Oct. 2, 2007
New President/CEO Restructures Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Names Two New Vice Presidents
Andrew C. Corbin, who became president/CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Oct. 1, has announced a realignment of the organizational structure at the state's largest health insurer, aimed at consolidating and streamlining operations. In the process, he has promoted two long-time employees to serve as vice presidents of newly created divisions.
"This new alignment brings together several business functions which work together on a daily basis but were previously housed within different divisions," Corbin said. "I'm delighted with the selection of the two new vice presidents and look forward to watching them use their talents and experience to guide their respective divisions. I expect them to continue developing their own leadership skills while also mentoring leaders within their divisions.
"Several current vice presidents have new areas of responsibilities as well, and I look forward to working with a refreshed and revitalized steering committee," he says of the nine-member committee that is the decision-making body for strategic planning and oversight of the organization.
Earning promotions are Mark G. Dolsky, now vice president of group sales and marketing, and Fredrick D. Palenske, the new vice president of provider relations and medical affairs.
Dolsky will oversee a newly created division responsible for sales and retention for large and small groups, product development and market research. He joined the company in 1989, and most recently served as regional sales manager for the company's Wichita Regional Marketing Office. He previously served as a group consultant in the company's Pittsburg district office and senior group consultant for the Topeka Regional Marketing Office. The Holton native earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Emporia State University in 1986. He holds the designation of "Fellow" from the Academy of Healthcare Management. He has been active in the Boys and Girls Club of Topeka and is president of the Sedgwick County Health Care Roundtable.
Palenske heads up a newly created division that encompasses all the areas in which Blue Cross interacts with providers, including medical review, quality and care management, professional and provider relations, and provider reimbursement. He joined the company in 1988 and brings nearly 20 years of experience in regulatory compliance and legislative affairs to his new position. He most recently served as director of government relations. The Topeka native holds two degrees from Washburn University, earning a bachelor's in management and finance in 1982 and a master's in business administration in 1988. He is a 2002 graduate of Leadership Greater Topeka and a 2006 graduate of Leadership Kansas. He is past president of the Kansas Association of Health Plans, and is active in the Kansas Health Insurance Association and the Kansas Life and Health Guaranty Association.
Corbin also announced the following new responsibilities for current members of his senior management team:
Matthew D. All, formerly vice president of legal services and general counsel, now serves as general counsel and vice president of human resources and government relations. This newly created division brings together legal services, regulatory and legislative affairs, contracting, human resources and facility services.
Beryl "Bebo" Lowery-Born remains vice president of finance and chief financial officer. In addition, she assumes the presidency of Advance Insurance Company of Kansas, a BCBSKS subsidiary that markets life and disability insurance products. The finance division now encompasses accounting, finance, underwriting and actuarial, management engineering and the company's Continuous Quality Improvement department.
Shelley Pittman serves as vice president of member services and individual sales, with responsibilities for customer service, membership, and sales and retention for the company's individual products.
Other members of the corporate steering committee include William H. Pitsenberger, senior vice president and president of Wheatlands Administrative Services, the company's Medicare subsidiary; S. Graham Bailey, vice president of corporate communications and public relations; and William J. Wallace, vice president of information services and claims administration.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSKS is the state's largest health insurer, serving all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte.
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