What’s the good news, ladies?  Summer wind down

I’ve been thinking about the word “greatness” a lot over the past week after  I was fortunate enough to attend the CrossFit games in Madison, Wisconsin, where I witnessed it firsthand.  The CrossFit Games represents some of the fittest people in the world coming together to compete for greatness.  Those who watched the games live or on TV witnessed the greatness of Roman Khrennikov, who was in 1st place going into the final day before he injured his foot on the first workout that morning.  As a result, he competed in the final two workouts on one foot.  As we watched a man who has fought so hard to get to where he is both personally and professionally do double unders on one foot, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.  When asked why he fought so hard, he said that he wanted to be a hero for his son as he watched his dad fight until the end.  Roman ultimately came in 3rd in the competition; and while he didn’t achieve his goal of earning the title of the Fittest Man on Earth, the character and tenacity he displayed can only be summed up in one word:  greatness.  

This leads me into introducing you to our next three ladies.  Whether on the carrier side, volunteer side or strategy side of our industry, these women wake up each day and get it done.  Nedra, Rusti and Rachel are showing up, demanding greatness, and giving it in return.  

Nedra C. Clingan, UnitedHealthcare

“Coming off an AMAZING year as President of the Texas chapter of NABIP.  The state-level executive committee is a 10-year commitment, and I embarked on this journey with an unyielding determination to excel. During this time, I have garnered invaluable experiences that have shaped my personal and professional growth and achievements. I am now on the home stretch, serving in an advisory role as a trustee. While I am excited about all that I have accomplished thus far, it has also left me wondering, “what’s next?” 

This past January, I joined UnitedHealthcare’s leadership team as Director of Sales and Account Management for Small Business Sales for Texas and Oklahoma. I lead a team of 10 focusing on new business growth. I attribute my success to the connections made through NABIP and my daily affirmations, including this quote by Vince Lombardi: ‘Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.’”

Rusti Greis, OptiMed Health Partners

“Over the course of a multi-year oncology battle, I experienced many facets of health care.  Istarted imagining ways to expand on the good, minimize the bad, and reject the ugly parts of this industry.  Through this experience, I made a life commitment to foster a better health care experience for others.

My largest initiative is to spotlight competing priorities among stakeholders and break down the barriers between those paying, those rendering, and those receiving services.  By creating a more communicative and aligned ecosystem, we put the patient at the center of care and make the journey easier to navigate, offering accessible and affordable solutions that optimize outcomes.

I speak on this concept nationally and continue to create strategic industry partnerships that leverage diverse talents and multi-disciplinary perspectives, forging paths for those managing through a health journey. I’m honored to be part of a health care movement striving for lasting and positive change.”

Rachel Strauss, EHIM, Inc. Powered by ProCare

“2023 has been a year of firsts for me! This was the first year I checked “become published in a book” off my bucket list, became acknowledged as a female leader through my acceptance into the Chief Executive Women’s network, and chaired a women’s philanthropy event that fundraised more than $1 million. All while being ranked among the top sales performances within my organization. What this tells me is that 20 years of hard work, dedication and passion for my job have allowed me to move out of “young professional” mindset and into the next category. I see this as my opportunity to give back and mentor the next generation of women coming up in the ranks. I hope to be the type of leader to inspire other women that they really can have whatever they dream, the key is finding your tribe!”

Are you a female in our industry?  Do you demand greatness?  I’d love to connect!  Just shoot me over an email at:  scombs@combsandco.com so we can get you featured and welcomed into our tribe!