CALIFORNIACHOICE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President and Strategy Officer
Adam Roye is Executive Vice President and Strategy Officer at CHOICE Administrators. He leads enterprise strategy and program operations and management for the parent organization of the CaliforniaChoice private health insurance exchange and ChoiceBuilder ancillary benefits exchange. Adam is also responsible for regulatory compliance and contracts, business intelligence, project management and business analysis, and other strategic functions.
Prior to CHOICE Administrators, Adam served in a corporate role across The Word & Brown Companies, designing and implementing the organization's corporate-wide Enterprise Project Management Office for multiple insurance-related businesses. His role included strategic planning, process improvement, and enterprise project portfolio oversight.
Adam's experience includes nearly a decade in management consulting (at KPMG and Booz Allen Hamilton), and five years with the United States Government Accountability Office. In these positions, he worked with an extensive array of government agencies and companies in the health care industry.
Adam earned his Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree from Georgetown University and his Bachelor of Arts at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He holds Project Management Professional (PMP) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certifications.
Edward J. "Rusty" Brown Jr. is highly respected throughout the health care insurance industry for establishing and delivering standards of performance and service designed to exceed all customers' expectations, and for enhancing California health insurance brokers' ability to serve their clients' needs and best interests.
John M. Word III is renowned for transforming the California insurance broker's role in the small group health benefits marketplace through his pioneering technological and marketing advances since 1972.
Together with Edward J. "Rusty" Brown Jr., John founded the Word & Brown General Agency in 1984 to market and distribute health plans through California's huge brokerage community; by 1986, the company was recognized as the largest independent small group health distributor in the nation. That same year, the company launched the nation's first COBRA administration operation, sensing that employers needed assistance and qualified support with federal COBRA laws. CaliforniaChoice, a groundbreaking enterprise empowering small business employees to select from multiple health plans within one program, was launched in 1996.
A highly sought-after speaker and collaborator, John has written numerous articles, conducted classes, and delivered keynote addresses to vast audiences. His credentials include Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Registered Health Underwriter (RHU), and Registered Employee Benefits Consultant (REBC).
Michael L. Close is the Chief Executive Officer of CHOICE Administrators where he is responsible for two health insurance programs: America's longest standing, state-approved private multi-carrier health insurance exchange, CaliforniaChoice, and the nation's first ancillary benefits exchange, ChoiceBuilder.
Michael previously served as the Chief Operating Officer where he oversaw information technology, marketing, and strategic business development. Michael worked closely with all of the Word & Brown Companies to ensure strategic alignment between corporate short-term and long-term strategic goals.
Michael was President of Quotit Corp and HealthCompare, two national health insurance distribution platforms, before their acquisition by National General Holdings Corp. in early 2017. Michael was also President of CONEXIS, a leading benefits administration company, before its acquisition by WageWorks in 2014. Michael joined The Word & Brown Companies in 2003.
Michael's professional background makes him uniquely suited to lead CHOICE Administrators. He has an impressive career spanning more than 35 years in employee benefits and health care. Prior to joining the Word & Brown Companies, he held senior executive positions with Health Net of California, including Vice President and General Manager for a $200 million business unit, and Senior Vice President of a $2 billion sales organization, where he managed 600 employees. He has also served as chief sales and marketing officer at American Specialty Health, one of the country's leading complimentary care organizations.
Michael earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio State University. He is an active member of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU).
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President Sales & Account Management
As Executive Vice President of Sales and Account Management at CHOICE Administrators, Michael is responsible for all market facing engagement, strategic partnerships, and product development. His teams are accountable for Sales and distribution, Retention and Renewals, and Sales Operations for the CaliforniaChoice multi-carrier, small business health exchange and the ChoiceBuilder ancillary benefits exchange.
An Arizona State University graduate, Michael is a seasoned employee benefits and business development executive with 30 years of experience working with business owners, executives, brokers, general agents, carriers, and consultants. Throughout his career he has held a variety of senior leadership positions with health plans and third-party benefits administrators.
Michael joined CHOICE Administrators in 2012 in a sales leadership capacity and has worked to shape the infrastructure and strategic direction of the sales division over his tenure at the company. His knowledge of market trends and dynamics are at the core of his passion for developing business plans to increase revenue and persistency and enhance partner and customer relationships. Today, as an EVP, he works with the executive team at CHOICE to build the immediate and long-term strategies for the organization, and ensure a healthy culture in which employees can thrive.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President Operations & Administration
Steve Huynh joined CHOICE Administrators in 1998 after serving in the United States Marine Corps where he earned designations in team collaboration and practical leadership. He is responsible for all aspects of operations for the organization's CaliforniaChoice small group private health exchange and ChoiceBuilder ancillary benefits exchange.
Steve leads the day- to-day operations to support the organization's growth and ongoing service delivery to customers, general agencies, brokers, vendors, and CHOICE Administrators' employees. His responsibilities include underwriting, eligibility and enrollment processing, billing services, commission's management, shared services, COBRA administration, training, development, and business intelligence.
Steve holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Fullerton - Mihaylo College of Business and Economics.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President Customer Experience & Service
Tamra MacPherson is responsible for the development and implementation of procedures and processes to ensure a positive customer experience. She and her team focus on delivering the highest levels of support to CaliforniaChoice and ChoiceBuilder customers, as well as carrier partners. Tamra leads the organization's customer success strategy and directs employee performance management, establishing goals to help staff meet elevated standards of service and achieve professional growth.
Tamra began her professional career at CHOICE Administrators and has experience in an array of disciplines including Underwriting, Client Services, and Customer Service, being named to her current role in 2013. Tamra attended La Sierra University in Riverside, California.