President and Chief Executive Officer, rocENROLL HEALTH, Webster Chamber of Commerce
With the organization since: February 2010.
In current position since: July 2011.
Education: Community College of the Finger Lakes; Business Management St. John Fisher College.
Career Highlights: Director of administration, RF Communications/Harris Corp.; founder of JB Management Co. Inc,; president & CEO of Webster Chamber of Commerce; founder of rocENROLL HEALTH Inc.
Current affiliations: President, Webster Health Education Network Inc.’s board of directors; president, Webster Economic Development Alliance; board of directors, Eastside Area Annex; director for multiple for-profit corporations.
Skills that make you an effective leader? “Management analysis, listening without bias and public speaking.”
How do you describe your managerial philosophy or approach? “I have an open-door policy. I listen. I believe that failures demonstrate a willingness to try new things and learn from successes and failures.”
How do you personally demonstrate leadership and inspire your staff? “Taking a team approach to operations and planning. Celebrating successes and openly discussing shortcomings and potential risks. Valuing every staff person and the customers we encounter.”
How do you see the healthcare industry changing in the next few years, and how will you prepare the organization for those changes? “Insurance costs have skyrocketed because of over-regulation and shifting financial burden to carriers. I see inequality in drug pricing in the U.S. compared to other developed countries. As an organization we need to educate the consumer with facts, not political jargon or talking points, and help them understand their opportunities to facilitate change.”
What are your top three priorities for your organization this year? “Strategically prepare our staff for the transitioning nature of our business; maintain high levels of insurance education to understand the regulatory changes that impact the consumer; enhance our online presence and capabilities to make our consumer interface easier to retrieve information and keep them informed.”
How can the healthcare industry in the region be improved? “Implement statewide reduction in regulation and allow the market to seek its own level through competition. Drastically increase transparency to the consumer regarding costs and the variation in cost by provider.”
Tell us one thing about you that people generally don’t know “I was an exchange student that provided me the opportunity to study in Germany when I was in high school.”