Betsy Seals, Co-Founder, and CEO of Rebellis Group is a nationally recognized leader in the managed care industry with over 20 years of experience. Rebellis Group is a consulting firm established to provide advisory and hands-on services to Medicare Advantage Organizations and subcontractors.

Bringing to the table a solid mix of leadership, business acumen and regulatory and strategic knowledge within the Managed Care landscape, Betsy has the unique ability to focus attention on what matters most for achieving success by tapping into her team’s hidden talents. She has a passion for empowering team members to think big to reach their full potential.

Mentorship is critical to Betsy. She has been fortunate to have met many mentors during her professional career that shaped her into the person she is today. “I recall hearing a statistic many years ago which was that roughly 90% of workers in healthcare are female but 90% of executives in healthcare are male. I recall at that point, doing a lot of thinking about why that would be the case,” she says. “One thing I decided, and still believe today is that woman doubt themselves far too much. I believe that a good portion of success in business is being confident in your own knowledge and abilities so that you may also instill confidence in others.”

Betsy believes that great ideas can come from any part of the company and empowers people to think big, find solutions and drive results – that is what sets Rebellis apart. “Because of our model, one of my core strategies as a leader is to allow our consultants to shine and not to micro-manage. I’ve hired the best in the industry, and I give my team a lot of leeway to run their portion of the business,” she adds. “I advise everyone, when you’re young in your career, learn, be a sponge and pick up every piece of knowledge that you can. Your hard work will earn you the respect of others. Always treat people with respect, no matter if you’re speaking with an entry level employee or the CEO. .” Armed with this ideology, Betsy is taking the company to great heights.

Betsy’s success in this industry has given her a platform to speak on health equity, health literacy and Social Determinants of Health (SDoH). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently outlined its action plan to improve health equity across the agency, which serves more than 100 million Americans in Medicare Advantage, Medicare, Medicaid and the ACA Marketplace.. “CMS makes it clear that health equity will be embedded in its DNA. I view the awareness of these issues as one of the main gaps in the knowledge base of many healthcare executives, and a main goal of mine is to bring awareness so that these gaps may begin to close. My team is committed to working with our clients and with CMS with the common goal of providing equitable care for all.”

Today managed care is in the middle of a movement that will have a tremendous impact on the Medicare population, which is the understanding of SDoH. “We understand so much more now than we did ten years ago about health literacy and health equity and how those factors impact longevity and quality of life,” explains Betsy. “As a thought leader in my industry, my goal is to move the needle related to how we’re innovating to close the equity gap in the vulnerable populations that we serve in managed care.”

Rebellis Group was launched on February 3rd of 2020, just weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the United States. Looking back, Betsy remembers a few moments of panic when the industry, and the country, essentially went dark in mid-March. “Now looking back, I am very glad that we had the grit and foresight that we did. We have experienced tremendous growth over the past years and have been extremely fortunate and honored that some of the industry’s most talented executives and consultants have chosen to join the Rebellis team.”

Rebellis Group has just entered its third year as a company. “Although I am very proud of what we’ve accomplished thus far, we have a lot of growth still ahead of us. Our goal is to be the first firm that anyone thinks of when they’re looking for a Medicare Advantage expert consulting firm. It’s a goal that I know we can achieve, but I also know that we must be thoughtful in our growth to ensure that we’re keeping the company’s core values in the forefront.” WL

As General Counsel, Leslie Shaunty is uniquely positioned to interact with and influence every aspect of Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc. From contracts with key vendors to mergers and acquisitions to marketing and communications, Leslie works to ensure that the Company’s policies and messaging are consistent throughout and across the organization.

One of Leslie’s essential qualities is her desire and ability to fully understand every facet of the business. From underwriting drivers and policy forms to complicated reinsurance transactions to communications and HR matters, Leslie digs in to ensure that she knows what is asked of the legal department and what is needed. In addition, she proactively offers advice, highlighting cross-functional issues that others may not consider. Leslie’s desire to learn and contribute and her willingness to ask questions in situations where she is still learning or to prompt another line of thought improves her colleagues and the Company. Additionally, Leslie leads the way in implementing methods to measure success in areas of her business that are typically difficult to measure. This challenges other support functions to meet this same challenge in their areas.

According to the Company’s CEO, Leslie’s “superpower” is her ability to take big projects and undertakings and drive them to completion. A perfect example of this quality is when she stepped out of her legal role and volunteered to work with the CEO and an outside branding consultant to transform the Company’s brand from its former iteration to the dynamic brand and Company Skyward Specialty is today. Through this project, Leslie worked closely with the CEO to develop the outward indicators of the new company culture, including the new value, mission, vision statements, website, voice, and, of course, the Company’s name.

Finally, Leslie has deep-seated convictions based on a strong sense of ethics and fairness. Her ethics base, paired with the respect she has earned from her colleagues, means that it is easy to ensure the Company keeps its compliance responsibilities in the forefront and there is no pushback, even when the right choice is tough. No matter how tough or challenging the scenario, Leslie is always her authentic self, an excellent attribute as a woman leader and role model for all the employees, but especially for the women across her Company.

As one of the Company’s most tenured leaders, and a female executive, Leslie feels responsible for mentoring up-and-coming female leaders to help them find their footing to grow and develop. “Because of the length of time I’ve been with the Company, I have institutional knowledge and can share insights from my experiences,” she says. “I firmly believe it is essential that female leaders be intentionally visible and active in Company events. Because of this belief, I am engaged in a range of Company-wide initiatives and events, like our inaugural Women’s Forum and monthly one-on-one “Coffee Chats” with team members from across the country.”

The steadfast leader is passionate about mentoring and supporting female employees to achieve their full potential. For example, several years ago, Leslie recognized that the Company’s receptionist had the ability and desire to develop into a more professional role. Early on, Leslie gave her compliance tasks she could do while performing her regular duties. “Eventually, I brought her into the Legal Department and taught her about compliance and licensing issues. Today, after my urging, she plays an integral role in the department as a certified paralegal and works on various M&A and compliance projects for the department,” elucidates Leslie proudly.

At this point in Leslie’s career, her goals primarily focus on developing employees and helping to create a strong company that can provide for its employees for years to come. “Therefore, my best days are when I get to spend time mentoring and coaching the future leaders of our Company,” explains Leslie.

“I believe our Company’s future is directly tied to recruiting the industry’s best talent, developing our existing employees and arming them with the tools they need to flourish.”

“It is exciting to represent a people-centric Company that remains committed to its core values and vision. I aim to ensure the culture remains the same and we achieve much more,” added Leslie. WL

At only 36, Gabriella Vavrasek, Global Head of HR, Roscommon, has had lots of success to brag about- personally and professionally! She is a mom, adjunct professor, marathoner, and college mentor, but for her, the journey has been the most rewarding part. “There have been many highs and many lows in every part of my life. It’s easy to get caught up and let the lows drag you down; and I’m guilty of letting it happen more often than I would like to admit. Over time, I’ve had to learn how to let things go, ride the wave, and focus on only what I can control. I’m not perfect at it, I will never be, but I am progressing!”

Gabriella brings Roscommon a breadth and depth of expertise in Human Resources. But it was her drive and passion for making companies better and more fulfilling places to work that earned her the clear choice for the position, and it was evident as soon as she walked through the door.

An open mind and ability to listen generously enabled her to get their needs, challenges, and thoughts on culture from every employee. Her contagious energy and people expertise have quickly helped the Roscommon community feel at ease and supported while also assisting the senior leadership team to appreciate the importance of a strong culture and back initiatives that ensure the company’s existing talent is given priority and continues to attract top talent as they grow.

For Gabriella, it has always been important to surround herself with mentors, advocates, and coaches to help keep her grounded, challenged, and inspired. “I was fortunate enough to learn from very powerful female (and male) leaders throughout my career and I want to give other young females the same opportunity,” she adds. “Outside of work, I teach graduate-level HR courses and mentor female students. It gives me a great sense of joy helping young women navigate their careers and see them succeed.”

Gabriella’s energy is infectious. She brings authentic technical expertise, thought leadership, and passion that can’t help but affect and inspire those around her. Colleagues all agree she is always accessible and, most importantly, direct and transparent. “Giving and receiving feedback can be difficult, but I have always felt most empowered after receiving constructive feedback because that is how I continue to learn and grow. I’ve made it a point to give others the same opportunity and be honest with them so that they too can learn and grow.”

According to Gabriella, despite great strides, female leaders continue to have to push through barriers to serve their mission and reach their full potential. “As my career has continued to grow, I have become acutely aware of how important, impactful, and necessary it is for women to take risks.

Men are notoriously greater risktakers and will more often take on roles they may not be fully qualified for,” she explains. “I have left cushy and stable jobs in exchange for risker ones that I was not 100% ready for, but that’s how I’ve been able to stay engaged and challenged in every role; and I have made plenty of mistakes, but there were many people I met along the way that helped guide and empower me to keep moving. Find those people and hang on to them! Risk is OK, especially when you have a support system around you to help navigate it.”

One of the biggest reasons Gabriella joined Roscommon was their unique self-awareness as a growing business that they could do better for their people – their most valuable asset. “Culture, diversity, inclusion, the employee experience, development – we are reimagining it all! I am so proud to sit on an Executive Committee that is 50% female and work for an employer that gives its employees the same attention they do their clients [and appreciates that, when hiring, if a male and female candidate appear equal “on paper” that the woman has likely had to work much harder and overcome more to get to the same place as the man].”

For the days to come, the steadfast leader is excited to be part of a firm that is empowering her, other women (and all employees) to focus on both their personal and professional goals. “We are a firm focused on growth – for the business and for its people and I am thrilled to be part of it.” WL

Dr. Winnie Chu, founder, and CTO of Nanozen, tenacity is her biggest strength. She has that essential entrepreneurial quality of not giving up when faced with obstacles. This was crucial when founding a startup with extremely limited resources and a new brand and not yet recognized by the industry. Her second biggest strength is her ability to empathize with others. Her empathy, plus her effort to truly listen to customers and understand their pain points, has guided Nanozen’s product and service development. Winnie’s laser focus on solving critical occupational health and industrial safety challenges across multiple industries has created billion-dollar opportunities for Nanozen.

Winnie has participated in female entrepreneurial panels sharing her experience with local women entrepreneur groups. But more importantly, starting from her time at the University of British Columbia as a faculty member, Dr. Chu continues to take on young women scientists and engineers consciously. She mentors and trains these young women while providing opportunities to earn work experience and gain confidence as young professionals. Winnie believes work experiences and confidence building are critical cornerstones in establishing a young women’s future career.

Nanozen was born from Winnie’s frustration with existing inefficient and inadequate methods of measuring inhalation levels of toxic airborne particles in industries such as mining and pharmaceuticals. Regulatory-approved methods still required companies to draw air using a pump, collect airborne hazardous materials onto a filter, and then ship the filters to an accredited lab to wait for the results. “Critical safety data can take anywhere from weeks to months to be determined; meanwhile workers handling hazardous materials continue to be exposed,” explains Dr. Chu. “The lack of timely data and information also makes it very challenging to establish how and where the exposure happened and to prevent instances from reoccurring.” Nanozen’s patented technology is a perfect fit for an IIoT aerosol sensor to protect workers and the community within the framework of this digital transformation.

Nanozen’s specialty is its personal, wearable sensor that determines an individual’s exposure in real-time as they perform their daily work. Dr. Chu recruited a talented group of specialists in spectroscopy, aerosol physics, fluidic dynamics, optics and digital signal processing to form a strong research and development team. “Together, we are building chemical speciation aerosol spectrometers utilizing artificial intelligence that are generations ahead of the competition.”

In 2018, a $400 million settlement was reached between six global mining companies and South African miners who suffered deadly health issues due to silica inhalation on the job. Nanozen’s sensors offer an effective method of determining the concentration of silica dust in workers’ breathing zones. Ten of the top 15 global mining companies have adopted Nanozen’s DustCount 9000 to alert workers when high levels of silica dust are present. Teck Resources in Canada describes how crystalline silica dust can enter a worker’s breathing zone during mining operations. Teck took advantage of Nanozen’s innovative real-time dust monitoring technology to gain detailed, real-time data on dust exposure levels. Teck Resources’ Vice President of Health and Safety, Lawrence Watkins’ comments, “This advancement in real-time particulate monitoring represents a fundamental shift for the industry and helps us improve on our commitment to protecting the long-term health of Teck employees.”

In pharmaceutical industries where manual handling of Highly Potent Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (HPAPI’s) remains part of the production and R&D process, HPAPI’s pose hazards to workers and potential cross-contamination of batches during drug production. Such crucial information cannot depend on the traditional method of sending sample filters to the laboratory and waiting for results. Now 6 of the top 10 global pharmaceutical companies utilize Nanozen’s technology to protect workers better and prevent cross-contamination when handling HPAPI’s. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has given a presentation on the advantage of using Nanozen’s real-time monitors to understand and determine exposure in real-time instead of waiting weeks and months for the results.

“The marriage of our wearable sensor with portable Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometers (FTIR) to quantify exposure to specific chemicals immediately after each shift has revolutionized communication of crucial safety data and the prevention of cross contamination,” says Dr. Chu. “This novel approach has also saved millions of dollars per year for all industries involved so far.” IEWL

Nanozen

Management

Dr Winnie Chu
founder & CTO of Nanozen

Description

Nanozen Industries Inc. pioneers innovative approaches to aerosol exposure analysis for industrial workplace environments. Nanozen’s mission is to build, test, and market leading edge technologies that drive new, emerging standards for workplace analysis, worker protection and timely corrective action in the Occupational Health and Safety industry. Know the air your breathe!

Estate planning: Why this media article should inspire you to engage and act now

An article has been shared a bit lately, likely because, simply said, it is tragic beyond words and, to many, absolutely unbelievable and unfathomable. One cannot be moved in some way, by this article.

One in three women worldwide suffer from urine leakage when working out or when they laugh, cough, or sneeze; but they wait an average of seven years before consulting a doctor about it. By that time, the problem can become debilitating. Fortunately, Watkins-Conti Products, Inc. is working to intercept those seven years by offering an easy-to-access non-invasive solution to this issue that women are often ashamed to talk about. This solution is called Yoni.Fit.

Yoni.Fit was invented by single mom, Allison Conti, who is helping one woman at a time tackle the taboo issue of urine leakage throughout their daily lives. Most people would find it surprising that many first experience this problem in their early twenties or even sooner. The common misconception about urine leakage is that it only impacts older women or obese women; this is simply not true. A large number of women are healthy and active when they first have the problem, yet it is an embarrassing subject to discuss.

Watkins-Conti Products hopes to eradicate the stigma and normalize the issue by simply talking about it now; as they work to bring a product to market that solves it. Clinical trials are currently being conducted at New York Langone University, Stanford Medical Center and Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals.

“Most of my patients report being dry with the device. For context, dry is not a word used often in incontinence care with many patients being improved with therapy but a smaller percentage being dry.” – Dr. Christina Escobar, NYU Langone Hospital

“Of our ladies who have participated, they have LOVED the device.” – Kathryn Batham – Clinical Study Manager, Stanford Medical Center

The current solutions cleared to market today are adult diapers and pads that only address the symptoms by absorbing the urine. Absorbency products like these run the risk of either odor, skin irritation, or visible bulking under clothes. Other options are invasive surgeries, which can come with serious complications and bulking agents that prevent the leaking but typically last only for the short term. Yoni.Fit is the only product in the market that offers the best possible solution to this troubling condition.

“YoniFit is a game changer! I’ve tried every comparable product and NOTHING is as effective. This product gave me my quality of like back! I’m so thankful!,” ~ Angie

Yoni.Fit is simple, easy to use, and is shown to prevent urine leakage. It is a 100% medical-grade silicone vaginal insert similar to a tampon that can be worn for just an hour while a woman works out up to 12 hours if she needs it all day. Women can use this discreetly in the comfort of their own home. The reusable device that is replaced every 30 days is designed to stop the leaking by placing a gentle amount of pressure on the bladder neck through the intravaginal canal. In most cases, the product does not have to be removed to urinate; it simply stops involuntary leaking and most women report that they can’t even feel it when inserted properly.

“It honestly feels like it is my ‘calling’ to bring this product that has so profoundly changed my own life to the millions of women who need it.” said Allison Conti

Founder and CEO of Watkins-Conti Products, Allison Conti has filed over 44 patents in 17 countries across the globe. She most recently received her third US utility patent, taking Watkins-Conti Products, Inc from a one product company to a platform women’s healthcare company. Being fully dedicated to the innovation and development of affordable, effective solutions for common life-altering difficulties faced in today’s environment; product extensions include diagnostics, medication administration and other therapeutic options that improve the overall consumer experience within the pelvic floor.

The firebrand, scrappy entrepreneur was recently named among the top 20 under 40, recognized as a 20th Century Woman in Innovation and selected as a Top Ten Inspirational Woman. Her company, Watkins-Conti Products, Inc, was recognized with “Most Promising New Venture” award by the Oklahoma Venture Forum for 2021, as well as named Top Ten Nephrology and Urology Companies by MedTech Outlook. Most recently, Allison was nominated for Woman of The Year and recognized as one of 50 women leaders making a difference. We can see that she is making a difference, indeed! WL

Country: United States

Media Contact: Brooke Wigley

Company: Watkins-Conti Products, Inc.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 405.330.3550

Website: www.LeakyLady.com/sales

Carmen Robinson, Qmerit’s Vice President of Client Success, is the driving force behind Qmerit’s strategic client partnerships and program implementation. Her goal of producing raving fans ripples through her team’s commitment to delivering white-glove service throughout the entire customer experience, which has produced a consistent 9.2 customer satisfaction rating.

Qmerit has been on a steep climb to scale operationally in anticipation of the growth and expansion of the electrification market. With little time to ramp up, Carmen has had to evaluate and activate strategic plans in three primary areas: people, processes, and technology. The most effective way she has grown a highly motivated, highly productive team has been through empathetic leadership, by listening carefully, assessing each individual’s core strengths and opportunities, and engaging deeply in relationship building. “Leading well and delivering excellent results requires me to assess how each individual’s performance raises the bar for the whole team,” says Carmen. “I’ve considered carefully how to strip down redundant processes and look for new innovative ways to deliver results and ensure each team member is given the opportunity to contribute to both ideation and problem-solving.”

“Across North America, our turnkey installation and integration solutions are simplifying the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) and other green energy transition technologies. And while the electrification movement is relatively young, our team’s legacy in advancing energy efficiency goes back 25 years. During that time, our leaders have worked together to perfect the processes and technology platform at the core of Qmerit,” says Carmen.

Qmerit is the electrification expert leading the way to a more resilient, sustainable future. Qmerit provides turnkey solutions to consumers and businesses to shift to electric vehicles and other new electric technologies. The Qmerit digital services platform guides customers through every step in their electrification journey—making EV charging and other sustainability solutions easy to install, integrate, and maintain. “Our proprietary technology is purpose-built to make it simple for our B2B customers, their clients and our network of certified electricians to have a seamless installation experience. Qmerit solves the myriad elements involved in satisfying multiple constituents who are all attached to the same customer journey,” adds Carmen. “Qmerit’s network of installers are certified for responsiveness, transparency, compliance, quality and pricing.”

Qmerit has become a trusted partner to leaders in every aspect of EV charging and other electrification solutions. Premier auto brands and EV charger manufacturers rely on Qmerit to provide their customers with high quality co-branded turnkey charging installation services.

Through her work at Qmerit, Carmen has been able to look back on inspiration from several key women in her life that have guided her to becoming the great leader she is today. Through their engagement, the lessons she has learned are what she uses to continue to inspire today’s young emerging leaders, beginning with her two daughters. “A line I have always said to them is “if it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing,” says Carmen. “When you love what you do and love who you are doing it with, the work you invest your time in should be fun,” she adds. There is nothing that inspires creativity, a passion for excellence, and a drive to succeed more than linking arms with others who share common core values, align with similar passions and purpose, and advocate for one’s success.

“With young women I have mentored through my non-profit experiences, I have been cognizant of leading by example in setting the bar high and striving for excellence, and not without the grace to recognize I am going to make mistakes, but with the tenacity to learn from those mistakes and excel because of them,” explains Carmen. “Doing things halfway has never been an option for me. If I commit to it, I’m all in! I hope to continue to inspire the next generation of leaders to do the same throughout my career at Qmerit.” IE

Qmerit

Management

Carmen Robinson
Vice President

Description

Qmerit, headquartered in Irvine, California, simplifies the adoption of electrification products for residential and light commercial markets. A leader in green energy transformation, the company provides value-driven services throughout the renewable energy equipment implementation lifecycle, from system planning, contractor selection, installation oversight and ongoing maintenance.

Kira Jabri is no stranger to setting a goal and going for it. As co-founder of EMMA International, Kira wanted to be part of creating a company that provided a true management consulting experience for the Life Sciences industry. Headquartered in Metro Detroit, family-owned, and serving the globe, EMMA International is a well-known global leader in FDA consulting services.

Kira oversees EMMA International’s corporate planning efforts. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations at EMMA International, she is also responsible for the strategic growth of the firm, overseeing the growth of the various divisions and partnerships. Her impressive career in the healthcare sector laid the foundation that would put her on the path to success. Kira has over twenty years of experience as a healthcare professional and is an industry expert in company culture and diversity, organizational behavior management, organizational leadership, business strategy development, and contemporary challenges in business. Under Kira’s leadership, EMMA International has achieved major growth accomplishments over the years, including being named to the Inc.5000 list for 2020 and 2021 in addition to ranking No. 96 on 2021 Inc. 5000 Regionals: Midwest list by Inc. Magazine.

Kira serves on the advisory board of Medical Main Street and also on the Membership and Diversity Network committees of MichBio. Additionally, she is one of the founders of the Michigan Medical Device Innovation Forum (MMDIF), which focuses on connecting medical device professionals, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers to discuss some of the current challenges and opportunities to advance the medical device sector in Michigan. Kira holds a Master of Public Health from Walden University, a Master of Social Work from Columbia University and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Social Work and Psychology from Cedar Crest College.

About the Company

Founded in 2013, EMMA International has emerged as a global leader in FDA consulting services. It focuses on quality, regulatory, and compliance services for the Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, and Medical Device industries. It provides specialized services to satisfy all quality and compliance needs, which are backed by extensive knowledge and industry experience.

EMMA International is certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). It is also ISO 9001:2015 certified for its quality management system. Apart from a wide reach and capability in FDA compliance, the company’s core competency lies in its ability to develop and implement integrated Quality Management Systems (QMS) that conform to a multitude of international regulatory requirements and/or ISO standards. As FDA regulations become more stringent, EMMA International strives to serve companies across the globe by helping them develop an individualized plan to mitigate major challenges in implementing QMS processes.

A Symbol of Excellence

EMMA International provides a wide array of specialized quality, regulatory, and compliance services for companies in the Life Sciences industry across the US and the globe. Through an infrastructure that includes a proprietary methodology, unparalleled expertise and extremely competitive pricing models, the firm focuses on innovation to address client needs by providing cutting-edge solutions to common problems. Instead of implementing complex solutions in the clients’ processes, EMMA International goes that extra mile to ensure that it has delivered significant value to clients’ systems.

EMMA International works alongside clients’ teams to implement improvements and hence, bring more value to its services. The firm is on a mission to provide meaningful and permanent solutions that would exceed all expectations.

Apart from EMMA International’s wide reach and capability in FDA compliance, the company’s core competency lies in its ability to develop and implement integrated Quality Management Systems (QMS) that conform to a multitude of international regulatory requirements and/or ISO standards. As FDA regulations become more stringent, EMMA International strives to serve companies across the globe by helping them develop an individualized plan to mitigate major challenges in implementing QMS processes.

Empowering Women Leaders

Recognizing the gender imbalance in the Life Science sector, EMMA International takes additional pride in being certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Receiving this certification reinforces EMMA International’s long history of recognizing the significant role of women in life sciences. IEWL

Melissa Macerato’s senior leadership experience spans over two decades, having helped launch and grow new business ventures into profitable, market-leading programs within large corporations. But beyond her deep experience, at the heart of Melissa’s success is undoubtedly her natural ability to empower and motivate others as a leader. In her role at Longbridge Financial, Melissa oversees the company’s sales teams across retail, wholesale, and financial advisor channels, in addition to the marketing department. One of Melissa’s greatest strengths is her ability to adapt to change and face challenges head-on as a leader.

Like so many businesses, when the COVID-19 pandemic reached the US, Longbridge faced a truly unprecedented challenge. Melissa chose to take this challenge as a time of opportunity – and worked with her leadership team to transition Longbridge into a remote business model. Melissa’s quick thinking and adaptability paid off – the epicenter of the virus, New York, was just miles away from the company’s Mahwah, NJ headquarters. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company announced record earnings in 2020 stemming from persistent volume growth and improved productivity.

Amidst the rapid expansion and growth of the Longbridge team, Melissa has been a driving force behind employee retention and growth. She spearheaded the company’s newly unveiled management training program, designed to provide cross-training and leadership skills opportunities to help employees thrive in a long-term career with Longbridge. When asked about the program in a recent interview with Reverse Mortgage Daily, Melissa explains, “This program is just the latest in our ongoing commitment to providing all our employees with the resources, education, and support they need to thrive in a career with us.” She further notes, “We strongly believe in promoting within and will provide the necessary training to support our people and this belief.” 28% of current Longbridge employees have already received a promotion during their tenure at Longbridge.

Beyond Melissa’s leadership style and employee-centric approach to business, her innovative thinking has been an invaluable asset to the expansion of Longbridge Financial. She’s been especially instrumental in developing and promoting the company’s proprietary suite of reverse mortgage products, Longbridge Platinum, unveiled in 2019. The program, designed for older homeowners with higher value homes, has quickly become an attractive alternative to a HELOC.. In the Wholesale division, she’s been a big proponent in bringing the company’s Reverse Made Easy initiative to fruition, a program designed to streamline the process for new brokers to incorporate reverse mortgages into their lending operations.

As the top female leader at Longbridge Financial, Melissa’s commitment to constantly improving and expanding is especially inspiring. Whether it be a new feature or change to a product, implementation of technology to streamline business functions, or introducing a new internal role to meet workload demands, Melissa always seeks feedback from customers, partners, fellow leaders, and employees alike. Her “never settle” mentality and determination have undoubtedly been a huge proponent of Longbridge’s success and growth over recent years. And with a majority of Longbridge’s managers being women, Melissa has had an empowering impact. Another area where Melissa excels in inspiring women leaders is by being transparent in communicating the importance of boundaries, namely when it comes to the work-life balance. Armed with these qualities, the steadfast leader has been taking the company to new heights.

Longbridge was founded with the mission to improve the reverse mortgage industry through unparalleled service, expertise, and transparency. Now a leading reverse mortgage and servicer, Longbridge remains committed to responsibly helping homeowners reshape their financial future by educating them on the power of their home equity while supporting their goals. At the heart of our mission to improve the reverse mortgage industry is one-word – education. “While reverse mortgages are just one of several offerings for most companies – at Longbridge, reverse mortgages are our sole focus. Our staff has years of experience and expertise in the industry,” says Melissa. “And we’re committed to developing innovative, reverse mortgage products and solutions to better meet the needs of older adult borrowers.” IEWL

Sarah Sample-Reif, Chief Strategy Officer, Zivaro, is the design and creative force behind the company’s programs and services related to healthcare. Having worked in the healthcare industry for over three decades, Sarah is well-versed in the changes in the landscape of healthcare which she has incorporated into the company’s vision for support to this critical market. Zivaro’s focus ranges from innovative technologies, analytics, and digital transformation to help build the medical center/hospital of the future.

Sarah is an advisor to many clients in predicting future trends and leading innovation alongside Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and several other boards. She is involved in many of the Women in IT events through various associations, has authored articles and blogs on Women Leaders, and is continuously working to mentor younger professional women in the technology industry. “Sarah represents the values of Zivaro and believes in growing through experience and is considered a leader because of her ability to listen and to guide members of her team through the empowerment of their decisions,” says Zivaro’s CEO, Greg Byles.

Being a vision-driven, goal-focused strategic thinker with a proven history of international team leadership and achievements, Sarah has been setting the standards and maximizing returns by harnessing team strengths to improve corporation-wide performance. For the steadfast leader, collaboration can build consensus among executive teams and stakeholders to promote transparency and influence positive change, which has been repeatedly proven. “Clear and effective communication with a wide range of stakeholders, including employees, customers, shareholders, and regulators, is the key,” Sarah explains. “I also lead by example, by being myself and true to myself, being aware that I am being observed and sometimes seen as a role model to other women.” She has been promoting learning and creative thinking to keep curiosity for leading-edge trends in the healthcare industry and self-development and striving for change that builds and rebuilds the organization that serves the customers well and performs at its best.

For Sarah, success is the journey of being willing to learn, evaluate and improve oneself constantly. “The biggest piece of advice I have is to be open-minded as we limit our ability by our constraints. There are opportunities everywhere, and if we limit our ability to engage because of a predisposition, we allow ourselves to miss the possibility of abundance,” she explains. “There is a misconception that it is harder for women to break the glass ceiling than for others, quite frankly there is a great distribution of talent among all people. If you focus on being and doing your best, which means putting in the effort, you will succeed. Women need to work harder and smarter to be seen, but it is not a ‘fight’.”

Sarah is continuously working to be better. “I don’t view it as doing better in just my work or just my personal life, it’s about being better in all facets of my life. There must be a balanced and consistent evaluation of oneself to increase performance and gain knowledge; this includes having your own personal “board of directors” from whom you can receive constructive feedback,” she elucidates.

With this unique mindset, Sarah has been taking the company to new heights. Zivaro comprises knowledgeable thought leaders who are passionate about what they do. Together, they can find solutions for complex problems and bring them to their clients – and genuinely enjoy doing this as a team. Zivaro seeks to serve those charged with serving others. The team works relentlessly to help regulated market customers stay outcome-focused.

Zivaro designs and delivers secure, scalable, and cost-effective IT solutions through infrastructure expertise and flexible service delivery models. CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Zivaro to its 2022 Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Elite 150 category. CRN selected Zivaro for the Elite 150 category because they are an enterprise-focused channel reseller with a significant managed service footprint included in their service portfolio. “Being a part of the Channel Company’s MSP Elite 150 again is an honor and a rewarding recognition for everyone at Zivaro,” states Glenn Smith, President of Zivaro. “We’ve continued to put significant effort into creating a unique and value-driven Managed Services practice, including hiring exceptional talent, prioritizing creative and unique vendor tools, and ensuring we deliver critical, high-touch value for our customers.” WL