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John D. Forsyth
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield |
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John Forsyth is chairman and CEO of Wellmark, Inc. Wellmark is the largest health insurer in both Iowa and South Dakota and issues or pays health benefit claims for more than 2 million Iowans and South Dakotans.
Forsyth joined Wellmark as CEO in August 1996, and was named chairman in 2000. During his tenure, he has repositioned Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield as a health improvement company dedicated to serving the people of Iowa and South Dakota.
Under his leadership, Wellmark has achieved exceptional operating efficiencies and results. As testament, medical trend and administrative costs for Wellmark now rank among the lowest in the nation. Enrollment has also grown each year since his arrival.
Believing that the extensive health care data maintained by Wellmark can be a powerful catalyst for action to improve community health, Forsyth has transformed the company's sharing of appropriate information with community leaders, policymakers, customers, and others. The company is currently on a journey to build a sustainable health care system by reducing the rate of increase in medical expenses and reducing the average rate increase to the level of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by 2014.
Before joining Wellmark, Forsyth served in a variety of executive roles over a 26-year career with the University of Michigan. In 1985, he was named president and CEO of the University of Michigan Health System, one of the largest and most prestigious health systems in the nation.
Forsyth was named by Governor Tom Vilsack to the Iowa Board of Regents in April 2003, and served as president of the board from April 2004 to January 2005. In April 2000, at Governor Vilsack’s request, Forsyth led a state-wide task force on teacher compensation, which resulted in precedent-setting changes to teacher pay in Iowa.
The Wellmark Foundation, under Forsyth’s leadership, focuses its philanthropic activities on key areas of health improvement for all Iowans and South Dakotans. The Foundation awards more than $2 million annually to fund community-based health initiatives in Iowa and South Dakota.
A contributing author and editor for various publications throughout his career, including the Journal of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Forsyth has chaired the board of directors of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, United Way of Central Iowa, the Variety Club Annual Telethon, and in November 2008 served as co-chair of the NAACP Des Moines Branch’s 33rd Annual Freedom Fund Banquet. He served as president of the Federation of Iowa Insurers, and is a member of the Iowa Business Council, serving as chair of that organization in 2004. In September 2003, he was elected to the board of directors of Baxter, International, Inc., and in May 2004 named chair of the Compensation Committee. He is a member of the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) board of directors and currently serves as chairman of that organization. He has chaired the Investment Committee of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and in November, 2008 was named to their initial board of directors. He served, and continues to serve on numerous national committees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, including serving on its board of directors.
A native of Saginaw, Michigan, John Forsyth holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in economics from Michigan State University.
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| Thomas M. Cink, M.D. |
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Dr. Cink joined the Sioux Falls Medical X-Ray Center in 1981. He is a diagnostic radiologist specializing in mammography and chest imaging.
He received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion and his medical degree from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine. He interned and completed his residency in diagnostic radiology at the Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Hospital in Los Angeles, and completed a fellowship in chest and breast imaging at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver.
Dr. Cink is certified in diagnostic radiology by the American Board of Radiology, and is a member of the American College of Radiology, the Association of University Radiologists, the Radiological Society of North America, the Society of Breast Imaging, the American College of Chest Physicians, the Society of Thoracic Radiology, the American Thoracic Society, the South Dakota State Medical Association, and the Seventh District Medical Society. He is a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians and is also a Fellow of the American College of Radiology. Dr. Cink and his wife, Mary, have four daughters.
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| Steven Crim |
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Steve Crim is a native of Estherville, Iowa and a graduate of Mankato State University with a degree in Business Administration and Economics. After serving in Vietnam, Crim joined John Morrell & Co., starting in the beef division, and is a 30-year veteran of Morrell. Crim had been the General Manager at Sioux Falls for 15 years until his retirement January 1, 2007.
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| Melanie C. Dreher, PhD, RN, FAAN |
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Dr. Dreher is the Dean of the College of Nursing of Rush University. From 1997 until 2006 she served as Dean at the University of Iowa College of Nursing where she established a Masters in Nursing and Health Care Practice degree, which became the national model for professional nursing education. She was Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Massachusetts from 1988 to 1997 and Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Miami from 1984 to 1988. In addition to her role as Dean, she has had a distinguished research career as the principal investigator of several community-based studies examining the health and development of women and children in Jamaica. Her research interests also include cross-cultural studies of the health care systems, the organization and financing of community health care and the effects of substance use on the health, development and task performance in adults and children.
She is a graduate, magna cum laude, of Long Island University School of Nursing and holds a doctorate in anthropology from Teachers College and Columbia University where she completed her dissertation with distinction. She has published several books, reports and articles.
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Daryl K. Henze
Lead Director |
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Daryl K. Henze has over 40 years' experience in the auditing, accounting and finance area. He spent 36 years with the international accounting firm of KPMG LLP, 28 years as an audit partner, before retiring in 2001. He is currently consulting in the area of finance and accounting, and serves on three other company boards of directors.
During his career with KPMG LLP he served in a number of capacities including partner-in-charge of the Des Moines office audit practice, partner-in-charge of the manufacturing, retail and distribution practice and he served on the Firm’s practice review committee. He served clients in a variety of industries including a number of the larger entities in the state of Iowa. He graduated from Minnesota State University Mankato with a Bachelors degree in accounting and was named the outstanding graduate of 1965.
Mr. Henze has served on numerous community, professional and political committees throughout his career. He currently is serving on the Board of Directors of Minnesota State University Foundation, Endow Urbandale Foundation, Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors and the Iowa State University Accounting Advisory Board. He is past president of the Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Des Moines Club and served on the Iowa Accountancy Examining Board for nine years, several of which as chairman.
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| William C. (Curt) Hunter |
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William C. (Curt) Hunter is the Dean of the Henry B. Tippie College of Business, The University of Iowa, since 2006. He studied Business and Economics at Hampton Institute, and earned an MBA in Finance and a PhD in Finance & Environment from Northwestern University.
His areas of expertise include public policy issues associated with the organization and regulation of domestic and international financial markets and institutions, macro-finance and monetary policy, the impact of uncertainty on financial decision-making, and the impact of market structure on the pricing and hedging performance of derivative securities.
Prior to his current position, Dean Hunter served as Dean and Distinguished Professor of Finance for the University of Connecticut School of Business and has held similar positions at various banking institutions and universities throughout his 35 year career.
Dean Hunter has published several articles and served as a contributing editor for various publications. He has also received many awards including, most recently, the Distinguished Visiting Chaired Professor, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and President's Award for Excellence, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
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| Kay Jorgensen |
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Kay Jorgensen is Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of Jorgensen/Thompson Creative Broadcast Services, Inc. in Spearfish, South Dakota, a company that produces radio programs for broadcast nationwide. She is a 1973 graduate of Black Hills State College with a Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education.
Ms. Jorgensen's current employment also includes work as a Business Consultant in Spearfish and an Auctioneer, donating service to charitable organizations. Ms. Jorgensen currently serves on several public service and private corporate boards. Some of her current public board service includes the Mid-Continent Research Education Laboratory since 1989, Leadership America, South Dakota Youth Business Adventure and Spearfish Safe and Drug-Free Advisory Council.
Her current private corporate board service includes Director on the Black Hills Corporation Board of Directors where she also serves as Committee member for the Executive, Governance and Compensation Committees of the Board. She also serves on the Education Telecommunications Board, the governing board for South Dakota Broadcasting.
Ms. Jorgensen has also served on District 26 and District 31 of the South Dakota House of Representatives, South Dakota Board of Regents (1986-1989), South Dakota Centennial Commission (1987 - 1989) and the Spearfish School District School Board (1990-1993).
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| Katherine A. Kinsman, M.S. |
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Katherine "Kitty" Kinsman, is President & Principal Consultant of The K Group in Rapid City, SD. The K Group provides contract public affairs, government relations and lobbying services to organizations and businesses, including such services as policy strategy and implementation, lobbying, grassroots organizing, advocacy training, grant writing, spokesperson training, media relations, fundraising. Representative clients/projects include: The American Cancer Society, The National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, Americans Discuss Social Security, South Dakota Academy of Physician Assistants, North American Portland Cement Association and American Concrete Pipe Association.
Ms. Kinsman graduated magna cum laude from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a minor is business. She earned a Masters in Management from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. She was recipient of the Bush Foundation Leadership Fellowship award in 1989 and a Sloan Fellow from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Ms. Kinsman volunteers and serves in the South Dakota Community in several capacities. Recent service includes: Chairman of the Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Co-Chairman of the Black Hills Air Service Task Force; Chairman of the South Dakota Parks & Wildlife Foundation. She also serves on the boards of Children's Care Foundation, the South Dakota Recreational Trails Advisory Board; the Black Hills Area Community Foundation Board of Directors, and Junior Achievement of South Dakota.
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| Paul E. Larson |
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Paul E. Larson is a retired executive with ING Equitable of Iowa. He graduated with honors from Drake University in 1974, and with high honors from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1977. In 1982, he became a certified public accountant.
Mr. Larson spent his entire career at Equitable of Iowa. He joined the company in 1977 as a mortgage analyst, and moved to the finance department as assistant treasurer in 1981. He was named chief financial officer in 1984, later adding responsibility for many of the company’s administrative and support areas. After ING acquired Equitable of Iowa in 1997, Larson was named president of Equitable’s two primary insurance companies, Equitable Life of Iowa and USG Annuity and Life Company. He served in that capacity until his retirement in 1999.
During his career, Mr. Larson served on several committees related to accounting and annuities with the American Council of Life Insurance. In 1999 he received the Iowa Society of CPA’s Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry Award, and was inducted into the American Institute of CPA’s Business and Industry Hall of Fame in 2000.
Mr. Larson is a member of the Boards of Directors of GuideOne Mutual Insurance Company, GuideOne Specialty Mutual Insurance Company, and FBL Financial Group, Inc.. Over the years Mr. Larson has been active with numerous community groups and has served on the boards of the Convalescent Home for Children, the Des Moines Hearing and Speech Center, the Des Moines Botanical Center, Civic Music Association and the United Way of Central Iowa.
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| Angeline M. Lavin, Ph.D., CFA |
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Angeline Lavin is a Professor of Finance in the Beacom School of Business at the University of South Dakota. Prior to joining the faculty in 1997, she received a B.S. in Business Administration from USD, a MBA in Finance and a PhD in Finance from the University of Nebraska. The author of numerous refereed journal publications, her responsibilities at USD include serving as Director of the MBA and MPA Programs in addition to her teaching and research activities. Professor Lavin also is a member of the Sioux Falls Firefighters Pension Board and the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation Investment Management Committee.
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| Kenton K. Moss, M.D. |
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Dr. Moss is a family physician with the Mercy Family Care Network at Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona, Iowa. He is a 1974 graduate of the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science Degree and a 1978 graduate of the University of Iowa School of Medicine. He completed a three-year residency at the Davenport Medical Education Program, Mercy St. Luke’s Hospital in Davenport, Iowa in 1981. He is certified by the American Board of Family Practice since 1981 and since 1999 in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Advanced Trauma Life Support.
Dr. Moss has served on numerous community and professional committees throughout the years. He has been serving on the North Iowa Physician Hospital Organization Board since 1996, and the North Iowa Mercy Health Center System Board since 1998, serving as Vice-Chairman in 2003 - 2004 and the North Iowa Mercy Health Center Service Quality Improvement Task Force since 1999.
Dr. Moss is serving on the Board of Directors Interstate Postgraduate Medical Association 2002-2005. He was Vice Speaker for the House of Delegates Iowa Medical Society 2002-2003, and Speaker, 2003-2004. Dr. Moss serves on the Iowa Medical Society Board of Directors and has served on the Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. Board of Directors since 2000. He was named Chairman of the Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. Board of Directors in 2003.
Dr. Moss is married and has three children and resides in Algona, Iowa. In addition to his professional activities and involvement, he is also actively involved in the community, most recently including Chairman of the Building Improvement Committee, First Lutheran Church. Dr. Moss is founder of the Algona Family YMCA. He served as Co-Chair of the Fund Raising Committee and currently is a member of the Property Committee for the YMCA. Dr. Moss’s personal interests include flying, golfing, horseback riding, racquetball, biking, and running.
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| Terrence J. Mulligan |
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Terrence J. Mulligan is Vice-Chairman of MedAssets, Inc. He is Chairman of the Senior Advisory Board, and also chairs the Compensation Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committees. Mr. Mulligan retired in 1996 from Baxter International, after serving 26 years with the company. He was Group Vice President of Health Systems, and prior to that, was Senior Vice President of Corporate Sales and Marketing. He was a member of both the Senior Management and Operating Management Committees at Baxter International. Mulligan serves on the Board of Visitors of the Henry B. Tippie College of Business, the University of Iowa. Mr. Mulligan holds a B.S.S.E. from the University of Iowa. Mr. Mulligan served in the United States Army from 1968-1970 and was stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal as a 1st. Lieutenant, for "Meritorious Service in Europe" in 1970.
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| Mary Lynn Myers |
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Mary Lynn Myers joined First Bank of South Dakota, now US Bank, in 1978, and managed human resources, retail banking, and commercial lending before retiring as Senior Vice President in 1996. Ms. Myers began her career in 1968 with the General Services Administration in Chicago. In 1972 she was appointed the first Director of the South Dakota Division of Human Rights, and held that position through 1976, when she was named a White House Fellow by President Gerald Ford and appointed as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Commerce.
Ms. Myers graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. She earned a Masters in Management with distinction from DePaul University and received a diploma from the University of Colorado Graduate School of Banking.
Ms. Myers is immediate past Deputy Chairman of the World Board of Directors of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Previously, she was a member of the National Board of Directors, National Treasurer, and Vice President of Girl Scouts of the USA, as well as President of the Girl Scouts of Minn-Ia-Kota, headquartered in Sioux Falls, SD.
Ms. Myers has volunteered in many capacities, including Chair of the Board of Directors for the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, President of the SD Symphony, Chair of the North Central University Center and the Sioux Empire Arts Council, Treasurer of the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and the Sioux Empire United Way, and member of the Board of Trustees for the University of Sioux Falls and Board of Directors of the University of SD Alumni Association. For her community leadership she has been awarded the American Institute of Banking Community Service Award, the YWCA Leader in Business Award, and the Girl Scouts’ Juliette Gordon Low World Friendship Medal. She has twice been named the US Small Business Administration Advocate for Women in Business in South Dakota.
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| Dave Neil |
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Dave Neil started his career at the Waterloo John Deere Tractor Works in 1960, where he joined Local UAW 838. From 1960 to 1978, Mr. Neil held various Union positions, including steward; financial secretary; vice president; divisional steward; full-time committeeman; elected negotiator; and secretary/treasurer of United Auto Workers (UAW) Agricultural Implement Council. During those years he also engaged in farming.
Throughout his career, he has been active in politics, public service and has served on several boards and commissions including the Governor's Task Force on Health Care, board member of the Health Policy Corporation of Iowa, Cedar Valley HMO, YMCA, Martin Luther King Community Center, Area VII Job Partnership Training Council, United Way, the Iowa Farm/Labor Coalition, the Workers' Compensation Advisory Board and the Advisory Board of the University of Iowa Labor Center.
In 1978, Mr. Neil was elected president of UAW Local 838 and president of the John Deere UAW Inter-Corporation Council. He was appointed to the UAW International staff in 1983. In 1995, he was elected president of the Iowa UAW Community Action Council. In 1998 he was appointed to the Iowa Board of Regents overseeing Iowa's three public universities and two special schools. Upon his retirement from the UAW in 2005, he was appointed by the Governor to serve as the Labor Commissioner for the State of Iowa.
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