Leadership

Rich Macy

President and Chief Executive Officer

Rich Macy is the president and chief executive officer of Life & Specialty Ventures (LSV), the holding company of USAble Life and its affiliates. Since joining USAble Life in 2012 as senior vice president of operations and technology solutions, Rich has been instrumental in identifying opportunities that leverage technology to improve business processes, deliver superior customer service, achieve scale efficiencies, and create competitive advantage.

As chief operating officer (COO), Rich worked closely with the leadership team to formulate and operationalize business strategies that deliver value to partners and the more than 27,000 groups and 2.7 million covered persons served by USAble Life.

Previously, Rich served as COO and chief information officer for Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) in Washington, D.C., the self-financed, quasi-government agency that acts as an insurer of private sector pension plans. Prior to PBGC, he spent nearly 20 years in leadership roles, including vice president and general manager at Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP) in Roseland, N.J.

Rich holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Columbia Business School and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science from Wesleyan University.

Michelle Harding

Chief Legal and People Officer

Michelle is responsible for leading all legal, compliance, and human resources organizational development (HROD) functions. In addition to advising senior management and the Board of Directors on legal matters, she also recommends HROD strategies that impact business operations and provides strategic guidance and consultation on a broad range of business issues.

Michelle has extensive legal, regulatory, human resources, joint venture, merger and acquisition, and entrepreneurial experience. Before joining LSV, she founded McCrae Blakey Group, a client advisory business for entrepreneurial-minded businesses seeking legal, regulatory, compliance, and government advocacy assistance. She also served in significant roles at XOOM Energy, ACN, Inc., United Technologies Corporation, Jackson Lewis, LLP, and the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

Michelle received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Hampton University, Hampton, Va.

John Moran

Chief Financial Officer

John Moran brings more than 25 years of experience in finance, capital management, strategic planning, and leadership to his role as chief financial officer (CFO) of USAble Life. As part of the executive team, he oversees the company’s finances, which includes budgeting and forecasting, risk management, and reporting.

John joined USAble Life in July 2018 from Swiss Re Group in Armonk, N.Y., a global provider of reinsurance, insurance, and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer. As CFO, John played a prominent role in leading acquisitions and growth strategy for Swiss Re’s life insurance start-up business, Life Capital Americas.

Prior to his work with Swiss Re, John served as CFO and leader of the life insurance division of Enstar Group Limited in Basking Ridge, N.J. As senior vice president and controller of central finance for HSBC North America in Jersey City, N.J., John successfully executed major acquisitions, dispositions, and growth strategies for the global banking and financial services company.

John was as a member of the senior management team of CareOne, a start-up senior care company in Fort Lee, N.J., with 56 properties in seven states. His expertise helped build The Multicare Companies Inc., an elder care services company based in Hackensack, N.J.

John earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and management from Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pa. He is a graduate of INSEAD’s high performance leadership program. John is a certified public accountant (CPA) and a member of the American Institute of Public Accountants and the New Jersey Society of CPAs.

Steve Valenti

Chief Revenue Officer

Steve Valenti brings over 30 years of sales experience and account development with a deep knowledge of Supplemental, Life, Disability (SLD) products, markets, and selling in conjunction with Blue plans to his role as chief revenue officer of USAble Life. As part of the executive team, he is responsible for providing leadership in driving more than $130 million in annual sales, emphasizing increasing penetration of all the company’s products throughout the USAble Life distribution and sales channels, including partner Blue Cross Blue Shield business. Steve also oversees the SLD and Dental sales for group and individual products.

Before joining USAble Life, Steve was vice president, specialty distribution, with Anthem. While at Anthem, he was responsible for sales, persistency, net growth, operating gain, and recruiting for all segments, including small group, large group, and national accounts with ancillary and supplemental products.

Steve has also contributed to successful businesses as a regional sales manager, Assurant; national head of sales, specialty products, Aetna; chief operations officer, Havensure; and two decades of success and increasing responsibility at Unum.

Steve received his Bachelor of Arts and Sciences from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. He has served on the board of directors for the Team Cincinnati Soccer Club and as chair of the LIMRA 2008 annual benefits conference.

Julie Marshall

Executive Vice President, Partner Management

Julie Marshall develops and maintains collaborative, highly productive relationships with Blue Cross and Blue Shield Partners that enable consistent, profitable growth. While acting as a liaison between USAble Life and Blue Partners, she oversees the governance process in six states, including Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Tennessee, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. Julie focuses on strengthening and leveraging relationships with key leaders of current USAble Life distribution partners and potential new Blue Partners that lead to mutually beneficial growth opportunities.

In her previous roles, Julie was executive vice president of marketing and sales for USAble Life. During her tenure, she also served as marketing director, helping build a supplemental product sales capability that allowed USAble Life to partner with Blue Plans to sell ancillary benefits.

Before joining USAble Life, Julie was regional sales manager for Arkansas Blue and Cross Blue Shield in Little Rock, Ark.

Julie is a business graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She holds the Chartered Life Underwriter designation.

Ed Murphy

Executive Vice President, Market Solutions (Retiring)

Edward A. Murphy is executive vice president, Market Solutions. In this role, Ed is accountable for the Product and Loss leadership for all USAble Life products with a principal focus on how the company meets market needs and supports our mission. This is accomplished through product development and innovation, analytics and underwriting, and by working with all areas, including Partner Management, Sales, Marketing Strategy, Operations, IT, Finance, and Legal and Human Resources. 

Ed has advanced the adoption of the company’s innovative medical-dental integration programs — Dental4Health^® and LSV Connected Care^® — which contribute to the improvement of the overall health and well-being of members while driving down health care costs. In 2015, he was a co-founding board member of the Harvard Initiative to integrate Oral Health and Medicine. He is a former member of the Dean’s Advisory Board of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. In addition, Ed is a member of the Strategic Advisory Council of the prestigious Santa Fe Group, the nation’s foremost oral health think tank.

Before joining USAble Life in 2011, Ed co-founded Dental Benefit Providers and served as its chief executive officer. In 1998, he negotiated and oversaw his company’s merger with UnitedHealth Group (UHG). He served as chairman and chief executive officer of Specialized Healthcare Services/UnitedHealthcare Dental and served on UHG’s executive council before retiring in 2003. Ed also served as a board member of the National Association of Dental Plans, serving as its chair for three years. In 2006, Ed co-founded Preventive Medicine, a health informatics company that developed a proprietary health and behavioral change model based on e-learning technology.

Ed is a graduate of The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University. He served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

*LSV Connected Care^® or its derivative Connected Care^® is used with permission.

Gregory Poulakos

Executive Vice President, Market Solutions (Incoming)

As executive vice president, market solutions, Greg Poulakos is accountable for the product and loss leadership for all USAble Life products with a principal focus on how the company meets market needs and supports our mission. This is accomplished through product development and innovation, analytics and underwriting, and collaboration between all areas, including partner management, sales, marketing, strategy, operations, IT, finance, human resources, and legal.

Greg brings more than 25 years of experience in the insurance and consulting industry. Prior to joining USAble Life, Greg worked with HealthScape Advisors, assisting USAble Life in developing its growth strategies. Before HealthScape, he served as president of Anthem’s Financial Protection business, leading a multi-year business transformation and expansion. Greg has also held senior leadership roles at Lincoln Financial and UnitedHealthcare, where he had responsibilities spanning life, disability/leave, supplemental health, dental, and vision products. He is a published thought leader and champion of integration across medical-supplemental health, disability/leave, and dental products, which help contribute to overall health and well-being while driving down medical costs.  

Greg is a graduate of Auburn University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and management information systems.

Beth Burwell

Senior Vice President, Operations

Beth Burwell is senior vice president of operations for USAble Life and its parent company, Life & Specialty Ventures (LSV). She oversees the day-to-day services and functions of USAble Life’s dental, life, disability, and supplemental products. This involves identifying business needs and implementing solutions that improve policy services, enrollment, membership and billing, claims, and customer service support.

Beth has served in various management and leadership positions with USAble Life since the company’s formation in 2007, most recently as vice president of dental operations. Her roles have focused on maintaining high-quality service to customers (internal and external), dental providers, and USAble Life’s equity and distribution partners.

Before USAble Life, Beth was a member of the executive teams of Florida Combined Life and Comp Options Insurance Company, subsidiaries of Florida Blue. She also held IT leadership positions while with Florida Blue. As executive vice president, IT and process, Beth oversaw the development of USAble Life’s IT and operational infrastructure when LSV was founded.

Beth earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science engineering from the University of Florida and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of North Florida.

Beth serves on the Florida Dental Association Foundation board of directors and the University of North Florida College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Council.

Andrew Hottell

Senior Vice President, Marketing & Strategic Planning

Andrew Hottell is vice president of marketing and strategic planning for USAble Life and its parent company, Life & Specialty Ventures. In this role, he drives analysis, discussion, and strategic decision-making related to LSV’s dental, life, disability, and supplemental products. He facilitates these efforts both within LSV and across the company’s equity and distribution partnerships. He works with internal stakeholders and external thought leaders to bring industry trends, issues, opportunities, and fresh insights to the leadership team.

Andrew is also responsible for the company’s marketing function, which
includes leadership of the in-house team that supports the company’s marketing, communication, and sales collateral needs across four brands and multiple partner markets.

Andrew joined USAble Life in 2016 as vice president of strategic planning. His background includes extensive experience in insurance and financial services, as
well as strategic planning, business transformation, organizational development, and management consulting.

Andrew earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University and holds a Master of Business Administration degree (MBA) from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Kendall Kirby

Senior Vice President, Information Technology

Kendall is responsible for directing and managing all aspects of USAble Life’s technical infrastructure, which includes driving the strategic direction of the company’s IT portfolio and serving as chief security officer.

Kendall has over 32 years of information technology (IT) experience, including 26 years in the life and health insurance industries. He has a diverse background in IT, including technical expertise as a software and web developer, network engineer, and systems analyst.

Kendall first joined USAble Life in 1993. In 1997, he began a 10-year tenure with Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, where he served as an actuarial DSA supervisor; he returned to USAble Life in 2008. Since rejoining USAble Life, Kendall has been instrumental in providing the strategic direction for the technologies that have transformed the company’s IT infrastructure into a leading program for creating operational efficiencies and great customer solutions that are a critical component of USAble Life’s growth.

Kendall holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science from Arkansas State University. He is a certified Microsoft Systems and Novell Netware engineer as well as a licensed master electrician.