Panel 2: Healthcare Costs
Statehouse Bureau Chief , Townsquare Media/NJ 101.5 News
Moderator, Panel 2: Healthcare Costs
Michael Symons covers the governor, Legislature and state politics, and had previously covered the Statehouse for Gannett newspapers for more than 15 years. He is a lifelong New Jersey resident -- raised in Bergen County, living in Hunterdon County, and a graduate of Rutgers University. Rutgers graduate. Symons co-authored a 2012 biography 'Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power.'
Director, Government Affairs , Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
John Fuller represents Horizon BCBSNJ before the New Jersey Legislature and state departments and agencies. Before that, he served as the strategic planning manager and administrative manager for Horizon Healthcare Innovations, responsible for developing and launching innovative payment models aimed at quality of care, customer experience, and the cost of the health care system. Before joining Horizon BCBSNJ, Fuller served as assistant commissioner at the state Department of Transportation, and as a top aide to U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg.
Interim Vice President of Government Affairs , BioNJ
Wendy Lazarus is serving as the interim vice president of government affairs for BioNJ, the life sciences trade association in New Jersey. Last year, she started WML Public Affairs, which followed 29 years with Pfizer, where she was most recently director of state government relations. In that role, Lazarus focused on creating and influencing policies that ensured patient access to medicine and a positive business environment to encourage industry growth and foster innovation. She worked closely with public officials in New Jersey while also serving as the national lead on state tax legislation and regulations.
Vice President of Government & External Relations , Jefferson Health New Jersey
Lisa Morina oversees Jefferson Health System’s New Jersey legislative policy and advocacy, as well as sponsorships and community outreach. Prior to Jefferson, Morina served for a decade as the director of economic & business development for Gloucester County. Morina is the incoming vice chair of the Southern New Jersey Development Council and serves on the board of the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce where she previously was the organization’s first female chair of the board. She also served two terms as a member of the Greenwich Township Board of Education.
President & CEO , New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute
Linda Schwimmer drives policies that advance health care safety, access and affordability. She also sits on the board of the Leapfrog Group, a national patient safety advocacy group. She previously served on the board of the National Quality Forum and she co-chaired Gov. Phil Murphy’s transition team on health. Before joining the Quality Institute, Linda worked in various sectors, including director of strategic relations & external affairs for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey; director of legislation and policy for the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance; and counsel positions with the New Jersey Senate Majority Office. For over a decade, she was a bankruptcy and commercial lawyer in private practice. Schwimmer received a B.A. with honors from the University of California, Berkeley, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
President & CEO , Delta Dental of NJ
Dennis Wilson joined Delta Dental in September 2013 as president and CEO. Prior to that, Wilson served as president of Coventry Health Care, an Aetna Company, where he managed five states. Wilson currently serves as trustee and immediate past chair of Community Foundation of New Jersey is a member of the Executive Committee of N.J. Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors.