The DC Health Benefit Exchange (HBX) has appointed seven new members of its staff. The new staff members will work closely with employers, insurance agents, and insurance brokers, and provide essential operational support as the HBX works to establish an exchange marketplace that will help thousands of District residents and business owners gain access to high-quality, affordable health insurance.

“I’m thrilled to have these talented men and women join our team. To be successful, we must work closely with many partners especially the small business community, insurance brokers, and community groups. Our core implementation team must have extensive knowledge and experience including understanding the private sector, the small business community, health insurance distribution and market competition, as well as the role of government and especially city agencies.” said Mila Kofman, J.D., the HBX executive director.

The new staff members will be focusing on business development, program implementation, communications and operations. They are:

• Business Development:

Kelvin Robinson, Associate Director of Business Development. Mr. Robinson has more than 25 years of change management, strategic planning, operational improvement, business development and regulatory expertise. He most recently served as President and Founder of two consulting firms that concentrated on business growth strategies, start-up project management and organizational support for small and mid-sized companies. He has served on the 2012 Board of Directors of the DC Chamber of Commerce. Earlier, Mr. Robinson served as Chief of Staff to District of Columbia Mayor Anthony Williams, Director of Legislative Affairs with a state-wide municipal organization, and in several leadership positions in the State of Florida government. He is a graduate of the Florida State University and a resident of the District.

Katrina Reynolds, Manager for Producer Relations. From 2008 to 2013, Ms. Reynolds was a marketing executive with Employee Benefits Corporation of America (EBCA), one of the largest marketers of group insurance plans in the Mid-Atlantic region. She worked closely with brokers and their clients in group benefit sales. She successfully worked with brokers including recruitment and training on new products and ACA-related requirements, state and federal regulations, and insurance carrier policies and systems. She is a graduate of George Mason University.

• Program Implementation:

Hannah Turner, Manager, SHOP Operations. Ms. Turner is an experienced employee benefits expert specializing in benefit plan compliance with federal and state laws, tax codes, and federal health care reform. She served as the legislative chair of the Greater Washington Health Underwriters Association. From 2009 to 2013, she was a legislative compliance consultant with Keller Benefit Services, one of the largest privately-held employee benefit consulting firms, serving approximately 400 employers in the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan region, ranging in size from 10 to 1,500 employees. From 2005 to 2009, Ms. Turner was senior Human Resources Administrator for Henggeler Computer Consultants. She is a graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

• Communications:

Mahlori Isaacs, Public Information Officer. Ms. Isaacs joins the HBX staff from the District of Columbia Department of Health, where she has served as the Deputy Public Information Officer & Spokesperson. She has served in a variety of capacities for the Department of Health since 2009. Ms. Isaacs is a graduate of the University of Maryland and is a resident of the District.

• Operations:

Paula Isaacs Walker, Contracting Officer. Ms. Walker joins the HBX from the DC Department of Health, where she has served as an Agency Contracting Officer. She brings a unique combination of broad-based procurement knowledge and substantial acquisition experience of the vast array of specialized goods, technical and professional services that health- focused organizations often procure. Ms. Walker is a warranted contracting officer with over 20 years of experience in District government procurement. During her tenure with DOH, Ms. Walker has handled such complex procurements as the purchase of equipment and supplies to support the District’s Public Health/Bio-terrorism Laboratory; construction contracts for several publically funded clinics here in the District; service contracts for medical professionals practicing in District-financed clinics; IT procurements to support the District’s implementation of an Electronic Medical Records program at its publicly-funded clinics; and local and national advertising campaigns promoting pre-natal care and smoking cessation among adults and youth.

Paulette Saunders, Administrative Specialist. Ms. Saunders has been a Special Assistant in the Office of the Director for the Department of Health. In this position she was responsible for management and oversight of the Agency’s Purchase Card and Travel Card Programs, performed contracts and grant administration and monitoring within the Office of the Director, as well as coordinated the agency’s local and small business purchasing program.

Nicole Matthews, Contract Specialist. Ms. Matthews joins HBX from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and brings extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of purchasing and acquisition management for both the District of Columbia and the federal governments. Prior to joining OSSE, Ms. Matthews was a Contract Specialist with the DC Department of Health (DOH). While at DOH, Ms Matthews was responsible for procurements for the agency’s two largest administrations, the Hepatitis, AIDS, HIV, STD, and TB Administration (HAHSTA) and the Addiction, Prevention, and Recovery Administration (APRA).

For more information, visit www.dchbx.com