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HERO Board of Directors

The HERO Board of Directors is made up of corporate executives and individuals representing a cross section of employee health management provider organizations. Each member is a recognized national thought leader in different areas of employee health management. HERO is proud to be guided by such a distinguished group.

David R. Anderson, PhD
StayWell Health Management
HERO Chairman of the Board

David Anderson, PhD, is Senior Vice President and Chief Health Officer for StayWell Health Management, a leading national provider of health management programs and services. David is the primary architect of StayWell’s health risk assessment and targeted health behavior-change intervention models. He continues to oversee the scientific and technical refinement of the Company’s risk-assessment, behavior-change, and cost-impact estimation programs. He has conducted groundbreaking evaluations of the effectiveness and cost impact of StayWell programs, including several landmark studies of medical claims impact.

Prior to StayWell, David held management and consulting positions with Control Data Corporation. During his ten-year tenure there, he played a major role in creating one of the first successful corporate health management programs. David began his career as Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point.

He is Editor of the Population Health Strategies section of the American Journal of Health Promotion. A licensed psychologist, David has published many professional papers and speaks regularly on health management issues. David earned his PhD in Social Psychology from the University of South Dakota, and completed a post-graduate business administration program at the New York University Graduate School of Business.

Areas of expertise: Employee Health Management Research, Strategy and Program Design.

David W. Ballard, PsyD, MBA
American Psychological Association

David Ballard, PsyD, MBA, currently serves as Assistant Executive Director for Corporate Relations and Business Strategy for the American Psychological Association (APA). In this capacity, David designs and directs efforts related to health and well-being in the workplace, educates the business community about the value of psychological services, works to enhance psychology’s position in the health care marketplace, and provides research and development and strategic consultation to help psychologists build, manage, market, and diversify their practices. David also spearheads the APA Practice Directorate’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award, a national program designed to recognize organizations that make a commitment to programs and policies that foster employee health and well-being while enhancing organizational performance.

Before coming to APA, he worked for a community-based mental health agency in Philadelphia, where he conducted clinical and forensic assessment of juveniles with regard to amenability to treatment, violence risk assessment, sexual abuse, and other psycholegal issues. David served as the agency's HIPAA Privacy Officer, chaired the Compliance Committee, and provided consultation regarding budget, finance, contract, and policy issues. David has provided research and consultation services to government agencies, medical schools, and universities in the areas of public health, prevention, and health care finance and has experience in management, marketing, consumer research, and professional event planning.

David received his PsyD in Clinical Psychology and his MBA in Health and Medical Services Administration from Widener University and completed concentrations in organizational and forensic psychology.

Area of expertise: Employee Health Management Mental Health

K. Andrew Crighton, MD
Prudential Financial
HERO Chairman Elect of the Board

Dr. Andrew Crighton is chief medical officer of Prudential Financial, which is the FORTUNE 64 corporation. In this role he manages Health and Wellness with oversight of domestic and international employee health and safety issues; as well as Prudential’s medical clinics; fitness facilities; Employee Assistance and Return to Work programs; and Work/Life vendors.

Andy is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Seton Hall University, serves on the board and executive committee of the New Jersey Arthritis Foundation and is co-chair of the Newark, New Jersey Cancer Initiative. He is a member of the American College of Physicians, American College of Physician Executives, and American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

His interest lies in total health management including health care effectiveness and its interaction on productivity in a corporate environment.

Area of expertise: Corporate Medical

LaVaughn Palma-Davis
Senior Director for University Health and Well-Being Services
University of Michigan

LaVaughn Palma-Davis, MPH is the Senior Director for University Health and Well-Being Services at the University of Michigan. Her responsibilities include wellness and risk reduction services, employee assistance programs, occupational health clinical services, ergonomics, occupational therapy and return to work services, and community health promotion outreach. LaVaughn is responsible for approximately 85 employees who provide services to the University of Michigan as well as to over 300 other employers in Southeastern Michigan. She was recently asked to lead the implementation of a five year strategic plan for health and well-being services for all U-M employees, dependents and retirees with the goals of improving health status and containing health care costs. LaVaughn received her B.S. in Health Education from the University of Dayton in 1978 and her Master's Degree in Public Health Education from Central Michigan University in 1981.

Areas of expertise: Creating and operating employee health management programs in a university setting

Thomas L. Fariss, MD, MPH
Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Tom Fariss, MD, MPH, is Corporate Medical Director at Kimberly-Clark Corporation. He is responsible for medical affairs and employee health services for the company. Tom joined Kimberly-Clark as Regional Medical Director in Neenah, Wisconsin, and is currently based at Kimberly-Clark’s operating headquarters in Roswell, Georgia. Special interests include preventive health, organizational health, and fitness.

Tom graduated from the College of William and Mary with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, and received his medical degree from University of Virginia School of Medicine. He served his internal medicine internship and residency at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. In 1994, he completed his Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency and Master of Public Health degree at George Washington University in Washington DC. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Preventive Medicine/Occupational Medicine, and is a member of several professional societies.

Area of expertise: Preventive and Organizational Health

Ron Goetzel, PhD
Thomson Reuters and Emory University

Ron Goetzel, PhD, is the VP of Consulting & Applied Research for ThomsonReuters and Research Professor - Emory University - At Thomson and Cornell, Ron is responsible for leading research projects and consulting services focusing on the relationship between health and well-being, and work related productivity. He is nationally recognized and widely published in the areas of return-on-investment (ROI), data analysis, program evaluation, outcomes research, and health and productivity measurement. Ron has served as Principal Investigator for projects supported by Medicare, NHLBI, and CDC, as well as dozens of business organizations, including HERO. Before joining Medstat in 1995, he was with Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems. He has doctoral and M.A. degrees in Applied Social Psychology from New York University.

Ron is also President and CEO of The Health Project, which is responsible for the C. Everett Koop National Health Awards.  Since 1994, The Health Project has been the premier organization that identifies and recognizes exemplar health promotion programs.  The Health Project is dedicated to improving Americans’ health and reducing the need and demand for medical services through good health practices.  To receive the Koop Award, there are three considerations.  Awards are conferred annually at a national meeting.

Area of Expertise: Research

John Harris, MEd
Healthways

John Harris, M. Ed., is Senior Vice President, Healthways, a company specializing in health management in the corporate and health insurance sectors. Before joining Healthways, he was the co-founder of Harris HealthTrends, Inc., an entrepreneurial corporation specializing in the prevention of disease and the reduction of health care costs, and served as its Chief Executive Officer for over 18 years.

John serves on the Board of Directors of Mercy Health Partners, an 11 hospital health system, and on the Board on Trustees of Lourdes College, the fastest growing college in the United States. John speaks internationally, and has been the author of numerous publications on employee health, including Making a Difference - The Business Community Takes On Diabetes, commissioned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the book Why and How People Change Health Behaviors, co-authored with Dr. Joseph Leutzinger.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Grand Valley State University in 1977, and a Masters in Education degree from The University of Toledo, in 1982. He has nearly 30 years of experience in the health management field, employed in both the corporate and private sectors, and was nominated for Toledo, Ohio Entrepreneur of the Year in 1990.

Area of expertise: Employee Health Management Operations

Kristine A. Holbrook, M.Ed.
MediFit Corporate Services

Kristine Holbrook, M.Ed. is Vice-President of Employer Health and Wellness Services for MediFit Corporate Services.  In this role, she advises clients on the development, implementation, and evaluation of employee health management programs.   
Prior to joining MediFit, Kristine managed a hospital-based wellness program, and worked overseas with the federal government managing a comprehensive health promotion program for 14 military communities.  Over the past 18+ years, her efforts have resulted in numerous industry-wide health and wellness programming honors and awards for her clients and employers.  Kristine is the Charter President for the HERO Association, a HERO Innovation Committee member, and Health Promotion Advocates Texas State Leader.  She formerly served as a Business and Industry Awards evaluator with the Association for Worksite Health Promotion (AWHP), was a Region II Membership Chair, and oversaw the annual General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award for V Corps in Frankfurt, Germany. 

Kristine received her Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Akron, and a Masters in Education degree from Cleveland State University.  She completed her internship with The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. 
Area of Expertise: Employee Health Management Operations

Ronald Loeppke, MD, MPH
Alere, LLC.

Ron Loeppke, MD, MPH is an Executive Vice President and Chief Stratigic officer of Health and Productivity Strategy for Alere.  Formely the Chief Strategic Officer and Executive Vice President of Matria Healthcare, Inc. In this role he led the firm’s strategic initiatives across the company as well as provided counsel on medical, health and productivity issues to Matria clients. Prior to joining Matria, Ron was chief Medical Officer, Chief Strategic Officer, and Executive Vice President for CorSolutions. Before CorSolutions, Ron was the Founder, President and CEO of the Health and Productivity Corporation of America (HPCA), headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee.

Ron is Board Certified in Preventive Medicine and fellowship trained in Occupational Medicine. He is a Fellow of both the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) and the American College of Preventive Medicine, (ACPM). Ron is currently the Co-Chairman of the ACOEM Section on Health and Productivity, which is actively involved in defining and establishing measurement criteria for research in health and productivity initiatives, as well as assimilating input from practice experts in the field, employers, corporate medical directors, employer coalitions, pharmaceutical companies, the provider community, and other key stakeholders on the frontlines of the health and productivity arena.

Ron has over 20 years of clinical and physician executive experience in the Occupational Health, Preventive Medicine, and Medical Management arenas. He has authored numerous articles and book chapters relating to health and productivity, occupational health, managed care, quality care improvement, adoption of evidence based medicine, employer health initiatives, consumer driven healthcare, preventive medicine, and innovative models for the business of healthcare.

Area of expertise: Health & Productivity
 

Jerry V. Noyce

Jerry joined HFC in 2000. Under his leadership HFC has become a premier provider of health management and fitness services to employers, the health care industry, and individual consumers. To achieve this he expanded HFC’s business base; recruited key executives from the health care, health management, and wellness industries for HFC’s Board of Directors and Executive Staff; and facilitated HFC’s acquisitions and integrations of the Health & Fitness Division of Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc. and HealthCALC businesses.

Appointed by President George W. Bush in 2006, Jerry serves on The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. In this capacity he advises the President, through the Secretary of Health and Human Services, about physical activity, fitness, and sports, and recommends programs to promote regular physical activity for the health of all Americans. The Council's programs, projects, and public information materials/campaigns emphasize the importance of regular physical activity, including sports participation, for Americans of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.

A graduate of University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, Jerry has more than 25 years of management experience in the health and fitness industry. Prior to joining HFC he served as CEO of the Northwest Racquet, Swim & Health Clubs, where he grew the organization from three clubs to the largest single-city chain of health clubs in the United States. An avid tennis player, Mr. Noyce professionally coached the men’s tennis team at the University of Minnesota from 1983 to 1997.

Area of expertise: The Future of Employee Health Management

Hank Orme
President
Lincoln Industries

 Hank Orme joined Lincoln Industries in May 1999 after retiring from a 33- year career with Whirlpool Corporation.  He joined Whirlpool as a management trainee and worked in several different departments including human resources, sales, and operations.  In the 13 years prior to retiring from Whirlpool, he was responsible for the operations of different business units, beginning with the after market unit in 1986.  Next, he started Whirlpool's' tele-services unit, which today has more than $500 million in sales.  In his last position at Whirlpool, hew was in charge of the company's China operations.  He joined Lincoln Industries in April, 1999 and was named the company's president in October, 2001.  Hank's biggest contribution to Lincoln Industries success has been his impact on the company's culture.  Hank knows every employee and the people of Lincoln Industries know he is available 24 yours a day, 7 days a week.  He is the architect of an empowerment program that trust people to make decisions fro themselves.  The result is a high performance company where people are not afraid to fail.  In the end, Hank has helped build a culture where people trust him and each other.

Area of expertise: Generating employee health management support for mid-size programs

Bob Soroosh, MBA
Affinia Group

Bob Soroosh, MBA, is Director of Benefits for Affinia Group Inc., a leading manufacturer of automotive components. Bob earned his Executive MBA from the University of Colorado, and completed a BA in Communications at Baylor University.

Bob is the primary architect of Affinia’s Partners in Health integrated benefit plan, which in its first year of implementation achieved both a reduction in medical and drug costs (in excess of 15%) and an improvement in the health risk profile of people covered under the plan. Affinia’s consumer-driven health plan (administered by Definity Health) and its health management plan (provided by StayWell Health Management) are linked together by a Covenant. Employees who sign the Covenant agree to participate in a StayWell screening and risk assessment. As an incentive, they receive a $1,000 lower annual premium for their medical and drug coverage.

Prior to Affinia, he held management positions with the Clevite division of Dana Corporation, as Vice President of Organizational Development and Director of Training. During his twenty-year tenure there, Bob led several organizational development and training initiatives. As Director of Training, he is the author of numerous training programs, and has conducted educational seminars in the USA, Canada, and the UK.

Area of expertise: Corporate Benefits

Jeffrey A. Warren, MPA
National Pharmaceutical Council

Jeff Warren, MPA, is a Senior Advisor to the National Pharmaceutical Council and a Principal with JR Market Strategies, Inc., a healthcare consulting firm. Previously, Jeff was responsible for Strategic Marketing and Media Relations for Pfizer Health Solutions. Earlier in his career, he served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development for Cathedral Healthcare System. During his time with Cathedral, Jeff was a National Program Director for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s New Jersey Health Services Development Program.

His past experience includes tenure as Vice President, Corporate Development with Hackensack Medical Center and as the first Executive Secretary of the New Jersey Hospital Rate Setting Commission. He is past President of the Board of Gilda’s Club, Northern, NJ, and is currently a member of the board of The Adler Aphasia Center. He also serves on the Editorial Task Force Committee of American Medical Group Association’s “Group Practice Journal.” Jeff has a Masters Degree (MPA) in Health Policy, Planning and Administration from the Wagner School of Public Service at NYU. He resides in Parsippany, NJ.

Area of expertise: Pharmaceutical Industry

R. William Whitmer, MBA
Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO)

Bill Whitmer, MBA, is Co-Founder, President & CEO of the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO). Over the past 11 years, HERO has facilitated and published important and frequently referenced employee health management research. More recently, the HERO Think Tank has become operational and taken a prominent position in creating national employee health management policy, strategy, leadership, and infrastructure.

For 20 years prior to HERO, Bill was Founder, President & CEO of Wellness South, one of the first full service employee health management provider-consulting firms. During this time, Bill was Co-Principal Investigator in the $3 million, NIH funded employee health management research project for the employees of the municipal government of the City of Birmingham, Alabama.

Bill is author of chapters for employee health management text books and published peer reviewed research and lay articles. He is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences and symposia.

Area of expertise: Employee Health Management Innovation