Early in my career, I was searching for a direction that truly inspired me. A friend, who was the CEO of a local hospital, encouraged me to pursue a BS in Healthcare Administration at Southwest Texas State. That decision opened doors I hadn’t anticipated. Shortly after graduating, I joined a health plan in a sales role, and I quickly realized that sales wasn’t where my strengths or passion lay. The real turning point came when I transitioned into contracting and provider relations. That’s where I discovered my ability to bridge relationships, navigate complex systems, and drive meaningful outcomes, skills that have shaped my career ever since.
I had recently moved back to Texas after living away for seven years and was ready for something different from what I’d been doing for the past 25 years. A friend connected me with a client in a consulting role, and I instantly fell in love with the idea of helping others in this way. I already knew of Sellers Dorsey and its strong reputation, and I knew I wanted to be part of a team rather than consulting on my own. After speaking with Gary and Karen, it was clear this was the right fit, I knew without question that I wanted to work with Sellers Dorsey.
Real healthcare impact means addressing health disparities, removing barriers to care, and building systems that deliver high-quality patient outcomes regardless of a patient’s ZIP code or socioeconomic status. With increasing public reporting and accountability, we can no longer rely on good intentions alone; we must show tangible results that improve lives while creating financially sustainable models that can scale and endure. Ultimately, healthcare impact is about transforming reactive, volume-based care into proactive, value-based systems that keep people healthier while reducing the total cost of care.
My superpower is the breadth and depth of my experience, so versatile that I’m often the go-to for ‘other duties as assigned.’ I’ve built this range through both professional and personal pursuits, developing deep expertise in computer systems, databases, and analytics, paired with hands-on operational experience at every organizational level. I’m not a micro-manager; rather, I’m someone who has always sought to learn more, immersing myself in different functions to understand how things truly work. This curiosity and cross-functional insight allow me to adapt quickly, solve complex problems, and deliver results across a wide spectrum of challenges.
My kryptonite? My wife and our two German Shepherds. They have an uncanny ability to derail even the most focused workday, whether it’s my wife’s persuasive ‘let’s take a break’ smile or the dogs demanding a walk, a game, or simply all my attention. They remind me daily that balance matters, that there’s more to life than deadlines, and that sometimes the best problem-solving happens when you step away for a moment.
What I find most rewarding is knowing the work we do has a tangible impact on people’s lives. Early in my career, I saw how gaps in the system could limit access to care and strain providers. My time working in the non-profit sector deepened that perspective, it stopped feeling like just a job and became a responsibility. Now, whether it’s negotiating a contract that expands access, helping providers succeed in value-based care, or designing programs that support vulnerable populations, I approach each project with the understanding that these decisions directly affect the people and communities we serve.
In the next few years, I see three major opportunities to enhance healthcare quality and access. First, integrating Medicare and Medicaid benefits more effectively, particularly through models like FIDE SNPs, can close longstanding gaps for dual-eligible populations and simplify care delivery. Second, advancing value-based care arrangements that truly align financial incentives with patient outcomes will encourage providers to focus on prevention, care coordination, and long-term wellness rather than episodic treatment. Third, harnessing data interoperability and real-time analytics will allow us to identify risks earlier, tailor interventions, and deploy resources where they can have the greatest impact. These are not abstract goals, they’re actionable steps that can meaningfully improve the experience for patients, providers, and payers alike.
A fun fact people are often surprised to learn about me is how approachable I am. I like to keep things light, joking around when the moment’s right, while still being respectful and professional. I’ve found that a little humor and genuine politeness go a long way in building trust and making collaboration easier.
My first job was bussing tables at K-Bob’s Steakhouse in El Paso, Texas. I was 16, needed cash, and they were hiring, the math was pretty simple. What I didn’t expect was the nightly masterclass in controlled chaos: juggling dirty dishes, dodging servers carrying dinner rolls and steak dinners, and learning that ‘behind you’ is the most important phrase in the restaurant industry. It was exhausting, occasionally gross, and taught me that earning money involved a lot more sweat than I’d anticipated.
After years away from Texas where we racked up frequent flyer miles just going back home to visit, my off-hours look decidedly different these days. My wife, who doubles as my best friend and reality check, and our two German Shepherds have become my primary fitness program (those dogs don’t walk themselves). Time with our kids and grandkids has replaced time on the road, and honestly, their unfiltered observations and questionable logic are far more entertaining than any in-flight movie I’ve ever watched.
Movie: Jaws, no question. Truth be told, I’m much more of a documentary lover, and when it comes to reading, I stick to news and industry updates rather than diving into long novels. This strategy has given me the perfect response when people inevitably say “the book was so much better than the movie.” I just tell them: “If you’d stop reading the books first, you might actually enjoy the movies.”