, while remaining compliant.

Molly Gotobed Program Director

Kansas Assistance Network, LLC/Community Health Council of Wyandotte County

Molly Gotobed is a Program Director at the Community Health Council of Wyandotte County. She developed and continues to coordinate the Kansas Assistance Network, a subsidiary health insurance agency for people in Johnson and Wyandotte County, Kansas. Molly’s background is in Community Health Education and healthcare navigation, with 8 years of work experience specific to community health and the health insurance needs of Wyandotte County. She has led the coordinated enrollment effort in her bi-county area since 2015. Molly has an insight to the pulse of community needs as her work focuses on ensuring access to care and providing health literacy education in vulnerable and underserved areas.

Maureen Grier Marketing Director

Mass Advantage

A Marketing professional at Mass Advantage, with over 24 years of Medicare marketing experience.  Skilled at planning and developing marketing strategies and initiatives that support the membership growth of Medicare products. Proven track record of creating and executing successful, measurable campaigns for Medicare customer acquisition and retention, including offline and online campaigns.

Aaron Hail Owner

Hail Financial Group

Aaron Hail, CFP®, RICP® is owner and CEO of Hail Financial Group. For over 17 years, he has assisted his clients in the areas of wealth preservation and distribution, retirement and estate planning, financial risk and tax reduction, asset protection, and guaranteed retirement income. Hail Financial Group realizes the importance and gravity of being entrusted to provide solutions affecting the financial future of each client. Aaron approaches every client’s situation with respect and care. His process consists of focusing on each individual’s specific situation, needs, tolerances, and goals, preparing a customized, comprehensive plan that outlines a strategy for long-term success, implementing the mutually agreed upon plan, and continuously monitoring its success and proposing adjustments necessary to ensure continued success.

Mike Hail CEO

datadecisions Group

Mike leads DDG where the mission is to facilitate the execution of personalized marketing based on the voice of the consumer, enabling clients to optimize their marketing spend.

In addition to four decades of Medicare marketing experience, Mike has expertise in market research, data aggregation, data processing, advanced analytics, Martech platform implementation, Lead generation, retail and ecommerce all using omnichannel marketing based on datawarehouse or lakehouse.

Previously, Mike led marketing programs/services at Texas Instruments, Equifax, KBM/Young & Rubicam, Yankelovich.  He served as a USAF officer for four years.  He is a serial entrepreneur. 

He holds a BS from University of Texas, MBA from the University of South Dakota.  5 grandchildren provide his passion for the future. 

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.

Bridget Harper Health Plan Marketing Expert

Bridget C. Harper brings over three decades of transformative leadership in business management to the forefront, navigating the intricate landscapes of large multistate value-based provider delivery systems and national/regional health plans. With a diverse portfolio spanning Commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid domains, Bridget's honed her expertise in network development, contracting, product innovation, and business process enhancement. Yet, her true fervor lies in elevating customer experiences and advancing marketing strategies.

Having held pivotal senior roles at Fortune 15 companies including United Healthcare and Cigna, Bridget's professional journey also includes a decade-plus tenure as the principal of her own consulting firm. Here, her focus revolved around empowering health care entities through targeted marketing initiatives, program management, and refining business processes.

A significant portion of Bridget's career has been dedicated to Medicare, a realm she views as an avenue to deliver unparalleled value to consumers. She perceives crafting, providing, and marketing Medicare products and services as a privilege, recognizing their substantial impact on individuals' lives.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Bridget's commitment to broadening healthcare access in underprivileged communities permeates her volunteer efforts. Her involvement on various boards and as a consultant reflects her dedication to initiatives that expand healthcare accessibility and confront social determinants of health.

Bridget received her B.A. from University of California, Los Angeles and her M.B.A. from University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business.   

Connect with Bridget C. Harper at www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-harper/

Scott Hopkins Chief Growth Officer

Anderson

As a recognized growth leader in the direct and digital marketing industry, Scott has overseen the strategy, development, and execution for thousands of successful D2C marketing programs for some of the nation’s leading brands, including Anthem, Cigna, Crystal Cruises, AAA, Union Bank and Fed Ex Office.

Scott is known for strategic thought leadership and being the “teller of the truth”, which has led to the development and execution of truly integrated campaigns long before they were the norm. He has helped create some of the industry’s best performing marketing programs powered by data driven creative strategies and flawless execution. His constant focus for the past 33 years has been maximizing his clients’ ROI and making their working lives easier.

Don Hubman CEO

BroadPath Healthcare Solutions

Don joined BroadPath in 2009 after a career of successfully developing technology outsourcing organizations.  As CEO, he acts as chief facilitator for our outstanding executive team to help develop strategy and guide the decision-making process. Empowering people and unlocking the emotional element of businesses is his passion.  He takes deep pride in leading teams and individuals to become more than they believe is possible.

Don’s dedication to the human dimension of business combined with his technology background has helped BroadPath pioneer a radically innovative delivery model in a relatively mature industry.

Don has more than 30 years of experience in executive management and business development, working in many industries including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, finance, insurance, and technology. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Penn State University.

Don lives a high energy lifestyle both in and out of the office.  This ranges from ensuring great project delivery and customer service to community engagement and outdoor sports.

Nikki Hungate Health plan product strategy expert

Nikki Hungate, a long-time resident of the Western New York region, formerly served as the Senior Leader of Medicare & Government Programs Product Strategy at MVP Health Care. Utilizing the 17 years of experience in the health plan industry she is accountable for leading a team of product innovators that create and deliver a suite of high-quality government products that address the needs of the community in a customer-centric fashion, placing emphasis on those populations that are most vulnerable and underserved. Nikki holds a Bachelor and Master of Science in Health Administration from Roberts Wesleyan College. She is currently an Executive Leadership doctoral candidate at the University of Charleston. Nikki has a passion for sharing knowledge, and also serves as an adjunct professor in the health sciences degree programs at Monroe Community College and Roberts Wesleyan College. In her free time, she volunteers as fundraising coordinator for the local Vietnam Veterans of America chapter in Rochester, NY.

Ali Hussain Chief Product Officer

American Specialty Health

As Chief Product Officer at American Specialty Health (ASH), Ali is responsible for leading product strategy, product innovation, and user experience design across a portfolio of websites, mobile apps, and digital tools to empower Americans to live healthier lives. Ali has more than 20 years of experience in digital product innovation and design leadership at global tech companies like Monster, and AOL. Prior to joining ASH, Ali served as senior vice president of global digital customer experience for Citibank, focusing on maximizing customer engagement and satisfaction through emerging technologies. He also led the strategy and design of industry-leading apps for iOS and watchOS, making Citi the first bank on the Apple Watch.”

Christopher Javor National Sales Director of Medicare

AmeriHealth Caritas

Christopher Javor is a seasoned professional who currently holds the position of National Sales Director, New Business leading the Healthcare Sales Strategy for Medicare/Medicaid and ACA Plans at AmeriHealth Caritas. With an impressive career spanning over 19 years, Christopher has amassed extensive expertise in the healthcare industry and government programs, specifically concentrating on Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial health insurance.

His profound understanding of the intricacies of the healthcare landscape allows him to contribute significantly to AmeriHealth Caritas' marketing efforts, product development initiatives, and overall business strategy. Christopher's comprehensive knowledge of the industry's dynamics equips him with the ability to identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities, ensuring the delivery of optimal healthcare solutions to the company's diverse portfolio of clients.

Joe Kanatzar Chief Growth Officer, Medicare

Clear Spring Health

Joe Kanatzar has more than two decades of national and local Medicare experience in both start up and optimized environments. Prior to transitioning to the insurer space, He spent 10 years as a local and national distributor of a variety of insurance products. Previously, he was the growth officer for Florida Blue Medicare, Kanatzar led all sales and retention efforts resulting in record growth. He also spent several years with Aetna, Humana and Centene developing product and Medicare capabilities.  Currently, he is the Chief Growth & Strategy Officer for Clear Spring Health responsible for product design, retention, operations and sales efforts. The most recent AEP led to significant growth on the regional level. 

He received his Bachelors from Morehead State University and MHA from Ohio University.

Steve Keca Director of Solutions Development

RRD Healthcare Solutions

Steve Keca is currently the Director of Solutions Development for RR Donnelley’s Healthcare practice. Located in the Chicago suburbs, he analyzes industry trends and client needs to develop communication solutions for Payers. Steve leverages his 25 year background in healthcare, data management, content, workflow, and the communication lifecycle to develop solutions to help Payer clients maximize the effectiveness and organizational value of their member communication.

Lindsay M. Kopco Marketing Strategist

BayCare Health Plans

Amanda Lannert CEO

Jellyvision

Mike Lehron Senior Manager, Business Solutions

Centene Corporation

With over two decades of dedicated service within the dynamic landscape of the Health Insurance industry, Mike Lehron stands as a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience and expertise in Sales Operations leadership. His journey has been a testament to a relentless pursuit of excellence, marked by influential roles at industry giants such as United Healthcare, Health Net Inc, and Centene Corporation.

Mike started his journey in the realm of IT finance, where he spearheaded initiatives focused on cost reduction and the optimization of technology efficiencies. This early foray into the financial intricacies of Information Technology laid a solid foundation for the analytical prowess and strategic mindset that would later define his leadership in Sales Operations.

As the trajectory of Mike's career evolved, a pivotal shift towards the Medicare space became a defining chapter. Here, he became a trailblazer in integrating cutting-edge technology into Sales and Broker channels, revolutionizing the way business was conducted within this critical segment. This innovative approach not only enhanced operational efficiency but also underscored Mike's commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements within the healthcare domain.

One of the hallmarks of Mike's leadership has been the unwavering commitment to bringing and finding technology that elevates the level of service provided by internal and external partners. By strategically implementing innovative solutions, he has consistently raised the bar for customer service, ensuring that members receive a higher standard of care.

A particular focus on STARS ratings has been central to Mike's approach. By leveraging technology to enhance both internal processes and external interactions, he has played a pivotal role in driving improvements in STARS ratings. This commitment to quality has not only bolstered the reputation of the organizations under Mike's leadership but has also positively impacted the overall industry standards.

Over the years, Mike has consistently demonstrated a unique blend of visionary leadership, business acumen, and an unwavering commitment to driving success in the competitive Health Insurance landscape. Beyond the strategic planning sessions, Mike is recognized for fostering collaborative environments, empowering teams, and championing a culture of continuous improvement. His impact extends far beyond the bottom line, leaving an indelible mark on both the organizations served and the broader Health Insurance sector.

In addition to Mike's professional achievements, he has dedicated spare time over the last 8 years to serving on the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Police Department PALS (Police Activities League Supporters). This organization is committed to helping at-risk youth through mentorship programs, showcasing Mike's passion for making a positive impact beyond the corporate arena.

As Mike continues to shape the trajectory of Sales Operations within the ever-evolving healthcare landscape, the focus on leveraging technology for elevated service levels, enhanced STARS ratings, and community involvement remains a cornerstone of Mike’s impactful and storied career.

Kim Leible Associate VP, CRM Marketing

Humana

Nearly 25 years of transformative industry experience in marketing, financial services, healthcare and technology solutions. Experienced leader in strategy development and operational execution with business agility for Fortune 100 companies.

Leads team responsible for all direct communications across Marketing, Regulatory, and Operational Communications to include Concierge Service for Accessibility (ADA Alternate Format materials).

Recent accomplishments include: consolidation of more than a dozen vendors to BPO (business process outsourcing) relationship; Platform migrations including Unica to Adobe and Acoustic to Salesforce; launching journey orchestration and ensuring all employees are skilled and certified; consolidation of two distinct organizations into one operating model.

Strong core values coupled with a passion for advancing women in the workplace and improving gender and racial equity within and outside the corporate world.

Robert Lewando Executive Director, Specialty Benefits Professional Service

BCBS of Massachusetts

Bob Lewando is the Executive Director of Specialty Benefits Professional Services at BCBSMA  providing services to greater than 1.0 million dental members.

Bob still maintains a practice limited to periodontology approximately one day per week with the rest of his time spent at BCBSMA.   Bob has helped to develop BCBSMA’s strategy of trying to improve the overall health of its membership through identification of medical conditions where dental care is particularly important.  This has led to the development of condition-specific, member centric dental benefits or the Total Health program.

Dr Lewando attended Columbia College of Dental Medicine and received specialty training in Periodontics from a combined program between the Veterans Administration and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.  He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and received an MBA from Boston College.   Bob is the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association voting representative on the Code Maintenance Committee of the ADA that determines future CDT code changes. Bob maintains a clinical appointment at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and is chair of the MDS Foundation, the charitable arm of the Massachusetts Dental Society. 

Nate Lucena Chief Strategy & Analytics Officer

Rex Wallace Consulting

Nate Lucena is a Senior Consultant for Rex Wallace Consulting, where he specializes in helping health plans achieve their Quality Improvement performance goals through data-driven and equity-focused strategies. He began his career spending over a decade in academic research, specializing in the neural bases of schizophrenia, brain aging, Alzheimer’s Disease and human cognition. Nate has been published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology and Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, and regularly presented research findings at industry conferences.

Nate shifted into a managed care career at Centene Corporation, where he built and led an Enterprise Quality Analytics and Data Science team specializing in data strategy, QI initiative outcomes studies, member-level predictive modeling of experience and clinical outcomes, and performance forecasting. Additionally, he was the key analytics lead in the development of an award-winning QI Health Equity Analysis Model, incorporating stratified reporting and advanced statistical modeling to help health plans identify health disparities and drivers in HEDIS and CAHPS. He went on to lead Ratings Improvement Strategy, National Vendor Management, and Quality RFP/Business Development for Medicare, Medicaid, and Marketplace lines of business.

Core to Nate’s work across the academic and corporate sectors is a deep commitment to creating diverse workplaces rooted in equity and inclusion through measurable action. His commitment is evidenced by leadership roles in the Washington University LGBT Advisory Board, co-creator and leader of the SafeZones training program for faculty and staff departments, co-Presidency of Centene’s cPRIDE employee inclusion group, and participation in numerous equity-focused community groups. This equity focus is the primary lens through which he helps managed care organizations bring disparity reduction to the forefront of their QI strategic focus.

Nate has Master’s degrees in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience/Aging from the College of William & Mary and Washington University in St. Louis.

Joshua Meeks VP Individual Medicare

BCBS of MI

Joshua is accountable for the Individual Medicare business at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan where he oversees the Bid submission to CMS, launching new products and delivering on growth goals while serving BCBSM members.  Most recently, he launched a co-branded partnership with Meijer offering seniors in Michigan a Medicare Advantage plan meeting members where they are and offering affordable solutions.

During Joshua’s career, he held progressive roles at Cigna and Bright HealthCare prior to joining BCBSM. Joshua earned his master’s in finance from Auburn University, his MBA from the University of Alabama, and his Bachelor’s from Samford University.

Tara Minissale Supervisor Sales Support & Partnerships

Independence Blue Cross

Tara Minissale has more than 16 years of Medicare expertise. During her time at Independence Blue Cross, she has developed a working knowledge of Medicare sales, compliance, and marketing in the healthcare industry. Tara has shown success in establishing external sales partnerships with healthcare providers and other organizations across the greater Philadelphia market with an emphasis on strategic planning, driving sales success and brand reputation. 

Tara is a graduate of Penn State University (Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology) land received her MBA from Rosemont College, Rosemont PA.

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.

Craig Nelson Vice President of Sales

Triptych

Craig Nelson is the Vice President of Sales at Triptych, the SaaS division of The Marek Group. Over the last 20 years, he has dedicated his career to scaling marketing and sales organizations for repeatable, profitable revenue. He’s applied these principles to grow multiple high-growth ventures, contributing to two startups becoming successful publicly traded companies.

Currently, Craig’s focus revolves around enhancing Triptych's brand presence and collaborating with clients operating in regulated industries such as Healthcare and Finance. This work involves empowering agents and brokers to increase sales while effectively managing legal risks.

Cyndie O'Brien Medicare Sales, Marketing, and Retention Professional

Cyndie O’Brien has been in health plan operations for over three decades, primarily working on the Medicare side of plan operations. As Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Member Experience for two California health plans, Cyndie was directly responsible for the member growth, marketing and customer service.  Cyndie is an experienced and innovative leader who has developed strategies to support member acquisition, member retention, product development, and sales management. During her tenure, Cyndie worked cross-functionally to enhance and support the wholistic member experience and Medicare Star Ratings. In addition, Cyndie served on several boards including the Pomona Chamber of Commerce, VNA, RISE Advisory Board, and ESR Advisory Board. After enjoying a successful career with two provider-sponsored health plans, Cyndie retired from her last health plan in January 2023 to explore new passions and enjoy some free time.  Cyndie has three adult kids and lives in Carmel, California with her husband.

Paige Orr Product Marketing Manager

EvolveNXT

Adeem Osman Vice President, Business Development

Bloom

Adeem started his career as a Telemarketer in India. When he migrated to the United States, Medicare Insurance intrigued him, and he had an opportunity to work at Bloom as an unlicensed agent where within a year he was a top sales agent with a Medicare obsession. Adeem has since had the opportunity to be a leader at various organizations from large FMO’s, exchanges, carriers, and is now back at Bloom 14 years later ( a "Bloom-e-rang") to continue this amazing journey at an amazing organization where it all started, in an ever-evolving Medicare Insurance Industry.

As the Vice-President of Business Development at Bloom, Adeem Osman brings years of call/contact center and Medicare Insurance Industry experience to create solutions to help support clients and Medicare beneficiaries thrive. 

A customer-focused executive with 20+ years of experience leading operations, driving process improvements, conducting analyses, and building solutions to achieve customer service excellence in high-volume contact/call centers.

With a track record of repeated success, he has led the structuring of high-performing contact/call center management and staff, streamlined processes, and implemented supporting technology to reduce expenditures, boost productivity, and increase profits. His expertise lies in analyzing, forecasting, and building solutions, identifying key performance indicators, and driving strategies to improve workplace financial performance.

He has a proven track record in coaching, leading, and developing customer-centric teams that drive significant impact on overall productivity. As a refined communicator with strong problem-solving skills, he has been instrumental in building consensus at all organizational levels to drive strategic, cohesive operations.

Hank Osowski Managing Partner

Strategic Health Group

Hank Osowski, a Founding Member and Managing Partner of Strategic Health Group, is a nationally recognized health care executive and strategist who has provided strategic advice and counsel to executive leadership and boards of Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and commercial health plans for more than three decades. His clients have ranged from some of the largest national Medicare Advantage plans, regional market leaders, major health systems and several of the most successful start-up MA plans. He has led several strategic engagements for the firm’s clients on the key challenges of profitable growth and market expansion for Medicare and Medicaid Managed Care programs in diverse markets, such as California, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, New Mexico, Florida, Texas, West Virginia and Hawaii.

Hank is a former MA plan CEO and a frequent speaker and resource on critical issues facing the Medicare Advantage program, including the opportunities for strengthening a plan’s market positioning, the challenges of supporting programs for the Dual Eligible populations, as well as the principles for structuring profitable and effective long term care programs. His insights on some of the challenges facing the healthcare industry have been published in “Managed Care”, “Healthcare Marketing Report”, “Managed Care Contracting & Reimbursement Advisor”, “Payer and Providers” and “Becker’s Hospital Review” among other publications.

Chet Pendleton Product Director of Medicare

HighRoads

Chet Pendleton is a seasoned Medicare leader with a wealth of experience driving large-scale operations, strategy, and market development. Currently serving as the Director of Product at HighRoads, Chet leads the development of the Medicare Advantage SaaS solution (P2A: MA Accelerator). In this role, he is dedicated to simplifying the Medicare Advantage operation for Bid filing and document generation (ANOC, EOC, SBs). He is an expert at formulating strategic and innovative solutions to secure profitable outcomes, assessing operating risks, identifying solutions, and leading successful organizational change.

Chet’s experience navigating the complex healthcare landscape and driving positive change across the Medicare industry includes tenure at Humana, MessagePoint, and mPulse spanning various product, marketing, sales, and other management roles. His contributions leading new software implementations resulted in streamlined workflows and processes that saved millions of dollars.

Kerri Peterson Director of Sales, California

Anthem Blue Cross – Elevance Health

With 29 years in Healthcare, Kerri Peterson is a top performing, results oriented leader. She has a strong history of building and leading high producing sales teams.  In addition to her extensive sales and sales management experience, Kerri has a background in training and recruiting. Kerri has been with Anthem, Blue Cross- Elevance Health for 12 ½ years. She is currently the Director of Medicare Sales for the state of California, managing a fantastic team of 70 individuals, field and broker focused with 10 direct reports.  Kerri spent 9 years with PacifiCare-Secure Horizons, both in training and sales leadership roles and led the Medicare Sales team as the Director of Sales for California.  Kerri’s career also included business to business sales and management, pharmaceutical territory management, Consulting, and building, owning  and developing both a Recruiting and Staffing Firm and a Health Insurance Agency.  Kerri graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration.

Kerri has been married for 35 years and she and her husband Greg have 4 adult sons.

Rick Peterson Business Category Leader - Pro Venture & Strategic Alliances

Philips North America Markets Payer

Vicky Pileggi Healthcare Communications Specialist

Broadridge

Vicky is a Healthcare Communications Specialist at Broadridge with over 7 years of experience in helping clients execute on strategic communications initiatives that accomplish their business objectives. Vicky’s expertise lies in leveraging omni-channel communications technology to address client specific challenges, helping payers and providers improve the customer experience, streamline processes and maximize their touchpoints with members and patients.

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.

Elena Romero-San AVP, MA Marketing

Brand New Day, Central Health Plan

2024 marks Elena’s 20th year in the Medicare industry. Save for a five-year stint managing product development, Elena’s career has been dedicated entirely to Medicare marketing. In her current role of Assistant Vice President of Marketing, Elena oversees plan marketing for two separate Medicare Advantage plan carriers serving some of the country’s most diverse communities: Brand New Day and Central Health Plan. Elena and her teams are directly responsible for member communications, paid media, print and fulfillment, creative development, and acquisition and member retention strategies and materials. Elena earned her degree in PR and advertising from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Rachel Runnals Manager, Joint Venture Marketing

Emergient

Tamar Savir Product Accessibility + Inclusion Program Lead

Verily

Tamar Savir is a digital accessibility evangelist and founder of The A11Y Global Collective, a global network of communities focused on enabling digital accessibility and inclusion. Tamar is Verily’s first Product Accessibility and Inclusion Lead, responsible for ensuring accessibility and inclusion are an integral part of the company's products and culture. Previously, Tamar worked at VMware and LinkedIn where she led company-wide product accessibility and inclusion initiatives.

David Schultz CEO

Media Logic

David M. Schultz is the Founder and CEO of Media Logic, a nationally recognized full-service marketing firm that specializes in healthcare, financial services, and technology marketing. For over 25 years, David has personally led the healthcare teams and is involved in strategy and planning across all product lines for the agency’s health insurance clients. He is a recognized leader in health plan marketing and has been a featured speaker at various industry conferences. For this year’s RISE Medicare Marketing & Sales Summit, he’ll be sharing his thoughts on how Medicare Advantage plan marketers can engage patient populations during his presentation, Turning Patients into Members: 5 Ways to Maximize Conversions.

David is also an early-stage investor in several health tech companies, including UCM Digital, Maia Care, and Digital Health Strategies. After investing in a company, David provides guidance around branding and marketing strategies.

When he’s not working or speaking, David enjoys making a positive difference in his local community. He’s proud to actively support organizations that provide food, housing, childcare and educational opportunities for those in upstate New York. 

Shelley Segal CEO

SEGAL MEDICARE EXPERTS

Shelley Segal is the founder of Segal Medicare Experts and a Medicare Advantage industry veteran whose experience is in Medicare Advantage program leadership, compliance and day-to-day operations. Shelley is a nationally recognized compliance and regulation expert, and is a resource specialist for strategic planning, program development, compliance management and business process engineering in the managed care industry.

Shelley Segal is strongly committed to serving the specific needs of her clients, has developed effective solutions based on decades of experience in the health plan and regulatory environments, and provides actionable insights and recommendations for optimizing performance in Medicare Part C and D functional areas.

Before founding Segal Medicare Experts in 2021, Shelley was Co-Founder and Principal with Medicare Compliance Solutions, providing Medicare consulting and solutions for over 10 years. Shelley also held a variety of executive positions, which include Chief Operations Officer with Gorman Health Group, Compliance Director for SCAN Health Plan, and National Director of Medicare Compliance with Health Net.

Cory Shannon Sr. Director, Product Management

Best Buy Health

Cory Shannon is Sr. Director of Product Management of Best Buy Health for Best Buy Co. Inc. Cory oversees product management and strategy for Services and Support, specifically focused on enabling Care at Home and Geek Squad businesses. Drawing on over two decades of experience Cory has played a crucial role in establishing Health Shops, fostering growth in payor and provider relationships, and integrating Geek Squad into health services. 

Previously, Cory managed several product categories including Mobile, Digital Entertainment, and Smart Home before focusing on strategic growth initiatives, spearheading special projects such as the Human Search Engine and the launch of Best Buy Mobile in Nanjing, China.

Cory has a bachelor’s degree in economics and environmental studies from Cornell College and is fueled by a passion for relationship-building, navigating the unknown, and solving complex challenges. Outside of work, he enjoys family vacations and coaching his son and daughter in soccer and hockey.

David Shapiro GM and SVP, Member Experience

Press Ganey

David Shapiro is a purpose-driven CX advocate spending his 30-year career understanding the unique needs of individual consumers and then applying data, technology, and innovative solutions to meet those needs, while driving business outcomes of growth, operational efficiencies, and consumer/member experience. 

As the SVP & GM of Member Experience for Press Ganey, David is accountable for growth, product development and a client-centric delivery model that is rooted in the data, technology, and expertise which Press Ganey delivers through its people, analytics and the Human Experience platform.

David spent 17 years at UnitedHealthcare where he most recently was their Chief Experience Officer pioneering and advocating for member experience.  He was responsible for developing the first end-to-end consumer measurement strategy that has become the foundation for experience measurement across UnitedHealth Group.  David brings the voice of members and their pain points to everyday conversations, creating cultural movements from front-line employees to C-level Executives.  His human centered design focus and its connection to actual member-level data, analytics and insights helps organization drive actionable programs and projects designed around orchestrated member journeys and targeted towards key outcomes such as Medicare Advantage growth, Stars, NPS and Provider Experience.

Prior to joining UHG, David spent 12 years consulting with Accenture in Customer Relationship Management. While at Accenture he worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies to develop strategies and implement consumer facing solutions to improve upon the customer experience.  While there, he helped develop two practices: Insight Driven Interactions and Contact Center Transformation.

Through this data driven mindset, David has developed two patents, both with a foundation of leveraging real-time, consumer data to drive targeted actions. 

David received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management at Carnegie Mellon University and a Healthcare MBA at the University of St. Thomas.  Outside of work, David spends time with his wife Stephanie and their four boys as well as supporting their family run non-profit in Port-au-Price, Haiti called Sprint to Cite Soleil.  He is also a long-time, high school soccer coach and enjoys playing golf and guitar during down time.

Patrick Speer VP Medicare

Alignment Health

Patrick Speer is an emerging leader with a diverse background within the Medicare and healthcare industry. Residing in Los Angeles and serving as the Vice President of Medicare for Alignment Health, Patrick oversees Sales Operations, Telesales, and Dual Eligible teams and strategies. His deep understanding of the Medicare landscape and his strategic approach have contributed to Alignment’s continued growth and market leadership.

Prior to his tenure at Alignment, Patrick spent five years at Blue Shield of California in a variety of roles, including managing the Group Medicare product, leading Strategic Planning and Performance initiatives, and managing the Financial Planning and Analysis team. His insights and expertise were instrumental in driving business results and ensuring effective delivery of healthcare services to beneficiaries.

Before moving to Los Angeles in 2015, Patrick worked at an Investment Bank in Nashville, where he specialized in sell-side equity research for biotechnology and specialty pharmaceutical stocks. This experience provided him with a unique perspective on the financial aspects of the healthcare sector and further enriched his expertise.

Patrick’s career in healthcare began at Humana at their corporate office and his hometown of Louisville, KY. His focus on national growth strategies and profitability initiatives helped shape his understanding of the industry and laid the foundation for his future success.

Patrick holds an MBA from the University of Southern California with a specialization in Executive Leadership in addition to a BBA in Finance and BSBE in Economics from the University of Kentucky.

Outside of his professional endeavors Patrick enjoys attending LA Rams games with his fiancé Sammy, and golfing with his friends. He believes the discipline and focus required in the game of golf translate well into his approach in business, allowing him to bring a competitive edge to his work.

You can connect with him on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpspeer/

Hilary Stanfa Marketing Segment Manager

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Justin Stauffer Executive Vice President of Marketing Technology & Media

DMW

Justin is Executive Vice President of Marketing Technology & Media at DMW.

He has over two decades of experience spanning web strategy, user experience, digital marketing, and web analytics.

Currently he oversees all digital and traditional media, marketing technologies, and data at DMW. While his current focus is on health care and regional health insurance providers, he also has deep experience working across retail, telecom, and B2B industries.

When he’s not working, you will likely find him and his wife near a swimming pool, watching their kids swim competitively. Justin enjoys traveling, and just about any outdoor activity with his family. He’s a die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan. He has also been an avid homebrewer for over 10 years, but if you ask him about beer or football, be prepared for him to ramble on and on nearly as passionately as he does about marketing.

Jamee Sunga Director of Product Operations

Bloom

Jamee Sunga is a seasoned sales operations professional with more than a decade of Medicare experience. As Director of Product Operations, she leads the strategy, implementation, and operations of all Bloom onboarding products, helping to produce a better onboarding experience for Medicare health plan stakeholders and their members. Prior to joining Bloom, Jamee served as National Integration Manager for Centene Corporation, where she helped lead large-scale, nationwide initiatives for their Medicare Solutions business.

Jay Thomas Chief Strategy Officer

Triptych

Jay Thomas is the President of Triptych, and Chief Strategy Officer of Triptych's parent company, The Marek Group. For nearly 30 years, Jay has been committed to helping B2B2C businesses better manage the combustible space between marketing and sales. He's worked with leaders in both marketing and sales and with sales teams that are both captive and independent to improve alignment and aid them in their transition to consultative selling at scale.

Today, as President of Triptych, Jay is concentrated on being the lead business consultant for new Triptych clients, particularly in regulated industries such as Health Insurance, Financial Services, and manufacturing—guiding them through the Triptych implementation process to maximize their return on investment and grow their revenue.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-thomas-a411226/

Cindy Thompson SVP, Group Media Leader

MERGE

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.

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 VanderZanden 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.

Katie Viehbeck Healthcare Marketing Manager

Drips

Katie joined Drips at a pivotal time, playing a meaningful role in developing and expanding their Healthcare practice. She brings a unique understanding of systems design through her experience in state, local, and federal government workflow design, and optimization for better constituent service, which quickly translated at Drips into - more effortless, more productive member conversations for our clients.

She has been the bridge between the Drips sales, marketing, and client-facing teams for the last two years. She educates and equips them to determine and convey the value of more Proactive Member Conversations for health plans, brokers, digital health, and provider organizations across various use cases.

In her spare time, she’s rock climbing, cycling, and coaching high school soccer (occasionally sneaking in as a substitute in practice to relive the glory days).

Christy Vierzba VP, Sales

Solutran

As the Vice President of Sales for Optum Financial Consumer Payments, Christy leads the Solutran sales team to remarkable achievements. She excels as a client advocate, adeptly managing the intricacies of the Medicare Advantage sector to implement superior benefit programs for major health plans and key partners.

With over two decades of experience, Christy has been an essential collaborator with product and marketing teams, influencing the health journeys of millions of beneficiaries. Her strategic vision encompasses working with payers, government bodies, community organizations, and private firms. Christy is responsible for devising and implementing effective market entry strategies, demonstrating deep insights into the interplay between payment solutions and the healthcare industry.

With a history of proven results, Christy brings unparalleled expertise to the consumer payments and health insurance sectors, adapting nimbly to their rapid changes.

Matt Viveiros VP Product, Marketing, and PMO

ATRIO Health Plans

Melinda Walker VP of Sales

ATRIO Health Plans

With over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, I am a sales leader with expertise in Medicare and retirement solutions. I am passionate about providing quality and affordable health care options to seniors and helping them achieve their wellness goals. As the Vice President of Sales for the West Region at ATRIO Health Plans, I oversee all sales efforts in the West footprint, including analyzing metrics, optimizing territories, and implementing strategies to ensure continued growth and brand recognition.

In my current role, I work collaboratively with the West Sales Team to develop sales training programs, recruit and retain sales force, and gain and maintain strategic relationships with external and internal partners. I report directly to the Chief Sales Officer and contribute to the overall vision and mission of the organization. I leverage my skills in performance metrics, new business opportunities, and negotiation to drive sales results and customer satisfaction. I am proud to be part of a team that is committed to delivering excellence, innovation, and value to our members and stakeholders.

In my free time, you will find me cheering on my 2 children at one of their football, soccer or wrestling events. Our family loves adventure and travel. We particularly appreciate the water and warm, sunny vacation spots. When not out and about, I challenge myself with home makeover projects.

Dan Whiteside Senior Manager, Operations

Centene

Dan has been with Centene for the last four years, literally joining the company the week everyone was sent home due to the pandemic. Before that, he was a member of the Dark Side, working in IT management for a large media company. As part of the Integrated Communication Services team, Dan helps facilitate member and provider communications for Centene’s Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial plans by collaborating closely with the company’s strategic print and translation vendors.

Rick Whitted CEO

U.S. Hunger

Rick Whitted is the President & Chief Executive Officer at U.S. Hunger, a global nonprofit whose mission is feeding families today and uniting them to a healthier tomorrow. In total, U.S. Hunger (USH) has provided over 150 million meals to families in need. Before his appointment as CEO in March 2020, Rick served on USH’s board of directors.

Rick has overseen the launch of several of the organization’s initiatives: expanding home delivery of fresh produce into its supply chain; aligning its Full Cart® program with the government payor spaces; and, developing a SaaS solution that uses Predictive Analytics and Machine Learning to identify root causes of food insecurity in the U.S.

Rick is a graduate of Stetson University and Nova Southern University where he received a BA in Political Sciences/American Studies, and an MBA, Business Administration and Management, respectively.