Kent Nicaud
President & CEO, Memorial Health System; Chairman, MS Healthcare Collaborative
Kent Nicaud has more than 25 years of health care management experience from both the private sector and non-profit arena. He has held consulting services contracts with hospitals located in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Mr. Nicaud has been working with Memorial Hospital Gulfport on a consulting basis since 1996, and as an employee since 2008. In 2010, he was named Chief Operating Officer and became President and CEO in 2018. He attended Tulane University for undergraduate and graduate studies through their executive MBA program.
Welcome Address, Monday
Tate Reeves
Governor of Mississippi
As the 65th Governor of Mississippi, Tate Reeves continues to build on his strong record as a leader who fights to improve educational opportunity and grow new careers so that Mississippi’s best and brightest can raise their families and thrive. Since he took office as governor, Mississippi has seen record educational gains called the “Mississippi Miracle.” Thanks to Governor Reeves’ fiscally conservative leadership, Mississippi is in the best fiscal and financial shape ever, and its economy is thriving. Additionally, Mississippi has attracted record-breaking private sector investment totaling over $41 billion and finalized the four largest economic development projects in the state’s history. Mississippi achieved an overhauled statewide workforce development strategy, an all-time low unemployment rate multiple times, and the largest tax cut and the largest teacher pay raise in state history.
A Rankin County native, Governor Reeves is a graduate of Florence High School and an honors graduate of Millsaps College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. Governor Reeves and his wife, Elee, are the proud parents of three daughters, Tyler, Emma, and Maddie.
Session 1, Presenter
Brent Layton
Health Care Executive
Brent Layton is a nationally recognized health care operator and policy leader with more than three decades at the intersection of government programs, provider networks, and technology. He previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Centene Corporation, where during his tenure the company scaled from roughly $300 million to $144 billion in annual revenue and became a Fortune 25 enterprise. His experience spans building and integrating multi-state operations, partnering with regulators, and advancing value-based models across Medicaid, Medicare, and the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Brent also served as Chief Executive Officer of Sharecare, the Atlanta-based digital health company, and has served on Sharecare’s Board of Directors since January 2023. He is currently a Director of Aveanna Healthcare (NASDAQ: AVAH) and serves on the State of Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Committee.
Session 1, Presenter
Clare Hester
Clare Hester is one of Mississippi’s preeminent business leaders. She has built a government relations firm in Jackson into a regional force, with lobbying, grassroots, and campaign capacity stretching from Austin, TX to Raleigh, NC. Through multiple governors, hundreds of legislators, and countless issues, few individuals have been on the frontlines of and successfully impacted as many major policy debates as Clare Hester. She is a first stop for national brands and local business leaders seeking representation in government relations. She represents the state’s largest private employers, such as Ingalls Shipbuilding; global icons like Toyota and Uber; regional leaders such as Nextera Energy; and local success stories like Ergon. Today, Capitol Resources serves clients as diverse as the University of Southern Mississippi and the Mississippi Association of Realtors. Clare has recruited and leads a team of lobbyists to influence public policy in the Mississippi Statehouse and across the Southeast.
Session 1, Moderator
Founder & CEO, Capitol Resources
Tara Clark
Tara Clark is Associate Vice President of State Affairs for Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company providing managed health care through Medicaid, Medicare, and state marketplaces. She previously served as Deputy Executive Director and Chief Legal Counsel for the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, where she oversaw fee-for-service, managed care, CHIP programs, contract procurements, and legislative strategy.
A graduate of the University of Mississippi and Mississippi College School of Law, Tara is Board President of the Mississippi Association of Health Plans and serves on the Rotary Club of Jackson’s Board of Directors. She was named the Mississippi Business Journal’s 2024 Business Woman of the Year and a Top 50 Under 40 honoree in 2022. Tara is active in the Junior League of Jackson, a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, and lives in Jackson with her husband Trey and their three daughters.
Session 2, Presenter
Associate VP of State Affairs, Molina Healthcare, Inc.
Jeff Cook
Jeff Cook, President & CEO of Forrest Health, is a native of Mississippi’s Pine Belt with a long record of leadership in health care. Since joining Forrest Health in 2014, he has overseen legal and compliance operations, spearheaded acquisitions, and guided major capital projects that strengthened access to care across the region.
Jeff’s combination of legal expertise, business insight, and strategic vision has positioned Forrest Health for continued growth and innovation. He brings a collaborative leadership style rooted in his commitment to serving the people of South Mississippi. His educational background includes degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi College School of Law, equipping him with the tools to drive organizational success while staying deeply connected to his community.
Session 2, Presenter
President & CEO, Forrest Health System
Wally Davis
Wally Davis joined NMHS’ Center for Business Health in 1996 and was promoted to vice president in 2007. Davis serves as the primary payor relationship executive for NMHS, leads the Managed Care contracting and analytics team for the system, and serves as a corporate officer for Health Link, a regional preferred provider organization. Additional responsibilities include oversight for the payor credentialing verification and provider enrollment business units for NMHS. Davis serves on multiple system committees adding support for key system initiatives, such as Connected Care Partners, a regional Clinically Integrated Network.
He received a bachelor of business administration degree from Mississippi State University and a master of health administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Session 2, Presenter
Vice President, North Mississippi Health Services
Jay Shehi
Group Chief Executive Officer, UHS
Session 2, Presenter
Jay Shehi has over 20 years of experience working in the behavioral health industry. From direct care roles to leadership positions, Jay has worked at every level of both the inpatient and outpatient settings within the private sector. Jay has served in executive leadership positions at hospitals in Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Jay serves as the CEO of Alliance Health Center in Meridian, MS, with multi-facility oversight of hospitals throughout Mississippi. Jay currently serves on the Board of True Care Mississippi and the Mississippi Healthcare Collaborative.
Jay graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and holds a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jay lives in Meridian, MS, and has two teenage sons.
Aaron Sisk
CEO, Magnolia Health Plan
Aaron Sisk has served as President and CEO of Magnolia Health Plan since May 2016. Under his leadership, Magnolia provides health coverage to about 350,000 Mississippians through its MSCAN, Ambetter, and WellCare products. A native of Madison, MS, Aaron earned his B.A. in Sociology from Mississippi State University in 1999 and his J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2003. Before joining Magnolia, he spent seven years at the Mississippi Department of Insurance, serving as Senior Attorney and later directing the Life and Health Actuarial Division. In that role, he oversaw market reforms tied to the Affordable Care Act and helped establish a state-based insurance exchange.
Aaron remains active in Mississippi’s health insurance industry, serving on boards including the Mississippi Life and Health Guaranty Association, the Mississippi Association of Self Insurers, the Mississippi Economic Council, and the Ole Miss RMI Advisory Board. He lives in Madison with his wife, Brittany, and their daughters, Ella, Harper, and Ivy.
Session 2, Presenter
Blake Bell
Blake Bell is an attorney and seasoned advocate in health policy and government relations. He started his career representing physicians, quickly building a reputation as a strong voice for the medical community. Blake later joined Capitol Resources, LLC, where he expanded his work beyond health care and into broader public policy issues.
He went on to spend four years leading Southeastern government relations for Molina Healthcare. In April 2024, Blake became Vice President of Government Affairs for Gainwell Technologies, where he oversees the company’s state and federal advocacy efforts. His background also includes representing Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and technology startups.
Session 2, Moderator
VP of Government Affairs, Gainwell Technologies
Matthew Majure
Capitol Resources, LLC
Matthew Majure is a skilled professional who has demonstrated his expertise in navigating clients through the complex landscape of state, local, and federal government. With years of experience working in government and government relations, he has developed a deep understanding of the inner workings of government, the legislative process, and how to navigate complex regulatory environments.
During his time serving as Special Assistant to U.S. Senator Roger Wicker and interning for U.S. Congressman Gregg Harper, Matthew developed his skills in advocacy and public policy analysis. These experiences have allowed him to gain unique insights into how government works and how to effectively advocate on behalf of clients in government proceedings.
Session 3, Moderator
Kevin Blackwell
Senator Blackwell is a successful businessman and former hospital administrator who has served in the state senate for ten years. He is also two term Chairman of the DeSoto County Republican Party; Past President for the Southaven Chamber of Commerce; Past President of the Olive Branch Rotary; Past President of the Southaven Rotary; past member of the MS Hospital Association board; member of the MS Economic Council; member of the Southaven Rotary; and member of the Olive Branch, Byhalia, & Southaven Chamber of Commerce.
Senator Blackwell is married to the former Vicki Lynn Bryant. He is of the Catholic faith.
Session 3, Panelist
Senator, District 19, Chairman of Medicaid; Vice Chair of Elections
Nicole Boyd
Senator, District 9, Chairman of Universities and Colleges; Vice Chair of Medicaid
Nicole Akins Boyd is a wife, mother, volunteer, attorney, businesswoman, and teacher who believes in the goodness of people. She is rooted in the values of a local upbringing but brings fresh ideas from her life experiences, both inside and outside our community. She believes in the power of teamwork and understands the value of hard work.
Nicole Boyd assumed office as Mississippi State Senator on January 7, 2020. Her current term ends on January 4, 2028. Senator Boyd is a Mississippi native. She is married to Daniel Boyd, MD. They have two children, Izzy and Speight. Senator Boyd is of the Baptist faith.
Session 3, Panelist
Briggs Hopson
Briggs Hopson proudly serves as the Mississippi State Senator for District 23 for the last eighteen years. He currently serves as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and he is also a member of the committees on Education, Judiciary, and Public Health.
Hopson has previously served as an Executive Committee member on the National Conference of State Legislatures and as a National Uniform Law Commissioner. Hopson is also a partner in the Vicksburg, Mississippi, law firm of Teller, Hopson
& Schrader, LLP, practicing in litigation, business law, school law, and health care law, among other areas. He received a B.B.A. in 1987 and his J.D. in 1990 from the University of Mississippi, and is a former Adjunct Professor of Law at the Mississippi College School of Law, and is married to the former Alison Quaid. They have three children, Liam, Walt, and Jane.
Session 3, Panelist
Senator, District 23, Chairman of Appropriations
Chris Johnson
Senator, District 45, Chairman of Government Structure; Vice Chair of Finance
A graduate of Forrest County Agricultural High School, Pearl River Community College, and The University of Southern Mississippi, Chris Johnson currently serves as a Republican Senator for Mississippi’s 45th Senate district. Chris is the father of two children, Brennan and Emma Kathryn, and he is also the owner and operator of several small businesses throughout the southeast.
A lifetime member of the Southern Miss Alumni Association, former president of the FCAHS Foundation, and former member of the Republican Executive Committee for Forrest County, Chris’s experience as a business owner has helped him identify ways to attract more businesses, better jobs, and economic growth to our community.
Session 3, Panelist
Chad McMahan
Senator, District 6, Chairman of Municipalities; Vice Chair of Business and Financial Institutions
Senator Chad McMahan, a retired businessman, has served in the Senate since 2015. He was born and educated at Tupelo High School in Tupelo, Mississippi, and attended Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, in 1995.
Senator McMahan previously served as an Alderman in Guntown, MS. He formerly worked for Great Southern Industries, a packaging company, for two decades.
Senator McMahan is married to the former Allison Clayton. He is of the Christian faith.
Session 3, Panelist
Shane Aguirre
Shane Aguirre, a lifelong resident of Tupelo, Mississippi, has served in the Mississippi House of Representatives since 2016, representing District 17. A graduate of Mississippi State University with a degree in accounting, he went on to earn his MBA in finance and marketing from the University of Mississippi. Before entering public service, Aguirre built a successful career in finance. His professional background has shaped his work in the legislature, where he focuses on fiscal responsibility and economic development.
In the House, Aguirre chairs the Banking & Financial Services Committee and serves on several others, including Judiciary, Gaming, Public Health & Human Services, and Ways & Means.
Session 3, Panelist
Representative, District 17, Chairman of Banking and Financial Services
Otis Anthony
Representative Anthony was born in Indianola, Mississippi. After graduating from Gentry High School, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and pre-law from Tougaloo College and another Bachelor of Arts, in theology, from Agape Bible College.
Anthony owns Anthony and Company, LLC, a financial planning company. He is also a Pastor. He was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in November 2018.
Representative Otis is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity Inc, Indianola Main Street/Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, CALS and Henry Toll Fellow.
He is married to the former Porchia Caldwell, and they are of Christian Baptist denomination.
Session 3, Panelist
Representative, District 31, Chairman of Youth and Family Affairs
Chris Bell
Christopher Bell has served in the Mississippi House of Representatives since 2016, representing District 65 in Hinds County. He is Vice Chair of the Drug Policy Committee and serves on the Banking and Financial Services, Energy, Insurance, Public Health and Human Services, and Ways and Means Committees.
Born in Chicago and a member of the United Methodist faith, Representative Bell earned his degree from Jackson State University and builds on a professional background as an insurance broker. He is active in numerous civic and community organizations, including Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Board of Trustees of Leadership Greater Jackson, Anderson United Methodist Church, Sunrise Rotary Club, Jackson Chamber of Commerce, and the Anderson Outreach CDC Board.
Session 3, Panelist
Representative, District 65, Vice Chair of Drug Policy
Representative, District 54, Chairman of Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency
Kevin Ford
Session 3, Panelist
Kevin Ford has represented District 54, covering Issaquena, Warren, and Yazoo Counties, since 2018. He chairs the Accountability, Efficiency, and Transparency Committee and serves on the Business and Commerce, Energy, Gaming, Insurance, Judiciary A, Public Health and Human Services, and Ways and Means Committees.
Representative Ford is an insurance agent and an active Red Carpet Bowl organization member.
He attended Warren High School, Hinds Community College, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He and his wife, Julie Alberts Ford, are of the Methodist faith.
John Thomas (Trey) Lamar III
Representative Trey Lamar is a successful attorney and the Chair of the Ways & Means Committee. He was born in Senatobia, Mississippi, and attended Magnolia Heights School in Senatobia. He holds degrees from the University of Mississippi, the Mississippi College School of Law, and Washington University in St. Louis. He has represented Mississippi's 8th House district, composed of parts of Tate and Lafayette Counties, in the Mississippi House of Representatives since 2012.
Rep. Lamar is a member of First Baptist Church of Senatobia, Senatobia Rotary Club, Tate County Economic Development Foundation, MS BAR Association, and Ole Miss M-Club. He is married to the former Jill Anthony and the father of three children. They are of the Baptist faith.
Session 3, Panelist
Representative, District 8, Chairman of Ways and Means
Hank Zuber
Representative, District 113
Session 3, Panelist
Henry “Hank” B. Zuber III has served as the Republican Representative for Mississippi’s House District 113 since 2000. A Millsaps College attendee, he earned his J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law. During his tenure, he has held leadership roles in committees including Insurance (as Chair), Banking & Financial Services, State Affairs, and Ways & Means.
Outside of his legislative duties, Hank is passionate about traveling, experiencing new cultures and cuisines, and providing capital in the secondary market to support Mississippi businesses and Mississippians just launching their dreams.
Jennifer Wentworth
Jennifer Wentworth is the Chief of Staff for the Mississippi Division of Medicaid and previously served as the agency’s Chief Financial Officer from 2018 through 2024. The Chief of Staff role oversees finance, rate setting, fee schedule updates, utilization management, procurement, contracts, third-party recovery, and managed care.
Prior to her time at Medicaid, Ms. Wentworth worked at the Mississippi Department of Revenue for 21 years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Mississippi State University and is a Certified Governmental Financial Manager. She and her family live in Clinton, Mississippi.
Session 4, Presenter
Chief of Staff, Mississippi Division of Medicaid
Will Crump
Will Crump serves as Assistant Vice President for Government Relations at Ochsner Health, where he leads federal policy analysis, advocacy strategy, and engagement with Congress. He also oversees Ochsner’s state-level government affairs activities in Mississippi and coordinates the work of the system’s federal consultants and lobbyists.
Prior to joining Ochsner in 2016, Will served as a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Thad Cochran and later as Executive Administrator for the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, where he oversaw legislative affairs and directed the state’s Medicaid managed care program. A native of Schlater, Mississippi, he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Delta State University, a Master of Public Health from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Doctorate in Health Administration from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He and his wife, Katy, live in Brandon, Mississippi, with their son, Quinn.
Session 4, Moderator
Assistant VP, Government Health Systems, Ochsner Health System
Dr. Brian Erkkila
Dr. Brian Erkkila is the US Senior Advisor for Scientific Engagement at Philip Morris International, focusing on tobacco harm reduction and smoke-free products. He previously held leadership roles at Swedish Match North America, the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, and served as a lead toxicologist at the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. He also served as a postdoctoral research fellow at the NIH in neurobiology and child development.
Dr. Erkkila holds degrees in neurobiology from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Session 4, Moderator
US Senior Advisor for Scientific Engagement, PMI
Dr. Tom Price
Dr. Tom Price most recently served as the 23rd Secretary of the Health and Human Services (HHS). Prior to serving as the Secretary of HHS, Dr. Price served as the U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 6th Congressional District from northern suburban Atlanta. He held this office from 2005 to 2017 and served in various leadership roles during his tenure, including Chairman of the House Budget Committee, Chairman of the House Republic Policy Committee, and Chairman of the Republican Study Committee. Dr. Price began a solo medical practice in Atlanta which he grew to one of the largest, non-academic orthopedic practices in the country and led as Chairman of the Board. During his 20+ year career as a practicing physician, Dr. Price also served as Medical Director of the Orthopedic Clinic at Grady Memorial Hospital, as well as an Assistant Professor at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Price received his Bachelor and Doctor of Medicine degrees from the University of Michigan and he completed his General Surgery Internship and Orthopedic Surgery Residency at Emory University.
Session 5, Presenter
Former Health & Human Services Secretary
David Williams
Partner, CRI Advisors, LLC
David has vast experience in the health care industry, providing assurance, regulatory, and advisory services for a wide range of organizations, including hospitals, outpatient centers, home health care agencies, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living centers, rural health clinics, and mental rehabilitation centers.
With experience in so many facets of the health care industry, David is able to develop impressive strategies for operations, reimbursement assistance for major programs, and innovative solutions to meet evolving challenges.
Session 6, Presenter
W. Shane Hariel
Partner, CRI Advisors, LLC
Shane provides services exclusively to health care entities with a primary focus on hospitals, rural health clinics, and long-term care providers.
His focuses include cost reporting services, regulatory and statutory analysis, feasibility analysis, supplemental payment consulting, Medicaid strategic consultation, disproportionate share payment studies, Medicare bad debt optimization services, and HHS relief fund compliance and reporting.
Shane’s experience in Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement along with his trade industry group relationships in both the hospital and long-term care arenas enable him to serve as a facilitator among these influential groups.
Session 6, Presenter
Parks McNabb
Capitol Resources, LLC
Parks is no stranger to the world of Mississippi politics and joined Capitol Resources, LLC with over two decades of experience in policy and politics. He has worked closely with former Governor Haley Barbour, former Lt. Governor Tate Reeves, and most recently served in a senior executive role at the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
Parks has strong relationships throughout the State Capitol and within all branches of state government.
Session 6, Moderator
Drew Snyder
Former CMS Deputy Administrator
Drew Snyder is a nationally-recognized Medicaid expert and health care executive with leadership experience at both the state and federal levels. He is a senior strategic advisor for the Mississippi Healthcare Collaborative through Health Resources, LLC and founder of Snowdrift Advisors, LLC, a consulting firm focused on Medicaid and publicly-sponsored health programs.
Snyder previously served as Deputy Administrator of CMS and Director of CMCS, overseeing programs covering nearly 80 million Americans and spearheading major policy reforms. He also led the Mississippi Division of Medicaid for seven years, managing its $7 billion program. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles in the Mississippi Governor’s Office and served as Assistant Secretary of State. A native of Eupora, Mississippi, he holds a law degree from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Mississippi.
Session 7, Presenter
Ryan Hales
CFO, Adelanto Health Care Ventures
Ryan Hales is Chief Financial Officer at Adelanto Healthcare Ventures, bringing over two decades of health care finance leadership. Previously Vice President of Revenue Management at Quorum Health, he is recognized for his strategic vision and operational expertise in driving growth and efficiency.
A graduate of Western Kentucky University, Ryan is based in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and is dedicated to advancing health care services and operational performance in specialty hospitals. His leadership emphasizes innovation and sustainability in health care finance, reflecting a commitment to improving both organizational outcomes and community well-being.
Session 7, Presenter
John Simpson
Capitol Resources, LLC
John Simpson is a highly-seasoned government relations and communications professional with more than 15 years of experience. John represents clients before state and federal legislators and regulators where he provides strategic communications and public affairs advice, creates and manages effective coalitions, and develops innovative media strategies. John has also built unique knowledge and insight into the workings of government and the intersection of business and politics.
He has spearheaded successful public affairs campaigns in some of the country’s largest, most high-profile mergers and acquisitions involving companies such as Sinclair Broadcasting Group-Tribune Media, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, Comcast-NBC Universal, Comcast-Time Warner Cable, AT&T-DIRECTV, Charter-Time Warner Cable, and AT&T-Time Warner.
Session 7, Moderator
Bob Williams
Director of the Life and Health Actuarial Division, Mississippi Department of Insurance
Bob Williams has over 32 years of experience in Mississippi’s insurance industry, beginning at Blue Cross & Blue Shield in 1989 before joining UnitedHealthcare in 2009 to help launch MississippiCAN. He is now Director of the Life and Health Actuarial Division, where he ensures compliance with state and federal regulations and advises the Commissioner of Insurance on reforms under the Affordable Care Act.
A graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law, Bob is active in community and professional service. He chairs programs for the Madison/Ridgeland Rotary Night Club and serves on several boards, including the Ole Miss Insurance Advisory Board and the Mississippi Nurses Associates Board, while also holding past leadership roles in local civic and business organizations.
Session 8, Presenter
Dr. Daniel Edney
Dr. Edney became State Health Officer in August 2022, after serving as Deputy State Health Officer and as Chief Medical Officer for the agency.
Before joining the Mississippi State Department of Health, Dr. Edney was in private practice in Vicksburg for more than 30 years. He received his M.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine with residency in the University of Virginia's internal medicine program. He holds board certifications in Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine, and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.
Session 8, Presenter
State Health Officer, MS State Dept. Of Health
Dr. Mike Todaro
Dr. Michael Todaro is Chief Operating Officer at Magnolia Health, the Centene health plan in Jackson, Mississippi. He directs operations across all lines of business, overseeing profitability, product development, compliance, and initiatives to improve care, quality, efficiency, and cost. He also contributes to accreditation efforts and participates in boards, committees, and task forces.
Previously, Dr. Todaro served as Administrator of Clinical Support Services, Director of Pharmacy, and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he led pharmacy, oncology, and infusion services while managing financial and quality standards. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Mississippi in 1999.
Session 8, Presenter
Chief Operating Officer, Magnolia Health Plan
Reed Branson
Reed Branson is a leading lobbyist at the state Capitol, with a talent for crafting communications that drive policy decisions, support client brands, and mitigate crises. He has particular depth in energy, working closely with the Mississippi Petroleum Council and other energy clients. With a background in political journalism and a gift for thoughtful strategy, Reed is adept at weighing multiple sides of a debate and quickly shaping the most effective messages. Recognized for his reasoned win-win solutions, he is known as a consummate facilitator in government. Reed also assists clients with public relations and communications challenges, particularly in crisis moments tied to public policy. Before joining Capitol Resources, LLC, he had an accomplished career in journalism, covering the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee capitols, and was named one of the Top 50 most influential Mississippians.
Session 8, Moderator
Capitol Resources, LLC
Lorie Till
Lorie Till is a Healthcare Executive with 20+ years of experience in nursing, utilization, and hospital operations.
She has advanced patient safety and quality oversight through corporate committees, compliance management, and scorecard reporting for 71 Health Management Associates facilities. Lorie co-founded Mississippi’s first care transitions team, Health Connect, reducing readmissions by 7% in its first year. Her work on reducing ER overuse and readmissions was published in Generations Journal (2014).
Passionate about innovative solutions to health care challenges, Lorie thrives on collaboration, employee engagement, and motivating teams to improve care delivery.
Session 9, Presenter
CEO, Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center
Jeff Ross
Jeff Ross is a health care growth leader with expertise in value-based care, payor strategy, and provider partnerships. As Senior Vice President of Growth at Homeward Health, he has driven revenue past $1 billion across Michigan and Minnesota by forging partnerships with rural providers and payors to expand access, strengthen sustainability, and deploy technology that reimagines care delivery.
Previously, Jeff advanced value-based contracting and capitation strategies at Agilon Health, contributing to the company’s IPO. At Healthfirst, he oversaw a $7 billion Medicaid portfolio serving 1.3 million members, and at Clover Health he scaled the Southeast region, growing membership more than twelvefold in three years. Earlier, he led innovation at Cooper University Health Care’s Urban Health Institute with the Camden Coalition, pioneering programs that reshaped care for Medicare and Medicaid populations.
Session 9, Presenter
Senior Vice President, Homeward Health
Andrew Burnett
Andrew Burnett is Vice President of Workforce and Rural Health at the Tennessee Hospital Association (THA) and Executive Director of the Tennessee Center for Health Workforce Development. He leads efforts to expand access to quality health care, with a focus on rural and underserved communities and workforce challenges. He also served on the Governor’s Rural Health Task Force, chairing the workforce recruitment and development committee.
Previously, Andrew was Director of Government Affairs for the American Clinical Laboratory Association and worked on Capitol Hill as health policy advisor to Senator Richard Shelby and as a policy assistant on the U.S. Senate HELP Committee under Chairman Lamar Alexander. Earlier in his career, he held administrative roles at M.E.A. Medical Clinics and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. A Mississippi native, he enjoys Braves baseball, Ole Miss athletics, time with his wife Sarah and their daughter, and restoring his 1946 Willys Jeep.
Session 9, Presenter
VP, Workforce & Rural Health, TN Hospital Association
Anne Hall Brashier
Chief of Staff, Governor Tate Reeves
Anne Hall Brashier serves as chief of staff for Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves. She previously served as Governor Reeves' deputy chief of staff and policy director. Before returning home to Mississippi, Brashier worked on Capitol Hill for six years in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. Brashier began her career as a policy advisor to late U.S. Senator Thad Cochran. Following Cochran’s retirement, she transitioned to the U.S. House of Representatives to serve as deputy chief of staff to Rep. Trent Kelly of Mississippi’s First Congressional District. Brashier also served as the national security advisor to U.S. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Mississippi and a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University’s Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. Originally from Indianola, Brashier now resides in Ridgeland, Mississippi.