OPEN MINDS Announces New Advisory Board Members: Alison Blodgett, Danielle Byron, Katie Lioy & Lori Schmidt

Gettysburg, Pa. (June 17, 2016) — OPEN MINDS, a national strategic advisory and management consulting firm, is pleased to announce the addition of four new executives to the OPEN MINDS Advisory Board.  The Advisory Board members provide on-the-ground market intelligence in various states, helping to shape the news and information shared in OPEN MINDS publications. The executives serve as subject matter experts and consultants on certain projects, and help outline topics and sessions for the OPEN MINDS Executive Education Institutes. The new Advisory Board members bring a wealth of experience and expertise in the health care field, with a special focus on payer relations and marketing:

• Alison Blodgett
• Danielle Byron
• Katie Lioy, MSMTI
• Lori Schmidt

Alison Blodgett is the Director of Proposal Development at Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth of America (SAFY) where she determines strategy, generates content, and manages implementation of RFPs, bids, proposals, and grants. She brings to OPEN MINDS extensive knowledge of Child and Family Services, Juvenile Justice, Social Services, Mental Health Services. She has expertise in all areas of proposal development (strategy, model development, partnerships, budget, negotiations and implementation) and developing program implementation plans that lead to funding, sustainability and impact. Ms. Blodgett is also experienced in working with evidence based model implementation.

Danielle Byron currently serves as the Senior Project Manager at Molina Healthcare of Illinois. In this role, she is leading efforts to implement Medicaid Managed Care in Illinois. She also leads projects to improve the organization’s child & adolescent crisis services, substance abuse billing and transportation services for members and providers. She has an extensive background in technical leadership, strategy & planning, business process and project management, and behavioral health.

Katie Lioy, MSMTI is Account Manager of Marketing Technology at SHIFT Communications, a data-driven PR firm, where she works with B2B, B2C, Tech, and Healthcare organizations to develop digital marketing strategies across all channels. Ms. Lioy develops and executes plans for digital and social advertising, SEO optimization, content marketing, and market research. She is an experienced Product Manager who brings to OPEN MINDS strong technical skills and a background in digital marketing, business strategy and new product development. Her expertise includes developing digital marketing strategies, market research and analysis, and data collection and analysis.

Lori Schmidt is the Director of Behavioral Health at HealthPartners. She is a passionate leader with expertise in the healthcare and nonprofit sectors with an emphasis on mental health and chemical dependency for underserved populations. Ms. Schmidt is experienced in launching and directing programs, policies and initiatives; managing budgets and securing funding; leading and mentoring staff; and streamlining operations. She is known for identifying and quickly adjusting to indicators, drivers and trends, being compliance minded and effectively navigating government bureaucracy.

“The OPEN MINDS Advisory Board Members play an integral role in helping our team stay up-to-date on the hottest news and trends in the health and human services industry,”” explains Monica E. Oss, OPEN MINDS Chief Executive Officer. “We are excited to have these four experienced and knowledgeable executives join our team.”

The OPEN MINDS team of 85+ professionals provide research and management expertise and experience. Most team members are based in Gettysburg, with satellite offices in North Carolina, Florida, Washington, Colorado, Montana, California, Maryland, Kansas, and New Jersey.

OPEN MINDS is continuously expanding and still searching for professionals in a number of fields. If you are interested in joining our team, please visit our website to review the list of current openings at https://www.openminds.com/market-intelligence/industry-bulletins/join-our-team.

OPEN MINDS is a national strategic advisory firm specializing in the sectors of the health and human service industry serving individuals with complex support needs: mental health; addiction treatment; children & family services; intellectual & developmental disabilities; chronic disease management; long term care; social services; correctional health care, reentry & diversion; and juvenile justice.

Founded in 1987 and based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the 75+ associates believe by providing the latest market intelligence and management best practices to organizations serving the health and social support needs of the most vulnerable consumers, those organizations will be better able to provide efficient and effective services. Learn more at www.openminds.com.

For additional questions and inquiries, please contact Angela McDonald, Marketing Manager, OPEN MINDS at 717-334-1329 or openminds@openminds.com.