2020 Speaking Faculty

Mr. Brennan was appointed President and Executive Director of HCCI in June 2017. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing HCCI’s advancements in price transparency and public reporting, increasing both the comprehensiveness and access to HCCI’s expansive data set, as well as working with state policy and decision makers to improve their health care systems. He is a nationally recognized expert in health care policy, the use of health care data to enable and accelerate health system change, and data transparency. He has published widely in leading academic journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and Health Affairs. Prior to joining HCCI, Mr. Brennan was Chief Data Officer at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). He has also worked at the Brookings Institution, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, the Congressional Budget Office, the Urban Institute, and Price WaterhouseCoopers.

Mr. Brennan received his MPP from Georgetown University and his BA from University College Dublin, Ireland.

Angela Dunbar is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Retail Sales and Marketing Unit at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan where she is responsible for marketing strategy development and program execution in the individual market including Medicare.

Grant leads ConnectureDRX, the industry-leading provider of Medicare sales and enrollment solutions and the gold standard for Medicare drug pricing information. A 25-year healthcare technology veteran, Grant’s experience includes management roles with Truven Health Analytics, Thomson Reuters, and EY. Grant earned both his undergraduate and MBA degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Naomi Irvin is a California native who relocated to North Carolina in 2006. She earned her undergraduate degree and MBA with a Marketing Certificate from East Carolina University (ECU). With over a decade of health insurance experience, Naomi currently leads a team of Compliance Consultants within the Sales, Marketing and Communications division of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Her focus is balancing business objectives with compliance requirements.

Over 30 years of experience in the insurance from group to Individual Medicare

• Mutual of Omaha Group Rep to RVP where he was involved in sales, product development including starting an HMO.
• United Healthcare with the Medicare Advantage program as an Executive Director SNP plans then onto RVP Sales for their brokerage distribution.
• Medico Insurance Company as the CMO led the company in product development and building the distribution from 5,000 to 38,000 agents and taking annual sales from $14 million to $100 million.
• Aetna Senior Supplemental overseeing brokerage distribution, Agent Services, Conservation, Direct Sales, Reinsurance and Product Development with Medicare Supplement pricing and compensation, Hospital Indemnity and Dental Vision and hearing products.
• Medicare Transition Services at Aetna which has developed marketing to the working senior population in an innovative way.

Billy Justice has over 16 years of experience as the Director of Marketing and Member Services for Vantage Health Plan, a Louisiana Health Maintenance Organization (HMO).

Vantage was created by physicians who wanted to help their patients and Louisiana employers manage the ever-increasing healthcare costs. This philosophy has set it apart from other insurance companies and that is a primary reason why it has been so successful.

In June of 1996, Billy wrote the very first fully-insured Vantage policy which is now marketed throughout Louisiana. Billy was also instrumental in the development of the key products and outstanding customer service that have set Vantage apart from the industry standard. Vantage is helping lead the reform of healthcare in Louisiana by proving that coordinated care works through its Medical Home Model.

Billy is actively involved with the Louisiana Associations of Health Plans, Louisiana Health Underwriters, and has served on the board level of numerous civic and charitable organizations.

Alicia Kelley joined CDPHP in 2005 and currently serves as vice president of Medicare performance for the Capital Region’s leading health plan. In this role, Alicia is responsible for the growth, retention, and operations for the plan’s Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplemental lines of business.

With more than 16 years of experience in the health care industry, Alicia has worked in marketing, communications, product development, sales, and operations. Prior to joining CDPHP, she worked for the Healthy Capital District Initiative, a local not-for-profit that assists families and individuals with obtaining health care coverage through Medicaid, Family Health Plus, and Child Health Plus.

Since joining the Medicare team at CDPHP, Alicia has been an active member of the community, serving on the boards of multiple not-for-profit organizations supporting senior citizens, and partnering with various agencies that help further the mission of CDPHP and its Medicare members.

Alicia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology from the Siena College in Albany, N.Y.

Laure Kolb is a Consumer Markets sales manager at HealthNow New York, Inc. with responsibility for the Medicare Sales Call Center and CRM administration for the entire consumer sales and marketing team that sells Medicare and Individual QHP products. As a member of the leadership team for Consumer Markets, her focus is on ensuring that those selling have the knowledge and tools necessary to succeed.

Diane Murdock serves Walgreens as Vice President, UnitedHealth Group Accounts. In this role, Ms. Murdock manages the relationship between these two complex organizations ranked within Fortune’s top 32 companies. She is responsible for developing and implementing strategic business plans across all health plan segments, executing and pulling-through contracts that drive company results, continuously seeks out new mutually beneficial business opportunities for both enterprises and problem solves amidst a continually evolving health care and retail pharmacy environment. Prior to joining Walgreens, Ms. Murdock was in the pharmaceutical industry for over twenty years in roles of escalating responsibility during her career.

Dr. Nguyen is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 20 years of industry experience. In his current role as SVP, Population Health, Anthony oversees our Accountable Care Organizations (ACO)/Care Coordination Organizations (CCO) care delivery channels, Member Engagement programs and National HEDIS teams that measure outcomes. Their goal is to drive an end-to-end, holistic approach to how we deliver, measure and improve care for our members.

Anthony is passionate about making the health care system work better. In that endeavor, he leads our digital voice strategy where members can access information and receive care seamlessly.

Dr. Nguyen was a partner physician for Kaiser Permanente and served as VP of the Medical Staff, Orange County, CA. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and is board certified in Internal Medicine.

Dr. Nguyen received his M.D. from Tufts University School of Medicine and MHCDS from Dartmouth College. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of California, Irvine. Anthony lives in Southern California and is an avid surfer.

Michael is the Senior Director of Medicare Healthcare Segment Development at Walgreens, leading a team responsible for setting the strategic direction, initiatives and development of the Medicare business segment at Walgreens.

Michael began his career at Walgreens in 2007, and has had various leadership roles including pricing and contracting, strategy, business operations and development. He has also led several strategic initiatives and played a key role in developing several partnerships with key partners.

Michael received his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.

Jana Perry began her duties as vice president of Strategy and Marketing recently after holding the vice president of Sales position since 2015.

Jana has been with Health Alliance, which is a key part of a vertically integrated health system, since 1986. She has served in a variety of leadership roles for claims, operations, member retention, customer service and Consumer and Employer Group sales and service. In her current role, Jana has overall responsibility for launching new business strategic partnerships focused on the shift from volume to value. Jana is accountable for development of a marketing strategy that is aligned with the organization’s short-term and long-term strategic plans; and supports the market growth objectives of health system partners. Further responsibilities include assessing market trends and new product developments, applying these findings to the business of Health Alliance and overall responsibility for construction and implementation of product line adjustments.

Denise J. Pesich, Chief Marketing Officer of Affinity Health Plan, is responsible for ensuring that all marketing communications convey its unique brand voice, with messaging that engages their members/customers. Prolific in all mediums, from digital and print to broadcast and collateral, Ms. Pesich leads multi-disciplinary teams of professionals in brand, communications, digital strategy, advertising, creative services, public relations, signature events and corporate meetings, strategic development, consumer and member engagement, and a range of partnerships and initiatives. She has developed campaigns that have revolutionized the customer experience, engaging and supporting Affinity’s healthcare mission.

An innovative, creative marketing executive with superior leadership and problem-solving abilities, Ms. Pesich has more than 25 years as a results-driven senior executive in the nonprofit and corporate space. Before joining Affinity, Ms. Pesich served as Vice President of Communications and National Spokesperson at Girl Scouts of the USA, leading her teams to numerous public successes and accolades. She served as chief architect, developer and executor of the boldest advocacy and fundraising effort dedicated to girls’ leadership in the nation’s history. As the iconic organization mobilized communities of champions to advance the world-changing impact of female leadership on the advent of its 100th anniversary, Girl Scouts of the USA was named Equitrend Youth Brand of the Year and earned Fast Company’s Innovation Uncensored Brand of the Year in 2012. Prior to Girl Scouts, Ms. Pesich capped a near 20-year career as Senior Vice President, Marketing and Strategic Development for the United Ways of Tri-State consortium, helping to establish the New York-based footprint for United Way of America.

Marty is Sr. Director of Pharmacy Partnerships at UnitedHealthcare, responsible for creating and managing innovative growth and clinical programs and initiatives with UnitedHealthcare’s strategic pharmacy partnerships.

With over 20 years experience in the healthcare industry, Marty has background in healthcare marketing, strategic planning, business development, vendor management, and clinical programs. Prior to his current role, Marty was Regional Marketing Director for UnitedHealthcare, Medicare and Retirement Business Segment. Focused on the Central Region, he led the marketing strategy, planning, and execution of direct to consumer growth campaigns. Also, he was responsible for creating and leading comprehensive provider engagement program and co-branded provider consumer marketing strategies. Prior to joining UnitedHealthcare, he led the marketing strategy and execution team at John Deere Health Plan located in Moline, IL. There, he was responsible for all marketing initiatives for John Deere Health’s employer and government programs lines of business.

He is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in Public Relations and Journalism, and a minor in Business.

Outside of work, Marty enjoys writing, recording, and performing music with a number of local and regional acts where he resides in Iowa.

Sandy has more than 15 years of experience in product marketing and distribution roles across the broker, insurance and health industries. As a champion for improving the lives of members and patients through leading-edge technology and communications, she has led product development and strategic initiatives throughout her career. She is passionate about influencing better decision-making to improve health and business outcomes.

Mike leads the product innovation team of portfolio managers, researchers, and analysts at CDPHP in Albany, NY. Mike’s team is always seeking out new trends and disruptions in healthcare to enhance CDPHP’s product portfolio, ranging the gamut from digital health technologies to high deductible plans paired with HSAs.

Mike is most interested in studying and utilizing consumer behavior trends in healthcare, including the choices people make, why they make those choices, and the influences required to help them make choices that are more appropriate.

Originally from Syracuse, New York, Mike relocated for his post-secondary education, including a B.S from Union College (NY) focused in Neuroscience and Quantitative Economics, as well as a Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.) focused in Healthcare Management from Clarkson University. Mike now resides with his family and dachshunds in Latham while continuing to work on his golf game.

A pharmacist by training, Craig Stephens has a diverse background including clinical pharmacy management, healthcare operations, business development, contract negotiations and vendor relations. Craig has 30+ years of experience in the healthcare industry, both domestic and international, and began work within the managed care industry in1992. His career experiences span hospital, health plans, PBM, pharmaceutical industry and consulting.

Craig leads the pharmacy strategies for the Medicare and Medicaid product portfolio and networks. This includes market segmentation, competitive positioning, affordability, network partnerships and regulatory surveillance. Craig returned to UHC in February 2017 and was one of the original leaders on UHC’s Part D product launch from 2003-2006. Most recently, Craig spent 10 years consulting with health plans on pharmacy management strategies in both Medicare and Medicaid.

Craig received his pharmacy degree from South Dakota State University. He obtained his MBA and Computer Science degree from St. Cloud State University. He has also completed a residency in hospital pharmacy administration at Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay, Oregon.

Craig is both an American and Canadian citizen. Outside of work Craig enjoys cars and motorcycles, is an avid mechanic, and holds a competition road racing license.

Gary comes to SourceLink with 10+ years serving in a variety of corporate healthcare leadership roles ranging from community hospital administration to corporate marketing and business development. Most recently, he spent several years overseeing the Medicare programs for a large integrated delivery network in central Texas. His experience managing the corporate marketing department for a large health system, combined with the insights he gained in his role as Medicare business owner (and former client of SourceLink), will make him a valuable addition to our health care leadership team.

Kurt Waltenbaugh is a serial entrepreneur with a career focused on the consumer: using data to predict and influence behavior. Understanding consumer behavior, Kurt has built successful analytic solutions, products and companies in the health care, retail, education, and credentialing industries.

His previous companies were sold to Oracle and Pearson Education. Most recently, Kurt was responsible for product strategy at Optum, Inc. (UnitedHealth Group), building data analytic businesses for the provider, payer and employer markets.

When not working with customers, Kurt is with his wife, guiding their three children toward adulthood, and planning their next winter camping trek into Minnesota's Boundary Waters (BWCAW).