Blue Diesel names
Gratz president
Kelly Gratz was promoted to president of Blue Diesel, a leading interactive marketing company and subsidiary of inChord Communications,. Gratz is responsible for directing the company’s operations and overseeing business development.
Gratz, who joined Blue Diesel in 2000 as chief operating officer, has 15 years of experience in the business and technology fields in project management, strategy, consulting and professional services. Over the past four years, she has led many of the company’s client relationships and has managed the agency’s staffing and internal structure.
Prior to joining Blue Diesel, Gratz worked for Symix Systems Inc., a marketer and developer of e-business software and services. Prior to that, she served as senior manager in management consulting at Ernst & Young LLP, where she developed and directed applications and management and processing systems for Fortune 100 and 500 companies. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton.
She will continue to report directly to CEO John Racik. Racik provides strategic direction for the company and will be taking on additional responsibilities with inChord Communications.
“Kelly has shown exceptional leadership and performance during her tenure at Blue Diesel,” says Racik. “She has built strong relationships with clients, improved internal processes and consistently driven the company to achieve higher goals. This promotion recognizes her many contributions.”
BUCKEYE COMMUNITY HEALTH PLAN INC.
For-profit managed care organization Buckeye Community Health Plan Inc. appointed Catherine Harvey chief operating officer. She reports to Joseph Drozda, executive vice president, operations, for Centene Corp., the parent company of BCHP.
A seasoned managed care executive, Harvey has more than 15 years of health care management experience in contracting, medical management, finance, strategic planning, marketing, research and consulting. Prior to joining BCHP, she was based in Milwaukee as senior vice president of marketing for Cobalt Corp. Earlier, she was vice president, health services operations/delivery system management for UnitedHealthCare in Minneapolis. Her background includes leadership roles with Towers Perrin Integrated HealthSystems Consulting and William Mercer Inc.
PROSPECT BANK
Prospect Bank hired Timothy Norris as vice president in commercial lending. Norris’ concentration will be in commercial real estate and business banking at Prospect’s corporate office in Worthington.
Norris has more than 16 years of banking experience in the Columbus area, including managing and originating a commercial loan portfolio, construction and commercial real estate lending and developing deposit relationships. He has a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University.
“We are excited to add Tim to our commercial lending group,” says Rhett Huddle, executive vice president. “He is familiar with the local market and has had prior experience and success in developing strong banking relationships within the business community.”
OSU MEDICAL CENTER
Marc Mays, director of respiratory therapy at The Ohio State University Medical Center, has been appointed by Gov. Bob Taft to the Ohio Respiratory Care Board for a three-year term.
The board is responsible for establishing educational standards for respiratory care providers in addition to licensing and monitoring compliance of all practitioners who provide respiratory care in Ohio.
Mays has been the director of respiratory therapy at OSU Medical Center since 1989. He manages a staff of 100 respiratory therapists at two hospitals and is responsible for the budgetary and operational needs of the department, which provides respiratory therapy and ventilator support for infants and adults. He is also an instructor in Ohio State’s School of Allied Medical Professions and is a past president of the Ohio Society for Respiratory Care.
SQUIRE SANDERS & DEMPSEY LLP
The international law firm of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP has admitted three lawyers in its Columbus office as partners.
“All three lawyers have demonstrated excellence in their various specialties, and I am pleased to welcome them as partners,” says Managing Partner Alex Shumate.
D. Lewis Clark concentrates on counseling and advocacy for private and public sector employers in all types of labor and employment matters and is an experienced mediator of employment and other civil litigation matters.
Holly Heer’s practice focus is on corporate, securities and finance matters. She represents developers, investors and financial institutions in partnership syndication and related financing transactions, with a particular emphasis on transactions involving low-income housing tax credit.
Michael Reed is a member of the litigation group. His principal practice area is business litigation, with an emphasis on ERISA fiduciary class actions and ERISA benefits cases. He has represented clients including a national trucking firm, a major health care insurer and a major religious organization in a variety of matters and disputes.
The firm also hired Bill Burns as administrative officer. Burns will focus on business development and long-term planning and oversee the daily operations of the office. Most recently, he served as senior vice president of marketing for the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, where he was responsible for strategic development and implementation of programs promoting Greater Columbus.
PROGRESSIVE MEDICAL INC.
Progressive Medical Inc., a nationwide provider of workers’ compensation services, hired Jane Dean as health services manager. With more than 17 years of experience, Dean has worked within the direct, disability and case management arenas. Her responsibilities include overseeing the daily operations of home health and ancillary business lines.
“Progressive Medical is a growing company, and it is important to employ managers who are skilled leaders,” says David Bianconi, president and CEO. “Jane is an asset to the PMI team.”
SCHOTTENSTEIN ZOX & DUNN
Schottenstein Zox & Dunn hired Smokey Williams as director of operations. Williams brings 25 years of experience in human resources to the firm, where his responsibilities include hiring and managing support staff and paralegals, employee relations, facilities management and the administration of compensation and benefits. He will also assist in the growth and development of the firm’s ancillary services.
Prior to joining the firm, Williams served as director of human resources at Cardinal Health. He has a bachelor’s degree and a master of arts degree from The Ohio State University.
