Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Announces Reorganization, Names New Vice Presidents
There is new leadership at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, the state's largest health insurer, as two vice presidents are promoted, and three new vice presidents named to the company's steering committee. The change comes through a company reorganization that began in April.
Treena Mason has been promoted to senior vice president of sales and operations. In her new role, Mason will have executive responsibilities for employer group sales, over and under 65 individual sales, product development and will oversee the new vice president of operations and CMS programs. She also serves as president of Advance Insurance Company of Kansas (AICK).
Prior to her new role, Mason served as vice president of group sales and marketing since February 2013. She joined Blue Cross in 1997 as a group consultant in the Dodge City field office.
Holly Graves is the company’s new vice president, operations and CMS programs. Graves will be responsible for all aspects of customer service and membership, as well as for the operational and strategic oversight of government programs under CMS.
Graves has worked for BCBSKS for nearly 35 years, most recently as director, individual sales and customer service. During her time as manager and director, the call center received the highest customer satisfaction award in the health care industry and was certified as a World Class Call Center for eleven years.
Dr. John Fong has been promoted to senior vice president, provider and government affairs, chief medical officer. Dr. Fong joined BCBSKS in August 2019 as the vice president of medical affairs, chief medical officer.
Dr. Fong will maintain oversight of the medical affairs division which is responsible for quality management, disease and case management, precertification, medical review, health analytics and pharmacy programs. He will also have executive oversight of the government and community relations division, as well as provider relations.
Angie Strecker has been named the new vice president, provider relations and medical economics. Strecker will lead provider relations and medical economics in their departmental initiatives, including continued support of the BCBSKS response to COVID-19.
Strecker started her career at BCBSKS in December 1985 and joined provider relations in 1992. Strecker has held various roles in provider relations, including director of institutional relations for ten years.
Mike Gerrish has joined BCBSKS as the new vice president, chief marketing and experience officer (CMXO). Gerrish will have executive responsibility over a newly created division which includes marketing communications, corporate communications, competitive intelligence and market research, e-commerce and customer experience.
Gerrish comes to BCBSKS from Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in Iowa, where he worked since 2009. Most recently serving as vice president of marketing, Gerrish was responsible for strategic direction and leadership of marketing and communications, including: brand promotion and protection, business-to-consumer and business-to-business marketing, internal communications, advertising, public relations, sponsorships, social media and creative services. He also served as the vice president of marketing and customer experience for nearly five years and the executive director of The Wellmark Foundation from 2013 to 2015.
Other members of the corporate steering committee include Matt Langdon, vice president, information technology and services, chief information officer; Abby Lear, vice president, administrative services; Sunee Mickle, vice president, government and community relations; Scott Raymond, vice president, legal and compliance services and general counsel; and Ann Shelton, vice president, finance.
Four other promotions are the result of the company reorganization.
Mike Eichten has been promoted to senior director of sales and remains as vice president and chief operating officer of AICK. Eichten is adding oversight of over and under-65 individual sales. He has been with the company since 2014.
Lisa Oathout-Marshall is the company’s new assistant director of internal sales. In that role, she is responsible for all aspects of internal small group and over and under 65 individual sales. She has more than 27 years of service at BCBSKS.
Laurie Stratton has been promoted to director of customer service. Stratton will lead the company’s customer service efforts ensuring quality, timeliness and a world class member experience. She joined the company in 1998.
Laura Norwood has accepted the role of director of medical management programs. Her focus will be to lead the medical affairs programs targeted towards medical and pharmacy cost management, case management, disease management and wellness. Norwood began her career at BCBSKS in August 1988.
