Daniel D. Crowley, Chairman

Dan Crowley was named Chairman of HealthSmart in 2009. He is the founder of Dynamic Healthcare Solutions, a firm that invests in and consults with healthcare firms. Through Dynamic, he has served as senior advisor to a number of major investment firms, has served on the boards of numerous healthcare companies and has been a senior management advisor and interim executive for a variety of healthcare services companies. Mr. Crowley was previously Chairman of the Board of Foundation Health Systems, Inc., now known as Health Net. Before that he served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of one of its predecessor companies, Foundation Health Corporation. Mr. Crowley came to Foundation from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ohio, where he was the Executive Vice-President.

 

James M. Pennington, President

Mr. Pennington joined HealthSmart in 2008. He has been instrumental in rebranding the Company and developing its current vision and mission as an integrated health plan for self-funded employers. He has 30 years of experience in the employee benefits arena, including all facets of delivering integrated healthcare solutions. Prior to joining HealthSmart, he was President and CEO of ppoNEXT, a preferred provider organization headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

Mr. Pennington was previously President and CEO of USI Administrators, an integrated healthcare outsourcing company that provided care management, prescription benefit management, as well as fully-insured and self-funded administrative services. He served as President and CEO of Acordia National, the Third Party Administrator unit of Acordia, an Anthem company now part of HealthSmart. Mr. Pennington earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and a Master’s Degree in Safety Management from West Virginia University. 

 

William Dembereckyj, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Bill Dembereckyj joined HealthSmart in November 2003 as part of a strategy to expand senior management's capabilities in finance, accounting and acquisition strategy.

Most recently, Mr. Dembereckyj was President of Dallas-based New Life Treatment Centers, a $100 million sales company engaged in the healthcare, not-for-profit sectors and entertainment industries. Starting as the Corporate Controller of New Life eleven years earlier, he was significantly involved in the execution of New Life's growth strategy during his tenure, including five acquisitions, three divestitures, four business start-ups and over $25 million in venture and senior debt financing. He was also integral in the eventual sale of New Life to Thomas Nelson Publishers (NYSE:TNM).

Prior to New Life, Mr. Dembereckyj was an auditor for KPMG-Peat Marwick specializing in the healthcare and insurance industries. He received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Biola University and a Master of Science. in Organizational Behavior and Strategy from the University of Texas at Dallas. Mr. Dembereckyj is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Marc Zech, Senior Vice President of Benefit Solutions

Mr. Zech joined HealthSmart in 1997 as Director of Information Systems. During his career at HealthSmart, he has contributed to leading the technology, operational and strategic direction of the organization, with experiences in managing all administrative product lines and service centers across the country. His current focus includes responsibility for all of HealthSmart Benefit Solutions Central Region operations, including HealthSmart's integrated solutions, TribalCare services and unique retiree health plan and Medicare administration platform.

His experience includes operations, service and technology management in the administration of active, retiree, tribal and Medicare benefit plans, both fully insured and self-funded. Prior to joining HealthSmart, Mr. Zech managed systems for a regional TPA with prior leadership roles in claims, customer service, premium billing, business analysis and EDI development. He has more than 20 years of experience in the industry and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics — actuarial science.
 

 

Mark Stadler, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Mark Stadler joined HealthSmart in 2011. As Senior Vice President of Sales he is responsible for the growth of the organization. Mr. Stadler has served in multiple executive sales positions that include Senior Vice President for the U.S. Markets for Great-West Healthcare, Chief Growth Officer of Optum Health, a United Healthcare Company and Chief Sales Officer at American Enterprise Group. Most recently he led sales for Aon Hewitt in Texas and the Central/West regions. Mr. Stadler also brings an extensive background in healthcare consulting where he spent nearly 18 years with Mercer Human Resource Consulting leading their organization in Chicago and other areas throughout the Midwest. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from Loyola University of Los Angeles.

Lovie Pollinger, Senior Vice President of Account Management

Lovie Pollinger joined HealthSmart in 1994. She has more than 28 years of diverse experience in the healthcare and managed care industry. Ms. Pollinger has served in multiple executive positions which include the start-up of two Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) and one Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) in the Central region of the United States. Prior to joining HealthSmart, Ms. Pollinger was Executive Director for Alliance Health Providers, located in Fort Worth, Texas; she was also the Executive Director of Accountable Health Plans of America, Inc.

Her current responsibilities with HealthSmart include the leadership and management of the Account Management Division. In this role, she oversees the Account Management teams responsible for client retention, client service, implementation of new business, and upselling HealthSmart's entire array of products and services. Ms. Pollinger is a member of the Dallas Business Group on Health, the DFW Managed Care Alliance (served on Board 1988-1990), the National Association of Health Underwriters, American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations and the Texas Association of Benefit Plan Administrators.

Marci Conlin, Senior Vice President of Network Development

Marci Conlin joined HealthSmart in 2008 and has more than sixteen years of experience in the healthcare industry. In her current role, Ms. Conlin oversees network development, provider relations, affiliate partnerships, credentialing and provider services.

Previously, Ms. Conlin served as Vice President of Network Development for BeechStreet (a Viant Network) where she was responsible for network development, network operations, and provider relations for all product lines. Prior to joining Beech Street, she was employed by WebMD as the Director of Enterprise Transformation. She also held a leadership role at Private Health Care Systems, Inc., in the areas of health benefits solutions and workers' compensation networks.

Pamela Coffey, Senior Vice President of Care Management Solutions

Ms. Coffey is a registered nurse with degrees in nursing and business administration. She is certified in healthcare quality management with specialties in managed care and case management through the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians. She has been involved in senior leadership roles in managed care for 25 years and joined HealthSmart in 1997. In her current position, she manages all of HealthSmart’s clinical programs. Ms. Coffey has an extensive background in managing risk, as well as structuring data-centric clinical management programs. Her expertise in operations and clinical programs has made a significant contribution to the development and success of the services offered by HealthSmart. She leads a diverse and dynamic team that delivers predictive population management methodologies and flexible plan designs to meet the unique needs of HealthSmart’s clients.

Ms. Coffey is actively involved in the healthcare community and has served on several task forces focusing on wellness and healthcare quality. She promoted the recognition of Healthcare Heroes and service excellence through her service on the Board of Directors and as President of the Alliance for Healthcare Excellence. Ms. Coffey has an extensive background in managing Medicare and Medicare Advantage populations, as well as structuring data-centric disease management programs. She has spoken on Medicare Advantage Plans at Case Management Society Conferences and is often requested to speak on industry norms and trends in this area.
 

Charles E. Busch, Senior Vice President, Specialty Sales and Account Management
 

Charles Busch joined HealthSmart in 2008. As Senior Vice President of Specialty Sales and Account Management, he is responsible for leading the national sales team and account management teams, as well as the sales and marketing strategy for HealthSmart’s specialty solutions. These include: primary networks, secondary networks, workers’ compensation, and auto medical provider networks; care management and predictive population management services, pharmacy benefit management services and fee negotiation. Mr. Busch is a strategic sales leader with more than 25 years of proven sales and sales leadership results in the PPO, healthcare management, and group insurance markets.

Prior to working at HealthSmart, he had a successful career with Viant Health Payment Solutions that spanned 19 years, beginning in 1988. He also held a group health representative position with The Union Central Life Insurance Company. His insurance career began in 1984, where he sold employee benefit plans and financial services for Prudential Insurance Company. Mr. Busch received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in finance from California State University, Fullerton in 1983.
 

 

Jason Bielss, Senior Vice President of Information Systems

Mr. Bielss has extensive experience managing enterprise implementations of healthcare information systems, claims routing transactional applications, and claims repricing systems. He has a strong background in gathering, analyzing and defining business and functional requirements; process-mapping initiatives; data transformation initiatives, and designing/re-engineering processes, workflows and technology solutions for healthcare systems. He also has a proven ability to lead seamless implementations and deliver next-generation technical solutions that improve service and workplace productivity. Mr. Bielss' proven areas of expertise include application administration, strategic technology planning, data/business/systems analysis, data flow and process mapping, technical client implementation and support, software design and management, major systems implementations, and technical writing (manuals/system specs). He has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in management information systems from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.

James Kelly, Vice President and General Counsel

HealthSmart's in-house attorney, James Kelly, has worked in the healthcare industry since 2003. His major responsibilities include monitoring legislative activities concerning employee benefit and managed health care issues, overseeing the negotiation and production of company contracts and providing guidance on general legal issues. Mr. Kelly received both his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctorate from Texas Tech University and is a member of the Health Law, Corporate Counsel, and Insurance Law sections of the State Bar of Texas.

 

Amy Willingham, Vice President of Human Resources

Amy Willingham accepted the role of Vice President of Human Resources for HealthSmart in 2008. She has 20 years of human resources management experience. Ms. Willingham's HR experience includes acquisitions, benefit design, benefit administration, policy administration, employee relations, training, wellness, and employee communications. She and her HR department are responsible for implementing and executing numerous HR functions for more than 1100 HealthSmart employees in 11 offices across the country. She received her Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) certification in 2006.