Senior Management Team

Professional Focus
Medicaid managed care
Health care policy development
Regulatory advocacy 

Experience
More than 20 years’ experience administering government programs and providing health care consulting services
Owner, Bechtel Healthcare Consulting, LLC
Director of the Bureau of Managed Care Operations and the Bureau of Program Integrity, Department of Human Services
Legal Counsel, Department of Human Services 

Education
College of William and Mary, Bachelor of Arts in Government and Economics
George Washington University National Law Center, Juris Doctor

Connections
Health care and insurance stakeholders
State government officials and staff

Professional Focus
Insurance and managed care
Health care and hospital finance

Experience
Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
Capital Blue Cross, consultant for both commercial and government programs
Coventry Health Care, Director of Group Administration, Strategy, and Process

Education
Villanova University, Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts, Bachelor of Arts in English
New York Institute of Technology, Master of Arts in Communication Arts
Widener University School of Law, Juris Doctorate

Connections
State government officials and staff
Health care stakeholders
Payors and insurers

Professional Focus
Emergency management
Disaster planning


Experience
Held previous positions with several southeast Pennsylvania health care systems as a flight nurse, emergency department manager, and nursing educator
Firefighter, paramedic, fire command officer, and EMS instructor experience


Education
Master's Degree in Disaster Medicine and Management, Philadelphia University (now Thomas Jefferson University)
Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, Lycoming College


Certifications
Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional (CHEP), International Board for Certification of Safety Managers
Certified Pre-Hospital Registered Nurse, Pennsylvania Department of Health
Firefighter II certification, Pennsylvania State Fire Academy
Extra Class FCC Amateur Radio License

Professional Focus
Media and public relations
Integrated communications
Crisis management
Digital marketing and social media
Website development, analytics, and research
Content creation

Experience
Principal and Founder, Whirlaway, providing tailored client communications services
Director of Communications, Brand and Business Development, Maroon PR
Adjunct Professor of Business Communication, Stevenson University
Nearly 20 years of experience creating and leading successful strategic planning and integrated
communications campaigns for brands across various industries including healthcare and nonprofit

Education
Towson University, Bachelor of Science, Mass Communications, Towson, MD
Stevenson University, Masters in Communications Studies, Owings Mills, MD

Connections
State and national news organizations
Communications professionals

Professional Focus
Health care policy development
Regulatory advocacy
Medicaid managed care

Experience
Senior Consultant, Sellers Dorsey
Assistant Director, Illinois Department of Insurance
Senior Consultant, Navigant Consulting, Inc.

Education
Macalester College, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
University of Chicago, Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies, Master of Public Policy

Connections
HAP membership
Health care and insurance stakeholders
National health care organizations
Medicaid agencies and staff

Professional Focus
Federal advocacy
Federal policy development
Federal regulatory and legal initiatives

Experience
Deputy chief of staff, Counsel, U.S. Congressman Charles W. Dent (PA-15)
Executive Director, Tuesday Group Caucus
Legislative staff, former U.S. Congressman James C. Greenwood (PA-08)

Education
University of Vermont, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science; Georgetown University Law Center, Juris Doctor

Connections
Federal lawmakers and staff
National health care organizations and coalitions
State lawmakers and staff

Professional Focus
Corporate accounting and reporting
Federal tax regulations  
State and federal lobbying regulations

Experience
More than 25 years of experience in non-profit accounting

Education
Pennsylvania State University, Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting

Connections
Healthcare Financial Management Association

Professional Focus
Management and leadership
Accounting and auditing
Internal control
Continuous improvement

Experience
More than 20 years of experience in accounting, auditing, and compliance
Certified Public Accountant
Chief Audit Officer, Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union
Director, Financial Systems and Process Improvement, Pinnacle Health System
Director, Internal Audit and Corporate Compliance, for Conemaugh Health System (Duke LifePoint Healthcare)
Senior Auditor, Wessel & Company

Education
Saint Francis University, Masters of Business Administration
University of Pittsburgh, Bachelors of Science, Accounting

Connections
HAP membership
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Healthcare Financial Management Association

Professional Focus
Government relations
Federal regulatory and health care policy development

Experience
Director, Federal Government Affairs and Policy, AstraZeneca
Vice President, The Glover Park Group
Senior Health Policy Advisor to U.S. Senator Arlen Specter

Education
University of Nebraska, B.A. degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science

Connections
Federal lawmakers and staff
National health care organizations and coalitions
Health care stakeholders

Professional Focus
Business development
Education management
Membership recruitment and retention
Strategic planning

Experience
Director, Bayada Home Health Care
Executive Director, Joint Commission Resources
Associate Director, Business Development, The Joint Commission

Education
Benedictine University, Master of Science in Management and Organization Behavior; Northern Illinois University, Bachelor of Science in Community Health

Connections
HAP Endorsed Partners
HAP membership
State and national association executives
State and national continuing education accrediting bodies

Professional Focus
Health care research
Advanced data analytics
Health information management
Health information exchange
Population health initiatives

Experience
More than 20 years’ experience in health research and implementing health improvement programs and policies
Previous roles: Director of Research and Population Health at the DFW Hospital Council; Senior Scientist and Specialist at the University of California at Berkeley; Senior Scientist at the University of Highlands and Islands, Scotland, UK

Education
National Health Disparity Fellowship, National Institute of Health (NIH)
Post-Doctoral Fellowship, The British Heart Foundation, UK
PhD and MS, The University of Rajasthan, India

Professional Affiliations
American College of Healthcare Executives
American Public Health Association
National Council for Behavioral Health
Pennsylvania Public Health Association
Editorial Board member and reviewer for journals in health care, health policy, public health, and health informatics

Peer reviewed publications

Professional Focus
Quality measurement performance
Care Integration
Population health management and value-based care systems
Accountable care organizations

Experience
Director of Quality Care and Delivery, River Health ACO
Nurse Manager, Cardiac Interventional Unit & Coronary Intensive Care Unit, PinnacleHealth System
Emergency Medical Services

Education
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Ph.D. in Administration & Leadership Studies
University of St. Francis, Master of Science in Health Services Administration
Mansfield University, Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Connections
Hospital Improvement Innovation Network
HAP membership
Health care and insurance stakeholders

Professional Focus
Management and Leadership
MA Modernization Mitigation Initiative
Accounting and Auditing

Experience
More than 15 years of experience in accounting and auditing
Certified Public Accountant
Senior Accountant, ParenteBeard LLC

Education
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting

Connections
HAP members

Professional Focus
Value-based care
Health care policy development
Care delivery models

Experience
Director, Strategic Provider Relations and Initiatives, Highmark, Inc.
Senior Consultant, Health Strategies & Solutions, Inc.
Senior Financial Analyst and Practice Manager, Lancaster General Medical Group

Education
The Pennsylvania State University, Bachelor of Science in Health Policy and Administration
The Pennsylvania State University, Masters of Health Administration

Connections
HAP membership
Health care and insurance stakeholders
National health care organization
State government officials and staff

LinkedIn

Professional Focus
Association leadership
Statewide advocacy addressing hospital issues and challenges
Member communication

Experience
Executive Vice President & Chief External Affairs Officer, Maryland Hospital Association
Senior Policy Advisor, Maryland Secretary of Health
Chief of Government Relations and Special Projects, Maryland Health Commission
Policy and Legislative Advocacy, New Jersey Hospital Association

Education
Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Master's degree in Public Policy
Virginia Tech, Bachelor's degree 

Connections
Hospital and health system leadership
HAP Board of Directors
State and national health care association leadership

Professional Focus
Legislative advocacy
Health care policy development

Experience
Senior government relations specialist, Ridge Policy Group
Research Analyst and Legislative Issues Specialist, Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Education
University of Kent, Canterbury, U.K, Master of laws in public international law
Saint Vincent College, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science

Connections
State lawmakers, cabinet officials, and staff
Health, business, and insurance stakeholders
Health care stakeholders

Professional Focus
Legislative advocacy
Health care policy development

Experience
Chief Programs Officer for the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System
Chief of Staff to one of Pennsylvania’s Cabinet level agencies 
Director of Policy and Communication for the State Employee Retirement System

Education
Bachelor of Science in Communication from Ohio University's Scripps College of Communication 

Connections
State lawmakers, cabinet officials, and staff
Health, business, and insurance stakeholders
Health care stakeholders